Your Chance To Influence DFO Decisions

Local Sport Fishing Advisory Committees are established to represent a community or a small geographic area within a Sport Fishing Zone. It is the grass roots organization of local anglers and interested parties that provides advice and feedback that can eventually inform decisions and policy of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

Island Fisherman had a great article on how anglers can become involved in DFO decisions:

The process is designed to work from the ground up. The first level of input is at local Sport Fishing Advisory Committees. Those SFACs are spread out in geographically distinct areas to ensure local issues and knowledge are engaged. If a local SFAC has advice to offer DFO on a fisheries issue, it will craft and pass a motion.

All area SFAC motions are then shared at regional Sport Fishing Advisory Board  meetings where area motions are reviewed at either a North or South Coast Regional Board. The purpose is to ensure motions from each area are reviewed at the regional board level as a form of further governance. Area motions are passed, amended, or defeated. All passed North and South Coast Board motions are then referred either to the Main Board or to appropriate working groups such as the Ground Fish Shellfish Working Group or Halibut Working Group.

The final stop for motions being advanced is at the SFAB Main Board. This is to ensure regional motions are considered in the context of the broader provincial perspective. Motions passed at the Main Board will ultimately form the formal SFAB advice to DFO and the Fisheries Minister.

One of the key advantages of the SFAB process is the focus on grass roots bottom up involvement. Many highly talented recreational anglers from diverse personal and professional backgrounds bring to the process their local knowledge and expert advice. Interested anglers attending their local SFAC meetings will hear the latest facts around key issues and ultimately have opportunity for input.

The role of the Local Sport Fishing Advisory Committee is:

• to provide formal advice and recommendations in the form of recorded motions to the appropriate Regional Sport Fishing Advisory Council on matters relating to tidal recreational fisheries and non tidal anadromous fisheries.
• To review and provide feedback through the appropriate Regional SFAC regarding fishery policy proposed by federal or provincial ministries or recommended by the SFAB process.
• To develop recommendations regarding annual fishing plans for tidal and non-tidal fisheries affecting anglers in their geographic area and to forward any resulting proposals to the SFAB through the Regional SFAC.
• To review and make recommendations to the relevant federal or provincial ministries through the appropriate Regional SFAC on “in season” amendments to annual fishing plans respecting their geographic area.
• To assist in disseminating information to the general public on matters affecting all recreational tidal fisheries and non-tidal recreational fisheries, pertaining to anadromous fish.

Much more information on the Local Sport Fishing Advisory Committee can be found here:

 https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/consultation/smon/sfab-ccps/loc-tor-man-eng.html