Urchin Summit Overview

The Pacific Urchin Harvesters Association is proposing to hold an Sea Urchin Summit including licence holders, processors, regional and national DFO representatives, regional and national AAFC representatives, representatives of the BC Seafood Alliance, representatives from the Province of B.C., independent scientists and other industry stakeholders to follow up on recommendations from last year’s Benchmark report. Proposed presenters include Lori Ridgeway (DG Economic and Policy Analysis) and a representative the Guy Beaupre’s International Directorate at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in Ottawa, former DFO sea urchin manager Juanita Rogers, Japanese sea urchin processor and marketer, Hashimoto-san, and conservationist Terry Glavin.

The major findings and recommendations of the benchmarking report dealt with Russian IUU fishing situation. Continuing market limitations are making it ever more difficult for industry to fully fund all of the current science, management and operational responsibilities and discussions to expedite Electronic Vessel Monitoring with consequent declines in the role of the On-Grounds Monitor (OGM) and other possible cutbacks on the survey and other scientific program costs are required. Potential improvements to competitiveness are possible through handling improvements and optimization of the transport and logistical coordination to minimize the costs inherent in avoidable quality declines. The summit will focus on the challenges and recommendations and how industry and government can work together to improve the competitiveness of the Canadian sea urchin industry.

The main problem still appears to focus on excessive product flows from the Russian IUU fishery and the cascading affects these have on the whole Japanese urchin market. 600 MT was landed over the week December 10 - 16, the second ‘bad’ week in a row. The product does not compete directly with the Red Sea Urchin supplied by Canada but the problem lays with the cascading effects on the auction (consignment) markets where the prices are about 50% of the arranged prices where the current price for B2 grade is $60 because there is so much uni around.

Agenda for the 2007 Sea Urchin Summit

March 2007

0800- 0830: Registration

0830- 0845: Introduction by Facilitator- statement of Purpose and Structure for Summit

0845- 0915: History of fishery (Mike Featherstone- President Pacific Urchin Harvesters Association- PUHA) (including screening of 12(?) minute PUHA marketing video) and Chronology of Events leading to the Summit (including CAFI Program summary)

0915 - 0945: Overview of Benchmark Study with a focus on Findings/Recommendations (Geoff)

(Including summary of Kuriles- est. fishing area etc as part of IUU discussion)

Also- update on Current Initiatives (Logistics, CAFI, Brand Canada & Trade Missions

0945 - 1000: Current market update: BC Sea Urchin Processors

1000 - 1015: Coffee

1015 - 1045: Current Science and Monitoring Programs (D&D, Juanita Rogers)

1045 - 1115: Japanese Market and IUU Situation (Hashimoto-san)

1115 - 1140: Federal Response to IUU Situation (Guy Beaupre/Lori Ridgeway)

1140 - 1200: Summary of the morning session

1200 - 1300: Lunch ( Japanese, California and BC uni samples for a taste test/taste panel?)

Keynote Speaker – Terry Glavin expert on Fisheries in general and the IUU Situation in particular, authored a recent book on the Russian situtation

1300 -1345: Industry Panel- Current State of the Industry including updated import figures from Sasaki-san at the Canadian Embassy in Tokyo and observations from last Trade Mission to Osaka

1345 - 1400: Summary of presentations by Moderator

1400 -1500: Break into Work Groups to discuss issues and generate options on Improving Canada’s Competitive Profile(s) (eg. Linking Resource Capacity (Under)utilization, Governance and Science/Management Flexibility Options; Options to Increase Operational Efficiencies; Investment Options- R&D, Capital (boats and/or plants), Social Infrastructure (coordinated synergies with coastal communities)

1500 - 1515 coffee

1515 - 1600: groups present summaries of discussions and conclusions.

1600 - 1630: recommendations and action items moving forward Meeting and wrap-up