In 1994 we also started the next steps to establishing more stability in our fishery, we began work on the initial stages of a co-management agreement / partnership with the federal DFO. After much time and effort from all involved we accomplished a great feat, a five-year Co-management plan and an Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) with DFO. The plan was initially signed in 1996 and operated for a successful five years.

After 5 successful years, the original agreement was renewed in 2001for an additional 5 years. There were some modifications to the original agreement, most notably a new sharing formula that would allow for ‘more sharing, more often,’ with the 73 temporary fishers in the zone.

The agreement continued on for the next few years until late 2004 and early 2005 when there were calls from both temporary fishers and license holders to make the temporary fishers permanent license holders with the equivalent of their crab share over the previous number of years.

In April 2005 the Area 19 Snow Crab Fisherman’s association voted to make the 73 temporary fishers permanent license holders bringing the total maximum number of licenses in the zone to 184. A new agreement was negotiated through the fall of 2005 and winter of 2006 and will remain in place until 2013.

We know co-management works; we have experienced it and feel it has made our fishery stronger. The agreement allows for the best possible management of our fishery and within the scope of the agreement there is joint decision-making on all issues between our Association and DFO, and cost sharing for such items as management, enforcement and science.