bcbusiness.ca may 2014 BCBusiness 47
A spot prawn fishing licence costs more than
$500,000. While the price tag might seem high, the gross
value of the spot prawn fishery is between $40 million and
$45 million a year, so many fishers consider it worthwhile
to get their share of the catch. For the 2014 season, Sporer
says, it's hard to tell whether the numbers will be high or
low. "We are hoping there are lots of prawns out there, but
conservation is paramount."
The fishery's focus is on maintaining the acceptable
number of females left at the bottom so that the popula-
tion is upheld and that there will be another season next
year. "We need to protect the stocks because if there are
no prawns, there is no fishery," he says. "That's what's
important."
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GET 'Em wHILE THEy'rE HoT Crowds form to savour fresh-cooked fare at the annual Cowichan Bay Spot
Prawn Festival on Vancouver Island. This year's festival runs the weekend of may 24-25.
f i S h i N g
p38-47_Prawns_may.indd 47 2014-04-10 9:00 AM
