1981 - Introduction of Sablefish Fishing Licences
In 1981 Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) placed controls on the fishery limiting it to the 48 existing licences and implementing an annual total allowable catch (TAC) for the season. Under this management approach there was a compelling incentive for each fisherman to continually strive for increased catching power through bigger and better boats and gear to catch as much fish as possible before the fishery closed.
