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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is IQMI?
2. What are the benefits of using IQMI?
3. How do I sign up to use IQMI?
4. How does IQMI help to find the directed or bycatch quota I need?
5. What does it cost to use IQMI?
6. How much will a bycatch lease be worth?
7. If we have an integrated groundfish fishery, will I have to buy another licence?
8. If we have an integrated groundfish fishery, can I permanently transfer quota from another sector onto my licence?
9. If I fish in the fall, is there going to be any quota left for me to lease or trade at that time?
10. What does IQMI do with my personal information?
11. How can I find out what quota is available?
12. I own quota from two sectors. Are there any limits on transferring my quota between them?
13. Will IQMI get me a better price on my leased quota?

1. What is IQMI?

   
   IQMI is Integrated Quota Management Inc. - the leading source of quota management expertise and transaction processing services for the British Columbia commercial fishing industry. We provide weekly snapshots and real-time listings of quota trade and lease activity and a web-based system that facilitates the trading, transferring, and leasing of IVQ.

2. What are the benefits of using IQMI?

   
   In addition to helping fishing industry participants access IVQ, IQMI assists in the management of quota holdings. Customers can view basic quota listings anytime, at no charge. Signing up provides IQMI with the information needed to quickly validate and process quota transactions for its customers. IQMI will also notify its subscribers by phone, fax, or e-mail when quota they are looking for is found. Listings are available both as weekly updates and in real-time, online.

3. How do I sign up for your service?

   
   You can sign up at no charge online, or download a sign-up form, fill it in and fax it to us at 604.777.2003. You can also sign up by telephone by calling 604.777.2002.

4. How does IQMI help to find the directed or bycatch quota I need?

   
   We have built IQMI to be a one-stop shop where you, as an IVQ holder, can find the quota you're looking for quickly and efficiently. If you are looking for directed or bycatch quota, checking the IQMI listings regularly is a good start. Actually listing what you need with IQMI is even better, regardless of whether you are looking to trade, transfer, or lease and allows us to notify you when quota matching what you need appears on the system.
   
   IQMI provides an open, transparent means by which anyone who needs quota can easily see what is available. Our staff have provided this type of service to the groundfish trawl, halibut and sablefish sectors for more than a decade. This experience has shown that it takes a while for everybody to become familiar with how to get the most from their IVQ holdings. It has also shown that as more people learn how to efficiently utilize their quota, opportunities to trade, transfer and lease will grow. In other words, IQMI can help you find and obtain the bycatch quota you need now, and as the quota market becomes more active over time, you will likely have more choices each time you look to trade or lease.

5. What does it cost to use IQMI?

   
   Our pricing schedule is very similar to what groundfish trawl, halibut and sablefish customers have seen over the past several years. Small quota trades and transfers start at $25 per licence; large trades and transfers at $100 per licence. Leases valued at $8,000 or less pay a flat fee. Leases larger than that are commission-based, with large leases charged a lower commission rate than smaller ones. In the near future, we will also introduce a menu of subscription-based services that you can use to help get the most from your IVQ holdings. See our pricing page for more details.

6. How much will a bycatch lease be worth?

   
   The market determines what bycatch quota is worth in any sector, at any given time. Over the past ten years, we have learned that the actual market value of a lease depends on several things, such as:
   • how much quota is available for lease,
   • how much quota is actually needed,
   • time of year,
   • landed value,
   • ease of catch, and
   • other factors.
   
   As a general rule, having good, current information about what's happening with quota in your sector will help you get the best value from a trade, transfer or lease.

7. If we have an integrated groundfish fishery, will I have to buy another licence?

   
   Buying licences and quota is certainly an effective way to protect your operating position, but it is not necessary. Trading and leasing are also effective ways to make sure that you have the quota you need, when you need it. Temporary trades and leases can also provide you a lot of flexibility from one year to the next. That is, they allow you to hold a mix of permanent and temporary quota that matches how you want to fish in any given year - with the option to renew and adjust your temporary holdings in the following year.

8. If we have an integrated groundfish fishery, can I permanently transfer quota from another sector onto my licence?

   
   Currently, the proposed rules for transferring fish from one sector to another only allow for temporary transfers. The rules that govern permanent and temporary quota transfers are set by DFO for each sector. DFO works with industry through bodies such as the Commercial Industry Caucus (CIC) and many others. Information on groundfish integration and the CIC process is available here and from DFO (quick registration and login required).

9. If I fish in the fall, is there going to be any quota left for me to lease or trade at that time?

   
   Finding quota late in any season, in any sector, could be difficult if there is limited quota supply. How much quota is available for late-season trade or lease depends on catch patterns, market conditions and a variety of other factors up to that point in the year. Generally, you'll be in a better position to decide what you need - and know the best time to look for it - if you have access to accurate, current information on the use and availability of quota in all sectors.

10. What does IQMI do with my personal information?

    
    Any and all information that you provide to IQMI that is specific to you, your licence, your quota or your fishing operations is used in the strictest confidence. Please read our Privacy Policy for more details. In order to process trades, transfers and leases, IQMI needs information about your licence and the current status of your IVQ holdings. This is because processing a transaction includes testing whether it is valid for everyone involved - verifying that quota can be transferred from, or assigned to, each licence. We validate each transaction, no matter how complex, by working closely with DFO to help ensure that quota rules are adhered to and that every trade and transfer is recorded with them. Outside of this close working link with DFO, IQMI does not share your personal information with any third party unless directed to do so by you, or if obliged to by law. See our Privacy Policy for details. This is also true for any analysis or activity summary you may ask us to prepare for you, such as year-end operating summaries. We prepare these for you, and you only, and do not share them with anyone else. Quota listings, whether printed, faxed or posted online, are completely anonymous.

11. How can I find out what quota is available?

    
    Checking the IQMI real-time, online listings, or signing up for our weekly listing service, are two ways to see what quota is available and what sort of quota people are looking for. If you list what you need with us, we can also notify you when matching quota appears on our system. Later this year we will offer searchable quota listings online.

12. I own quota from two sectors. Are there any limits on transferring my quota between them?

    
    Rules for transferring quota within and between sectors are developed by each sector in cooperation with DFO. Limits on quota transfers may vary by sector, so it is advisable to contact your sector representatives for updates. IQMI will stay up to date on rules as they develop and whenever possible, provide updates and links to reference information on our web site.

13. Will IQMI get me a better price on my leased quota?

    
    Again, the market determines what a quota lease is worth in any sector, at any given time. Our listings provide quota availability information to those who may need it and our quota market updates help customers track how quota is being used up across all sectors as the year progresses. These, plus other types of timely quota information, help position you to get the most from your IVQ holdings when it comes time to trade or lease.

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