DFO Regs: conservation or politics?

[Whole in the Water]

If this is truly a needed conservation measure then let's hope that all fishing sectors are held to the 25-35% reduction!

Category(s):
ABORIGINAL - General Information,
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net,
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Troll,
RECREATIONAL - Salmon
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Subject: FN0404-Fraser River Spring 5(2) and Summer 5(2) Chinook - Abundance Update - May 23, 2018
This notice provides information on the current in-season abundance of
Fraser River Spring 5-2 and Summer 5-2 Chinook.
The model used to predict the return of Fraser River Spring 5-2 and Summer 5-2
Chinook uses data from the standard Chinook net fished by the Albion Test
fishery and does not incorporate catch from the multi-panel net (which is
currently fished on alternate days). The standard Chinook net is an 8 inch
(approx. 20 cm) mesh. Catch and effort data are cumulated by week, starting
the first full week in May, to provide the input to the model.
In 2018, the Albion Chinook test fishery began operating on April 22. The
total catch for the period of this update (May 6 to May 19) was one (1)
Chinook. Based on this input, the current predicted return to the mouth of the
Fraser for the Fraser River Spring 5-2 and Summer 5-2 Chinook aggregates ranges
from 21,000 to 54,000 Chinook (median value of 33,850).
The next scheduled update is on May 29 and the final in-season update is
planned for June 18.
Given conservation concerns for Fraser River Chinook, the Department does not
plan to adjust management actions for Fraser River Spring and Summer 5-2
Chinook fisheries in-season and additional conservation actions are planned to
achieve the Department’s conservation objective to reduce exploitation by 25%-
35% on Fraser Chinook stocks for the 2018 season. Further information on
additional management actions will be communicated by separate fishery
notices.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact your local DFO office
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/contact/regions/pacific-pacifique-eng.html
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN0404
Sent May 24, 2018 at 13:06
Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
If you would like to unsubscribe, please submit your request at: http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=manage_subscription
If you have any questions, please contact us via e-mail to: DFO.OpsCentreFisheryPacific-CentreOpsPechePacifique.MPO@canada.ca

 

[wildmanyeah]

My interpretation of the situation

Allocation policy and politics

Conservation kicks in after FSC fisheries are cancelled. So when they make reductions to sports fishing its only to insure that First Nations get FSC fisheries.

The only way to stop FSC fisheries is to have Zero interception by all sectors.

According to their own 1999 allocation policy that is still in play conservation is governed by the wild salmon policy. I believe the wild salmon policy was never even finalized. Maybe someone can correct me on that.

The 25-35% reduction is to insure recreation fishermen can still fish and FSC fisheries can take place.

The use of the word conservation is just to try to make that pill easier to swallow but no salmon are getting saved we are just harvesting less because the run size is smaller.

 

[Grrr8]

VANCOUVER, May 24, 2018 /CNW/ - British Columbia's Southern Resident Killer Whales are iconic and awe-inspiring creatures that are cherished by Canadians and visitors, and hold significant cultural value for Indigenous peoples. Canada is committed to protecting species at risk and the ecosystems they rely on today, and for future generations. That's why the Government of Canada is taking further action to protect B.C.'s iconic Southern Resident Killer Whales and support the recovery of Chinook salmon, a primary food source for the whales.

Today, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, Dominic LeBlanc, and Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Catherine McKenna, announced the finding under the Species at Risk Act that Southern Resident Killer Whales face an imminent threat to both survival and recovery. The Ministers came to this opinion after reviewing an assessment that considered the biological condition of Southern Resident Killer Whale population, ongoing threats, and mitigation measures.

In 2016, the government announced the $1.5-billion Oceans Protection Plan, which will make our oceans cleaner, safer and healthier for generations to come, and is providing direct benefits to Southern Resident Killer Whales. Building on this historic investment, the government will continue to work in partnership with British Columbia, industry, civil society and Indigenous communities to take immediate action to support the stabilization and recovery of the Southern Resident Killer Whales.

Lack of prey is one of the critical factors affecting the recovery of Southern Resident Killer Whales. To address this, Minister LeBlanc announced today measures to increase prey availability and conserve Chinook salmon. A reduction in the total fishery removals for Chinook salmon of 25-35% will help conserve this important species and increase prey availability for Southern Resident Killer Whales. Fishery closures for recreational finfish and commercial salmon fisheries in portions of the Strait of Juan de Fucaand portions of the Gulf Islands, and partial closures in the mouth of the Fraser River will protect key foraging areas for these whales. Additional measures to achieve Chinook fishery reductions across the B.C. coast includes reduced harvest limits, size limits and time restrictions, and select area closures to protect wild Chinook stocks of concern.

Chinook are one of the primary food sources for the Southern Resident Killer Whales, and wild populations of Chinook salmon have declined dramatically in recent years. Achieving these conservation reductions will help restore Chinook populations and enhance the availability of Chinook for Southern Resident Killer Whales to eat.

Earlier today, Minister LeBlanc also announced over $9.5 million in funding under the Oceans Protection Plan for eight projects across British Columbiathat will help restore habitat for Chinook salmon in several areas of the province. These projects will help rehabilitate some of our most vulnerable coastlines by collaborating with partners.

Additional short- and long-term measures to support the recovery of the Southern Resident Killer Whales will be announced in the near future.

Quote

"Southern Resident Killer Whales need our help in order to survive and recover. Together with my colleague, the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, we have determined that the species faces an imminent threats to its survival and recovery, and we need to keep taking concrete action. Today I am pleased to announce new fishery management measures to increase prey availability and reduce disturbances to these whales and we continue to work hard on additional actions to be put in place soon."

The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

"Our government is taking immediate steps today to protect Southern Resident Killer Whales and their prey, and we will take additional and ongoing action as needed to support their long-term recovery. These iconic and awe-inspiring whales are cherished by Canadians across the country and visitors alike, and protecting them is essential to keeping our oceans healthy and dynamic – not just for today, but to ensure we leave a rich natural legacy to our kids and grandkids."

The Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

Quick Facts

• B.C.'s Southern Resident Killer Whales inhabit the waters from southern and central Vancouver Island to northern California, including the Strait of Georgia, Puget Sound, and the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
• Their numbers fell significantly in the 1960s and early 1970s when approximately 47 orcas from the Southern Resident clan were captured and relocated to aquariums.
• Since then, the Southern Resident population has fluctuated; the remaining 76 individual Southern Resident Killer Whales face threats from lack of prey, acoustic and physical disturbance, and pollution.
• Southern Resident Killer Whales are listed as endangered species in both Canada and the U.S., and a federal recovery strategy was published in 2011 under the Species at Risk Act.
• The Government of Canada is also investing $1.5 billion in a world-leading Oceans Protection Plan, and additional measures to promote the protection and recovery of three key whale species. Under the Oceans Protection Plan, Fisheries and Oceans in 2017 engaged governments, Indigenous groups, stakeholders and the public on how to further protect the North Atlantic Right Whale, the St Lawrence Estuary Beluga and the Southern Resident Killer Whale. Feedback received during the engagement informed planning and decision making for enhanced recovery efforts for these whale populations.
• Budget 2018 committed $1.3 billion to invest in nature, create new protected areas, and support the recovery of species at risk, as well as $167.4 million over five years to help protect and recover endangered whale species in Canada. This includes funding for science activities to help better understand factors affecting the health of whale populations, as well as actions to help address the threats arising from human activities.
• The Government of Canada is considering all options to ensure the necessary protections are in place to protect Southern Resident Killer Whales as rapidly as possible.

 

[Whitebuck]

BS results from albion on what is actually going within the Fraser..
Should be doing sampling and results with FN to see what is actually returning, 30 miles upstream the nets had ZERO problem getting their endangered early timed Fraser Chinook.

 

[greenhornet]

yes Whitebuck your bang on,from what I the fn nets were full also rape and pillage no surprise

 

[ziggy]

More BS, the committed funding either never materializes or is blown on administration staffing and “Regional vote buying”. They claim to consider all options but rest assured closures will happen and a seal cull won’t!

I suspect whale sanctuaries will be created to serve the ecotourism sector, create feeding areas close to their home base to better guarantee sightings. Rain coast one of the big proponents of closing off local areas also accepted 100k from an ecotourism company last year. Thing that make you go umm.

If they have a plan i’d Like to see it shared by all harvesters,including those involved along the migration route and in terminal fishing. Will that happen? Not a chance! But hey it’s about conservation not politics right?

 

[Blackmax]

More BS, the committed funding either never materializes or is blown on administration staffing and “Regional vote buying”. They claim to consider all options but rest assured closures will happen and a seal cull won’t!

I suspect whale sanctuaries will be created to serve the ecotourism sector, create feeding areas close to their home base to better guarantee sightings. Rain coast one of the big proponents of closing off local areas also accepted 100k from an ecotourism company last year. Thing that make you go umm.

If they have a plan i’d Like to see it shared by all harvesters,including those involved along the migration route and in terminal fishing. Will that happen? Not a chance! But hey it’s about conservation not politics right?

More BS, the committed funding either never materializes or is blown on administration staffing and “Regional vote buying”. They claim to consider all options but rest assured closures will happen and a seal cull won’t!

I suspect whale sanctuaries will be created to serve the ecotourism sector, create feeding areas close to their home base to better guarantee sightings. Rain coast one of the big proponents of closing off local areas also accepted 100k from an ecotourism company last year. Thing that make you go umm.

If they have a plan i’d Like to see it shared by all harvesters,including those involved along the migration route and in terminal fishing. Will that happen? Not a chance! But hey it’s about conservation not politics right?

I haven't even bought a license this year, I'm sick of all of it and might just pack it all in for good.