MANAGE TO ZERO

[high tide]

Well, the writing is certainly on the wall.
DFO and the Several Federal Government of past years, and even our Provincial Gvernment obviously want to MANAGE OUR FISHERIES TO ZERO. The less they have to manage, enforce the better. How pathetic!

The once epic, the once bountiful, the once renewable resource is being MANAGED TO ZERO. Corporate greed, big money outfits, taxing and crap on the little guy is obvious. Say goodbye to local charter business, say goodbye to tourism, say goodbye to thriving hotels and motels, say goodbye to whale watching tours.
The writing is on the wall and will NOT be here for our future grandkids. Take pictures now and perhaps even some how freeze some catch to last for years and years as it will not be available in years to come.

How pathetic and truly sad to see that several governments and heads of DFO not lead by example of sustainable resource, renewable resource and stop the raping of our forests, rivers and streams. When will officials Stop the carnage of our wild returns with nets from side to side of our rivers. Manage to zero.

Bring on the Farmed Net Salmon industry, let's kill off what's left of the Wilds. Let's not fund hatcheries, let's not give of dam of our rivers creeks and streams. Let's MANAGE TO ZERO, so we don't gave to manage at all.

Hats off to you gutless politicians and heads of DFO that continue to put your head in the mud.....
We all hope your proud of yourselves for protecting the future Wild Salmon.

HT

 

[JuandeOne]

I agree 100%...been saying this for years. The unofficial mandate is to remove any form of salmon management off the agenda. No salmon...no management required.

 

[california]

say goodbye to whale watching tours.
Let's not fund hatcheries,
We all hope your proud of yourselves for protecting the future Wild Salmon.
HT

Nice (somewhat incoherent) rant, but how are whale watching tours going away? The numbers of whales near the coast has been going up as herring populations have been recovering from overfishing. Even have some humpbacks in the straight from time to time.

You legitimately decry wild salmon going away but at the same time complain about hatchery de-funding. Which is it? Hatcheries are one of the main risks to wild salmon, they destroy the genetic integrity of the stocks and their ability to successfully reproduce condemning the systems to perpetual dependence on factory fish. I see expansion of hatcheries in places like the Wannock in Rivers Inlet huge threats to remaining wild salmon populations. There should be moratoriums on new hatcheries with full reviews where a hatchery is only allowed if the systems wild fish are functionally extinct with no hope of recolonization.

 

[trophywife]

so how about hatcheries only using wild brood stock? these make sense ya?

 

[california]

so how about hatcheries only using wild brood stock? these make sense ya?

No they do not! Hatcheries have historically only marked a proportion of their stock. And even if they they marked them all and pick wild ones, how do they know they are not the progeny of hatchery ones that returned and spawned. Those progeny are NOT wild. The shifts in genetic makeup from taking eggs from only a small number of parents, and from selecting smolts that thrive in concrete tanks eating pellets are not solved by taking "wild fish". They can mitigate the effects somewhat, and perhaps delay the genetic degredation, but it cant be stopped. There is so much evidence showing the deleterious effects of hatchery production on wild stocks, and on the ability of the offspring to survive and reproduce in only a few generations, it is really beyond question.

 

[scott craven]

There is so much evidence showing the deleterious effects of hatchery production on wild stocks, and on the ability of the offspring to survive and reproduce in only a few generations, it is really beyond question.

I don't disagree, but without the hatcheries we wouldn't have much of a fishery.

 

[Clint r]

More whales? Yeah quite the population explosion of resident killer whales. Humpbacks passing through might be more but local whales are definately not on the increase. They're the ones that eat salmon no? The humpys eat herring and krill so nothing really to do with the salmon.

 

[Whole in the Water]

Nice (somewhat incoherent) rant, but how are whale watching tours going away? The numbers of whales near the coast has been going up as herring populations have been recovering from overfishing. Even have some humpbacks in the straight from time to time.

You legitimately decry wild salmon going away but at the same time complain about hatchery de-funding. Which is it? Hatcheries are one of the main risks to wild salmon, they destroy the genetic integrity of the stocks and their ability to successfully reproduce condemning the systems to perpetual dependence on factory fish. I see expansion of hatcheries in places like the Wannock in Rivers Inlet huge threats to remaining wild salmon populations. There should be moratoriums on new hatcheries with full reviews where a hatchery is only allowed if the systems wild fish are functionally extinct with no hope of recolonization.

The herring populations in BC are not increasing, not in Southern BC waters, they are a dismal fraction of what they used to be. Nor are the numbers of endangered Southern Resident Orcas increasing to sustainable levels - that is why they remain endangered. The majority of whale watching businesses rely on Orcas for their tours - not enough other type of whales around on a consistent basis to run a viable whale watching business.

Like Craven said if it wasn't for the few remaining hatcheries we would have much less salmon left for natural regeneration, commercial, First Nations and recreational harvesting and the local economies that rely on these sectors. I agree that hatcheries are not the best long term solution. However, until enough citizens convince/force the politicians that restoring and maintaining some key watersheds for increasing natural salmon populations to healthy, sustainable levels (and not just for predominately industrial, commercial agricultural and residential uses like we have now) we need hatcheries to keep salmon populations viable.

 

[Aces]

Well, the writing is certainly on the wall.
DFO and the Several Federal Government of past years, and even our Provincial Gvernment obviously want to MANAGE OUR FISHERIES TO ZERO. The less they have to manage, enforce the better. How pathetic!

The once epic, the once bountiful, the once renewable resource is being MANAGED TO ZERO. Corporate greed, big money outfits, taxing and crap on the little guy is obvious. Say goodbye to local charter business, say goodbye to tourism, say goodbye to thriving hotels and motels, say goodbye to whale watching tours.
The writing is on the wall and will NOT be here for our future grandkids. Take pictures now and perhaps even some how freeze some catch to last for years and years as it will not be available in years to come.

How pathetic and truly sad to see that several governments and heads of DFO not lead by example of sustainable resource, renewable resource and stop the raping of our forests, rivers and streams. When will officials Stop the carnage of our wild returns with nets from side to side of our rivers. Manage to zero.

Bring on the Farmed Net Salmon industry, let's kill off what's left of the Wilds. Let's not fund hatcheries, let's not give of dam of our rivers creeks and streams. Let's MANAGE TO ZERO, so we don't gave to manage at all.

Hats off to you gutless politicians and heads of DFO that continue to put your head in the mud.....
We all hope your proud of yourselves for protecting the future Wild Salmon.

HT

That philosophy has been very obvious for some time now.

 

[high tide]

Nice (somewhat incoherent) rant, but how are whale watching tours going away? The numbers of whales near the coast has been going up as herring populations have been recovering from overfishing. Even have some humpbacks in the straight from time to time.

You legitimately decry wild salmon going away but at the same time complain about hatchery de-funding. Which is it? Hatcheries are one of the main risks to wild salmon, they destroy the genetic integrity of the stocks and their ability to successfully reproduce condemning the systems to perpetual dependence on factory fish. I see expansion of hatcheries in places like the Wannock in Rivers Inlet huge threats to remaining wild salmon populations. There should be moratoriums on new hatcheries with full reviews where a hatchery is only allowed if the systems wild fish are functionally extinct with no hope of recolonization.

Nice ( somewhat blind ) response,
If you think the last 30-40 years of management of our West Coast Salmon, the streams, rivers, creeks and forests they originate from is working, for sustainable resource you too have your head in the mud. The fishery continues to slide down hill. If not for our the fish hatcheries in our American neighbors rivers, things would be very very bleak indeed to the many small business folks. Charter companies, hotels motels, marinas, tackle shops and yes Whale Watching tours for Orcas. You think they are healthy and well along our lower west coast ? Really?
It's all about GDP for Canada and big business, many foreign owned. More farmed net pens, more licences granted. Gated roads to live logging operations so you and I can't see what's going on. Lack of forestry practice inspectors out there making sure creeks and streams are left natural.
This government, Federal and Provincial, past and present are all about being elected again to pad that pension. It's all about greed and living for today.
Think about what has been wiped out in the last 100 years, and tell me, all is well. It's not. We've lost some iconic runs of fish, that will never return, it continues with the officials that make the decisions blind folds on.
So yes, take those pics while ya can. If it continues the way it has and presently is, it will be just a memory.

HT

 

[Stosh]

We humans muck everything up. By overfishing and then mixing gene pools up, we have gone way too far to rely on wild fish to help themselves. The only way we will continue to have any salmon is by having enhancement programs. We can't give up, even if our governments have!
Stosh

 

[finaddict]

Its sad and a little funny that 40 years ago we knew that hatcheries were supposed to be a fill-in and that habitat restoration and spawning channels were the most effective return on investment for long term viability of ALL salmonids. We also knew that the continued destruction of the feed-stock for these creatures in the Strait of Georgia would lead to disaster. The script for restoration of salmon stocks was written decades ago. Unfortunately the horse has already escaped. Now all you have to do is the following:

• stop all expansion of urban growth in the interior and lower mainland (should be easy-peasy)
• retract the water licenses for any farming or ranching granted in the past 40 years within the Fraser river and Skeena river watersheds
• reduce harvest of herring stocks in the Strait of Georgia to 10% of current allocation (current allocation is 30,000 tonnes - or 66 million pounds)
• force Victoria and all other small cities on the Strait to construct secondary processing sewage plants for all effluents
• Reduce the AAC (Annual Allowable Cut) for timber harvested on Vancouver Island and resurrect the "4-square" requirements for all timber exported.
• Reduce Pacific Commercial Salmon catches to less than 20% of available harvest (instead of 40 to 80%)
• Reduce FN catch to that which would have been required for FSC needs.
• Grant Commercial licenses to any FN who wants to sell his FSC.
• Make poaching and illegal harvest a crime for which the penalties are swift and severe for ALL user groups.
• Significantly expand habitat restoration funds and utilize those funds for actual restoration, research and study.

Get all that accomplished and we can once again have the salmon stocks of yesteryear.;-) the harsh cold realities are that salmon will never be what it once was when there is this much money on the line.

 

[finaddict]

Nice ( somewhat blind ) response,
If you think the last 30-40 years of management of our West Coast Salmon, the streams, rivers, creeks and forests they originate from is working, for sustainable resource you too have your head in the mud. The fishery continues to slide down hill. If not for our the fish hatcheries in our American neighbors rivers, things would be very very bleak indeed to the many small business folks. Charter companies, hotels motels, marinas, tackle shops and yes Whale Watching tours for Orcas. You think they are healthy and well along our lower west coast ? Really?
HT

It really is about the only time we can say "God bless America".......

 

[ericl]

I live just north of Seattle in WA. A couple weeks ago there was an article about Coho in the small streams in the Seattle area. Pretty much around 40% of the returning adult Coho are dying due to pollution before spawning. This pollution is all the crap(oil/pet feces/lawn fertilizer, etc) that sewer plants do not address. This is a huge commitment to reduce this.
Hatcheries are not ideal. Allowing the SEAK (SE Alaska) & NBC (Northern BC) troll fisheries to harvest open ocean mixed stocks based on the AABM (Aggregate Abundance Based Management Management) Abundance Index is pure insanity as most of the 21 runs used to establish the Abundance Index are Hatchery fish. A good example of this is WCVI Chinook; the "indicator run for WCVI Chinook is the Robertson Creek Hatchery Chinook; strong compared to the WCVI wild runs. All these WCVI runs are a very large component of the SEAK troll catch.

 

[finaddict]

I live just north of Seattle in WA. A couple weeks ago there was an article about Coho in the small streams in the Seattle area. Pretty much around 40% of the returning adult Coho are dying due to pollution before spawning. This pollution is all the crap(oil/pet feces/lawn fertilizer, etc) that sewer plants do not address. This is a huge commitment to reduce this.
Hatcheries are not ideal. Allowing the SEAK (SE Alaska) & NBC (Northern BC) troll fisheries to harvest open ocean mixed stocks based on the AABM (Aggregate Abundance Based Management Management) Abundance Index is pure insanity as most of the 21 runs used to establish the Abundance Index are Hatchery fish. A good example of this is WCVI Chinook; the "indicator run for WCVI Chinook is the Robertson Creek Hatchery Chinook; strong compared to the WCVI wild runs. All these WCVI runs are a very large component of the SEAK troll catch.

100% agree Eric. I read somewhere that last year DFO estimated that 70% of the WCVI Chinooks were intercepted in SEAK. Imagine a return that was 300% larger than current returns.

 

[high tide]

Its sad and a little funny that 40 years ago we knew that hatcheries were supposed to be a fill-in and that habitat restoration and spawning channels were the most effective return on investment for long term viability of ALL salmonids. We also knew that the continued destruction of the feed-stock for these creatures in the Strait of Georgia would lead to disaster. The script for restoration of salmon stocks was written decades ago. Unfortunately the horse has already escaped. Now all you have to do is the following:

• stop all expansion of urban growth in the interior and lower mainland (should be easy-peasy)
• retract the water licenses for any farming or ranching granted in the past 40 years within the Fraser river and Skeena river watersheds
• reduce harvest of herring stocks in the Strait of Georgia to 10% of current allocation (current allocation is 30,000 tonnes - or 66 million pounds)
• force Victoria and all other small cities on the Strait to construct secondary processing sewage plants for all effluents
• Reduce the AAC (Annual Allowable Cut) for timber harvested on Vancouver Island and resurrect the "4-square" requirements for all timber exported.
• Reduce Pacific Commercial Salmon catches to less than 20% of available harvest (instead of 40 to 80%)
• Reduce FN catch to that which would have been required for FSC needs.
• Grant Commercial licenses to any FN who wants to sell his FSC.
• Make poaching and illegal harvest a crime for which the penalties are swift and severe for ALL user groups.
• Significantly expand habitat restoration funds and utilize those funds for actual restoration, research and study.

Get all that accomplished and we can once again have the salmon stocks of yesteryear.;-) the harsh cold realities are that salmon will never be what it once was when there is this much money on the line.

Great post above .......

HT

 

[ericl]

WA state is being sued to the tune of 2B to install/upgrade culverts that are preventing Salmon from reaching spawning areas.

 

[Fish Camp]

90% chinook fry released from hatcherys and rearing facilitys are ate by preditors,10 % return .those fish we farm for wild release are a wonderfull camoflauge for true wild brood.