What can WE do to help save the salmon?

[Foxsea]

Great post RF! Another sagacious Yank reaching out to us Canuck bro's. Thank-you!

L.H. - great post. I'm also coming around to the idea that you are right on the mark with reference to the litigation-bullet.

However, imagine for a minute if you will - nearly 500,000 united BC rec-fisherman and and supporters who put the long-term welfare of WILD-FISH-FIRST AND ARE WILLING TO PUT THEIR MONEY WHERE THEIR MOUTHS ARE - backing Alex Morton.

She has the reputation, media presence and scientific credibility that we need. She is working with Dr. Miller and many other credible, influential people. She also has an established organization that captures a diverse group of supporters. We could add a huge boost to the great work she is already doing and then we have a hope of initiating effective litigation. The act of initiating serious litigation will slow the momentum of Harper and his buddies. They will not wait for us.

If we wait to build an organization, establish credibility, allay the fears of other stakeholders and all that building an effective organization entails, this battle will be over. We need to be up to speed, now - environmental legislation is being gutted, Enbridge is going ahead and fish farms are expanding as we dither. Getting 500, 000 fishermen on the same page is nigh on impossible - look at this forum. The guys in the established S.F. organizations can't even agree on much.

What we can do quickly - in days - is to encourage other sport fishermen to get behind Alex Morton. She is our best hope right now - the leader we are looking for. And let her know that we are in for the long haul. As you say, L.H. - putting our money, time and effort where our mouths are, and right NOW, when it matters most.

[reelfast]

you may choose to write a couple of polite letters asking each of the groups you identified above as to their objectives and short term plans. in fact one of you folks, many of you have the facts, figures and detail nailed, might draft such a letter on behalf of this forum. getting some addtional info from these groups is a good upfront notion as it will provide a more clear picture of the direction in which they are focused. it would not hurt to let these groups understand that you are gathering this information in an attempt to focus the rec angling community on a specific group which is willing to take action in regard to the upcoming gutting of your environmental laws.

the 4 groups i mentioned who took on the establisment players and a tribe down this way, were making noise for some time. i wrote them a polite letter letting them know that if action, litigation, followed their notifing these players of their intentions, i would certainly send dollars and do my damdest to let every rec anglers know what they were up too. they followed through as did i. if Alex Morton and her group have this fire power and are committed, get on board quickly. if they are waffling, check out the other group(s) already mentioned. sometimes all they need to know is that the rec anglers have their backs covered.

and, again, when you make that choice, make sure you post it up here so those of us down this way can broadcast your plans and get some dollars flowing your way. when you start an all out war, however, you also have to be prepared to sacrafice some of your own sacred cows. you can see how our seasons have been striped down to the bone. but if your objective is fish first, then each of us should be out there swinging to insure our grandkids have an opportunity to enjoy what many of us have taken for granted.

all the best.

[Foxsea]

you may choose to write a couple of polite letters asking each of the groups you identified above as to their objectives and short term plans. in fact one of you folks, many of you have the facts, figures and detail nailed, might draft such a letter on behalf of this forum. getting some addtional info from these groups is a good upfront notion as it will provide a more clear picture of the direction in which they are focused. it would not hurt to let these groups understand that you are gathering this information in an attempt to focus the rec angling community on a specific group which is willing to take action in regard to the upcoming gutting of your environmental laws.

...if your objective is fish first, then each of us should be out there swinging to insure our grandkids have an opportunity to enjoy what many of us have taken for granted. all the best.

Thanks again, R.F. Who's volunteering to write letters on behalf of the forum, as outlined? Englishman?
It would be fantastic if we could put all else aside to concentrate our resources behind one group.

[Whole in the Water]

Thanks again, R.F. Who's volunteering to write letters on behalf of the forum, as outlined? Englishman?
It would be fantastic if we could put all else aside to concentrate our resources behind one group.

I agree now is the time to put aside petty differences and unite to change what is happening to damage wild salmon in BC. The time we sportfishers waste trying to sort out all our opinions and ideas is allowing those who want to build the pipeline, gut our fisheries laws and mismanage our wild salmon into extiction to do their dirty work! C'mon people lets get united and focused here and make some change!!!

[Gunsmith]

When we go looking for support one good place to talk to is Cabela's. Before they even had a location in Canada, I had asked them for a donation for our local fish and game club and they promptly responded with the department to request from and a donation of $150. was provided.
Just a thought.

[Foxsea]

When we go looking for support one good place to talk to is Cabela's. Before they even had a location in Canada, I had asked them for a donation for our local fish and game club and they promptly responded with the department to request from and a donation of $150. was provided. Just a thought.

and a good thought it is- all the marine and sporting goods businesses will lose too, if we can't get something going to preserve our sport fishery. No fish = no lodges, guides, outfitters. No one buying boats, trailers or the trucks to tow them. No work for chandlers, marine mechanics or upholsterers. Coastal communities like Pt. Alberni to Bamfield, Campbell River to Pt. Hardy and Gold River to Tahsis will take more of a beating, after the brutal one from the forestry downturn. Just for greed - so the Norwegian fish farmers, U.S. oil barons and the rest of Harper's corporate buddies can have more. What's waiting for him if he delivers - a V.P. seat on the Enbridge Board?

We all have relationships with some businesses that we can ask for support. I think many are just waiting for a credible organization to step up and help.

[Englishman]

Thanks again, R.F. Who's volunteering to write letters on behalf of the forum, as outlined? Englishman?
It would be fantastic if we could put all else aside to concentrate our resources behind one group.

Foxsea, I see you have dropped a few hints here and there. I would be willing to help draft something but I do not possess the hubris to claim to speak for the entire forum. I think that formidable mantle should be adopted by a heavyweight on here who carries more credibility and linkages to the recreational fishing community at large. Even that person will have a challenge because as several posts on here have noted, there may be a lot of us but we recreational fishers cannot agree on anything, even the sub-group on this very forum! LOL

Meanwhile I, like many others, already donate to Alex Morton's organisation (among others) but as everyone knows she is solely focussed on the fish feed lot issue, which is a tough row to hoe of itself. She will not have the energy and resources to take on the much broader range of issues that concern us. For that I do believe we need a new group, with a statement of principles and objectives, a committee (I know sounds bureaucratic but gotta be done! ), a spokesperson, and some means to handle donations, if any. As I say speaking for the forum is a tall order, let alone all recreational fishers (and BTW how do we ensure we are not duplicating and overlapping the work of SFAB and SFAC and confusing everyone?)

[Foxsea]

... to take on the much broader range of issues that concern us. For that I do believe we need a new group, with a statement of principles and objectives, a committee (I know sounds bureaucratic but gotta be done! ), a spokesperson, and some means to handle donations, if any. As I say speaking for the forum is a tall order, let alone all recreational fishers (and BTW how do we ensure we are not duplicating and overlapping the work of SFAB and SFAC and confusing everyone?)

You picked up what I was laying down - haha. Not too subtle...

You bring valid points forward.* In the interest of expediency though, can we not "piggy-back" on an organization that is up and running. No offense intended to them and the hard work they do but there is some history behind SFAB and SFAC that could alienate potential supporters. As many have noted though, we do need to take action quickly - not get bogged down in creating another, competing bureaucracy. Time is not on our side (to paraphrase Mick).

... our infighting and fragmentation works well to distract our resources away from fighting the Harper agenda. United we stand!

Another subtle hint - is Profisher up for this? (*...a heavyweight on here who carries more credibility and linkages to the recreational fishing community at large.)

[profisher]

Hahh, if there were 48 hours in a day maybe. LOL I'm not the right person to lead an effort like that anyway. Maybe a part of a team but not the up front guy. I'll be getting more involved, just not sure yet what direction it will be. I'm convinced that the fight to save salmon and thus improve our situation as sport fishers will be won by a group not associated to any fishing sector. Our representatives have already tried numerous times and we never get taken seriously by the public as we are always going to be taken as biased and motivated by self interest. We need to find a conservation based group who isn't anti fishing, if there is such a thing. If there isn't then one needs to be formed. People will be more receptive to joining a group wanting to save our salmon than they will be to help sport fishermen get more fish to catch. Just my opinion.

[lorneparker1]

If you really want to make change, IMO, its time to get with the enviromental groups. Thats where im focusing. The SFAB and SFAC wont make the nessecary change i want in my life time. To much bearuacry. THe DFO would love us to use them for everything. They can manage the SFAB. I dont want to be managed, i want change.

Alexandra Morton is where im starting. Passionate, EDUCATED, and knows how to get it done.