JDF Derby Shutdown

[Rockfish]

The sad part is that DFO states the Native take of those endangered salmon is in excess of 28,000. DFO's response has been the same the last 8 years. The only way to increase run numbers is to cut back the sporties.

During that time DFO has done nothing to enhance the number of fish in the affected systems and they have done nothing to restore habitat. No hatchery activity and no increase in water. They don't have any accurate data on stock strength or how many fry are even being produced, never mind asking how many get to salt water.

You left out toxic run off, run of river private power projects, not to mention the strip mining of spawning gravel from our rivers.
Then there is the millions of our tax dollars wasted to prop up fish farms that should have gone to habitat restoration and Pacific salmon population enhancement. DFO may as well change their name to the Ministry of Fish Farm Promotion. It seems like it is the only thing the politicians fund them to do well.

It is bizarre to me that DFO has two mandates one to protect wild fish and the other to promote and defend Fish Farms. No conflict of interest there.
While the US government has got serious about Pacific salmon, spending billions on them, our government considers pacific salmon a nuisance that get in the way of things their backers want to do. Pacific salmon are not needed, we have farmed Atlantic salmon.

It seems like DFO only has one tool in their box. Cut back harvesting and let the sectors fight it out between them for a share of the reduced allocation. We have not done well because we are just starting to learn how to fight those battles. This also keeps us from joining forces with other sectors to force government to spend some money to add a few more tools to the box, but if we don’t fight those battles we get left in the dust.

I bash DFO a fair bit but it is not the boots on the ground local guys that are the problem it is the executives and the politicians who have corrupted their basic mission.

[Sculpin]

You left out toxic run off, run of river private power projects, not to mention the strip mining of spawning gravel from our rivers.
Then there is the millions of our tax dollars wasted to prop up fish farms that should have gone to habitat restoration and Pacific salmon population enhancement. DFO may as well change their name to the Ministry of Fish Farm Promotion. It seems like it is the only thing the politicians fund them to do well.

It is bizarre to me that DFO has two mandates one to protect wild fish and the other to promote and defend Fish Farms. No conflict of interest there.
While the US government has got serious about Pacific salmon, spending billions on them, our government considers pacific salmon a nuisance that get in the way of things their backers want to do. Pacific salmon are not needed, we have farmed Atlantic salmon.

It seems like DFO only has one tool in their box. Cut back harvesting and let the sectors fight it out between them for a share of the reduced allocation. We have not done well because we are just starting to learn how to fight those battles. This also keeps us from joining forces with other sectors to force government to spend some money to add a few more tools to the box, but if we don’t fight those battles we get left in the dust.

I bash DFO a fair bit but it is not the boots on the ground local guys that are the problem it is the executives and the politicians who have corrupted their basic mission.

Great post.

[the rook]

waterbobber should be layed out on a fricken sidewalk TOOL, maybe there should be no fishin in the fraser, everyone would obey the law right? i would miss seeing all those piece of shit cars selling ceremonial salmon thou.

[High Five]

I just checked and the JDF Derby is the 2nd largest private contributor to Salmon Enhancment Programs in NORTH AMERICA. It will take a lot of tax dollars to make up that loss if we want to keep feeding killer whales and not serverly damage the economy of Victoria and Sooke.

What was the total contributed last year to the enhancement? Just curious what was the dollar figure?

High five

[Foxsea]

Then there is the millions of our tax dollars wasted to prop up fish farms that should have gone to habitat restoration and Pacific salmon population enhancement. DFO may as well change their name to the Ministry of Fish Farm Promotion. It seems like it is the only thing the politicians fund them to do well. ... We have not done well because we are just starting to learn how to fight those battles. This also keeps us from joining forces with other sectors to force government to spend some money to add a few more tools to the box, but if we don’t fight those battles we get left in the dust.

Great post, Rocky! Time for us to take the gloves off and git-er-done.

[profisher]

Loosing the derby is a tough one. Public opinion in this fight for our access to fishing is going to make the difference ultimately for both the fish and our survival. So balancing raising money by way of a derby and conserving the fish of concern is a somewhat delicate matter. I haven't thought about this a lot yet but my first thought was to have the derby but have a restriction to not allow any fish over 30 pounds to be entered. ( as they are likely the 5-2's of concern) This means the same prizes will be won, probably gives more people a realistic chance of being in the top prizes and allows the event to continue donating to their charities. Guys the whole issue is still political BS and the restrictions that are proposed will do nothing and this issue will continue to get worse unless DFO is exposed and it is proven to the public for what it is....useless.

[tarbender]

This is my first thread on this great site. Many of you know me as the Vice President of the JDF Salmon Derby. This derby from day one was and continues to be about conservation of fish and giving back so that our kids kids have the same opportunities that we did. From day one we were an "invitational" derby with restrictions on number and weight of fish caught. I see some label us as a fish slaughter which I am offended by. George and his family and the executive have given up so much to be able to provide Victoria with a Class Act. There are other alternatives as Holmes indicated such as a catch and release derby. The fact that DFO first gave us their assurance the slot limit would be lifted on the eve of the derby, then a few days later hit us with the threat of closure hit us like a ton of bricks. Given the amount of time we had to decide, do we invest 30- 40 k and hope DFO keeps it open or wait until the week before the derby for the chinook closure? I stand behind the decision and maybe next year if DFO makes sound decisions we may be back. I apologize to all the hatcheries that depend on our dollars to make it happen. It is a sad, sad day.

Fred

[lorneparker1]

This is a terrible thing in more ways then I can list. The money to hatcheries, the local economy, to name a few. When are people going to do something? What the F$&@&k is to going to take! If you can support a hatchery do it! If you can support an activist! Do it. If there is am sfab meeting go to it! If there is any chance to get in front of the dfo and tell them to go to hell... Do it!

[High Five]

This is my first thread on this great site. Many of you know me as the Vice President of the JDF Salmon Derby. This derby from day one was and continues to be about conservation of fish and giving back so that our kids kids have the same opportunities that we did. From day one we were an "invitational" derby with restrictions on number and weight of fish caught. I see some label us as a fish slaughter which I am offended by. George and his family and the executive have given up so much to be able to provide Victoria with a Class Act. There are other alternatives as Holmes indicated such as a catch and release derby. The fact that DFO first gave us their assurance the slot limit would be lifted on the eve of the derby, then a few days later hit us with the threat of closure hit us like a ton of bricks. Given the amount of time we had to decide, do we invest 30- 40 k and hope DFO keeps it open or wait until the week before the derby for the chinook closure? I stand behind the decision and maybe next year if DFO makes sound decisions we may be back. I apologize to all the hatcheries that depend on our dollars to make it happen. It is a sad, sad day.

Fred

uh oh closure....

High Five

[Tips Up]

Very sad about the derby shut down this year.
A lot of fun, fundraising and local economic benefit to be lost this year.

Tips