It’s time to insist that DFO listen to anglers

[River Rat]

Martin Paish: It’s time to insist that DFO listen to anglers

http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/04...en-to-anglers/

It is with sadness that I see news that the Juan de Fuca Invitational Salmon Championship near Victoria has been cancelled for 2012.

The fact that this important social and cultural event for the B.C. recreational fishery that over its 25-year history has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for much-needed salmon habitat and stock enhancement work has been cancelled should be enough of a tragedy, but it isn’t the whole story.

This major blow to the B.C. angling community and the tourism based businesses that support it is a symptom of a far larger problem. It appears that over the past couple of decades that Fisheries and Oceans Canada has forgotten how important recreational fishing is to British Columbians and increasingly seems to have lost touch with the value of our fishery and how it works.

To illustrate the depth of this problem, you only have to look as far as DFO’s own planning and priority document for 2012. It shows that the target landed value for commercial fisheries nationwide is

$5 billion, while the target for the value of the recreational fishery is $7.5 billion!

The seriousness of the problem becomes even more evident when we find out that the department intends on spending $101.6 million to support commercial fisheries-related activity, while the recreational fishery is allocated $5.9 million. Talk about no respect! How on earth can this be justified?

The issues that flow out of this clear disregard for the recreational fishery affect many species across the entire province. Coho, Chinook, halibut, prawn and crab are all glaring examples of fisheries where the recreational sector is becoming increasingly marginalized. The public outcry surrounding halibut is well documented, and yet even after making a tiny readjustment to the allocation, the minister has still tried to placate the commercial lobby by allowing individuals to lease quota from commercial quota holders and thereby remove all bag limits or seasons for themselves. DFO encourages this blatant defiling of the basic rules and ethics of sport fishing? Disgusting.

Certain Chinook and Coho stocks in the mid-Fraser have been declining for over a decade and DFO has been aware of this. What have they done to address or even gain an understanding of the problem? Nothing, other than attempt to “shave the iceberg” by chipping away at an insignificant recreational catch.

They know that further reductions in sport catch will do nothing to help these stocks, yet once again will take what they feel is the path of least resistance rather than deal with the thornier issues.

This isn’t good enough, and until Fisheries and Oceans Canada is forced to address the fundamental issues of salmon production and in-river mortality rather than recreational catch, there will be no light at the end of this tunnel any time soon.

It is time to stop allowing Fisheries and Oceans Canada to take the easy road. Personally, I’m fed up with DFO managers who are only interested in creating confrontation between sectors and short sighted band-aid solutions to long term problems.

If the 300,000 or so anglers who value the precious time we spend on the water with family and friends, and the hundreds of businesses that are keeping coastal communities afloat across this province with their economic activity aren’t important to DFO, perhaps it’s time we remind them we are here, we are important, and we aren’t going anywhere.

If you care about the future of your recreational fishery, the time has come to say enough is enough. Write the minister, talk to your local politicians, just do something to make them understand that we are important, we do care and we have had enough!

Martin Paish is general manager of Pedder Bay RV Resort & Marina of the Oak Bay Marine Group.

[Foxsea]

Martin Paish: It’s time to insist that DFO listen to anglers
http://blogs.theprovince.com/2012/04...en-to-anglers/
If you care about the future of your recreational fishery, the time has come to say enough is enough. Write the minister, talk to your local politicians, just do something to make them understand that we are important, we do care and we have had enough!
Martin Paish is general manager of Pedder Bay RV Resort & Marina of the Oak Bay Marine Group.

Thanks for posting this! As usual Mr. Paish is bang on. I have complemented him on his efforts on our behalf and asked him to join us here.


Oak Bay Marine Group

I have read Mr. Paish's letters to local newspapers and I say Bravo! The recreational sector has another strong voice to balance the negative and divisive onslaught from the commercial, F.N. and fish feedlot industry. Our wild salmon stocks and the recreation we love are both endangered. D.F.O. has to be accountable. There are many of our sport fishing brotherhood on the SportfishingBC.com forum. In fact it is on that forum where I first read your articles. We are formulating a strategy to respond to the constant erosion of opportunities for sport fishers. Please considering joining the forum and sharing your thoughts as to how we can best proceed in this challenging time.

http://www.sportfishingbc.com/forum/...and-Management.

Many thanks, "Foxsea"

[Cut Plug]

Been participating for a while now. I love the "lively debates" that often happen on this site as well as the great information exchange that takes place amongst many knowledgable anglers.

Thanks for the support for our fishery. Anything I can do to help, I will.


Martin aka Cut Plug

[Sculpin]

Been participating for a while now. I love the "lively debates" that often happen on this site as well as the great information exchange that takes place amongst many knowledgable anglers.

Thanks for the support for our fishery. Anything I can do to help, I will.


Martin aka Cut Plug

Thank you Martin for that great letter to the newspaper.

Cheers,
Sculpin

[chris73]

How can we make the government understand the economic value of sportfishing? I cannot believe that this would be so hard to do and to understand - it's numbers. And then how can we make the government and the public realize that the sportfishing community is the real steward of the fish. No one else actually cares for the fish as a species but rather see the fish as $ value. I think we need a massive educational campaigne. The facts are all there and pretty simple. But we need to get it out there. Thanks Martin, that was a good start!

[wildwest]

Maybe we should all sign a petition demanding that the top brass @ DFO to hand in their resignation....that would get their attention

[Gunsmith]

I think that the DFO has only recognized the commercial fisheries since their inception, sportsfishing has never been on the map except maybe as a fly speck.