Seabird joins bid to block chinook sport fishing

[ZENYO]

This is nuts...

Full Story - Read more here - http://www.agassizharrisonobserver.com/news/387873562.html

"A lawsuit that aims to shut down sport fishing for chinook salmon bound for the Fraser River has been launched by a group that includes Seabird Island First Nation.

Seabird has joined the Katzie, and Kwantlen First Nations in a legal challenge of the way the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) manages spring chinook salmon on the Fraser.

The three Fraser River First Nations are asking for an order that halts sport fishing off the coast of Vancouver Island because, they say, the recreational anglers there are taking too much from the spring chinook stocks that are heading for the Fraser River.

They issued a joint statement Tuesday that said DNA analysis of scale samples collected from fish caught in the marine sports fishery show chinook are being caught in "substantial" numbers.

"Analysis also shows that more are being killed after being caught and then released" the statement said.

The statement went on to say the decision to take court action was made after some Fraser River First Nations members were charged for harvesting a single spring chinook for a First Salmon Ceremony.

Chief Susan Miller of the Katzie First Nation said DFO is giving priority to sports fishermen over First Nations.

"While we sit on the banks of the Fraser River to conserve these fish for our future generations, sports fishermen are out there taking thousands for recreation,” Miller said."

 

[Franko Manini]

This is out of control. They won't be able to establish a linkage between sports fishing and chinook stocks because you cannot isolate all the other variables. They would have to demonstrate that sports fishing has an impact equal to or greater than all the other factors that influence return rates. The DNA evidence is not likely to get admitted since they won't be able to PROVE that the samples were collected from sports caught fish. This thing doesn't have a hope, but it's the disturbance and animosity it will cause that is of bigger concern.

 

[advTHXance]

It seems to me that the commercial fleet and FN tribes slaughtering fish by the thousands with nets/seines is the real problem here. Even if every sportfisherman in the fleet fished on the same day, the take would be selective and spread out, as opposed to just netting an entire run of salmon to the point of extinction.

Furthermore, when do the FN or commies ever give something back to the fishery? Seems like its always take, take, take with them. There are lots of well-intentioned sporties donating their time, money and efforts back to conservation and hatchery efforts, yet I seldom hear of any FN or commercial initiatives of the same kind. Maybe Im just ignorant to their efforts, but it does seem like sporties get stuck doing the heavy lifting a lot of the time, and for the smallest piece of the pie to boot!

Pardon me if Im mistaken in my assertions, its just how I see things from here....

 

[ziggy]

This appears to be more about grabbing attention than anything else. If they seriously wanted to lower the catch rate, wouldn't it make more sense to target commercial fishing? Why would you go after a sector that takes such a relatively small amount of fish, other than to garner headlines?

I am very disappointed that the media is so easily mislead and simply prints what is essentially an uninformed press release crafted to pit two user groups against each other. A professional reporter might want to dig into the issue and find out what percentage of fish recreational anglers take? What percentage of ceremonial and food fish are actually sold to non First Nations? Who foots the bill for frivolous lawsuits that seem to be the only fishing expeditions many of these people go on?

Another question that seems to go unanswered is why the environmental groups turn a blind eye to the nets in the Fraser and their impact?

 

[TheBigGuy]

It doesn't matter if the suit is frivolous if there is no one in court to vigorously defend sport fishers interests. Do you think you can rely on the DFO to defend our interests. My perception of the department is they look on our sector as nothing more than an annoyance. I'm quite sure they would be more than happy if they did not have to deal with managing the resource for sports fisherman. Way easier to deal with 2user groups than 3. The commercial interests have all the financial and political backing. The FN have all the media, the courts, and PC Canadians supporting their interests. Sports fishers have little in the way of financial resources, and not a lot of public or media sympathy.

As mentioned in other threads on this topic. If you are concerned about your rights as a sport fisher you need to put your money where your mouth is. The organizations that champion anglers rights can not defend our rights in court without the funds to launch a legal battle. Court cases are very expensive. The groups that represent anglers interests need funds to fight these challenges to our rights to fish.

If you are not already a member of an organization that fights for our rights, you need to buck up and join one quickly before its too late. Funds will be desperately needed to preserve our rights.

On a side note, please try to refrain from posting photos of sports caught fish that are required by slot limits to be released.


"Analysis also shows that more are being killed after being caught and then released" the statement said.

You are only providing more evidence to be used in court against us by posting these kinds of photos on the Internet. This will be the first thing they introduce as evidence to support their case that sports fishers are killing many of the fish that they are supposed to be releasing. Do other anglers and the fish a favor and release slot fish without removal from the water. You can pretty much count on the slot limit being in effect next year, so you need to learn to release fish without causing mortalities. That is if you can fish at all in the Fraser approach corridors next year. If the First Nations win this suit sport fishing will be severely curtailed in the future. Don't be part of the problem, and please give a contribution to an angler organization that could desperately use the money to defend our right to fish.

 

[Derby]

Another question that seems to go unanswered is why the environmental groups turn a blind eye to the nets in the Fraser and their impact?

What environmental groups would u be refereing too??

 

[ziggy]

Another question that seems to go unanswered is why the environmental groups turn a blind eye to the nets in the Fraser and their impact?

What environmental groups would u be refereing too??

I'll bite, which environmental groups have taken issue with the netting? I am unaware of any, so I guess I'm referring to them all! Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Big Green Machine]

Thread here folks http://www.sportfishingbc.com/forum...ctive-salmon-fishery.63834/page-2#post-796134

 

[Big Green Machine]

Furthermore, when do the FN or commies ever give something back to the fishery? Seems like its always take, take, take with them.

Not sure about the commercial sector but there are a lot of FN groups doing great things for fisheries in BC.

For example they single handedly restored the historic Sockeye run to Osoyoos and yes they take their share but they also provide angling opportunities for the recreational folks. It is a first class operation. You can't paint all the bands with the same brush stroke.

 

[AlGee]

Commercial caught spring salmon are commanding a HUGE price this year. Troll fishers were getting dockside price of $12.50 a pound. Why do you think FN wants to take springs? They got it all scoped out and this is just a ploy/plot to get an allocation they can get rich(er) on.

 

[aheny]

An appropriate response is to rescind any and all special fishing status these specific people have.
What an abhorrently selfish attitude. I don't know any FN who would condone this

 

[Big Green Machine]

An appropriate response is to rescind any and all special fishing status these specific people have.
What an abhorrently selfish attitude. I don't know any FN who would condone this

So I assume you will be asking the Supreme Court of Canada this question? What person with a ton of cash in the Rec sector has the passion to lead this charge or what politician is going to champion?

 

[ziggy]

You know for what it's worth there are things we can all do. We can and should write our local MP's as well as the Minister and detail what we see as a conservation issue that is being deflected. Or I guess we can all just do nothing because it's hopeless?

I chose the former

 

[MadJigga]

I think a private investigator could document the illegal sales of salmon by FN, show how widespread the issue is. And we could use this information to approach the minister and the media.
Bad idea.....???

 

[Aces]

I think a private investigator could document the illegal sales of salmon by FN, show how widespread the issue is. And we could use this information to approach the minister and the media.
Bad idea.....???

Who's going to pay for it?

 

[ziggy]

GreenPeace, Sea Shepherd, David Suzuki, Sting, Sierra Club? Lol

 

[aheny]

I see RCMP in line to buy Sockeye in Pitt Meadows from the FN. it's probably an impossible battle

 

[Dave H]

High prices for Chinook and few Sockeye around probably explains why three people in a sports-fishing boat just fished through the Tyee Pool using downriggers.

They sounded very First Nation-ish as they yelled at the people standing at the Tyee clubhouse watching them.

So now we have the crab fishers running through the pool at will as well as others down-rigging and motoring illegally in the pool.

Can hardly wait for young Nathan to run the bands gillnetter through again.

And there are no Chinook here yet so the big question remains........... WTF??

Something's got to happen here before this gets even more retarded.




Take care

 

[ryanb]

I've said it before, the fault lies with government, not FN. When you are given free reign with zero consequences, what do you expect?

 

[Capt_Ed]

DFO loves it when this crap happens as it keeps the 3 user groups fighting against each other, divide and conquer