Thanks for sharing your opinion and I get your message. However, I don't agree on the June to August season as it is an unfair solution for a large number of anglers in BC plus many businesses that rely on the halibut resource for off-season income.
Perhaps we should look at this dilemma in a different more humorous way to show just how divisive this issue can become: [}
]With tongue firmly in cheek - please note I am joking around not recommending this:
For all Fisheries Management areas except 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 123, 124, 125, 126 and 127</u> the 2010 halibut season opens on Feb 1st and closes Dec 31 - 2 per day and 2 possession.
So with this option the fishery can open and close at traditional times and you get your 2 a day and 2 in possession. All we have to do is deep six (close year round) the west coast of VI and the rest of the coast is just fine thank you. HA! I can just feel the mushroom cloud forming as I write this. Bonus, this zany suggestion should keep the fishery below 790,000 lbs too. And with those above-mentioned areas being closed all year, think of all benefits. Imagine all the halibut that will be left in the water - all those big mama halis (100+ lbers) that won't be caught on the pinnacles and yes, those baby ping pong paddles that can grow to seed the rest of the surrounding ocean. All the gas/diesel that won't be burnt by running out to the offshore banks (Al Gore will just love us for cleaning up the atmosphere!) Let's not forget all the reports from WCVI in 2009 where the message was how fantastic the salmon fishing was all season long on WCVI, so there is no need for hali fishing anyway (halibut is afterall available fresh in the local grocery stores), right? Closing those area will also cut down on guides gifting their catch to clients, stop US halibut interlopers and not to forget US citizens setting up illegal guiding businesses too. Heck, might even stop illegal sales of sport caught fish there too and cut down on foreigners coming here to Canada and catching Canadians fish (resident priority access forever). Wow, it seems like such a little closure for a such lot of gain. [
)][}]All joking aside - my warped divisive message here is a stark reminder that any suggestion of what "I" think is "right" is screwing with somebody's elses right to access halibut and someone's business income.
First we should let the IPHC hear from our Canadian commissioners, also let DFO work on a plan for a 2010 season where the least pain is felt as possible. They may just cave and find money who knows (most unlikely if we are recommending how to manage the season with 790,000 lbs i.e Jun to Aug)
DFO and the Fisheries Minister got us in the horrible mess. Let DFO and only DFO select which Canadians get screwed by the Thibault allocation debacle in 2010. I certainly don't want to prepare the rope that will hang us here so to speak. I do not want to advise DFO on who I feel should loose their opportunity to catch halibut. When DFO show us their proposed plan, the SFAB can voice their objection as loud as they can if the plan doesn't work. And ALL anglers in BC should close ranks to pressure DFO real real hard instead of hoping that all will turn out fine.
Their must be consequences for DFO - we, as anglers, have to stop being such apologists and letting DFO get away with screwing around unfairly with our fisheries. I can't stress that enough. If ever there was a time to make our point this is it. Allocation does NOT work for the sports sector period. Priority access is the answer. DFO ultimately want all species under individual transferable quota. Halibut is but the pilot. We are preparing here in Victoria for our next move.
Gov
God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation than angling - Izaak Walton
