We do have a right to fish, it is called a regulated right, and it is because fish, all of them, are a common property resource, which exists under federal law, and under the constitution. We do have a defined part of the TAC for groundfish, and an allocation agreement we helped to build for salmon, which of course is right now being re-negotiated
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What I am trying to get across is that we have a government that is very carefully, in the Pacific Region, trying to reduce access by failing to build robust rebuilding plans for stocks of concern( Chinook) by using management reductions only to try to address Species at Risk legislation, and looking to maintain or increase First Nations involvement, which has been poorly, In my opinion, until now, brought into the picture. What to do? There are two NGO 's that are working hard to carefully watch the Government decisions, and constructively working to use science based advocacy....very carefully studied, evaluated, and presented science based advocacy to advise fishing management plans. This is the Sport Fishing Institute and the BC Wildlife Federation working with the Sport Fishing Advisory Board, yes it is just allowed to advise, but the BCWF and SFI are able to enter into legal process when it is clear that is being violated.
What everyone needs to do is get informed, and join the SFI or BCWF, membership numbers and fees help the legal and political fighting, and that is where we are...get going and join!