Where's Horncastle when you need him? He wouldn't stand for any of this crapola.
2 wrongs don't make a right - horrible argument to justify this.
I had very similar opinions to those expressed here before spending considerable time working with First Nations in fishery management. As sport fisherman and someone who fishes the Cowichan I am obviously disappointed to think of a weak 2014 Steelhead run being impacted by a net harvest. However, I think it is important to keep the ethics of the situation in mind. Runs of all species to the Cowichan used to be healthy and were harvested in river by First Nations. Europeans came along and imposed the idea that harvest in-river was wrong and that salmon should be harvested in the ocean. Now, due to 100 years of that approach, plus water extraction, agriculture, development, logging, etc.. there are often not enough fish in the river for the Cowichan Nation to extract a harvest (of some species anyway) and for it to be sustainable. But sometimes they still do it, if you put yourself in their shoes, can you blame them?
History is full of people with strong opinions willing to call other people names. To a lot of First Nations people sport fishermen are an ethical aberration, taking animals that represent survival(food) and spirituality and turning them into objects for recreation. If you think about it you can see their point. In many ways recreational fishermen and First Nations have a lot of common interests, both want clean rivers, healthy oceans, and enough fish left in the sea to allow more than the bare minimum to return to the river. Where the two groups can collaborate great things can happen. The trick is to put yourself in the other guy's shoes for a bit, however uncomfortable that may be, and see how it feels. Maybe start by pretending to be a young Cowichan guy reading this thread from the beginning and see how you feel about cooperating with recreational fishermen by the time you get to the end.
As a Steelhead fisherman and conservationist I think it is a bad thing. However, as someone who has spent a long time reflecting on this subject I no longer feel that I have the moral right to pass judgment. .
I agree.... This is so frustrating.
Any issue that comes up regarding FN is always sooooo painful. There needs to be clear cut rules! No more interpretations based on rights and how things used to be. It's the year 2014 not 1900. Very frustrating stuff.... You can't say a thing without being accused of misunderstanding certain beliefs and offending people.
Maybe all Canadians should just be equal?
Give your head a shake man.I can understand how this might appear to be a "horrible argument" to some, but I am not suggesting that two wrongs make a right. I am suggesting that the world views of recreational fisherman and First Nations are often very very far apart, and that both groups would benefit from trying to put themselves in each others' shoes. It is much easier to stick to your strongly held opinions than it is to step back and question them from time to time.
To put it in perspective, it is my understanding that for many First Nations the whole concept of catch and release fishing is an unforgivable wrong. They may be far more disgusted by recreational fishermen playing with a fish and risking its survival than in seeing it killed and eaten, even if there is a conservation concern for the population. Some of the things that people have written on this thread are highly offensive and divisive. I have been very disappointed to often find that First Nations people are much less sympathetic to recreational fishermen than they are to commercial fishermen and other groups. Reading this and other similar threads I am seeing where that lack of sympathy comes from. Imagine how you would feel if it was you
You can accomplish a hell of a lot more when you focus on what you have in common.
Please be advised...it was a team approach that saw the nets removed...including the Cowichan Tribes Guardians...DFO can not initiate or act on steelhead issues...only if they are asked for help from Provincial Fisheries Officers can they be part of the process. There was some leadership shown, a team was quickly assembled, and the nets were removed.
I can understand how this might appear to be a "horrible argument" to some, but I am not suggesting that two wrongs make a right. I am suggesting that the world views of recreational fisherman and First Nations are often very very far apart, and that both groups would benefit from trying to put themselves in each others' shoes. It is much easier to stick to your strongly held opinions than it is to step back and question them from time to time.
To put it in perspective, it is my understanding that for many First Nations the whole concept of catch and release fishing is an unforgivable wrong. They may be far more disgusted by recreational fishermen playing with a fish and risking its survival than in seeing it killed and eaten, even if there is a conservation concern for the population. Some of the things that people have written on this thread are highly offensive and divisive. I have been very disappointed to often find that First Nations people are much less sympathetic to recreational fishermen than they are to commercial fishermen and other groups. Reading this and other similar threads I am seeing where that lack of sympathy comes from. Imagine how you would feel if it was you
You can accomplish a hell of a lot more when you focus on what you have in common.
Thank You for the up-date..much appreciated...
DFO can not initiate or act on steelhead issues...only if they are asked for help from Provincial Fisheries Officers can they be part of the process. There was some leadership shown, a team was quickly assembled, and the nets were removed.