My 2 cents ...
As I see this there are two issues facing us regarding the "Halibut closed until further notice" topic:
1. The now broken 12/88 allocation framework of former DFO Minister Thibault that got us here in this frightful mess today. It needs fixing badly,
2. The breaking of the commitment in that allocation framework document (press release) that suggested no in-season closures, which has lead to disproportionate harm to us down here. And importantly lost opportunity to anglers and those who provide services to anglers during south Vancouver Island's important off-peak season halibut fishery.
In my opinion, you all need to be paying members of groups and associations that stand up for your fishing opportunities and wild fish sustainability interests, whether you are an angler or provide a service to anglers. As I said earlier, we are all naive and misguided if we think we will be saved harmless by doing nothing. A few coins from your pocket each year give these great advocacy groups the bare bones where-with-alls to protect our sector.
While SFI and the BCWF are the two main groups that speak for angling, the BCFDF, BCFFF, BCMTA, BCMCGOA and all the local angling clubs lobby and work diligently for you on fisheries issues? Do they help? Your darn tooting right they do! There are all out there as we speak going to bat for us. If you claim to be a concerned angler and haven't joined on with at least one of the above yet, you should be ashamed.
On south Vancouver Island the issue becomes more a localized major inconvenience and a big lost opportunity that has led directly to subsequent reduction in the broad ranging business income of the public fishery. The disproportionate suffering of the negative in-season management decisions (now over two seasons) MUST be braodcast widely. We need to make government hear the pain of the local folks affected by the injustice. We need the world to feel our anger (they sadly don't all read SFBC to learn what you think).
Now you hairs on fire, what to do?
My suggestion is join one of the above groups, if you aren't a member already, to pay your basic dues to the sector and your bigger picture fishing interests. Do your own research as to which is right for you, not what someone else might tells you. And become involved if you have interest in doing more.
And if you are one of those who have been taken off the water on south Vancouver Island (there are many) by the halibut management debacle or have been financially challenged by this early closure and late opening of halibut, step up to the plate to do more.
The Feb 3rd meeting in Victoria invites all anglers to attend and equally welcomes all angling groups to come out too; both those representing resident anglers and those representing industry. We need to stay tight together and speak with one message. This will be the venue to choose what the message will be, who will do our bidding and how the message is to be broadcast.
So folks keep that fire in your belly burnin' and don't loose sight of the target!
March 1st on the water or the gloves come off!
Governor
God never did make a more calm, quiet, innocent recreation than angling - Izaak Walton