Howdy!
Been following and watching this Forum (and this thread) for a while now. Finally got off my duff and joined. There's a lot of good people exchanging plenty of useful and helpful information and ideas here.
There's also a few who've got no business being here.
I will try to (and I encourage all others to do so) remain focused on the real 'Bigger-picture' with respect to purpose of this forum - sharing our love and experiances of this great sport and expressing our conservation concerns and ideas around the resource.
What really irks me to no end is listening to people rant and rave about this or that, then sit back and do nothing about it. As a result, idiot politicians and self-serving special-interest groups have their way with us, and decisions are made - and become law - that both affect our individual rights, and the management of important resources like our wild-salmon.
As RBfishin' and many others have pointed out, there are many issues affecting/contributing to the status of our beloved Pacific Coast sport-fishery. In the 'Bigger-picture', seals, sea-lions, and the First Nations people's fishing practices are minor issues.
Populations of critters that prey on salmon will fluctuate and we - at the top of the food-chain - can easily deal with it if and when it becomes neccessary.
With respect to our Native brothers, lest not forget: they never had a problem with resource availability till the 'White-man' showed up with his destructive logging practices and huge nets that could scoop a whole school of salmon in one pass. Sure, there are incidents where they run afoul of the 'Law' (same as us 'White' people do) and indeed they should be subject to the same penalties we are.
But the reality is - getting back to the 'Bigger-picture' - the Indian's also want to see fish left for their children and future generations, same as us White-folks do.
In my view, the most significant 'Clear and present danger' to our resource is - and in fact has always been - GOVERNMENT MISMANAGEMENT!</u>
Historically, bureaucratic-bungler's in Ottawa - people clueless as to the real issues affecting West Coast salmon - have dealt more 'death-blows' to our salmon stocks than all the seals, sea-lions, sport/commercial fishermen, and Native people's combined.
Today, in my opinion, the most significant issue of late that poses the greatest threat to our 'Wild' salmon stocks and our sport-fishing livelihood is - FISH FARMING</u>. Not only is our Government 'in-bed' with the fish-famrers - a mostly foreign owned/controlled industry - but they have promoted/supported the establishment of this 'filthy' industry on a platform of lies and misinformation.
As a sportfishermen and staunch opponent to fish farming, I am DEEPLY concerned about my Government's posture on this industry. After rather exhaustive research (then writing an essay on the subject followed by feature article published in BC Outdoors/Sportfishing Magazine) I remain convinced that our Government remains totally oblivious to the conservation needs of our 'WILD' Pacific Salmon.
I encourage all my fellow Sport-fishers to take a hard look at this industry, its practices, and our Governments complicity in the industry.
Then stand-up and do something about it!
Cheers,
Terry Anderson