The anti public fishing group is clearly winning the PR war. I’m not sure if the ENGO’s are playing the First Nations or vis versa, but when you look at it, it’s not a marriage of ideals made in heaven. At some point they have to divest themselves of each other, because one group is pro harvesting and the other group is anti. Maybe both sides plan to dump the other once they get rid of us and can turn their efforts inward on each other. Face it they can play nice for a while but eventually the hypocrisy will show itself.
The ENGO’s often use First Nations as a pawn in their game be it pipelines, forestry, or fishing, always have. I suspect First Nations leadership has recognized this and are turning the tables. Using ENGO emotion, media savvy and cash to further their objectives. Suffice to say the vast majority of Canadians are now urban dwellers and no very little about nature. They are ripe for any organization to take advantage of their lack of knowledge and most notably their cheque books.
To be successful we need to promote the fact that while we harvest fish, we are also on the forefront of conservation. We work the hatcheries, clean up the streams and put money (ours not theirs) into conservation. If we only come off as fighting for harvest rights, which I don’t think any of us feel is our primary concern, then we have lost. We need to be vocal and willing to listen as well.
“Show me the Science” behind the closures