Thank you for writing me to provide your concerns regarding the future of public fisheries in British Columbia, the Chinook fishery in particular.
Fishing has played an important role in the history of British Columbia and has sustained families and economies in our coastal communities for hundreds of years. I believe strong policies implementing effective conservation and rebuilding actions must be enacted to ensure our fisheries are able to continue to sustain Canadians in perpetuity.
These outcomes cannot be achieved by governments alone; they require the support and cooperation of Canadian citizens, especially the fishers who are on the frontline of conservation actions. As a lifelong angler and conservationist, I know first-hand the essential value of contributions made by fishermen to conserving our fisheries for the benefit of future generations.
The Government of Canada’s harvest restrictions for Chinook in British Columbia’s waters announced in April of 2019 inflicted unnecessary harm on our Pacific public fishery and the Canadians, coastal communities and businesses that depend on the fishery. Moreover, the 2019 measures ignored the input and conservation proposals provided to the federal government during consultations performed by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
In May 2019, Conservatives proposed that the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans (FOPO) study the economic impacts on BC communities caused by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ restriction announced for Pacific chinook. Despite strong representations by my Conservative colleagues and I stating the restrictions would have a devastating impact on BC anglers, guides, coastal communities and others, the Liberal members of the committee killed the study proposal.
After the Trudeau Liberals were reduced to a minority government in the 2019 election, Conservatives were able to successfully pass a motion mandating that FOPO study the economic impacts that the Chinook harvest restrictions announced by the Trudeau Liberals have inflicted on British Columbians and those who travel to BC to experience our world-class fishing.
On March 19, 2020, I sent a letter to the fisheries minister calling on the Government of Canada to allow a marked selective fishery for Chinook in British Columbia in the 2020. To date, the Minister has failed to respond.
I have since raised the issue of a marked selective fishery directly with Minister Jordan and her staff on a conference call on March 28th. Her response was that because of the COVID 19 situation it was not a high priority for her department at that time.
The Government of Canada must work with fisheries and oceans stakeholders in good faith and give fair consideration to reasonable proposals such as the Sport Fishing Advisory Board’s 2020-2021 Chinook retention proposal.
I share your frustration and will continue to fight for the right of British Columbians to access what is perhaps our greatest shared resource- our fisheries.
Sincerely Yours,
Mel Arnold
Member of Parliament for North Okanagan- Shuswap
Shadow Minister for Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard