I have heard this to from a unnamed DFO source. Fisheries management will be handed over to the first nations. Should not be a surprise in these room with all the DFO hate going around. Out of the frying pan into the fire.
My thoughts:
1. A Fishery does NOT belong to any group, association, community or culture.
2. Salmon, for example, are 'on the radar' of Sport Fisherman, Commercial Fisherman, First Nations People, Environmentalists et al.
3. Salmon stocks are declining, for a myriad of reasons, everywhere in BC (based on anecdotal and factual reports...yes, I grew up fishing for Springs on Abe and Al's with 4 - 12 oz Peetz weights in the canal AND buck tailing for Coho out of Beachcomber. Pictures taken then and now speak volumes.
My concern:
How can any one vested group have an unbiased approach to management of a fishery? It is impossible. The only way to ensure parity and equality for all is for a decision-making body, comprised of each group.
I am not informed enough to actually understand the machinations of present-day management processes. I follow forums, read literature, and try to make sense of who who really saying what when they open their mouth. What I do know, however, is that no matter the intention, this is a shared Fishery and MUST be managed as such.