Call to Action – Help Save BC’s Public Fishery

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So I have not written my letter to the minister yet or the PMO's office. I'm trying to figure out if I should mention anything about the options because past letters I have wrote to the PMO and Minister they forwarded to a high level DFO director (Andrew Thomson). I don't want it to get lumped in with the pervious letters nor do I want the letter to get added to this current pile.

So the question is should I mention the options or just voice my displeasure with addition closures and the damage it could do to the public fishery?

and who should I address in it captain JT selfie face or the fisheries minister or should I send separate letters to them.
 
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So I have not written my letter to the minister yet or the PMO's office. I'm trying to figure out if I should mention anything about the options because past letters I have wrote to the PMO and Minister they forwarded to a high level DFO director (Andrew Thomson). I don't want it to get lumped in with the pervious letters nor do I want the letter to get added to this current pile.

So the question is should I mention the options or just voice my displeasure with addition closures and the damage it could do to the public fishery?

and who should I address in it captain JT selfie face or the fisheries minister or should I send separate letters to them.
I think mentioning options is a positive move. It shows you’re willing to try and find a workable solution as opposed to simply complaining and pretending the problem doesn’t exist. I think admitting there are issues with salmon returns isn’t a problem, suggesting it’s all because of the public accessing its communal resource is. By identifying options you are calling into question DFO’s go to answer to everything, screw average Canadians and appease special interest groups.

I’d sent mine to the Minister, the Opposition critic and my MP. Having said that I’m sure Elizabeth May, my MP, is just hoping I go away! Good luck Liz I’m going nowhere lol! In my latest letter I mentioned how frustrated I was and how I consider the erosion of the public’s access to the public’s fish as a major election issue!
 
Much of it just isn’t science based. That’s what I’ve been pushing in my letters.
Yeah, I asked the Minister to publish what percentage of fish are caught by the general public. Obviously his Department must have an extremely accurate number and it must be extremely high if banning the public is all that’s needed to fix all the problems. Then again if the numbers they are using come from some ENGO’s playing scientist, as opposed to verifiable numbers from real qualified scientists, maybe DFO needs to have a hard look at itself!
 
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Just a quick note: You want to be very careful getting into numbers.
For yes, they exist. And yes, they are based on "science" from within the Department.
But no, you won't like what they have to say.
Really.

Cheers,
Nog
 
Just a quick note: You want to be very careful getting into numbers.
For yes, they exist. And yes, they are based on "science" from within the Department.
But no, you won't like what they have to say.
Really.

Cheers,
Nog
You may well be right Nog, but I’d suggest the numbers they produce are at best estimates using questionable methology and at worst a wild butt guess in the abscence of hard facts. At any rate those numbers need to be made available and either challenged or accepted that’s a basic tenet of real science .Too much of this crap is hidden behind a bureaucratic wall of secrecy and a hope that the general public will accept that they must know what they are doing and avoid asking tough questions. Without actual numbers or even the ones they are using, how can there ever be a meaningful discussion?
 
Appreciate that!

Cheers!

Ukee
Thanks, I screwed up a bit...the difference in the model is 0.008% impact on Exploitation Rate (ER) between Option A & B.

Each of us can take action. The biggest problem for the Public Fishery is we are essentially a push over. There is no realistic and credible threat to government that the public (rec anglers) will rise up and create a political wave of action. We are an easy dog for them to kick around because we don't ever bite back.

Well, time for each of us to bite back. If everyone writes a letter to Fisheries Minister Wilkinson and the Prime Minister (more than the 900 or so earlier) that is a solid way we can send a political risk message. Personal letters, not form letters. There is a difference, and personal letters get noticed.

Also, everyone here likely has a social media account - please post up asking people to write the Minister.
 
Just a quick note: You want to be very careful getting into numbers.
For yes, they exist. And yes, they are based on "science" from within the Department.
But no, you won't like what they have to say.
Really.

Cheers,
Nog
The numbers are what they are. We know from the modelling where/when Fraser Chinook stocks are encountered. That is based on CWT. One problem with CWT as everyone knows is not enough clipped heads are being turned in, which means that in a low sampling year there is an "expansion factor" used to make up the statistical difference for what is likely (estimated) to be missing. So for one cell if you apply an expansion factor of 14, that will take 1 actual CWT and make that 14. While we don't like the number, it is what it is until we can get other data sources such as DNA into the mix.

Even at that (CWT expansion factor) the estimated number of Fraser Chinook actually "harvested" is quite low. That is because there are selective fishery regulations that have been employed to help address and pass those fish through certain fisheries at times and places where we know these fish are encountered. So the Rec fishery can be scaled toward a highly selective fishery to help protect fish, while allowing a fishery to proceed.

Having said all that....I don't think the Minister is really going to want to get into the "numbers" - best to simply state your concerns, the potential impacts, and a call to work with the public fishery to fashion a selective fishing model that creates that win/win.
 
Likewise.

Got an acknowledgment on the email which just said we’ve forwarded your email to the pacific salmon team. Took 3 minutes. Not hard, so do it.

Yeah see I want the PMO office to not do this so I think im going to leave out the options and make it political maybe Ill write two letters.
 
Yeah see I want the PMO office to not do this so I think im going to leave out the options and make it political maybe Ill write two letters.

They’re prob just forwarding based on subject line. Maybe the subject line should be something different like “Whales” or “Coast Guard” or “Pyrosome abuse”

I hope Wilkinson reads the damn letter as it was addressed to him.
 
Here is my third letter in the last couple of weeks. One can only hope common sense prevails.

Mr. Wilkinson


I am writing to voice my concern about proposed reduction in daily and possession recreational limits for chinook salmon on the B.C. coast.

My family has been fishing B.C. coastal waters and using this resource to put healthy food on our tables is of utmost importance to us.

The science has shown that the suspension of public fishing will not alone achieve the escapement goals set out by your department. Therefore, I strongly believe that all user groups including first nations must share in the rebuilding of the once mighty chinook runs.

Any further delay in a Pinniped harvest will worsen the crisis for the sustainability of the salmon runs and the rebuilding of salmon stocks. A Pinniped harvest must be done quickly to bring them to acceptable numbers for salmon protection.

Herring fisheries in the Georgia Strait should be suspended until science has proven that our BC coast has recovered from the elimination of four of our six major herring runs. The unprecedented number of pinnipeds are preventing your staff from taking a test fishery. Do you think there might be a problem there?

We must make certain that there are enough salmon that make it to the spawning grounds to ensure the rebuilding of the stocks before any netting of the river is allowed. I support a First Nations food and ceremonial harvest, but not to the detriment of the salmon. First Nations, commercial and public fisheries must share equal responsibility for the long-term survival of our salmon.

Once the salmon have the food to sustain them, acceptable levels of pinniped predators and there is no fish farm disease to prevent their ability to make it to the spawning grounds, we must make certain that the spawning grounds are rebuilt to the state that they will support life for generations to come.

I believe that your ministry has for years underestimated the cultural and economic importance of the public fishery to many thousands of British Columbian and I would urge you to reconsider this latest proposal.

Continuing to discount the benefit of public fishing to the citizens and voters of B.C. would be a tragedy.
 
This is pretty serious guys, and I am personally now worried. I am also monitoring traffic today from the post on social media that many aren't taking this seriously.

This is the last time... FOR THE LOVE OF GOD SEND YOUR LETTERS. Get all business, tack shops, restaurants, guides, friends, families, wives/kids etc. to write to the minister. We need to show the minister we aren't a small group compared to these NGO organizations. This attack on our fishery has gone long enough. If this fishery closes there is no turning back. I don't know how to make it more real for you.

This ISN'T A DRILL OR FALSE ALARM.

Thanks now I am off to spread the word where I can... Sorry wish I has better news but we all need your help. Remember #itsyourfisheryfightback

FYI pass this around for a start also:

FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/IslandFisherman/posts/2300357770288159
WEB https://islandfishermanmagazine.com/call-to-action-help-save-bcs-public-fishery/
I have just recently joined sportfishigbc and am very concerned about the public fisheries possible closure , I will write a letter and post the face book post publicly on Facebook , we must be able to show our children and grandchildren the joy's of responsible fishing.
 
Not sure how many of you follow minister Wilkinson on Facebook but sent a message on Facebook yesterday (was my letter) and was read this morning. If they read the whole thing or not, i can’t tell you. But it definitely got opened at the very least. So could be a useful way to get the message across on top of normal email letter you all send. Flood his doors with it.
 
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