quote:Originally posted by Captain Dudds
fisher69,
I work for a lodge and don't bs my numbers at all. We were given these little computer things and I record everything I catch right after I catch it, including weight. All guides at the lodge have them. Why would we bs our number anyways? If we "trick" DFO into thinking we only catch x pounds, then they will see no need to alter the allocation or take any other means of action. It would be very short-sighted to bs our count, and most of us are in it for a longer run.
reelfast,
It is not a free-for-all. The rec sector count is determined by counting a select few then averaging over the entire population. We have what are called "Creel Surveys" which is basically a guy standing at the ramp that records how long you fished and what you caught. Those numbers are averaged over the number of boats out, which are counted via boat or plane. The process is similar with lodges. The lodge I'm at keeps numbers but not all do. The numbers we give are used to approximate what all lodges catch.
It is not perfect but is certainly not a free-for-all.
fisher69,
I think its ridiculous to argue that the rec sector does not care about conservation. Likewise with the commies. Both sectors have people committed to conservation and both have people that catch all the fish they can, sometimes illegally.
Several sporties just on this forum have discussed their efforts towards conservation. One of the guides I work with has spent most of his life working and volunteering at hatcheries. Likewise I am sure there are a number of commies that put work in as well.
On the other hand, I know a number of commercial fishermen, hali and salmon, and could name multiple instances where I overheard or was told about fishing practices that made me cringe. Likewise I have seen tourists bonking coho and other poor practices from the rec sector.
Nothing good can come from this discussion, it will just go back and forth. Very counterproductive - focus on possible solutions instead.
LC,
I agree regarding with the sporties needing a fixed number, or perhaps a floor and a ceiling. We need a certain number of fish to survive, hence the floor (~1 mil lbs), and we have no use for numbers beyond what we caught during our good seasons (~2 mil lbs). With the current allocation policy, we cannot benefit from the peak years because we can't catch that many fish anyways, so the extra will go to the commercial sector. For example if we were given 2.2mil lbs we would likely only catch 1.6-1.8 or so then the commies would get the extra - i.e no benefit for sports beyond a certain number. Conversely during poor years we cannot survive. From my somewhat short experience guiding, I can handle slow days with very few fish, but if we cannot fish at all we are screwed.
With the current 88/12 policy, the sports sector is not built to withstand, or take advantage of, high and low years. It is built for a steadier, somewhat more reliable allocation. I'm not saying the commies thrive off big fluctuations, certainly not, but they are more resilient to them.
The commercial and sport sectors operate very differently thus creating a suitable allocation policy is a very complex problem. Usually, complex problems require complex solutions, which is why the very simple 88/12 fails. In my opinion, any simple split whether 88/12 or 80/20 is not optimal. I think the sports allocation should fluctuate within 30% of the last 10 years average catch, while the commercials get everything else. Simply put, if the sports 10 year average catch was 1.5 mil, then the floor would be about 1 mil and the ceiling about 2. If over the years our average catch went up to say 2 mil, then the floor would be 1.4mil and ceiling about 2.6. That would account for any expanding or shrinking the sports sector does in the future.
Make sense?
)]The recreational sector has always been the 1st to give up access(closures) and limits for the best interests of the fish - as compared to the Commies. [}
