This issue was raised through SFAB process last year, and again I believe this year by some of the SFAC groups. We also raised it with DFO last year in WCFGA meeting. The main issue then and I suspect again this year is while the abundance of Interior Fraser Coho has been on the increase, there are still concerns that interception rates will push recreational catch up beyond the max target of 3 percent. They use the coded wire tag data to extrapolate the impact of expanding the areas we want opened to retention of wild coho. I'm not completely convinced I concur with how this data is being used, but it is what it is for now. Hopefully with the higher abundance there will be enough coho to allow expansion of the open areas.
Last year we asked to at least expand this to the surf line, and got no where....so getting off shore is a long shot IMO
One other hitch, that is coho are currently closed off shore for commercial troll, and if DFO opens this area for rec fleet then that opens door for troll fleet. I suspect there ain't enough room for both. So you know what's going to happen there!
