In river netting pics

[wildmanyeah]

The fact remains tho is that gillnets are not selective and there is not an area or time in the Fraser river that they can be deployed that they are not going to intercept some type of species that has a clear conservation concern. It is pretty clear cut that conservation comes first in LAW.

chum mesh is easily capable of catching steelhead, steelhead are a conservation concern. according to the SARA review any harvesting during that 80 day window is a threat to their survival.

 

[SpringFever552]

hmm... no mention of fishing in the Charter, just mundane things like:

• Freedom of conscience and religion
• Freedom of thought, belief, and expression
• Freedom of peaceful assembly
• Freedom of association
• Every Canadian citizen of age has the right to vote
• Every Canadian citizen of age has the right to run for public office
• Elections, both federal and provincial, must be called every five years
• Parliament and legislatures must sit at least once every 12 months
• Everyone has the right to a fair trial within a reasonable time.
• Everyone is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.Every individual is equal before and under the law and has the right to equal protection and benefit of the law without discrimination based on race, nationality, or ethnic origin, color, religion, sex, age, or mental or physical disability.

...but fishing, no.

Thanks for that, glad we agree

 

[agentaqua]

Gillnets are size-selective. larger mesh (6"+) are used for Chinook & chum. Smaller sockeye and steelhead typically go through the larger mesh.

 

[Whitebuck]

AA, I strongly disagree with your assessment on sockeye and steelhead slipping through larger size grids.

Been around too many nets on the Fraser and other systems and seen the impacts of the larger grids on sockeye, steelhead and coho.

Gillnets regardless of the gridsize are not the least bit selective and have no place on our river systems if weak or endangered stocks are going to be encountered!

 

[Dave]

Gillnets are size-selective. larger mesh (6"+) are used for Chinook & chum. Smaller sockeye and steelhead typically go through the larger mesh.

In my experience using gill nets, catchability of smaller fish in large mesh is dependent on how the net is set, ie. loose, hanging 8" mesh will easily catch sockeye; a mesh drawn taut will be more selective and allow smaller fish to pass. Nets in the Fraser are generally set in calmer water, seams of current ... allowing plenty of mesh hang. Not selective at all.

 

[agentaqua]

hanging ratio & fishing method affects bycatch - yes, of course. But claiming that chum nets catch steelhead w/o the caveats as to how that works - lacks demonstration of understanding of how gillnets work. Sockeye nets are much smaller - typically ~4&3/4". Steelhead are typically closer to sockeye-size verses chum or Chinook - altho there are occasional larger fish.

And as mentioned above - timing is also crucial to this conversation, as well...

 

[Dave]

Sorry aa, I'm missing your point. Are you suggesting an 8" mesh net can't be hung to catch sockeye size fish? Also, the steelhead in the Fraser now are Thompson and Chilcotin stock, fish closer to chum size, not sockeye.

 

[wildmanyeah]

They are using 6.25 inches mesh size to target chum. Steelhead are easily caught and saying that the larger egg bearing females and males don’t matter is just laughable coming from someone that quote the precautionary principle so much.

 

[RalphH]

still waiting for any written records of FN "traditional commercial fisheries" pre contact..

Doesn't have to be as the courts have been accepting FN "Oral Tradition" as evidence of their practice and rights for some decades. While in Sparrow and previous cases evidence of trade prior to contact was required to support an FN for "commercial" fishing that is much less so than what is in law and in practice. We've had a separate " economic" fishery for FNs when it's closed for the broader commercial and sport sectors for many years now. Pretty sure there will be no ability to legally withdraw that now.

 

[agentaqua]

no Dave - but typically 8" mesh would catch few sockeye - so why use it if you want sockeye? Most gill net fisheries use different nets for different species and different water conditions. Most small fish go through too large net mesh - the level of bycatch is dramatically reduced that way. The smaller the targeted species - the smaller the mesh is used and vice-versa. Apologies for telling you and others things they may already know. Any idea as to the amount of bycatch, WMY?

 

[wildmanyeah]

no Dave - but typically 8" mesh would catch few sockeye - so why use it if you want sockeye? Most gill net fisheries use different nets for different species and different water conditions. Most small fish go through too large net mesh - the level of bycatch is dramatically reduced that way. The smaller the targeted species - the smaller the mesh is used and vice-versa. Apologies for telling you and others things they may already know. Any idea as to the amount of bycatch, WMY?

not going in circles with you on this when SARA has already stated clearly that any chum netting during the 80 day window is a threat to IF steelhead survival. ITs pretty clear that Conservation does not come before FSC and Commercial fisheries.

 

[fish4all]

I have built many many gillnets. If you want to catch smaller fish increase the percentage of web (changing the hang ratio). Smaller fish will tangle way easier and also double gill. Gill netting is the second most destructive and non-selective fishery there is right behind a factory trawler. The gillnets should be banned on the river no question
That all being said the 7 factory trawlers on the west side of VI that have been there nonstop for the last 6 months are taking their toll on the salmon as well. No observers onboard due to COVID and a half butt camera system that has not been proven or properly tested yet.

 

[wildmanyeah]

Took this picture this morning

 

[fishinforever]

Where abouts was that one taken?

 

[wildmanyeah]

Where abouts was that one taken?

thet was a few hundred of them out on the Fraser river today

 

[ericl]

not going in circles with you on this when SARA has already stated clearly that any chum netting during the 80 day window is a threat to IF steelhead survival. ITs pretty clear that Conservation does not come before FSC and Commercial fisheries.

IMO this thread was destined to "go in circles" from the get-go. fish4all is right-on calling out Gill nets & draggers. Also 100's of draggers at work in AK.
To those that persist in calling-out only the FN's for destructive fishing practices - why are you doing this? W/O context, pictures like the one above appear to be racist propaganda IMO; location COULD be freshwater/saltwater, could be operated by anybody as far as I can tell. How is what you are doing helping the situation? Any meaningful action on this issue will be taken by non-sports fishers; what would they think of this thread ?

 

[wildmanyeah]

 

[ericl]

I have seen video of decks full of dead by -catch being swept overboard on Trawlers. None of it is good - got any pictures of dead wild coho floating after being released? Rockfish?
Years ago it was estimated that for every pound of trawl caught shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico, 100 pounds of dead juvenile fish were thrown back.

 

[wildmanyeah]

Back at it today

 

[wildmanyeah]