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Hi everyone,
just recently, in socials class(grade 11), our teacher asked us to write a letter to the government, either provincial or federal, about a topic of our choice...after much thought, i chose to write about the native fisherys here on vancover island, especially campbell river. i would love to here some input u guys may have, any thoughts or ideas, changes..any advice whatsoever...
here is my letter so far(but it may change)...
Dear Mr. Campbell,
I am writing to you to express my concern about the Native Rights issues, particularly Native Fisheries. Just this past summer, here in Campbell River, one of the local Native bands strung nets across the Campbell River, netting migrating Chinook, Coho, and Pink salmon heading upriver to spawn. This past year was particularly poor for fish returns, and I can imagine that the nets only made it worse. There was much controversy about this fishery, and in the end the nets were taken down, but not before the vast majority of the salmon had already started to return upriver, with many getting caught by the nets in the process. People who sport-fish the Campbell River, me included, were outraged about the nets. Also, native people fishing with rod and reel in the Campbell River, were snagging, and retaining salmon caught this way, which is highly illegal for ANYONE to do, native or not. There was no reason whatsoever for this native fishery to take place. There were many weeks in the summer, where only native fishermen in commercial boats could fish in the waters around Campbell River for “native food fish”, whereas the commercial fishermen who fished for a living, were forced to wait until another opening was allowed after the Natives had finished fishing. This went on throughout the summer, and no one thought anything of it, until one day, 500 dead pink salmon were dumped into one of the local marinas by a Native food fishery boat. They claimed that the fish had “gone bad”, and were no good. These fishermen had taken more salmon then they needed, and when they found they couldn’t sell or give away the remaining salmon, they simply dumped them off their boat. This is a waste that we simply cannot afford to our resources.
The changes I would like to see include the following:
-all Native fishermen fishing for native food fish must follow the same rules, regulations, and quotas that commercial fishermen do, including the same seasons.
–All Native sportfishermen must follow the same rules, regulations, and quotas that ALL sportfishermen do, including the same seasons.
–Any breaking of the law in these situations should be dealt with in the same manner regardless of who they are, same fine, same punishment.
–No nets should EVER be allowed on East Coast Vancouver Island Rivers, EVER.
In following these changes, there will be less controversy when problems do occur, as there will be a clear understanding of the laws regulating these fisheries. Our resources simply cannot handle treatment like this, and if changes are not made, our salmon will disappear.
just recently, in socials class(grade 11), our teacher asked us to write a letter to the government, either provincial or federal, about a topic of our choice...after much thought, i chose to write about the native fisherys here on vancover island, especially campbell river. i would love to here some input u guys may have, any thoughts or ideas, changes..any advice whatsoever...
here is my letter so far(but it may change)...
Dear Mr. Campbell,
I am writing to you to express my concern about the Native Rights issues, particularly Native Fisheries. Just this past summer, here in Campbell River, one of the local Native bands strung nets across the Campbell River, netting migrating Chinook, Coho, and Pink salmon heading upriver to spawn. This past year was particularly poor for fish returns, and I can imagine that the nets only made it worse. There was much controversy about this fishery, and in the end the nets were taken down, but not before the vast majority of the salmon had already started to return upriver, with many getting caught by the nets in the process. People who sport-fish the Campbell River, me included, were outraged about the nets. Also, native people fishing with rod and reel in the Campbell River, were snagging, and retaining salmon caught this way, which is highly illegal for ANYONE to do, native or not. There was no reason whatsoever for this native fishery to take place. There were many weeks in the summer, where only native fishermen in commercial boats could fish in the waters around Campbell River for “native food fish”, whereas the commercial fishermen who fished for a living, were forced to wait until another opening was allowed after the Natives had finished fishing. This went on throughout the summer, and no one thought anything of it, until one day, 500 dead pink salmon were dumped into one of the local marinas by a Native food fishery boat. They claimed that the fish had “gone bad”, and were no good. These fishermen had taken more salmon then they needed, and when they found they couldn’t sell or give away the remaining salmon, they simply dumped them off their boat. This is a waste that we simply cannot afford to our resources.
The changes I would like to see include the following:
-all Native fishermen fishing for native food fish must follow the same rules, regulations, and quotas that commercial fishermen do, including the same seasons.
–All Native sportfishermen must follow the same rules, regulations, and quotas that ALL sportfishermen do, including the same seasons.
–Any breaking of the law in these situations should be dealt with in the same manner regardless of who they are, same fine, same punishment.
–No nets should EVER be allowed on East Coast Vancouver Island Rivers, EVER.
In following these changes, there will be less controversy when problems do occur, as there will be a clear understanding of the laws regulating these fisheries. Our resources simply cannot handle treatment like this, and if changes are not made, our salmon will disappear.
