... Nog can you please explain to me how a coastwide restriction would not help, I am a little confused, where are these fish coming from then?? I am inclined to agree with Profisher I mean here is a guy who has been at it since most of us were in diapers (not meaning you are and ole Geezer there pro
) but he is willing to reel it in for the short term for long term gain.
While I do appreciate Profisher's situation, and subsequent decision to forgo fishing over this stock, I cannot concur that closing or restricting angling efforts Island-wide would be of any benefit.
For a great many years, samples in the form of head recoveries, DNA samples and more have been collected along the WCVI. I was part of that process both as an observer/technician and as a fisherman. That started in the days LastChance was referring to when Area G's quota was exponentially larger than it is today. More samples of the same have been collected from the angling community in the same area coverage. Analysis of those samples rather well indicates that there is a rather discrete timing when the stock in question is present along the WCVI. That period peaks from between mid to late March through mid April. Yes, there are "
outliers" - a few that wander through a tad early, and a few that do so a tad later. "
Few" being the operative word here.
Several steps have been taken to avoid interceptions of that stock during their presence offshore WCVI, including for many years now, a coast-wide shut-down of Area G through the recognized run timing. Most recreational angling activities don't generally get underway in those areas until much later in the season, by coincidence, well after the stock in question has wandered through. The results of the troll closure have been closely monitored, and that is apparently working as the occurrence of these early-timed fish in the catch have been reduced to practically zero. Similarly, the incidence of capture amongst the recreational fleet through the later months is so sporadic (often zero for many years back to back) as to be considered insignificant.
Taking the above into consideration clearly suggests that closing down fishing efforts along the WCVI to afford this particular stock increased protection would have no effect. The fish simply are not present when those fishing efforts are being conducted.
Again I note that I
VERY Much feel for those who are affected. But also feel the need to point out (
again) that such measures are little more than a band-aide approach to a gushing artery. As many have noted previously, this is a
POLITICAL decision, driven by
The Dino's need to appear to be doing something -
anything - both to appease the FN's as well as public perception. FAR too little, and likely FAR too late. If they were sincere in addressing the declining population numbers, serious efforts would be underway to address pressing habitat concerns, real studies would be underway to identify measures to increase the numbers, and pointedly, the fishing efforts of the one single sector that represents the greatest impact would be curtailed.
The Dino has a whole volume of reasons these focused efforts are not occurring: no money, incomplete/inconclusive data, FN "rights" and so on and so on. They also come up with a handful of suggestions as to why this stock continues to plummet, while blatantly ignoring the obvious in this regard.
Personally I see this as simply a symptom of the disease that has overtaken DFO for a great many years now. And personally I don't foresee it getting any better whatsoever under the current "management" regime. And finally I'd hazard a guess that these fish will be Long Gone before the steps required to revert to Proper Management are ever even considered, let alone implemented.
Nog
