SVIAC
Active Member
The Board at SVIAC are very concerned about the potential closure of areas 19 and 20, or any other severe regulation changes that negatively impact the recreational fishing in said areas this summer. We are working very hard to let DFO and the involved politicians know that we are strongly against any severe fishing restrictions in areas 19 and 20 that are not based upon reliable data, supporting sound conservation measures that involve all stakeholder groups.
______________________________________________________________
Attn: Rebecca Reid Regional
Director General – Pacific Region
VIA EMAIL
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200–401 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3S4
Dear Rebecca,
I was forwarded a DFO letter from Jeff Grout dated April 26th, 2016 seeking stakeholder input on a 2016 Fraser Chinook proposal. Consistent with the unanimous position already expressed to DFO by the Sport Fishing Advisory Board Executive Committee and the SFAB IHPC reps, SVIAC does NOT support the department’s proposal. Maintaining Zone 1 fishing restrictions for the public’s salmon fishery during a large part of the summer season regardless of abundance of Fraser Spring and Summer 5-2 Chinook is unacceptable to SVIAC’s board of directors and our 700 members.
The Haro and Juan de Fuca Straits’ public salmon fishery already endures significant restrictions for five months each year. This fishery has also been plagued with intolerable uncertainty, shifting targets and late notice without any relief from DFO since 2008. While those regulations have been extremely difficult for the south island angling community to adjust to, they have been honoured for conservation sake. Your department’s 2016 proposal places yet more hardship on south island anglers for reasons other than conservation. Anglers have already made huge sacrifices and believe the limit has already been reached. Further restrictions or a closure in June and July will be perceived as punitive and will unfairly damage the positive social and economic values this important fishery provides.
As president of SVIAC I am seriously concerned by this DFO proposal, because if implemented, it sets a dangerous precedent. Not only does this proposal abandon the abundance-based management policy, but it constitutes an unwarranted discrimination against the recreational fishing sector and other Canadians. The Haro and Juan de Fuca Strait salmon angling community has met or exceeded your department’s conservation targets at each and every point since 2008. To properly recognize the importance of the public’s recreational fishery around the south island as well as support the principles in the Recreational Vision Document, DFO should implement the standardization proposal already submitted by the SFAB.
Yours sincerely,
Christopher Bos
President,
South Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition
Cc’d: Jeff Grout Kelly Binning
______________________________________________________________
Attn: Rebecca Reid Regional
Director General – Pacific Region
VIA EMAIL
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
200–401 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3S4
Dear Rebecca,
I was forwarded a DFO letter from Jeff Grout dated April 26th, 2016 seeking stakeholder input on a 2016 Fraser Chinook proposal. Consistent with the unanimous position already expressed to DFO by the Sport Fishing Advisory Board Executive Committee and the SFAB IHPC reps, SVIAC does NOT support the department’s proposal. Maintaining Zone 1 fishing restrictions for the public’s salmon fishery during a large part of the summer season regardless of abundance of Fraser Spring and Summer 5-2 Chinook is unacceptable to SVIAC’s board of directors and our 700 members.
The Haro and Juan de Fuca Straits’ public salmon fishery already endures significant restrictions for five months each year. This fishery has also been plagued with intolerable uncertainty, shifting targets and late notice without any relief from DFO since 2008. While those regulations have been extremely difficult for the south island angling community to adjust to, they have been honoured for conservation sake. Your department’s 2016 proposal places yet more hardship on south island anglers for reasons other than conservation. Anglers have already made huge sacrifices and believe the limit has already been reached. Further restrictions or a closure in June and July will be perceived as punitive and will unfairly damage the positive social and economic values this important fishery provides.
As president of SVIAC I am seriously concerned by this DFO proposal, because if implemented, it sets a dangerous precedent. Not only does this proposal abandon the abundance-based management policy, but it constitutes an unwarranted discrimination against the recreational fishing sector and other Canadians. The Haro and Juan de Fuca Strait salmon angling community has met or exceeded your department’s conservation targets at each and every point since 2008. To properly recognize the importance of the public’s recreational fishery around the south island as well as support the principles in the Recreational Vision Document, DFO should implement the standardization proposal already submitted by the SFAB.
Yours sincerely,
Christopher Bos
President,
South Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition
Cc’d: Jeff Grout Kelly Binning
