searun
Well-Known Member
Well, I for one would like to see a change in the current regulations. Currently we are required to release unmarked coho, and are allowed to retain 2 marked hatchery coho. As many folks know, DFO does not mark all hatchery produced coho. Worse, a lot of rec anglers will "catch & release" the wild coho until they get their 2 hatchery fish. Meanwhile how many go to the bottom! Current science suggests that hooking mortality is as high as 18.5% - try this link for further info - http://spo.nmfs.noaa.gov/mfr512/mfr5123.pdf
If that is in fact the case, clearly it would make more sense to simply change the regulations to 2 coho (hatchery or marked). In this way we would actually likely see fewer fish mortality from either harvest or otherwise. We could encourage anglers to get your fish, and change up your gear so you do not target coho. That would be a more effective conservation measure than the current regulation which actually works against conservation by encouraging anglers to practice "catch & release" at an 18.5% hook mortality until they get their fish.
If you need more convincing, consider this. If you typically catch 10 wild coho for every 1 hatchery (talking average trips), that means you hook 22 fish before you catch your 2 marked hatchery fish. At 18.5% mortality on the released coho that means 3.7 coho go to the bottom to feed the hali's. That simply does not make sense to me. Better to get your 2 coho and get off the water. Period, the end.
Time for a change.
If that is in fact the case, clearly it would make more sense to simply change the regulations to 2 coho (hatchery or marked). In this way we would actually likely see fewer fish mortality from either harvest or otherwise. We could encourage anglers to get your fish, and change up your gear so you do not target coho. That would be a more effective conservation measure than the current regulation which actually works against conservation by encouraging anglers to practice "catch & release" at an 18.5% hook mortality until they get their fish.
If you need more convincing, consider this. If you typically catch 10 wild coho for every 1 hatchery (talking average trips), that means you hook 22 fish before you catch your 2 marked hatchery fish. At 18.5% mortality on the released coho that means 3.7 coho go to the bottom to feed the hali's. That simply does not make sense to me. Better to get your 2 coho and get off the water. Period, the end.
Time for a change.