Anglers, it’s time to fight for your rights to fish for salmon!

Here’s How

On February 27^th the South Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition, the Public Fishery Alliance, the Fraser River Sport fishing Alliance and the BC Recreational Fishing Association sponsored a public meeting that drew 300 participants from across the angling spectrum & the general S. Vancouver Island community.

The meeting was called to discuss the future of a world class recreational fishery that spans the waters place from Port Renfrew north to Campbell River.

There was particular attention paid to the regions that have been severely damaged by the double impact of fishing measures to protect Upper Fraser River Chinook stocks, and Southern Resident Killer Whale regulations.

In the hardest hit areas Chinook non-retention, followed by SRKW regulations can last from April 1^st to October 31^st. 2024 will be the 6^th year in a row for these measures, effectively cutting the economic and social life blood out of smaller coastal communities that heavily depend on sustainable angling access.

Issues, consequences and solutions

Issue # 1: Upper Fraser River Chinook are significantly depressed.

DFO has been shockingly negligent about restoring these stocks since 2006.
Zero to minimal funding until very recently.
Minimal technical support.
Minimal baseline assessment capacity.
Limited staffing.
CWT implanting capacity shut down by hatchery closure.

Consequences:

Chinook fisheries from the Upper Fraser spawning grounds to important southern BC ocean fisheries are impacted.
Creates severe economic and social hardships, & reduces revenues to government.
Destroys owner operator fishing businesses.
Destroys angler access & opportunity.
Accelerates loss of fishing infrastructure.
Concentrates fishing effort on other species and salmon runs.

Solutions:

Immediately provide sufficient funds for the Upper Fraser region to address: Staffing shortfalls, technical support and needs of volunteers; and put critical hatchery infrastructure in place to accelerate stock recovery and re-establish CWT capacity and indicator stock data collection.

Issue # 2: Chinook & Coho Mass Marking & Mark Selective Fishing

DFO has slow walked these initiatives for years.
DFO has 2 mobile marking trailers & 2 more on order. They need to be used now.
DFO only marks 15-20% of hatchery Chinook and Coho. Increase MM to a much higher level.
ENGO’s oppose MM and MSF.
MM and MSF are the future for sustaining rec. fisheries.
MSF does not need to be used everywhere.
They do need to be used to support wild stock recovery.
They need to be used to sustain fisheries during periods of low abundance.
MM & MSF improve data collection.
MM & MSF are consistent with US strategies.
No benefits for 3 years if they begin marking right now.

Consequences:

Slow death of important recreational fisheries, particularly in southern BC.

Solutions:

Immediately accelerate MM, and approve new MSF opportunities.
Focus MM on hatcheries that support rec. fisheries struggling under Chinook non retention.

Issue # 3: Southern Resident Killer Whales: “Anglers are not the enemy”

SRKW’s rely on Chinook for 80% of their diet.
SRKW’s compete with Northern Resident Killer Whales, seals and sea lions whose populations have increased significantly since the 1970’s.
Currently 74 SRKW’s in 3 pods.
Threatened by ship strikes & increasing large vessel marine traffic.
They live in a highly polluted environment.
There are few breeding age females.
Anglers want SRKW’s to recover and will do their share, but will not be scapegoats for their problems.
Government whale recovery team has identified competition for food, noise/ship proximity and pollution as areas of concern.
Government recovery strategy is mainly built around static closures.
Static closures don’t protect highly mobile whales.
Static closures are inconsistent with US whale recovery strategies.
Whales are only in no-salmon-fishing zones for short periods of time.

Consequences:

4 month of no-salmon-fishing rules and no-access sanctuary zones destroy angling access.
They cannot measure the effectiveness of static closures.
Regulations are too complex and change often: “Whack a mole management”.

Solutions:

Use mobile avoidance zone management.
Listen to advice from impacted communities & experienced anglers.
Work with anglers to develop plans.

How can anglers help themselves?

Support organizations like those mentioned here by volunteering, word of mouth & financially.
Become politically engaged.
Vote for candidates that support Canadian’s rightful access to retain salmon.
Write letters, send emails, go to your constituency office, and tell them that salmon are important to you socially and recreationally.
Recognize this is a political fight.
We will lose if we are not informed and engaged.
Use this information to craft your message.
Get your family, friends, and fishing partners to do the same.
Send letters and emails to: Your MLA and MP, all BC MP’s, the Prime Minister, the Minister of Fisheries, leaders of the opposition, members on the Standing Committee on Fisheries, the Pacific Region Director General of Fisheries.
Answer government consultation questionnaires: There is a link to the draft 2024/25 Integrated Fisheries Management Plan document on Island Fisherman Magazine’s webpage titled “What is an Integrated Fisheries Management Plan?”
Share this document.

Links to contact information:

Fisheries Minister

[email protected]

Allistair Macregor

Cowichan—Malahat—Langford MP

[email protected]

Bob Zimmer MP – Conservative

[email protected]

David Eby – Premier Of BC

[email protected]

Lisa Marie Barron MP – NDP

[email protected]