2026 Fisheries Management " Proposals " for SOG & SVI

Won't be until a new government is in place (Conservative) that doesn't use fisheries as reconciliation tool. High up in dfo's were faced with questions from fisheries committee other day and specifically said one of their top objectives is reconciliation... before science even. So let's hope we get a CPC government soon as I know that will change and change quickly.
 
flat-out unbelievable!!!

It’s not unbelievable, these have basically been options for years now, the original proposal if people remeber included the whole mouth of the Fraser and the north arm was giving up as a “compromise” between no SRKW restrictions and full Vancouver’s area SRKW restrictions. Regional DFO managers also pushed internally to keep the south arm open as well as the SRKW stuff is largely out of there control.

At that time Pender island was also sacrificed

So all this has been out for years now
 
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Writing was on the wall IMO when the Pender Bluffs were closed without significant pushback. It was pretty much guaranteed that this was just the beginning.
 
Quite honestly that saying no pushback is old. All of our reps did everything they could to prevent that closure.

So sorry I cry BS. But really how can there be any pushback when we have like no one participating?

Everyone needs to be pull head out of azz and show up at each of their local Sport Fishery Advisory Board meeting this fall. You guys need to show up with the DFO rep there and voice your opposition.

If you feel like it is a waste of time then please don't wine and moan when it closes. You were warned.

I would also suggest everyone reaches out to their local MP.
 
good summary of the history from SFI


all this is a joke, they have basically 7 years worth of feedback
 
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Honestly i think our best bet is to write letters to Carney saying he is doubling down on Trudeau destructive policy's to close the economy and destroying business.

here is what AI did, adjust it to suit your needs

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, Province, Postal Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]

September 26, 2025


The Right Honourable Mark Carney
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2


Dear Prime Minister Carney,


I am writing to you as a concerned Canadian citizen and recreational fisher to express my deep alarm over the proposed further expansion of fishing closures intended to protect the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs). These measures, as outlined in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' (DFO) recent proposals for 2026, represent a continuation—and indeed a doubling down—on the restrictive policies established under the previous Trudeau administration. While the plight of the SRKWs is undoubtedly serious, with their population hovering at just 73 individuals, escalating these closures will inflict disproportionate and irreversible harm on Canada's recreational fishing community, undermining livelihoods, local economies, and our shared connection to the ocean.


The Trudeau government's SRKW recovery strategy, initiated in 2019 and expanded through 2024 and 2025, has already imposed mandatory area-based closures for both recreational and commercial salmon fishing in critical SRKW foraging areas, such as Juan de Fuca Strait, Fraser River Mouth and Swiftsure Bank. These include seasonal bans on Chinook salmon harvesting—the SRKWs' primary prey—from late spring through fall, effectively shuttering prime recreational fishing windows until November 30 each year. The 2025 measures alone introduced new speed-restricted zones and temporary cease-fishing directives, further limiting access to these waters. Now, with DFO's 2026 proposals threatening even broader restrictions, we risk compounding these impacts without clear evidence that such blanket closures are the most effective path to SRKW recovery. An independent science panel's recent report, while calling for bold action, emphasizes targeted interventions like prey enhancement and vessel management over indefinite fishing bans.


This approach not only echoes but amplifies the Trudeau-era focus on top-down environmental mandates that prioritize symbolic gestures over balanced, evidence-based solutions. Recreational fishing in British Columbia alone supports over 300,000 participants and generates approximately $1.2 billion in annual economic activity, sustaining coastal communities from Victoria to Prince Rupert. Yet, the proposed expansions—such as new Chinook closures starting June 1—would eradicate the most vital summer fishing season, leading to lost opportunities, reduced tourism revenue, and heightened frustration among anglers who already comply with strict catch-and-release protocols in sensitive areas. These closures disproportionately burden everyday Canadians who fish for sustenance, family tradition, and mental well-being, while commercial interests and pinniped predation on salmon—another key threat to SRKWs—receive comparatively less scrutiny. In essence, we are sacrificing a vibrant, regulated sector to address symptoms of broader ecosystem decline, without investing sufficiently in alternatives like hatchery enhancements or marine protected areas that could benefit both whales and fishers.


As Canada's new Prime Minister, with your renowned expertise in sustainable economics and global environmental challenges, I urge you to reconsider these expansions. Please direct DFO to:


  1. Conduct a comprehensive socioeconomic impact assessment on recreational fishing before implementing further closures.
  2. Prioritize collaborative solutions, such as increased funding for Chinook salmon restoration and non-lethal pinniped management, as recommended by stakeholders.
  3. Engage directly with recreational fishing associations to co-develop measures that protect SRKWs without eroding public support for conservation.

The SRKWs deserve our protection, but so does the fabric of coastal life that sustains us all. By charting a more equitable course, your government can lead the world in harmonizing environmental stewardship with economic vitality. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further and can be reached at the contact information above.


Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to your response.


Sincerely,


[Your Full Name][Your Title/ Affiliation, if applicable, e.g., Recreational Angler and BC Resident]
 
Vancouver are closure focus

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, Province, Postal Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
September 26, 2025

The Right Honourable Mark Carney
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

Dear Prime Minister Carney,

I am writing as a concerned Canadian and recreational fisher to strongly oppose the proposed adjustments to fishing closures in the Mouth of the Fraser River, as outlined in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' (DFO) 2026 management options for Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) recovery. These proposals, which include spatial and temporal expansions of existing closures, represent an intensification of the restrictive policies established under the Trudeau administration. While the conservation of the SRKW population—currently at a critical 73 individuals—is vital, further expanding these closures will disproportionately harm recreational fishing, coastal economies, and community well-being without guaranteed benefits to the whales.

Specifically, I oppose the following proposed adjustments:

  • Spatial Adjustment Option 2: Expanding closures to include an additional area (outlined in green) where SRKW occurrence is high. This expansion would further restrict access to key recreational fishing grounds in the Fraser River Mouth, a region already heavily regulated under existing closures (status quo boundaries in blue).
  • Temporal Adjustment Option 2: Extending closure timing from June 1 to November 30 to cover periods of high temporal overlap with SRKW prey stocks, particularly Chinook salmon. This drastic extension—from the current August 1 to September 30 window—would effectively eliminate the entire summer and fall fishing seasons, which are critical for recreational anglers and local tourism.
These proposals exacerbate the Trudeau-era approach of prioritizing blanket fishing bans over balanced, evidence-based solutions. The existing closures, implemented since 2019 and expanded through 2024 and 2025, have already curtailed recreational fishing in key areas like the Fraser River Mouth, Juan de Fuca Strait, and Swiftsure Bank. These measures, including mandatory Chinook non-retention zones and vessel speed restrictions, have reduced fishing opportunities while contributing to an estimated $1.2 billion economic loss annually for British Columbia’s recreational fishing sector, which supports over 300,000 participants. Further expansions, as proposed, would devastate coastal communities reliant on fishing-related tourism and erode public support for SRKW conservation.

Moreover, the effectiveness of these blanket closures remains questionable. Independent scientific assessments emphasize targeted measures—such as enhancing Chinook salmon stocks through hatchery programs and managing pinniped predation—over broad fishing bans. Pinnipeds, which consume significant quantities of salmon, continue to face less regulatory scrutiny despite their impact on SRKW prey availability. The proposed expansions risk doubling down on a flawed strategy, ignoring alternatives that could benefit both the whales and fishers.

I urge your government to reject Spatial Adjustment Option 2 and Temporal Adjustment Option 2 in favor of maintaining the status quo (Spatial Option 1 and Temporal Option 1) while investing in alternative recovery strategies. Specifically, I recommend:

  1. Conducting a thorough socioeconomic impact assessment to quantify the effects of proposed closures on recreational fishing and coastal economies.
  2. Increasing funding for Chinook salmon restoration, including hatchery enhancements, to boost SRKW prey availability without further restricting anglers.
  3. Implementing non-lethal pinniped management to address predation pressures on salmon stocks.
  4. Engaging recreational fishing associations to develop collaborative, science-based solutions that balance SRKW recovery with community needs.
As Prime Minister, your expertise in sustainable economics positions you to lead a more equitable approach to SRKW conservation. Recreational fishing is not just an economic driver but a cherished tradition that fosters mental health and community connection. By rejecting these excessive closures and prioritizing innovative solutions, your government can protect the SRKWs while preserving the livelihoods and way of life for countless Canadians.

Please contact me at the above information to discuss this matter further. I eagerly await your response and hope for a policy shift that reflects both environmental and economic stewardship.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Title/Affiliation, if applicable, e.g., Recreational Angler and BC Resident]
 
this one incorporates SFI solutions

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, Province, Postal Code]
[Email Address]
[Phone Number]
September 26, 2025

The Right Honourable Mark Carney
Prime Minister of Canada
Office of the Prime Minister and Privy Council
80 Wellington Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

Dear Prime Minister Carney,

I am writing as a concerned Canadian and recreational fisher to strongly oppose the proposed adjustments to fishing closures in the Mouth of the Fraser River, as outlined in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans' (DFO) 2026 management options for Southern Resident Killer Whale (SRKW) recovery. These proposals, which include spatial and temporal expansions of existing closures, represent an intensification of the restrictive policies established under the Trudeau administration. While the conservation of the SRKW population—currently at a critical 73 individuals—is vital, further expanding these closures will disproportionately harm recreational fishing, coastal economies, and community well-being without guaranteed benefits to the whales.

Specifically, I oppose the following proposed adjustments:

  • Spatial Adjustment Option 2: Expanding closures to include an additional area (outlined in green) where SRKW occurrence is high. This expansion would further restrict access to key recreational fishing grounds in the Fraser River Mouth, a region already heavily regulated under existing closures (status quo boundaries in blue).
  • Temporal Adjustment Option 2: Extending closure timing from June 1 to November 30 to cover periods of high temporal overlap with SRKW prey stocks, particularly Chinook salmon. This drastic extension—from the current August 1 to September 30 window—would effectively eliminate the entire summer and fall fishing seasons, which are critical for recreational anglers and local tourism.
These proposals exacerbate the Trudeau-era approach of prioritizing blanket fishing bans over balanced, evidence-based solutions. The existing closures, implemented since 2019 and expanded through 2024 and 2025, have already curtailed recreational fishing in key areas like the Fraser River Mouth, Juan de Fuca Strait, and Swiftsure Bank. These measures, including mandatory Chinook non-retention zones and vessel speed restrictions, have reduced fishing opportunities while contributing to an estimated $1.2 billion economic loss annually for British Columbia’s recreational fishing sector, which supports over 300,000 participants. Further expansions, as proposed, would devastate coastal communities reliant on fishing-related tourism and erode public support for SRKW conservation.

Moreover, the effectiveness of these blanket closures remains questionable. Independent scientific assessments emphasize targeted measures—such as enhancing Chinook salmon stocks through hatchery programs and managing pinniped predation—over broad fishing bans. Pinnipeds, which consume significant quantities of salmon, continue to face less regulatory scrutiny despite their impact on SRKW prey availability. The proposed expansions risk doubling down on a flawed strategy, ignoring alternatives that could benefit both the whales and fishers. As highlighted by the Sport Fishing Institute of BC (SFI), studies show that Chinook abundance in SRKW habitats is 11–22 times the amount needed to meet the whales' nutritional requirements, suggesting that prey availability is not the primary issue Instead, SFI advocates for shifting focus from static closures to more effective, dynamic solutions that address the migratory nature of both SRKWs and their prey.

I urge your government to reject Spatial Adjustment Option 2 and Temporal Adjustment Option 2 in favor of maintaining the status quo (Spatial Option 1 and Temporal Option 1) while investing in alternative recovery strategies endorsed by the SFI and local stakeholders. Specifically, I recommend incorporating the following SFI-supported solutions:

  1. Implementing mobile avoidance zones of at least 400 meters for all small vessels around SRKWs, providing protection wherever the whales are present, rather than relying on ineffective static sanctuaries that are rarely used by the whales.
  2. Adopting adaptive management measures, such as presence-based triggers to close areas only when SRKWs are sighted and reopen them after a 14-day no-sighting period, supported by continuous VHF marine broadcasts to alert mariners of whale locations
  3. Increasing funding for Chinook salmon restoration, including hatchery enhancements and ocean net pens to boost juvenile survival rates from 3% to as high as 30%, thereby improving prey accessibility without restricting recreational fishing
  4. Developing non-lethal pinniped management strategies to address predation on salmon stocks, as recommended in studies by experts like Dr. Carl Walters and Dr. Murdoch McAllister, which highlight the role of marine mammals in fishery declines
  5. Conducting a thorough socioeconomic impact assessment to quantify the effects of proposed closures on recreational fishing and coastal economies, ensuring local and traditional knowledge from groups like the Sport Fishing Advisory Board (SFAB) is integrated.
As Prime Minister, your expertise in sustainable economics positions you to lead a more equitable approach to SRKW conservation. Recreational fishing is not just an economic driver but a cherished tradition that fosters mental health and community connection. By rejecting these excessive closures and prioritizing innovative, SFI-endorsed solutions, your government can protect the SRKWs while preserving the livelihoods and way of life for countless Canadians.

Please contact me at the above information to discuss this matter further. I eagerly await your response and hope for a policy shift that reflects both environmental and economic stewardship.

Sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Title/Affiliation, if applicable, e.g., Recreational Angler and BC Resident]
 
Quite honestly that saying no pushback is old. All of our reps did everything they could to prevent that closure.

So sorry I cry BS. But really how can there be any pushback when we have like no one participating?

Everyone needs to be pull head out of azz and show up at each of their local Sport Fishery Advisory Board meeting this fall. You guys need to show up with the DFO rep there and voice your opposition.

If you feel like it is a waste of time then please don't wine and moan when it closes. You were warned.

I would also suggest everyone reaches out to their local MP.
Reps aren’t pushback. Public outcry is. Big difference. Need everyday anglers to push back. They don’t give two f’s what our reps say
 
Good on ya for posting these letter templates wildmanyeah.

Voicing concerns at SFAC local area meeting is good, but the real change will only come if we make this a very political issue. Politicians are guiding these decision not science or conservation so the SFAB is limited in what it can do as it cannot lobby the govt.

SO we the people (public fishers) need to come to together with existing lobbying groups like SFI, PFA, SVIAC, etc… and work to lobby the govt. to protect the public fishery. Write letters to MP’s, Fisheries Minister and the PM. IMO we are going to need to have well managed, thought out and focussed protests to get the politicians attention. Ideally a court challenge on the right issue. This is what the FN’s and ENGO’s do and they are successful - we need to start doing it too!

NOW is the time to start before it is too late!!!
 
Quite honestly that saying no pushback is old. All of our reps did everything they could to prevent that closure.

So sorry I cry BS. But really how can there be any pushback when we have like no one participating?

Everyone needs to be pull head out of azz and show up at each of their local Sport Fishery Advisory Board meeting this fall. You guys need to show up with the DFO rep there and voice your opposition.

If you feel like it is a waste of time then please don't wine and moan when it closes. You were warned.

I would also suggest everyone reaches out to their local MP.
I’m surprised you feel that only one organization can speak for the Recreational fishers. I have consistently engaged both my MP as well as directly contacted the Minister of Fisheries., have you? You seem to think just because you find it works for you to use the SFAB/SFAC format it is for everyone, clearly it isn’t. I don’t need , or will accept this kind of lecture from you or anyone else. I personally am quite comfortable making my displeasure known through my own action. While I appreciate some people need backup and meetings, I don’t. The fact that you are constantly bleating about lack of attendance should tell you something.
 
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