Whole in the Water
Well-Known Member
Good letter from the SFI-BC. Let's hope the Feds listen to reason on their belated decision re. the 2019-20 chinook fishing regs.
________________________________________________________________________
April 3, 2019
FRASER RIVER CHINOOK IN 2019
As all are aware, there are specific stocks of Fraser River Chinook that are in a serious state of conservation concern and require attention. Regardless of the impending decision, DFO must take swift and meaningful action to improve Fraser River stream type salmonid production through opportunities such as strategic enhancement, predator control and habitat rehabilitation.
CONSERVATION AND RETAINING OPPORTUNITY
While consistent reassurances from Minister Wilkinson that all decisions will be based on science are encouraging, as it relates to both whales and chinook, it must be noted that the science is far from complete. And, it is critical that social, economic and regional considerations are factored in to any decision making process. Both the Prime Minister and Minister have publicly stated that in the 21st century we don’t need to make a choice between the environment and the economy, we must have both. Therefore, the cost of measures must be properly considered against the benefits to the resource.
There is significant concern that the tools and resources available to the department for analysis do not consider this critical cost-benefit relationship. Lacking adequate data for scientific and socioeconomic consideration, the door is left open for DFO to recommend an approach that does not acknowledge the cost of measures to small coastal communities, businesses and the 9000 jobs that are directly tied to sport fishing versus the benefits to the stocks of concern.
The proposal put forward by the SFAB would achieve the conservation benefits asked for by DFO during its consultation process, while at the same time provide a bare minimum level of access and opportunity to allow the fishery, and the communities who depend on it to survive. The proposal addresses conservation concerns and moves south coast fishing related harvest away from the stocks of concern and on to more abundant hatchery produced salmon.
BENEFIT VERSUS COST
In terms of conservation benefits, it is important to note that the SFAB approach would allow 90% of the returning adults to reach the spawning grounds while the extreme and opportunity eliminating proposal would allow 95% of the returning adults to reach the spawning grounds. These are numbers of chinook where the difference is so small and hard to track that DFO would not be able to accurately measure.
It is challenging to understand how DFO can consider the profound negative socioeconomic impact of a non-retention, 95% option when it can meet stated conservation objectives and, at the same time, preserve the economic future of small coastal communities by implementing a 90% option.
In order to estimate the impact of imposing sweeping non-retention measures, it is necessary to understand that it is chinook salmon that drive tidal water angling activity and its associated $1.1 billion social and economic benefit to BC. Chinook salmon are the most prized catch. It is the opportunity to catch and retain chinook that drives the decision for many anglers to choose to go fishing in tidal waters. This is especially true for travelling anglers utilizing service providers including guides, lodges, resorts, motels, and campgrounds. The effects of no opportunity for chinook were fully realized in both 1996 and again on the North Coast (Prince Rupert) in 2018. Rather than shift to other species, when there is no opportunity for chinook retention anglers simply cancel plans. Effort and expenditure are not displaced or replaced they go away.
It is not reasonable to assume that anglers will simply shift their activity to later in the year. August and September are important and busy months for fishing and fishing tourism but, especially in August, accommodations, moorage, guides and charters are fully subscribed. There is no ability for anglers who cancel or attempt to defer trips in the peak May to July period to reschedule for August. Those economic opportunities will be truly lost and, in many cases, will not return due to the instability and uncertainty created.
And, we have a coast with large and distinct areas where reduction in harvest by the recreational sector would have no measurable effect on the stocks of concern. It is our hope that every effort will be made to maximize opportunity where it is suitable to do so.
REBUILDING AND CHANGING STRATEGIES
In the potential scenarios proposed there are key differences from the 2018 management regime. The most notable is a shift to including Mark Selective Fisheries (MSF). This is a fishery that is non-retention of all chinook that haven’t been adipose fin clipped at a hatchery throughout the entire stock of concern migration corridor when they are known to be present. The potential move to MSF is a paradigm shift in the management of the public fishery. Based on what has been observed in WA state and the steady increase and severity of management restrictions on wild chinook, this is a measure and option that anglers have been anticipating for some time. Harvest of the more abundant hatchery stocks can be a key component of achieving the balance between rebuilding wild stocks and maintaining a level of opportunity for the public fishery. A reduction in bag limits from 2 chinook per day to 1 per day including MSF is a significant reduction that would produce results.
Anglers also understand that rebuilding Fraser River Chinook stocks of concern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) is not a short-term proposition. MSF may well be here for a long time and as such it is critical that mark rates reflect hatchery production as soon as possible. Because of the implications to opportunity, for wild chinook and SRKW recovery, mass marking of all hatchery produced salmon in BC should increase significantly. Mark rates in many areas of the coast can rise dramatically without increasing hatchery production. An immediate priority of marking all chinook that are already being produced should be considered in the short term.
RECOMMENDATION
Until a decision is announced we will continue to urge, and encourage you to do so as well, the Minister and DFO to consider the need to achieve a balance between long term conservation objectives of Fraser River Chinook and the socioeconomic impacts ill-considered or politically motivated measures could have on the people, businesses and communities that depend on access to chinook. The negative socioeconomic impacts from a scenario that implements non-retention for chinook far outweigh the conservation benefits. We remain optimistic that a sensible, effective, region specific decision will be made that provides for public fishery access to Chinook including use of MSF and bag limit reductions.
Until next time, tight lines,
The SFI Team
________________________________________________________________________
April 3, 2019
FRASER RIVER CHINOOK IN 2019
As all are aware, there are specific stocks of Fraser River Chinook that are in a serious state of conservation concern and require attention. Regardless of the impending decision, DFO must take swift and meaningful action to improve Fraser River stream type salmonid production through opportunities such as strategic enhancement, predator control and habitat rehabilitation.
CONSERVATION AND RETAINING OPPORTUNITY
While consistent reassurances from Minister Wilkinson that all decisions will be based on science are encouraging, as it relates to both whales and chinook, it must be noted that the science is far from complete. And, it is critical that social, economic and regional considerations are factored in to any decision making process. Both the Prime Minister and Minister have publicly stated that in the 21st century we don’t need to make a choice between the environment and the economy, we must have both. Therefore, the cost of measures must be properly considered against the benefits to the resource.
There is significant concern that the tools and resources available to the department for analysis do not consider this critical cost-benefit relationship. Lacking adequate data for scientific and socioeconomic consideration, the door is left open for DFO to recommend an approach that does not acknowledge the cost of measures to small coastal communities, businesses and the 9000 jobs that are directly tied to sport fishing versus the benefits to the stocks of concern.
The proposal put forward by the SFAB would achieve the conservation benefits asked for by DFO during its consultation process, while at the same time provide a bare minimum level of access and opportunity to allow the fishery, and the communities who depend on it to survive. The proposal addresses conservation concerns and moves south coast fishing related harvest away from the stocks of concern and on to more abundant hatchery produced salmon.
BENEFIT VERSUS COST
In terms of conservation benefits, it is important to note that the SFAB approach would allow 90% of the returning adults to reach the spawning grounds while the extreme and opportunity eliminating proposal would allow 95% of the returning adults to reach the spawning grounds. These are numbers of chinook where the difference is so small and hard to track that DFO would not be able to accurately measure.
It is challenging to understand how DFO can consider the profound negative socioeconomic impact of a non-retention, 95% option when it can meet stated conservation objectives and, at the same time, preserve the economic future of small coastal communities by implementing a 90% option.
In order to estimate the impact of imposing sweeping non-retention measures, it is necessary to understand that it is chinook salmon that drive tidal water angling activity and its associated $1.1 billion social and economic benefit to BC. Chinook salmon are the most prized catch. It is the opportunity to catch and retain chinook that drives the decision for many anglers to choose to go fishing in tidal waters. This is especially true for travelling anglers utilizing service providers including guides, lodges, resorts, motels, and campgrounds. The effects of no opportunity for chinook were fully realized in both 1996 and again on the North Coast (Prince Rupert) in 2018. Rather than shift to other species, when there is no opportunity for chinook retention anglers simply cancel plans. Effort and expenditure are not displaced or replaced they go away.
It is not reasonable to assume that anglers will simply shift their activity to later in the year. August and September are important and busy months for fishing and fishing tourism but, especially in August, accommodations, moorage, guides and charters are fully subscribed. There is no ability for anglers who cancel or attempt to defer trips in the peak May to July period to reschedule for August. Those economic opportunities will be truly lost and, in many cases, will not return due to the instability and uncertainty created.
And, we have a coast with large and distinct areas where reduction in harvest by the recreational sector would have no measurable effect on the stocks of concern. It is our hope that every effort will be made to maximize opportunity where it is suitable to do so.
REBUILDING AND CHANGING STRATEGIES
In the potential scenarios proposed there are key differences from the 2018 management regime. The most notable is a shift to including Mark Selective Fisheries (MSF). This is a fishery that is non-retention of all chinook that haven’t been adipose fin clipped at a hatchery throughout the entire stock of concern migration corridor when they are known to be present. The potential move to MSF is a paradigm shift in the management of the public fishery. Based on what has been observed in WA state and the steady increase and severity of management restrictions on wild chinook, this is a measure and option that anglers have been anticipating for some time. Harvest of the more abundant hatchery stocks can be a key component of achieving the balance between rebuilding wild stocks and maintaining a level of opportunity for the public fishery. A reduction in bag limits from 2 chinook per day to 1 per day including MSF is a significant reduction that would produce results.
Anglers also understand that rebuilding Fraser River Chinook stocks of concern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) is not a short-term proposition. MSF may well be here for a long time and as such it is critical that mark rates reflect hatchery production as soon as possible. Because of the implications to opportunity, for wild chinook and SRKW recovery, mass marking of all hatchery produced salmon in BC should increase significantly. Mark rates in many areas of the coast can rise dramatically without increasing hatchery production. An immediate priority of marking all chinook that are already being produced should be considered in the short term.
RECOMMENDATION
Until a decision is announced we will continue to urge, and encourage you to do so as well, the Minister and DFO to consider the need to achieve a balance between long term conservation objectives of Fraser River Chinook and the socioeconomic impacts ill-considered or politically motivated measures could have on the people, businesses and communities that depend on access to chinook. The negative socioeconomic impacts from a scenario that implements non-retention for chinook far outweigh the conservation benefits. We remain optimistic that a sensible, effective, region specific decision will be made that provides for public fishery access to Chinook including use of MSF and bag limit reductions.
Until next time, tight lines,
The SFI Team
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