BC Sport Fishing Coalition Ramps up the Halibut Allocation Campaign

[Governor]

Wanted to advise Sportfishingbc readers the latest news ....

Like you, the coalition is absolutely appalled by Shea's announcement yesterday. A steering committee conference call was held this morning to launch Phase 2 of the halibut allocation campaign. A great deal of determination and solidarity amongst all coalition groups was very evident. The concept of "leasing" halibut from commercial quota holders is absolutely a non-starter, everyone agreed! The coalition maintain that privatization of a common property resource is just unacceptable.

So don't be discouraged at all by yesterday folks, it's simply a bump in the road. No one expected this to be an easy fight. This was not about getting an opening date to go halibut fishing, it was about ridding BC's sport fishery of the unfair allocation policy once and for all. Our halibut fishery has been strangled since 2003 under Thibault's allocation policy, gifted commercial quota holders are holding Canadians to ransom and it is now time we, the people, stand up and protect all our sport fisheries. The coalition's resolve to right this abysmal debacle is stronger than ever before. As I see it, Shea's "announcement" is simply the red rag to the bull.

Remember there's strength in numbers and we have the numbers on our side. So be ready because we will need your help

What YOU can do right now ...

Write another letter to Harper, Shea and your Conservative MP expressing your concern with yesterday’s announcement. Phone your MP and tell them it’s an election issue now. Attend a Town Hall mtg in your area. Visit www.bchalibut.org

Get ready for BCSFC phase 2 to roll out .... the fun’s about to begin!

Stay tuned


SVIAC
A Member Group of the BC Sport Fishing Coalition

 

[chris73]

Is there still a point going to this CRD meeting at Fisgard today at 1:30 PM, 6th floor?

 

[Governor]

Chris73

I would say yes there is a point. The notice of motion Mike Hicks has presented is for CRD to request the federal government provide enough halibut for the sport fishery to have a bare minumum full season. We didn't get that yesterday that's for sure, so asking CRD for help their getting what we need is still a valid use of our time.

Gov

 

[chris73]

Ok, I will be there. Hope I am not the only one!

 

[Business Time]

Get ready for BCSFC phase 2 to roll out .... the fun’s about to begin!

Looking forward to hearing what the plan is.

 

[Little Hawk]

Aye Laddies! Away we go! I'm in!

Question for Gov,: Who's in charge of recruitment and registration for the Coalition?

There can be no fracturing here anywhere in the Province. One rod - one voice!

 

[Pippen]

Governor......have you guys got a website at all or even a Facebook page???

 

[Little Hawk]

Hope this helps the cause Gov.

emailed to: PM, Shea, Campbell, Vancouver Sun, Times Colonist, Courier Islander, Globe & Mail.

Long live the Coalition!


February, 17, 2011

To: Min. Shea and the Elected Leaders of My Great Country.

Re: Recreational Pacific Halibut fishery.


It was with great dismay and disappointment that I learned of the DFO's recent announcement concerning the 2011 Pacific Halibut Recreational Fishery; season opens March 1st (no closing date set) with Daily Limits set at 1/per day and 2/possession.

As a life-long recreational fisherman who also votes, I remain dumbfounded as to how the decision-makers and leaders in this country can steadfastly - one erroneous decision after another - turn their collective backs on BC's sportfishing community. In the case of BC's 100,000 or more active recreational halibut fisherman - many of whom are Guide Outfitters who depend on reliable openings and closures to book clients - the treatment we have received from Ottawa is both deplorable and disrespectful. Moreover, as Mrs. Shea continues to play stalwart in her refusal to give BC's sport-halibut sector due consideration by reallocating a more economically justifiable quota allocation to the 'Rod & Reel Gang', I can't help but wonder if she and the Harper government have any clue as to the immensity of the forthcoming quake they have stirred out here on the West Coast.

BC recreational fishermen and their families number a million or more. As we all absorb one blow after another from Ottawa - be it a left-jab at us Halibut fishermen, or a right-cross at us Salmon fishermen - we get to thinkin' and talkin' about election-time and who's really been looking out for 'Super Natural British Columbia' and our blessed fishing opportunities. Is it Stephen Harper & Gail Shea's DFO with their continued hammering on the recreational sector while attempting to justify cutting our halibut allocation in half in order to placate 435 commercial halibut quota holders? Is it Gordon Campbell who sits on his hands while contemplating his forthcoming post-political installment as CEO of Canada's salmon-farming industry or CEO of one of the US hydro-power companies hes given our rivers away to? The answer is an unequivocal - 'Thumbs Down'.

We can't do much about Campbell - he's had his way with our Province and we'll be pressed to recover the ground he's given away - but we can do something about Harper's DFO -circus. We can stand up for our 'Common Property' and our Constitution Right to Fair Access to The Peoples' halibut. Min. Shea's suggestion that the 'Rod & Reel Gang' should pay commercial Halibut quota holders (who were 'gifted' that quota by Ottawa) for the right to catch OUR FAIR SHARE is an insult of the highest proportions!

Personally, I have about $25,000.00 invested in my boat, machinery & tackle so that I might have a chance to catch a halibut.
I ask you Mr. Harper/Mrs. Shea: Am I not paying enough already?

I hereby serve notice to the Harper Government and the BC Liberals that my family and I - dedicated and passionate supporters of the BC Sport Fishing Coalition - will be taking our collective votes elsewhere next election.

Respectfully,

Terry Anderson (carpenter)

Victoria, BC.

 

[Governor]

Pippen - I see there's another thread by Business Time giving the coalition's facebook page.

The website for the coalition is www.bchalibut.org - sign up for the news letter on the site and you'll get coalition updates. We're on Twitter too.

Gov

 

[Governor]

Little Hawk - the BCSFC is at this time an ad hoc group and as such the main advocacy groups (SFI, BCWF, BCFDF, SVIAC, and others) are all a part to it and support the cause. It is truly BC anglers speaking with one voice. So the organizing group running the show, the Steering Committee, is making sure the interests of ALL anglers and the many businesses that support the angling community are on the table.

At this time there is no formal registration requirement for individuals. The website www.bchalibut.org is the best place to access information. There's a news letter (sign up), a Twitter account and now a facebook page too. If you or anyone want to help the coalition in person, send me a PM

Gov

 

[Little Hawk]

This is getting confusing. What happened to the BC Sport Fishing Coalition website? Now we're the Halibut Coalition?

Man-o-man can we stay on one track here?

 

[Governor]

LH - www.sfibc.com works too - it's the same website - the same group. We ARE on one track.

www.bchalibut.org was used because it is the issue today, the line in the sand - it is thanks to the hosting and support of the SFI, who are part of the coalition that we have a website at all.

Gov

 

[Little Hawk]

Roger that, Gov!