cohochinook
Well-Known Member
https://www.agassizharrisonobserver...for-bar-fishery-pilot-on-fraser-river-7437861
Fisheries & Oceans Canada
Hon: Diane Lebouthillier
Re: Fraser/Skeena inland salmon fisheries.
Dear Minister:
We the undersigned are writing to express our extreme concerns re the dereliction of duty by your Ministry in the mandated responsibility to manage fisheries for all Canadians Recreational non tidal salmon opportunities of significant social & economic value have remained closed in past years despite virtual record #'s particularly in Sept 2024 of Fraser 4-1 chinook. Despite our requests for in season openings we were denied with little if any rational for our continued closures. Unsubstantiated closures also currently exist in the Skeena region. It is becoming obvious that Politics dictate openings as opposed to conservation and best science.
It appears that demands of other sectors are considered ahead of legitimate requests for openings through the SFAB process & through other organizations listed below. We respect the constitutional rights of F/N's for FSC fisheries & for decades we have attempted to work collaboratively with F/N's through collaborative boards province wide. A significant goal of our collaboration is toward finding ways to share the salmon resources belonging to all Canadians. We recognize the goals of Reconciliation & we are willing to be active partners in seeking solutions toward meaningful reconciliation benefiting all Canadians.
Unfortunately it appears we are given little consideration from your Pacific region toward consideration of our legitimate requests despite our very active roles in the SFAB process & other issues such as our submissions for selective fishing. Other sectors are granted selective fishing opportunities while we remain on the beach. We have little confidence in any DFO commitment to the non tidal recreation fisheries as communication extremely poor from Pacific staff & there is a demonstrated lack of consideration in working with us toward providing fisheries even when stock numbers validate our opening.
The numbers represented in the groups listed below, while very substantial only represent a small percentage of the many thousands of frustrated anglers. However it should be noted that we are the people who show up every year attempting to work with your dedicated staff toward reasonable opportunities. We are deserving of respect and transparent consideration of our concerns.
We are asking you as Minister to ensure that the recreational community in B.C. is legitimately recognized and granted the due consideration accorded other sectors. As always we remain committed to conservation and working with govt and other sectors toward equitable sharing of resources.
We appreciate your consideration of our concerns and your instruction to Pacific staff to provide the resources to ensure the non tidal and tidal salmon recreational fisheries are prioritized similar to other sectors.
Rod Clapton
B.C. Federation of Drift Fishers
B.C. Wildlife Federation Main Board
BCWF Region 2
BCWF Region 6
Fraser Valley Salmon Society
Fraser River Sportfishing Alliance
Vcr & Howe Sound Guides Assoc.
Fraser Valley Guides Assoc.
Public Fishery Alliance
Lower & Upper Fraser Valley Sportfishing Community
Mid & Upper Fraser River Sportfishing Community
Upper & Lower Skeena River Sportfishing Community
Fisheries & Oceans Canada
Hon: Diane Lebouthillier
Re: Fraser/Skeena inland salmon fisheries.
Dear Minister:
We the undersigned are writing to express our extreme concerns re the dereliction of duty by your Ministry in the mandated responsibility to manage fisheries for all Canadians Recreational non tidal salmon opportunities of significant social & economic value have remained closed in past years despite virtual record #'s particularly in Sept 2024 of Fraser 4-1 chinook. Despite our requests for in season openings we were denied with little if any rational for our continued closures. Unsubstantiated closures also currently exist in the Skeena region. It is becoming obvious that Politics dictate openings as opposed to conservation and best science.
It appears that demands of other sectors are considered ahead of legitimate requests for openings through the SFAB process & through other organizations listed below. We respect the constitutional rights of F/N's for FSC fisheries & for decades we have attempted to work collaboratively with F/N's through collaborative boards province wide. A significant goal of our collaboration is toward finding ways to share the salmon resources belonging to all Canadians. We recognize the goals of Reconciliation & we are willing to be active partners in seeking solutions toward meaningful reconciliation benefiting all Canadians.
Unfortunately it appears we are given little consideration from your Pacific region toward consideration of our legitimate requests despite our very active roles in the SFAB process & other issues such as our submissions for selective fishing. Other sectors are granted selective fishing opportunities while we remain on the beach. We have little confidence in any DFO commitment to the non tidal recreation fisheries as communication extremely poor from Pacific staff & there is a demonstrated lack of consideration in working with us toward providing fisheries even when stock numbers validate our opening.
The numbers represented in the groups listed below, while very substantial only represent a small percentage of the many thousands of frustrated anglers. However it should be noted that we are the people who show up every year attempting to work with your dedicated staff toward reasonable opportunities. We are deserving of respect and transparent consideration of our concerns.
We are asking you as Minister to ensure that the recreational community in B.C. is legitimately recognized and granted the due consideration accorded other sectors. As always we remain committed to conservation and working with govt and other sectors toward equitable sharing of resources.
We appreciate your consideration of our concerns and your instruction to Pacific staff to provide the resources to ensure the non tidal and tidal salmon recreational fisheries are prioritized similar to other sectors.
Rod Clapton
B.C. Federation of Drift Fishers
B.C. Wildlife Federation Main Board
BCWF Region 2
BCWF Region 6
Fraser Valley Salmon Society
Fraser River Sportfishing Alliance
Vcr & Howe Sound Guides Assoc.
Fraser Valley Guides Assoc.
Public Fishery Alliance
Lower & Upper Fraser Valley Sportfishing Community
Mid & Upper Fraser River Sportfishing Community
Upper & Lower Skeena River Sportfishing Community
