NO SOUTH COAST SALMON FISHING FOR SEVERAL YEARS

[capt hook]

Chris Sporer (PHMA)
12:33 PM (26 minutes ago)

to phma@telus.net

PHMA Email Distribution List,


In a previous emails (November 13, 2018 and November 30, 2018) PHMA notified its members about the potential emergency Species at Risk Act (SARA) listing of Interior Fraser steelhead (Thomson and Chilcotin populations). This is a big one. An emergency recommendation from the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) means that the science is incomplete, socio economic analysis worse, the timelines are tight and the usual checks and balances do not apply. If listed, there will be virtually no south coast salmon fisheries (commercial, recreational or First Nations) for the foreseeable future with all kinds of other consequences for other fisheries (hard to get crew, industry infrastructure impacted,…)


The BC Seafood Alliance has been working on this and has made submissions to the COSEWIC/SARA process and coordinating submissions from its members and their members. PHMA has been part of this process as we need to support the commercial salmon fishermen; many of them are members of PHMA and some of their associations are also fellow members of the BC Seafood Alliance. Further, this could also impact the

The BC Seafood Alliance is now working to ensure key BC MP understand the potential consequences of this listing, as the decision makers at the political level need to understand what a listing would mean. See email below. If you live in the following ridings: Minister Carla Qualtrough for Delta, Minister Harjit Sajjan for Vancouver South, or any Liberal riding, please contact the PHMA office. We will need you to contact your MP (phone, email, letter) and we will help with that.


If you are not sure which riding you are in, go to the following link and put for ppostal code into the box on the right http://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members







PHMA



From: Christina Burridge [mailto:cburridge@telus.net]
Sent: December 17, 2018 6:08 PM
Subject: Emergency steelhead listings, which riding do you live in?


All,

As you know, the Cabinet will almost certainly have to make the decision whether to list the two Interior Fraser steelhead populations early in the New Year with potentially devastating consequences to south coast salmon fisheries and by extension to north coast fisheries.


We have three plants in Public Works Minister Carla Qualtrough for Delta and three plants in Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s Vancouver South riding. Those six plants, at a rough guess, process close to 2/3 of salmon production. They employ First Nations, new Canadians and women, largely year round, at decent wages, especially for people with limited other employment opportunities. I’m expecting to get meetings with both Cabinet Ministers over the Christmas break and all six plants will send representatives.


If you or some of your members live in these ridings (or any Liberal riding), please let me know.


Don’t know just put your postal code into the box on the right on this link.


http://www.ourcommons.ca/Parliamentarians/en/members


I will forward talking points to all.

C/

Christina Burridge

BC Seafood Alliance

+1.604.377.9213

 

[scott craven]

While I understand the potential impact of SARA listing for these fish,
I believe the thread title could be a little misleading and cause more anxiety
than good.

 

[wildmanyeah]

We have three plants in Public Works Minister Carla Qualtrough for Delta and three plants in Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan’s Vancouver South riding. Those six plants, at a rough guess, process close to 2/3 of salmon production. They employ First Nations, new Canadians and women, largely year round, at decent wages, especially for people with limited other employment opportunities. I’m expecting to get meetings with both Cabinet Ministers over the Christmas break and all six plants will send representatives.

Wow they got lobbying down, when their is no fish left will they have the guts to look themselves in the mirror or will they just simply blaim it on DFO mismanagement.

 

[SpringVelocity]

While I understand the potential impact of SARA listing for these fish,
I believe the thread title could be a little misleading and cause more anxiety
than good.

I agree headline spreads rumors and fear. Again another thing that isn't decided on.

 

[fish4all]

Wow they got lobbying down, when their is no fish left will they have the guts to look themselves in the mirror or will they just simply blaim it on DFO mismanagement.

I think the point is more about “ An emergency recommendation from the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) means that the science is incomplete, socio economic analysis worse, the timelines are tight and the usual checks and balances do not apply” is the concern.

 

[searun]

Another way to view this is the SARA team drafted a Recovery Plan for the option of Cabinet deciding to list IFS - those plans are IMO very poorly constructed and fail to take into account with more precision where IFS are actually intercepted in various fisheries. Instead, SARA team took a poorly constructed blunt instrument approach. This demonstrates the lack of science behind their planning, similar to the nonsensical approach used to designate La Perouse as Critical Habitat for killer whales.

We need to hold the SARA team accountable to use the best available science to develop meaningful science-based plans that actually protect steelhead, while allowing responsible fisheries to take place using techniques and timing that is proven not to intercept steelhead. There are so many commercial and recreational fisheries that are truly selective and in no way intercept IFS - rolling 60 day closures are no way to deal with this. We need to start talking between sectors - to that end have reached out to various Commercial and FN groups on west coast to start ongoing conversations.

 

[Powerset]

Many of t

Another way to view this is the SARA team drafted a Recovery Plan for the option of Cabinet deciding to list IFS - those plans are IMO very poorly constructed and fail to take into account with more precision where IFS are actually intercepted in various fisheries. Instead, SARA team took a poorly constructed blunt instrument approach. This demonstrates the lack of science behind their planning, similar to the nonsensical approach used to designate La Perouse as Critical Habitat for killer whales.

We need to hold the SARA team accountable to use the best available science to develop meaningful science-based plans that actually protect steelhead, while allowing responsible fisheries to take place using techniques and timing that is proven not to intercept steelhead. There are so many commercial and recreational fisheries that are truly selective and in no way intercept IFS - rolling 60 day closures are no way to deal with this. We need to start talking between sectors - to that end have reached out to various Commercial and FN groups on west coast to start ongoing conversations.

These documents and press releases are political in nature and usually aimed at a specific group. This year that group is the electorate. Yep it’s an election year, so everything gets seen and said through a political lens. How do u buy pipelines and keep environmental groups happy? Do something bold to protect Orca,Steelhead, and Salmon. On the flip side, Andrew Scheer and the Conservatives will start campaigning out here big time because this years election will be tight. Scheer will be making all sorts of promises to fishermen to help get him elected. It’s going to be a bumpy ride, don’t get too worked up until it’s time. Keep your powder dry for the inevitable fight that’s coming. We need a few politicians to have our backs out here. Maybe you folks know someone who’s fighting on our behalf as anglers? Write them email them. Pick their brain. We need local Mayors to scream for us, local mp’s, mla’s. They’re usually on our side because of our economic impact in every single community on the coasts. If we go, the economy goes with it, and the jobs go as well. Already feeling that in some areas.

 

[OldBlackDog]

https://www.timescolonist.com/islander/southern-resident-orcas-face-imminent-threat-1.23578006