Derby
Crew Member
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SFI Up date
- Thread starter Derby
- Start date
Derby
Crew Member
| OCTOBER 25, 2022 The SFI Big Splash Annual Gala & Fundraiser and Policy Conference returns to the Vancouver Convention Centre on Friday, November 18th. The Conference will be held during the day beginning with a buffet lunch from 11:30. An agenda and full speakers list will be made available in advance. Presentations and remarks will be provided from a variety of perspectives regarding this year's theme: Selective Fishing: Achieving a Balance. Don’t miss this event, get your tickets early and save! The early bird deadline for tickets is this Friday, October 28th.
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Derby
Crew Member
Derby
Crew Member
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Derby
Crew Member
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fish brain
Crew Member
I honestly do not know how to respond to the "survey" The questions are worded to say; I am going to kick you in the nuts. Would you like me to use my right foot like last time, or my left for some unexpected fun? On most of the questions there is no room for other input. On the questions they do ask for input on, there are often two questions in a row that are worded to to support the closure options
Question 8 Are there any changes to the Interim Sanctuary Zones that you would like to see in 2023? For example where the zones are located, when they are active, or who is exempt.
Question 9 Is there anything you would like to stay the same about the Interim Sanctuary Zones in 2023? For example where the zones are located, when they are active, or who is exempt.
These are basically the same question.
Can we not select any of the "would you rather" questions, ignore the leading questions, and just fill in the two or three questions that would allow us to tell them their survey is biased, and to listen to the SFAB recommendations?
The mobile sanctuary closures for a whole month if a whale is seen in an area are not much better than full closures. I would prefer pull your gear and leave, but could live with a week. A month is too long, if there are no whales in the area, then there are no whales in the area.
Can the SFAB or one of our lobby groups please give some guidance to areas we should touch on so that our results aren't just discarded as ranting by an individual?
Question 8 Are there any changes to the Interim Sanctuary Zones that you would like to see in 2023? For example where the zones are located, when they are active, or who is exempt.
Question 9 Is there anything you would like to stay the same about the Interim Sanctuary Zones in 2023? For example where the zones are located, when they are active, or who is exempt.
These are basically the same question.
Can we not select any of the "would you rather" questions, ignore the leading questions, and just fill in the two or three questions that would allow us to tell them their survey is biased, and to listen to the SFAB recommendations?
The mobile sanctuary closures for a whole month if a whale is seen in an area are not much better than full closures. I would prefer pull your gear and leave, but could live with a week. A month is too long, if there are no whales in the area, then there are no whales in the area.
Can the SFAB or one of our lobby groups please give some guidance to areas we should touch on so that our results aren't just discarded as ranting by an individual?
ship happens
Crew Member
Think a month is a little long
scott craven
Well-Known Member
The survey is so biased towards closures.
There needs to be a third option indicating no support for continuing closures.
There needs to be a third option indicating no support for continuing closures.
ship happens
Crew Member
None of the above please comment below.
The above says the limits and regulation will be the same as in 2022. However, the above says daily limit is one. Wasn't the daily limit in 2022 two under 90cm or one over 90cm?
February 1, 2023
FEBRUARY 1, 2023
IPHC MEETINGS, CANADA'S 2023 HALIBUT TAC DETERMINED
Last week the 99th Annual International Pacific Halibut Commission meetings took place in Victoria. As the scientific reports about halibut stock status along the Pacific coast were presented early during the proceedings, attendees learned that all halibut fisheries along the coast did not unfold the same way as BC recreational halibut anglers experienced in 2022. Both the harvest rates and the size of the halibut were found to be either flat or tracking down slightly. When considered against previous catch targets and evidence gathered about the Pacific Halibut biomass, the information by the IPHC scientists suggested that an adjustment down in harvest was required to maintain sustainable fisheries in the US and Canada. The result was an agreeement to a 10.3% coast wide decrease for Canada and US harvest of halibut in 2023. The current biomass of halibut remains relatively stable albeit at a historic low number. Concerns around low recruitment in recent years called for a prudent and precautionary approach to maintain sustainable opportunity into the future. While a long-term agreement between the US and Canada still needs to be re-established, during this session of the IPHC, Canadian and US Commissioners and stakeholders agreed to a one-year fisheries plan for 2023.
BC'S RECREATIONAL HALIBUT FISHERY OPEN TODAY!
As a result, BC’s 2023 recreational halibut fishery opened today with the same daily and possession limits as opened the fishery in 2022. Since DFO will be using the choice model developed by the SFAB, an angler will be able to possess two (2) small halibut, under 90cm, or one (1) one large halibut, between 90cm and 133cm. The daily limit is one (1) halibut. It is illegal to retain halibut over 133cm, and there is no minimum size limit in place for recreationally caught halibut. There is an annual limit of 10 halibut in BC, and anglers are reminded that until March 31st, 2023, the 2022 annual limit is still in effect. This opening is welcome news for many anglers across the entire BC coast, we wish everyone good luck in the fishery.
2023 SRKW PROPOSALS
In yet another round of consultation regarding SRKW recovery, the SFI and SFAB are at the table discussing new proposals for the 2023 season. What is evidently an annual review process results in uncertainty, instability, and anxiety for each of the small coastal communities that depend on predictable fishing related tourism. Implementation of an annual process that does not seem to bring any new or relevant information yet proposes additional restrictions undermines the social, cultural, and economic fabric of communities that are reliant on the recreational fishery for their wellbeing. Entire communities like Port Renfrew, or in areas that have already been severely restricted or had fishing closures imposed like that in and around Vancouver, continue to suffer the compounding effects of stacking layers of unproven fishery management measures. These new proposals ignore the fact that the SRKW population is currently stable, and that prey availability has been proven not to be the issue it was once thought to be. In both US and Canadian waters studies show that the abundance of Chinook during the periods that SRKW are present are between 11 and 22 times necessary to satisfy nutritional requirements of the whales. Rather than continue to experiment at the expense of predictability, now would be a time to ensure that relevant assessment of the existing measures takes place and that the effectiveness of the measures in aiding in SRKW recovery is determined. A pause in adjustments, changes, or additions to SRKW measures will also reduce the cycle of uncertainty and anxiety created in coastal communities on what is now an annual basis. Focus should turn to determining what is effective, or not, here and what is working, or not, in adjacent Washington state waters to benefit SRKW recovery.
Or, BC would do well to follow the lead of Washington state, who have addressed the challenges of improving the environment around a mobile species like SRKW and their equally mobile prey. Rather than implement static sanctuary areas they focus instead on applying consistent, effective avoidance zones for ALL small vessels that may disrupt foraging and other important activities for SRKW. BC’s spatial measures may look good on a map but on the water and observing whales along our coast it is clear that SRKW and all whale movement is challenging to predict. The BC areas set aside for the SRKW are rarely used. It is our hope that sufficient, consistently enforced, and effective mobile sanctuaries or dynamic avoidance zones, are implemented to allow whales room to feed, socialize and reproduce wherever and whenevr they are in BC waters.
The flawed process that is now unfolding annually regardless of the quality, applicability or quantity of new information available, has unfortunately included announcement of another potentially biased survey. This survey, like the one released in 2018, is leading and offers participants only a choice of support rather than options to object or raise concerns. And, the approach to establish avoidance zones or an “avoidance bubble” strategy is nowhere to be seen. We encourage anglers to participate in the DFO survey and to comment, where possible, with support for an avoidance zone of at least 400 m for all small vessels as an effective strategy and alternative to fixed spatial closures.
The SFAB is currently engaged in focussed discussions with DFO Marine Mammal staff to ensure that the voices of local communities and anglers are heard. It is our ongoing hope that this feedback will be properly considered and acted upon.
FISHING BC
Fishing BC, the promotional and awareness raising program partnering the SFI, with Destination BC, the BC Fishing Tourism Association, the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, and communities around the Province, markets fishing in BC to out of province visitors and local anglers. The program regularly updates materials and information available on its site. If you would like to participate please be in touch with our office at (604) 946-0734 or by emailing info@sportfishing.bc.ca with questions or for more information.
Visit fishingbc.com and be reminded of the excellent opportunities and variety available for fishing in BC.
Until next time, tight lines,
The SFI Team
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Check out the free Fishing BC App on iOS or Android.
searun
Well-Known Member
DFO was advised that the survey design was flawed, and encouraged to provide an amended survey which offered people who did not agree with the proposed options to offer other alternatives. Such as following the lead of the Washington State and NOAA folks who have decided fixed spatial sanctuaries (ISZ's) are not necessary - instead, they are taking steps to strengthen their 400 yard Avoidance Bubble, to update legislation requiring all vessels (no exceptions for WW) to avoid whales by implementing a 1000 yard approach zone measure. So, if you do not like or support either of the options offered for various areas, feel free to provide written comments.
searun
Well-Known Member
Our regulatory framework is very cumbersome. We are only allowed to use a Variation Order to amend regulations in-season. Using a VO is restricted to things such as closing/opening a fishery, amending daily or possession limits listed on the Conditions of License. We cannot vary slot lengths - only daily/possession limits. The CoL already in place on our licenses which expire March 31, are the only thing that can be varied in-season - we cannot implement new rules to establish slot lengths etc. Those have to wait until the new license cycle in April.
In considering to delay starting the season or opening Feb 1, the SFAB Halibut Committee carefully examined the historic data detailing the year to year TAC used in Feb - Mar for those years where we had such openings under the current slot limit regimes. The average TAC caught is 11,637 pounds. Our new TAC assigned to Canada is 880,000 pounds, down 131K from last season. Note, there is no carry over of TAC from one calendar year to next - so 880k is all we have for Feb to Dec. Considering the amount of TAC we used in 2022, was 929K, that is already 49,000 pounds more than we have to work with. So the decision was to start Feb 1, but implement the more conservative base daily/possession limits - in other words, we are not implementing the 3/day under 90cm. In starting Feb 1, that was in recognition we are essentially trading off 8 weeks gained with an early opening at the risk of impacting potential early closure - having done the math, the TAC saved by delaying the opening to April 1 amounts to about 1.3 days use of TAC in August. Seems like a no-brainer to me.
Some may wonder where the 3/day provision came from and how we use it. Canada negotiated the ability to implement a 3/day variation at the IPHC - this is not a feature Canada will ever employ other than late in-season it becomes apparent we will fall short of catching our assigned recreational TAC - we monitor catch closely each month, but the trends are not clearly established until we have the July data. Given the low TAC we have to work with, the 3/day option in 2023 seems highly unlikely.
Here's the Regs in place from Feb to Mar.....
Effective at 00:01 hours February 1, 2023 until March 31, 2023:
The daily limit is one (1) halibut per day.
The possession limit for halibut is EITHER of:
---- one (1) halibut measuring 90 cm to 133 cm in length (69 cm to 102 cm head-off),
OR
---- two (2) halibut, each measuring under 90 cm in length (69 cm head-off).
No person shall retain a Halibut greater than 133 cm head-on length (102 cm head-off).
ship happens
Crew Member
Can you complete the survey without choosing and option?
searun
Well-Known Member
While there is no option to state none of the proposed option measures are your preference - there are questions that allow written comments, which IMO are far more valuable than a yes or no response.
Any idea if it will go back to the same regulation as in 2022 when the new season starts in April; 2 under and one over??
Thanks.
We, or me specifically, really appreciate your updates and the information you provide.
scott craven
Well-Known Member
Since we're on this, will there be any hope of an early season hatchery only Chinook or is that finished for good ?
Looking for some intel.
Looking for some intel.
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
I will be posting something on it shortly. MSF proposals.
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