This update includes details about:
OUTREACH ON FISHERIES ISSUES The SFI continues to play a leadership role in both advocacy and consultation processes for BC's public fishery. We maintain consistent engagement with MP’s, senior bureaucrats and ministers in Ottawa, Victoria, and Vancouver. Our message has been clear and urgent – current Chinook fishery regulations are unnecessarily threatening the core of our fishery and there is a critical need to make a correction immediately. Fortunately, a sustainable and precautionary solution exists in the form of mark selective fishery (MSF) and data supported fishery options. DFO has all information and data required to implement MSF and the remainder of the SFAB data supported proposals in key areas of the South Coast immediately. If an implementation decision cannot be announced by April 1st at the latest, then it will only be as a result of a lack of willingness to get the job done, not because of a lack of awareness or data. SALMON PLANNING PROCESSES The SFI will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with the SFAB in terms of upcoming consultation processes. The North and South Coast Integrated Harvest Planning Committee processes start their deliberations on Feb 1st, and discussion about feedback on 2021 DFO planning priorities will be a key component of that agenda. Please refer to the DFO planning priorities letter and the SFAB response for a look at where salmon harvest planning discussions will be heading during the 2021 consultation season. Through its participation in the SFAB executive and Chinook\Coho working group processes, the SFI is able to represent the concerns and goals of its members in this important consultation process in an effective and efficient manner. We are still unclear as to the future of the Southern BC Chinook Planning process but will continue to participate if the process evolves to support much needed work in designing comprehensive, integrated recovery plans for Fraser River Chinook stocks of concern and resultant recovery objectives, timelines, and exploitation rates. 97TH INTERNATIONAL PACIFIC HALIBUT COMMISSION The SFI participated in the 97th International Pacific Halibut Commission process all this week. The annual meeting ordinarily sees delegates from the US and Canada gather to discuss catch limits for halibut in US and Canadian waters for the coming season. Due to the pandemic, rather than meeting in Victoria, BC, the proceedings took place online. Acknowledging the challenge of providing an interactive and voting based process in a virtual environment, the SFI thanks the IPHC for its professional, service-oriented approach. Further, the SFI was impressed with the organized, informed, and collaborative approach of the Canadian Delegation. The hard work of DFO staff, Commissioners, and stakeholder volunteers from all sectors provided a team-based approach that produced a good outcome for Canada. The IPHC once again supported following the guidance of the 2019 interim agreement resulting in a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 7,030,000 lbs. for Canada, and a TAC of approximately 914,750 lbs. for the public fishery in 2021. This is a slight increase from the 2020 public halibut fishery TAC of 877,750 lbs. The SFAB Halibut committee will meet beginning next week to develop recommended management measures so that the public halibut fishery may be able to achieve the objective of optimizing catch over the longest season possible. The SFI continues to play an active role on this committee. 2021 BIG SPRING RAFFLE The 2021 SFI Big Spring Raffle is underway. Tickets are only 20.00/each for your chance to get in on $ 85,000 in prizes!, is on. Less than a month left to the Early Bird draw, tickets are only available online. Get yours today for a chance to win a great Kingfisher Boat, Yamaha Motor and Scotty downriggers Grand prize, trips to Langara Fishing Adventures, Coastal Springs Lodge, Nootka Marine Adventures, and on the Fraser River with BC Sportfishing Group. Early Bird prizes include an Islander TR3 Reel provided by Duncanby Lodge and a Stanley beverage package. https://sportfishing.us3.list-manag...efa001c46a0c5b48af&id=dda0f5725e&e=1d5d4cced3 FISHING BC 2021 Fishing BC, a promotional and awareness raising program partnering the SFI, with Destination BC, the BC Fishing Resorts and Outfitters Association and the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, markets fishing in BC to out of province visitors and local anglers, is regularly updating materials and information available on its site. Visit fishingbc.com and be reminded of all the opportunities and variety available for fishing in BC. Until next time, have a good weekend and tight lines, The SFI Team |
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Thank you for writing to the Honourable Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard. We confirm that your email has been received and will be reviewed. This is an automatically generated message; please do not reply. Ministerial Correspondence Unit Fisheries and Oceans Canada / Government of Canada | Merci d'avoir écrit à l'honorable Bernadette Jordan, ministre des Pêches, des Océans et de la Garde côtière canadienne. Nous confirmons que votre courriel a été reçu et qu'il sera lu. Ceci est un message généré automatiquement; veuillez ne pas répondre. Unité de la correspondance ministérielle Pêches et Océans Canada / Gouvernement du Canada |
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The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, P.C., M.P. Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard 200 Kent Street Ottawa, ON K1A 0E6 Dear Minister: We have been watching the proceedings of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans (FOPO) with great interest as the committee continues to work through and discuss the State of the Pacific Salmon study. While we were interested to hear your remarks on the afternoon of June 2nd, the responses you and your staff provided to questions posed were both concerning and confusing. Several times during the discussion you specifically referenced a pilot or test fishery that was initially described as planned for 2021 and then as currently underway to provide you with the data necessary to allow you to determine if it is appropriate to implement a Mark Selective Fishery (MSF) for Chinook in BC. While directors and staff of the SFI have been actively involved in the SFAB process, the development of the MSF proposals, and work closely with your science and stock assessment staff in the Pacific region, no one is aware of the pilot of which you speak. We believe it is reasonable to assume that if a pilot were being implemented with the specific goal of providing information required to implement MSF across wider regions of the BC South Coast, that the SFAB and DFO staff would be aware of this pilot. We can assure you they are not. To our knowledge, except for the Sechelt Inlet hybrid fishery that was approved in 2021, all the Chinook retention opportunities that are in place now were implemented in 2020. By no measure could these be considered as a pilot. All the fisheries implemented in the Mainland Inlets are not MSF’s and in fact allow for retention of both marked and unmarked Chinook but with no size restriction in place for marked fish. The tiny Becher Bay opportunity on southern Vancouver Island is indeed a MSF, but in no way was it ever described to the SFAB as a pilot or test fishery nor would it be effective for gathering the necessary data required to support or refute the benefits of MSF. As a result, we are confused and concerned about what you may be referring to and how progress can be made in implementing plans for MSF going forward. We suggest that these are essential details and request that information about when and where the pilot is taking place be provided as soon as possible. While it is hard to understand how a MSF pilot could proceed without participation from the public fishery, we stand by to assist in gathering the additional data you state is necessary to move forward. Again, timing and opportunity that MSF could provide to the public fishery is critical, clarification regarding this pilot is requested so we can provide assistance. During your time at FOPO Committee on June 2nd you also responded to a question regarding consultation that you have met with the SFAB. This is inaccurate. While previous Ministers have met with the SFAB, the official advisory board to DFO does not seek meetings with the Minister but has traditionally been invited by the Minister so that she may gain insights and can seek advice directly from the stakeholder and advisory board. While the pandemic may have provided impediments to an in-person meeting, you are the first Minister in a long time that has not arranged a meeting with the SFAB. Finally, you also indicated that you are in regular consultation with stakeholders in BC on a variety of issues. We can confirm that the SFI has met with you in a stakeholder capacity previously but note that a request for a meeting to gain clarity on the recent decision and announcements regarding southern BC Chinook management remains unanswered. Minister, we are troubled and alarmed by your remarks on June 2nd as they indicate that there could be a serious communication break down between your regional leadership and your office. We note and agree with your statement that acknowledges that mark selective fisheries, MSF, are a good idea and look forward to their implementation as soon as possible. To that end, our intent is to ensure that you and your department make decisions based on accurate and complete information. We stand by to assist in whatever way we can. Sincerely, SPORT FISHING INSTITUTE OF BC Rob Alcock, President FISHING BC APP For fishing activity on the water this season, to have up to date DFO regulations in hand, to contribute to improving a computer learning species identification feature and a UBC study on released salmon, and to use other useful features check out the Fishing BC app. Free to everyone, download the app on Apple or Android devices. Until next time, tight lines, The SFI Team |
Anticipated reply from minister Jordan's office.
June 4, 2021
The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
200 Kent Street
Ottawa, ON K1A 0E6
Dear Minister:
We have been watching the proceedings of the Standing Committee on Fisheries and Oceans (FOPO) with great interest as the committee continues to work through and discuss the State of the Pacific Salmon study. While we were interested to hear your remarks on the afternoon of June 2nd, the responses you and your staff provided to questions posed were both concerning and confusing.
Several times during the discussion you specifically referenced a pilot or test fishery that was initially described as planned for 2021 and then as currently underway to provide you with the data necessary to allow you to determine if it is appropriate to implement a Mark Selective Fishery (MSF) for Chinook in BC. While directors and staff of the SFI have been actively involved in the SFAB process, the development of the MSF proposals, and work closely with your science and stock assessment staff in the Pacific region, no one is aware of the pilot of which you speak. We believe it is reasonable to assume that if a pilot were being implemented with the specific goal of providing information required to implement MSF across wider regions of the BC South Coast, that the SFAB and DFO staff would be aware of this pilot. We can assure you they are not.
To our knowledge, except for the Sechelt Inlet hybrid fishery that was approved in 2021, all the Chinook retention opportunities that are in place now were implemented in 2020. By no measure could these be considered as a pilot. All the fisheries implemented in the Mainland Inlets are not MSF’s and in fact allow for retention of both marked and unmarked Chinook but with no size restriction in place for marked fish.
The tiny Becher Bay opportunity on southern Vancouver Island is indeed a MSF, but in no way was it ever described to the SFAB as a pilot or test fishery nor would it be effective for gathering the necessary data required to support or refute the benefits of MSF.
As a result, we are confused and concerned about what you may be referring to and how progress can be made in implementing plans for MSF going forward. We suggest that these are essential details and request that information about when and where the pilot is taking place be provided as soon as possible. While it is hard to understand how a MSF pilot could proceed without participation from the public fishery, we stand by to assist in gathering the additional data you state is necessary to move forward. Again, timing and opportunity that MSF could provide to the public fishery is critical, clarification regarding this pilot is requested so we can provide assistance.
During your time at FOPO Committee on June 2nd you also responded to a question regarding consultation that you have met with the SFAB. This is inaccurate. While previous Ministers have met with the SFAB, the official advisory board to DFO does not seek meetings with the Minister but has traditionally been invited by the Minister so that she may gain insights and can seek advice directly from the stakeholder and advisory board. While the pandemic may have provided impediments to an in-person meeting, you are the first Minister in a long time that has not arranged a meeting with the SFAB.
Finally, you also indicated that you are in regular consultation with stakeholders in BC on a variety of issues. We can confirm that the SFI has met with you in a stakeholder capacity previously but note that a request for a meeting to gain clarity on the recent decision and announcements regarding southern BC Chinook management remains unanswered.
Minister, we are troubled and alarmed by your remarks on June 2nd as they indicate that there could be a serious communication break down between your regional leadership and your office. We note and agree with your statement that acknowledges that mark selective fisheries, MSF, are a good idea and look forward to their implementation as soon as possible. To that end, our intent is to ensure that you and your department make decisions based on accurate and complete information. We stand by to assist in whatever way we can.
Sincerely,
SPORT FISHING INSTITUTE OF BC
Rob Alcock,
President
FISHING BC APP
For fishing activity on the water this season, to have up to date DFO regulations in hand, to contribute to improving a computer learning species identification feature and a UBC study on released salmon, and to use other useful features check out the Fishing BC app.
Free to everyone, download the app on Apple or Android devices.
Until next time, tight lines,
The SFI Team
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