Admittedly I do not have an extensive background or history with this fishery, and I sure have no love for the federal gov't; however I do see a lot of "snipping" about things we have little control over. I think this problem can be boiled down into a few major categories, and suggest if we can press all levels of gov't in these areas we may actually make some strides in improving not only the SDKW, but all levels of our BC fisheries:
My thoughts on the major problems:
1) lack of food source on which bait can feed; lack of bait (ie herring), less bait leads to smaller food stocks (salmon), boat noise from whale watchers, who are the only group who actually persue ORCAs, environment ( from warmer water, to chemicals and plastics in the water) ..
To solve these problems we should press ALL forms of government to
1) ban the use of sunblock sun screen in all fish bearing streams - sun block in sun screen is a proven contaminent and a killer of animal life in waterways.
2) drastically reduce harvesting of bait fish such as herring.. killing herring to harvest eggs is unconsionable
3) drastically curtain sightseeing boats (200 m is rediculous.. what about 1 km.. what do you see at 200 m that can't be seen at 1 km)
4) what's wrong with closing area 123 on a trial basis ? leaving area 23 open for recreational fishing
5) local gov't must isolate and collect all forms of plastics so it doesn't enter the waterways
6) treatments plants for both Van Is and the Lower Mainland are underway