I know many from Alberta who come out to play offshore the Island for springs, coho, halibut, lings and more. So I thought it might be prudent to let you all in on what DFO (in conjunction with Parks Canada) are proposing of late. Massive Area closures that is...
DFO & Parks Canada are about to ram yet another series of closures for fishing through. Fin Fish Closures from Long Beach, South Bank, Big Bank, Rats Nose all the way to Swiftsure. This based upon both sketchy information, and in even larger areas, no information at all.
Time to tell DFO we won't sit idly by while they take the "don't confuse me with facts" approach and adopts "assumption based science" once again.
“B.C.’s tidal water recreational fishery, combined with the freshwater fishery, is the largest and most valuable in Canada, valued at $18 billion annually. DFO issues over 350,000 tidal licences per year collecting $7.3 million in fees and the fishery employs around 8,400 British Columbian’s (as of 2012).”
· Area SRKW Refuge Recreational Fin Fish Closures will cause significant socio-economic harm destroying jobs and economic spin off activities in small coastal communities like Ucluelet, Port Alberni, Bamfield, Port Renfrew, Sooke and Victoria.
· Killer whales are only very rarely present on LaPerouse Bank, and there is no documented evidence from passive acoustic monitoring to clearly demonstrate this is actually critical habitat. DFO science is making an assumption that because areas of LaPerouse Bank are important areas for commercial and recreational Chinook fishing that they area similarly important to killer whales.
· According to Passive Acoustic Monitoring (PAM), killer whales are only present on Swiftsure Bank 43% of monitored days between May to September – broad Area Refuge closures impact recreational fishing opportunity during significant periods where the whales are not present.
· There is no comparative analysis that demonstrates the effectiveness of Area Closure vs a mobile “bubble” strategy
· More effort is required to scientifically determine if indeed there is any less benefit to be achieved using a “bubble” strategy which is less impactful – striking a balance between protection and economic activity
External review of the critical habitat section of the draft Amended Recovery Strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales in Canada:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/consult...index-eng.html
Comment Section:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/forms/s...ahier-eng.aspx
This has absolutely ZERO to do with "conservation". Parks Canada has had this on their Agenda for years and now is in bed with DFO using improper science to push this forward. It is PURELY POLITICAL and will NOT result in any significant help to the whales in question. DFO's own biologists have pointed this out repeatedly. Their scientists are being purposely ignored by their Political Masters. PATHETIC!
There is no intent to limit shipping, simply a total finfish closure (No Fishing for all but one sector).
The Bubble strategy is to remain a minimum of 3-500 yards from any whales encountered. Something the whale watchers fought tooth & nail, and apparently they carry more sway with the politico's than fishing folks.
This is a completely draconian move by DFO to support Parks' vision of a large marine park that they control.
From page 61 of the Killer Whale Recovery Strategy, designed in cooperation with DFO & Parks Canada:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/consult...ulards-eng.pdf
For this post I won't bother (yet) pointing out the many discrepancies in said Strategy...
Area proposed for this closure (does not reflect inside closures already in place, nor ones proposed for the areas north of Vancouver Island).
July 11 Comment Deadline...
And that ain't so damn cheery...
Nog