Quote:
Originally Posted by Don Andersen
MrDave,
You are exactly right. Most of the native population was in decline years before additional roads, industrial logging and recreational lad destruction commenced.
WD was possibly the last nail.
Don
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I believe poor management such as high limits, lack of suitable enforcement and angler education, invasive species have all played the biggest part. Roads and such only accelerated unsustainable harvest rates.
For ever now F&W managers saw fish as a consumable product to offset costs for anglers. Spend $50 in gas and being $50 in fish home.
Has it changed?
Not sure.
For years mountain whitefish were deemed garbage fish...to be eliminated to make more room for trout. Now we have few whitefish and few trout.
For over a hundred years...we have been removing biomass from the creeks and not replenishing the system.
We need s new vision of F&W to focus more on the experience and less on the harvest.
I think everyone sees there is a problem. Regardless of the past problems...what to do to fix it?
If I was to brainstorm...
One would be to increase licensing fees and increase enforcement and stocking.
Put all money from licensing into the resource with oversight by public volunteers who can serve a fixed term.
Start a stocking program to replish creeks amd rivers with proper genetic stock
Do a trial program of adding nutrients back into heavily harvested streams
Look at areas where spawning habitat and rearing habitat can use help.
Set up key lakes in areas for put and take but keep limits at 2 and restock regularly
Start aerating more lakes and build more and more quality fisheries
Start charging BC residents special daily fees to fish the Bow, Oldman and Crowsnest systems.
Start trialing some ideas to see what works.