A petition protesting the closure of a critical area of the salmon fishery in Port Renfrew to recreational fishing is casting a wide net.
More than 600 people have signed in response to the federal Department of Fisheries and OceansB次元官网网址� impending decision to close Area 20 in an effort the DFO says aims to protect salmon stocks and southern resident killer whales.
Charles Borg, a spokesperson for the group behind the petition, said people are B次元官网网址渧ery passionateB次元官网网址� about the issue.
B次元官网网址淭he closure isnB次元官网网址檛 a done deal yet,B次元官网网址� said Borg, a potential candidate for the federal Conservative Party in the next federal election.
B次元官网网址淭he petition was launched on April 3, and weB次元官网网址檙e pretty happy with 606 signatures. WeB次元官网网址檙e moving on expediting it and hope for between 1,000 and 2,000 signatures before the petition closes on May 3.
Borg said while most of those heB次元官网网址檚 spoken to are well-informed of whatB次元官网网址檚 involved and recognize the need to preserve salmon stocks and protect the southern resident killer whale population, they agree other methods are available that wonB次元官网网址檛 severely impact Port RenfrewB次元官网网址檚 economy.
B次元官网网址淔rom my experience, only a very minute number of people support the closure,B次元官网网址� Borg said.
Chris Tucker, president of the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce, expressed the communityB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址減rofound concernsB次元官网网址� with the proposed closure in a Feb. 27 letter to federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthellier.
He estimated the economic impact of the closure during the peak 165-day season at more than $26 million.
Tucker said that money is crucial to supporting Port RenfrewB次元官网网址檚 full-time population of about 500 people, which includes the Pacheedaht Nation.
Chris Bos, president of the South Vancouver Island Anglers Association, said many opportunities to catch chinook salmon in southern British Columbia are lost B次元官网网址渇or no good reason,B次元官网网址� and salmon anglers are growing increasingly frustrated with the current management of salmon fisheries.
A spokesperson for the DFO said the final decision on closures will be based on criteria that include the benefit to southern resident killer whales, scientific justification and integration of Indigenous rights and knowledge, ease of implementation, and socio-economic impacts.
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