Looking at policies that support the IslandB次元官网网址檚 salmon population while acknowledging the fishing-related economy is a priority, according to New Democrat Party leader Jagmeet Singh and Cowichan-Malahat-Langford MP Alistair MacGregor.

B次元官网网址淲e have to acknowledge how rough it is for lots of folks,B次元官网网址� Singh said Tuesday after he took questions from Belmont Secondary School students in Langford. B次元官网网址淸Fishing] is fundamentally a part of life, thereB次元官网网址檚 lots of jobs and tourism that come from it so acknowledging that is a priority.B次元官网网址�

Singh said he recently spent time in northwestern B.C. and met with many people that rely on fishing as a way of life. He said recognizing that is important. However, he also said looking at strategies to get fish habitats back to a place of abundance is important as well.

READ MORE: No fish zones eyed to save killer whales along south coast

MacGregor said Port Renfrew B次元官网网址� a large portion of his riding B次元官网网址� is a town that really depends on the sport fishing industry for tourism.

B次元官网网址淧eople come from all over the world to see some of the best salmon fishing thatB次元官网网址檚 on offer so naturally they are concerned with what is going on,B次元官网网址� MacGregor said. B次元官网网址淏ut B次元官网网址� one of the key priorities we have to concentrate on is salmon habitat restoration.B次元官网网址�

MacGregor said local groups are working hard to improve fish habitats and said the government should recognize what is being done. He added the government should look at other factors that are affecting habitats.

B次元官网网址淭he sport fishers have contributed a lot of their own personal resources to releasing hatchery fish into the water,B次元官网网址� MacGregor said. B次元官网网址淲e need the feds to actually look at the habitat the salmon are using to spawn because there are a lot of contaminated sites, a lot of rivers that have been impacted by industrial human activity.B次元官网网址�

READ MORE: Fishing ban a B次元官网网址榙evastating blowB次元官网网址� for Sooke

Last May, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced a recreational fishing closure for all fin-fish in the area from Otter Point to East Point on the eastern entrance of Port San Juan.

The ban took place from June 1 to Sept. 30.

Local officials and fishers called the ban a devastating blow to the Sooke region.

The ban was put in place because lack of prey was affecting the Southern Resident killer whale population. The population has only 76 members.

This year, DFO is considering expanding that ban further up the coast towards Tofino and Ucluelet.

READ MORE: West Coast urging DFO to consult more before shutting down sports fishery

Mandy Ludlow, a fishery officer and detachment supervisor with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, said the department is currently unsure as to whether or not theyB次元官网网址檒l put the ban in place again next year.

Ludlow said the department is currently consulting with stakeholders to determine whether or not the fishery closures were effective and compare the effectiveness to the community impact.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e going to spend the next period of time collecting info on the value of that B次元官网网址� if we saved any chinook or helped killer whales,B次元官网网址� Ludlow said. B次元官网网址淚t will be evaluated at the minister level prior to next season.B次元官网网址�

With files from Kevin Laird.

shalu.mehta@goldstreamgazette.com

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