Greater Victoria anglers are taking their boats to the water on July 29, poles up and lines down. With hook-less lines, theyB次元官网网址檙e not trying to lure fish: theyB次元官网网址檙e drawing attention to what they call an unfair fishing ban.
In late spring the Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced a ban on harvesting any fin fish from Otter Point in Sooke to East Point, near Port Renfrew, a stretch of approximately 50 kilometres extended from the shoreline to U.S. waters.
The ban went into effect June 1 and lasts until Sept. 30.
Glen Varney, a volunteer fish culturist and former DFO employee, said local fishing advocates, including the Sport Fishing Advisory Board and the South Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition, had been in discussion with the DFO in late spring about upcoming closures. At the time, the DFO had announced they wanted it to run from East Point to Sheringham Point.
B次元官网网址淲e said B次元官网网址楬ey, letB次元官网网址檚 reduce that area a bit and they seemed to be fine,B次元官网网址� Varney said. B次元官网网址淭hen the minister said B次元官网网址榥ope weB次元官网网址檙e going to take it to Otter Point.B次元官网网址� We had no consultation as to why, and no reasoning behind the decision.B次元官网网址�
The extension from Sheringham to Otter Point adds approximately seven kilometres to the closure areas, and the fin fish ban means everything from salmon to halibut to ling cod is off the table. The decision was made in an attempt to preserve the Southern Resident Killer Whale population, which is on the endangered species list.
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A DFO representative told the B次元官网网址 the choices were made to preserve the chinook salmon population, which makes up much of the whalesB次元官网网址� diet, and to decrease noise disturbances in the area.
Involved with salmon enhancement for 27 years, Varney said last year alone over 500,000 salmon were released into Sooke Harbour. B次元官网网址淎 lot of the fishermen volunteer at salmon enhancement sites. But why bother doing enhancement work if weB次元官网网址檙e just going to be closed down?B次元官网网址�
On top of that, he added, orcas donB次元官网网址檛 actually eat halibut or bottom-feeding fish, so the blanket ban didnB次元官网网址檛 make sense.
| The fishing ban spans the area from Otter Point to East Point, near Port Renfrew. DFO |
B次元官网网址淚t feels like being stabbed in the back,B次元官网网址� said Bruce Webber, a retired commercial fisherman and protest organizer. B次元官网网址淚 sustain my personal family with fish, itB次元官网网址檚 a big part of our diet. ItB次元官网网址檚 been that way my whole life.B次元官网网址�
He also noted that Sooke has been hit economically.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not just us fishermen, itB次元官网网址檚 the people visiting the hotels, the B&Bs and restaurants, those buying gas for the boats,B次元官网网址� Webber said. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e throwing money away, tourists are not coming.B次元官网网址�
Mike Hicks, Capital Regional District director for the Juan de Fuca electoral area and a former fishing guide, agreed the broad ban was a hurtful move for local anglers and businesses.
B次元官网网址淭heir frustrations are totally warranted,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚t doesnB次元官网网址檛 make any sense, there hasnB次元官网网址檛 been a conversation.B次元官网网址�
When he asked the DFO why the ban included halibut and bottom feeding fish, Hicks said he was told there werenB次元官网网址檛 enough enforcement resources to ensure those on the water werenB次元官网网址檛 fishing for salmon.
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Hicks argued that halibut fishing requires completely different equipment and techniques than salmon fishing. B次元官网网址淭hat stretch is a constant source of tremendous halibut fishing for local guides and B次元官网网址� they have to anchor their boats. ThereB次元官网网址檚 no noise, theyB次元官网网址檙e not making noise at all.B次元官网网址�
The DFO representative said commuting to and from the sites would still create noise, noting that halibut fishing remains open for commercial operators and First Nations.
While Hicks said it was too late for him to step in at Otter Point, he reached out to politicians when the DFO proposed a similar ban near Tofino from Swiftsure to La Paruse Banks. As a result, Premier John Horgan wrote to the Minister of Fisheries, supporting local anglers and saying the process taken by the DFO B次元官网网址渓eft many stakeholders questioning the value of engaging in such a process.B次元官网网址�
The Tofino areaB次元官网网址檚 decision was put off until winter, when less anglers are on the water.
Webber said his Facebook posts about the upcoming protest have been shared over 700 times and he hopes to see over 100 boats on the water next Sunday near Sheringham Point.
B次元官网网址淛ust being there is not against any rule or violation, if someone wants to. If Fisheries wants to be bullish, they can come check us and it will be fine.B次元官网网址�
