Christopher Bos, President of the South Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition, writes:
SVIAC have just learned that DFO’s proposed sport fishing closure for SRKWs in Juan de Fuca Strait will have boundaries between Otter Point in Sooke and East Point in Port Renfrew and is set to be a “no Fin Fish Fishing” zone. The closure will start on June 1st and run through to September 30th. The SFAB asked for Fossil Point just west of Point-No-Point and no salmon fishing for the closed area. Closing the fin fish fishing west of Otter this summer is a terrible idea, will not save a single Southern Resident Orca and, as anglers, we must all let DFO know how seriously bad this decision will be for the community of Sooke.
Today several members of the SFAB met with DFO staff to discuss the soon to be announced SRKW Actions outlined in DFO Minister LeBlanc’s press release (see below). We made a plea that the SFAB proposal be honoured. However, it seems clear that the SFAB proposed closure boundaries reached after thorough consultation with many local anglers has been ignored by the Minister. A real slap in the face to the respected SFAB process.
An SFI and SVIAC talking points and letter writing information document is attached [ed. – see below] – it includes names, email addresses and phone numbers
So before the formal fishery notice is released YOU MUST ACT IMMEDIATELY to protect your fishing opportunities! Wednesday is likely too late
NOTE – Please share this with any anglers who you think will write or phone.
Thank you sincerely for your help and support