SRIF Awarded 700K for SFI Projects

The BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (SRIF) has awarded $700,879.00 to the Sport Fishing Institute of BC (SFI) to deliver four key projects designed to help implement the first phases of SFAB’s Vision 2021.

The projects are:

  1. Public Fishery Advisory Process Review
  2. First Nations Consultation and Enhanced Participation in Public Fishery
  3. Increase Participation in Public Fishery – Special Focus on Youth and New Canadians
  4. Establish Public Fishery Socioeconomic Data Warehouse

See the full announcement here.

SFAB Survey ends November 13

As a part of the SFAB Vision 2021, Sport Fishing Advisory Chairs are asking their membership to complete this survey.

Your input will be included in a Gap and Opportunity Analysis that will be provided to a team we are assembling for a workshop on November 20 to 22 to review the SFAB process, its operating model, funding, and services delivered.  As a participant in the SFAB process, your input is highly valued, and we want to provide a wider opportunity for SFAB participants to share their input.

Oct 15 2019: Halibut Fishing Still Open

The IPHC has released its latest catch assessment for 2019 here. As of this posting, fishing for halibut in BC waters remains open. As ever, subject to change in future, and for sportfishers, always subject to size and limit restrictions as published by DFO per area.

October 8: Fall (SFAC) Sport Fishing Advisory Meeting Victoria and Areas (19-20)

Ryan Chamberland, Area 19/20 SFAB Chair, invites you to attend the Fall SFAC Meeting for Area’s 19/20 on October 08, 2019 at 6pm.

Location:  Esquimalt Anglers Association, 1101 Munro St, Victoria.

Topics of discussion include:

  1. Priority messages on regulations for Chinook and Coho Salmon fishing to carry forward to the department.
  2. Halibut – Update on Season. How did this years regulations work for you?  Priorities requests for 2020 season?  What are possible changes you could accept?
  3. Prawn/Crab Update.
  4. Southern Resident Killer Whale Update. How are closures and restrictions effecting you?  Changes to be made, live with? 
  5. Enforcement Issues – Conservation and Protection Representative.
  6. BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund

Your SFAB chair needs motions to carry forward for a few of these topics. Please write down your proposed motion and bring it forward at the meeting. It will help to keep the meeting going, stay within the scheduled times, and be effective.  Once brought forward for discussion, we can edit as a group as and if needed.

Please check out and “like” the Facebook page Ryan has started for area 19 here https://www.facebook.com/SFACVictoria/ .

ACS Letter to Minister Wilkinson

The ACS has sent a letter to the Minister of Fisheries & Oceans and Coast Guard, Jonathan Wilkinson, requesting that recreational fishermen be permitted to retain one hatchery marked chinook salmon – respecting daily, possession and season limits – in the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Strait of Georgia effective July 15.

There is obviously no conservation concerns for these Fraser River Chinooks after July 15 as your department is allowing full scale netting within the Fraser.

In a recent interview on radio station CKNW, there appeared to be a disconnect between what the Minister stated as policy and what the DFO published as fact.

Our members were shocked by your statements on CKNW recently where you denied the existence of First Nations FSC net openings for these same early returning chinook stocks that your department is supposedly trying to protect. It was pointed out that over 90 First Nations FSC openings have occurred to date on the Fraser; according to the DFO website. These openings coincide with the spawning migration of the very same endangered chinook stocks of concern.

CKNW, Jill Bennett Show, Sunday Edition, July 7, 2019, 7:58 into the 51:03 recording

Briefing Note: Recommendations for Restoring Southern British Columbia’s Public Chinook Fishery

A briefing note has been prepared by a broad group of concerned southern Vancouver Island citizens with the aim of restoring southern BC’s public chinook fishery. Please read the briefing note here.

(i) – Transition to Mark Selective Fishing (MSF) for the public fishery
during the recovery of wild Chinook stocks of concern;
(ii) – Utilize strategic enhancement in addition to protecting and restoring
critical habitat to reverse Chinook abundance trends; and,
(iii) – Protect the $1.1 billion annual public fishery, sustain employment,
and maintain the many benefits that accrue to Canada.

A Federal Election is planned to occur on or before October 21, 2019. Your support for British Columbia’s Public Fishery and assistance in these objectives being implemented are critical.

Angler Protest

Where? Ogden Point Breakwater
When? Monday, July 15th, 2019 at 9:00 AM

On July 15th the BC Coast opens for the retention of Chinook Salmon. Meanwhile the straight of Juan de Fuca remains closed. It has been asked of Minister Wilkinson and DFO, “Why can’t we retain a hatchery marked Chinook?”, with NO REPLY.

It’s time we let the government know how important this public fishery is to all of us. Please show up in your boat, kayak, canoe or whatever flotation device you have. Attendance is critical and without your support we fail!

The message is dead simple: “Why can’t we retain a hatchery marked chinook”?

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