Let the Herring Live: Feb 13

The Wsanec Hereditary Chiefs Alliance, the University of Victoria, the Herring Conservation and Restoration Society and Conservancy Hornby Island are pleased to host the Let the Herring Live event , all day Feb 13 at the Tsawout First Nation, Saanichton.

Let the Herring Live will be inviting many elected and Hereditary First Nations leaders. There is a clear call for a Moratorium on herring fisheries due to declining stocks and this event will be focused on what we can do to effect a moratorium and let the Strait of Georgia herring recover.

You can get tickets at Eventbrite, the price includes a First Nation lunch. Forty seats have already been claimed by students of Uvic, so be sure to register as soon as you can.

For more info please contact Jim Shortreed at 250 937 9475.

Strait of Georgia Food & Bait Herring Fishery: Just say NO!

In FN1172, DFO asked for feedback regarding the Strait of Georgia DRAFT 2022/23 Food & Bait and Special Use Pacific Herring Commercial Plans.

Per the fishery notice:

Please provide any comments on the draft plans to the lead fishery managers below, by end of day on Wednesday, November 16, 2022:

Food & Bait:
Jim Meldrum - (250)895-0473
Email: james.meldrum@dfo-mpo.gc.ca


Special Use: 
Marisa Keefe - (604) 354-0352 
Email: marisa.keefe@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Please contact Marisa if you require an additional method of providing feedback.

The ACS does NOT support this fishery, and has written a letter to DFO saying this.

DFO Science and many other sources recognize that the annual Food & Bait herring fishery is the primary reason for the extirpation of these unique local herring stocks. A commercial catch of 837 MT of food and bait herring in 2021-2022 within the Strait of Georgia does nothing toward the rebuilding of these local stocks. These herring are the life blood of the ocean which support numerous fish, bird and mammal species. Recent research shows that herring are the primary prey species for Chinook and Coho salmon.
Letter from ACS to DFO re: DRAFT 2022/2023 Food & Bait Herring fishery

We encourage you to join with us and voice your concern regarding this low value use of a most valuable marine resource. Please contact DFO before Nov. 16 to provide them your feedback.