The B.C. Wildlife Federation is warning the public to make some noise if they want to protect the concept of wild salmon as a shared “public” resource to be managed for the benefit of all Canadians.
The federal Salmon Allocation Policy is under review by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) right now with the deadline for feedback closing on Friday, Jan. 23.
The BCWF issued a release titled: “Your right to fish is in danger” where they assert the proposal alters the concept of “common property” to shift public access to fishing from a federal, conservation-based management approach, to an “optional privilege” granted by First Nations.
They say that means that non-Indigenous Canadians would be “last in line” for fishing opportunities under this approach.
“Extinguishing the rights of Canadians to a shared public resource is unacceptable and likely irreversible,” said BCWF executive director Jesse Zeman. “The public right to fish is cherished by Canadians. I cannot conceive of a world where I can’t take my children out to fish, let alone their children. A right lost will be lost forever.”
There is also concern it might mean the removal of the public’s priority access to chinook and coho salmon, “the most important salmon species for recreational fishing on the West Coast,” the release said.
DFO is also considering taking away the public’s priority access to chinook and coho salmon, the “most important salmon species for recreational fishing” on the West Coast, they assert.
“This is a life-or-death situation for coastal communities and a radical change to the principles that govern conservation of public resources,” Zeman added. “Alarm bells should be ringing from coast to coast.”
What is at stake in the review is that DFO is considering eliminating the principle that salmon are a public resource to be managed for the benefit of all Canadians in its new Salmon Allocation Policy, said BCWF.
“First Nations are asking DFO to eliminate this principle from the policy that will guide allocation of salmon among First Nations Food, Ceremonial and Social fisheries, First Nations treaty-based fisheries, non-Indigenous recreational fishers, and commercial fisheries.”
But fishing by hook and line is “highly selective” and consistent with conservation objectives, the release said.
“Recreational fishing supports more than 9,000 jobs and creates $1.275 billion in revenue in B.C., “far more than commercial fisheries.”
Consult the DFO position paper on the review, and see the SFAB position paper.
The BCWF is a key stakeholder on the Sport Fishing Advisory Board and helped support the legal costs associated with the SFAB analysis on the review.
Feedback from the public can be sent to DFO: DFO.SAPreviewBC-PASRevueBC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
The deadline is January 23.