Recreational fishing community in B.C. concerned over potential changes to DFO salmon policy

Big changes could be coming to the recreational fisheries on the waters of British Columbia, prompting concern among anglers.

Brian Dunic is the President of the Sidney Anglers Association and said he became aware of the potential changes in November.

“The government put out a notice to the public saying they are looking for public consultation,” said Dunic.

That consultation would be part of a review of the Salmon Allocation Policy which was adopted in 1999 by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and acts as a guide for how salmon harvests are shared.

The change that concerns Dunic is the removal of the word “common property,” which he worries will put commercial fisheries and First Nations in control of salmon allocation, excluding recreational fisheries.

“They will say you might get one per cent or two per cent, 10 per cent or zero percent of the salmon for the year,” said the Sidney Anglers Association.

In a statement to CTV News, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans said the policy review is the result of a 2018 B.C. Supreme Court that found the policy was an unjustified infringement of five Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nation Aboriginal fishing rights.

Potential seasonal limits on recreational fishing are another concern.

Gary Cooper has been fishing the waters of British Columbia for more than 50 years, he is also the host of the television show Nice Fish.

“The (rumour) is that they want to close during the main fishing season in the summertime, they want to close down all sport fishing,” said Cooper.

His worry is the closure could come between Vancouver and Bamfield for the months of June, July and August in order to limit the chinook catch to preserve salmon stocks as a food source for the resident killer whale population.

Cooper says that would be devastating to B.C.’s coastal communities.

“It’s going to impact guides, lodges, marinas,” said Cooper. “That’s a lot of people and that’s a lot of dollars.”

This Saturday the BC Recreational Fishing Association will be looking to find a common voice in order to push-back against these proposed changes. From 10a.m. to 1 p.m. an open house is being held at Cowichan Exhibition Park.

“There are people coming all the way from Alberta,” said Cooper.

“This is to save a fishery.”

The TV host will be emceeing the event that expects to have upwards of 1,000 in attendance.