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Just a quick update on my meeting with the fisheries people......They have agreed with me that they have some problems with the current regulations that are in place around the rivers close to hatcheries, but, like everything else (especially with the government agencies) things take time. :wink:
They said spot closures are a much more effective way to protect fish, when they need protecting, and are relatively easy to enforce since you are dealing with a small area of a river or ocean. I was also informed that there would likely be no fishery of any kind on the Chilliwack River if it wern't for the hatchery, and the spring,chum, and steelhead programs are specifically directed to the sports fishers and both local and visitors.(tourism)
Hatcheries on one stream often provide smolts to a large number of other local rivers where their programs do not allow them to raise certain species. This is the backbone of the program..Keep fish on a lot of streams and reduce the pressure on another.
I think there will be some changes forthcoming that will help the fish return to the hatcheries, but still allow the sportsfishers to harvest a fair share of the resource....Yes, the fish raised in the hatcheries are often better off bonked if they are fairly caught. That's why they are there. However, the thought that they will die anyway is not a reason to start a snagfest fishery.
Stream managers, or streamkeepers will likely be employed in the next 3-5 years to keep an eye on poachers/snaggers etc. and this would be a welcome change from the present.
I am heading to Port Hardy for a week so keep a lid on things boys & girls and I will give you the scoop on the Northern fishery on my return....Cheers for now..Ortho 8)
They said spot closures are a much more effective way to protect fish, when they need protecting, and are relatively easy to enforce since you are dealing with a small area of a river or ocean. I was also informed that there would likely be no fishery of any kind on the Chilliwack River if it wern't for the hatchery, and the spring,chum, and steelhead programs are specifically directed to the sports fishers and both local and visitors.(tourism)
Hatcheries on one stream often provide smolts to a large number of other local rivers where their programs do not allow them to raise certain species. This is the backbone of the program..Keep fish on a lot of streams and reduce the pressure on another.
I think there will be some changes forthcoming that will help the fish return to the hatcheries, but still allow the sportsfishers to harvest a fair share of the resource....Yes, the fish raised in the hatcheries are often better off bonked if they are fairly caught. That's why they are there. However, the thought that they will die anyway is not a reason to start a snagfest fishery.
Stream managers, or streamkeepers will likely be employed in the next 3-5 years to keep an eye on poachers/snaggers etc. and this would be a welcome change from the present.
I am heading to Port Hardy for a week so keep a lid on things boys & girls and I will give you the scoop on the Northern fishery on my return....Cheers for now..Ortho 8)