BC Wildlife
Federation
SUGGESTIONS F0R FEDERAL MINISTERIAL CONSULTATIONS NANAIMO
SEPTEMBER 25, 2005
S.
Anthony Toth, Executive Director Chris
Bos, Fishery Committee Chair
atoth@bcwf.bc.ca governor@shaw.ca
B.C. Wildlife Federation
#101 - 3060 Norland Avenue
Burnaby, BC V5B 3A6
Phone: 604 291 9990 Fax: 604 291 9933 Toll free phone: 1-800-533-2293
Mountain pine Beetle:
It is expected that by 2013, 80% of BC’s mature pine forest will have been killed by the pine beetle. The loss of Annual Allowable Cut caused by this will be the equivalent of closing 25 major sawmills and three pulp mills and will represent a major economic down turn and loss of jobs in BC.
To date, the combined efforts by Provincial and Federal governments to fight the Pine Beetle has cost $300 million, but much more is needed. The province is currently losing the battle against the beetle. We need Federal Government assistance with an estimated near $1 billion dollars over the next 15 years to carry out the fight. Without this additional federal funding the Provincial Government will be unable to deliver a strong counter-punch to the beetle epidemic and most efforts will be towards mitigation of the long-term impacts. The focus must be on preventing further spread of the beetle as well as a post beetle era economic-revival plan. Federal assistance is clearly needed. Early commitment is equally badly needed to allow the Provincial Government and communities to plan ahead and to develop long-term action plans.
The large scale harvesting and consequent opening size will have a huge impact on Fish, Wildlife and their habitat. Replanting is not required in much of this area. We need to think about the future and how those areas can be rehabilitated on a large scale ecosystem basis to mitigate as much as possible any impacts. Winter range and thermal cover will be dramatically altered and species displaced. Community involvement through use of First Nation efforts and volunteers from the 30,000 members and 125 Clubs of the BCWF will be critical.
National
Parks:
The BCWF membership is clearly very nervous about several National Park proposals in British Columbia at this time. For example, the BCWF is dramatically opposed to the Flathead proposal in the south eastern corner of BC. We also have severe reservations about the Okanagan Park proposal. The BCWF will probably oppose all further National Park proposals for BC unless local area consultation is extensive and even then will only support proposals where local consultation indicates a large majority of local area support for the proposal. Local consultation must also be fair, and not unfairly directed toward approval of new park plans.
Species
At Risk Act:
We need support for allowing BC to be somewhat flexible when species are listed through the Federal Species at Risk Legislation. Our province is very diverse, especially geographically and has therefore been divided into eco-provinces. When species are listed it is done by the species as a whole population. BC often has populations that may have a single area where the species is of concern but may also have areas where the same species is very viable. BC should have the opportunity to manage species at risk in this fashion as long as it fits their recovery plan.
Migratory Birds:
Migratory bird populations are at extraordinarily high levels. The population explosion is threatening serious crop and habitat damage. Bird populations must be controlled, and one way to help in that respect would be to allow more liberal bird. hunting seasons.
The Promotion of Recreational Fisheries:
At the BCWF, we want to ensure that recreational
angling opportunity, in freshwater as well as tidal water, is not only
maintained but also promoted and developed wisely. We believe that recreational
angling is an essential part of British Columbia and, with visionary management
and marketing, can really increase the benefit to our economy.
The True Value of Recreational Angling:
Fishing is a pastime carried out by young and old,
wealthy and poor, as well as people of many cultural and ethnic
backgrounds. It can be enjoyed with
very basic fishing tackle or some of the most highly specialized
equipment. It can simply provide a few
hours of relaxation and enjoyment or develop into a passion for the avid
angler. Angling can be the reason for
the trip or an added bonus to alternate outdoor recreation. and it provides a
chance of a nutrition feast on the table of the successful.
The world-class angling and magnificent countryside
that British Columbia is blessed with, draws many outdoor enthusiasts, who are
mainly residents but also non-resident Canadians or international visitors.
Angling offers many different benefits to our
province, the government and its residents; some are listed here:
§
Considerable revenue to our economy expended by
anglers in their travel, accommodation, supplies and capital equipment purchases,
§
Employment opportunities, for BC residents and
First Nations, often in rural communities,
§
Support of small business and small community
economies with tackle, guides, service and equipment purchases,
§
Part of the heritage of the West Coast of Canada
and has social significance to many,
§
Anglers provide valuable data for fisheries
management and are often the eyes and ears for C&P officers in their
enforcement endeavours,
§
Resident anglers become the stewards of the
resource by engaging in conservation activity and providing donated funds to
protect and enhance the resource, and;
§
Angling is a healthy and decent activity, which is
regularly associated with bonding of family and/or friends.
At the BCWF, our 30,000 members love to go fishing
and angling not only represents part of who we are but also is an integral part
of our lifestyle in this province.
The revenues from recreational angling in BC are
significant drivers to our economy and positively influence our GDP. Combined tidal and freshwater revenue
estimates from angling in BC are currently in excess of 1.2 billion dollars
annually. In 2002 some $550,000,000 was
spent on tidal water angling and in 1995 $494,000,000 was spent on freshwater
angling (which provided approximately $99,000,000 in government revenue).[1] The health of such an important aspect of
our economy must be maintained, well promoted and protected from failure.
Decreasing License Sales:
As unpleasant a truth as it may be, the fact
remains that freshwater and tidal license sales have been dropping for more
than a decade and less people are fishing.
Dropping license sales coupled with the further challenge of less young
people being recruited to the sport of fishing during that same time frame,
results in an aging angler demographic.
This reality could spell a future tumble in participation and a steep
decline in revenue (to all support sectors including government). Further, as angling license revenue is now
tied to fisheries management, conservation and fish production, this seems to
identify an area where immediate recruitment of new anglers is not merely
important but is also vital.
The BCWF is concerned by this decline in
participation in angling and hunting.
Our expectation is that government, working with stakeholder groups and
the fishing industry should make a strong commitment to reverse the decline in
participation and solicit more young people to take up angling as a pastime.
Promotion of Recreational Angling:
To Non-Residents:
This province has world-class angling and some of
the most beautiful scenery to offer today’s discerning travelers. The promotion of BC’s fishing opportunities
to outdoor enthusiasts from the rest of Canada and around the world is very
important to our economy. The fiscal benefits derived from angling tourism are
often to smaller more rural communities that would not see such revenue without
visiting anglers and provide jobs in areas where often unemployment runs
higher.
To Resident Anglers:
The residents of this province, who traditionally
are not the focus of major tourism promotion, are the “bread and butter” income
providers to the fishing industry, rural communities and government. Resident license sales revenue out ways the
revenue generated from visiting anglers and many residents take frequent trips
throughout the year.
There is evidence to show that the drop in fishing
effort is related to several important factors:
1. Availability of fish. Example - waters of Georgia Strait during
the Coho salmon crisis, there was a direct correlation to a drop in license
sales (no fish – no fishing)
2. Too many
complex regulations and cost of license. – There are
two sets of fishing regulations (tidal and freshwater) and to the novice it is
a daunting undertaking to find out where and when one can fish. There is also a
general perception that licensing is expensive when one considers all the
different tags and various licenses needed to fish broadly in salt and
freshwater in BC.
Making fish available, reducing cost and
simplifying regulatory requirements would see more people take up the
sport. This might also re-engage people
who used to fished but have chosen to stop fishing because of increasing cost
and dropping fish availability.
Recruitment – Rebuilding Angler Demographics:
As already stated, maintaining the current health
and economic benefit of recreational fishing in B.C. is very important; but we
must not overlook the need to make a concerted effort into rebuilding. To
promote the sport of fishing successfully today and in the future thus
increasing license sales, the BCWF believes that a focus must be given to
recruitment of new anglers. That focus must be aimed at the non-angling
residents of this province and primarily targeted toward youth, single parent
families and our many recent immigrants.
A single new angler recruitment program needs to be
carefully developed that will encourage a cooperation amongst government,
angling NGOs, and the recreational angling supply industry with additional
support from private sector partners. This program would encourage and support
existing successful angling initiatives. The BCWF believes it would be prudent
to establish a stand-alone “home” or central delivery system for such a
successful program. With secure funding from a broad support base sufficient to
properly fulfill its objectives, this stand-alone organization could focus on
angler recruitment and education.
Some efforts to bring all stakeholders together for
this purpose designing a recruitment program have been initiated by the Freshwater
Fisheries Society of BC (FFS) in its Angler Participation Initiative. The
challenge here is that the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC is specifically a
fish production organization, whose revenue is generated from fishing license
sales. Using the physical and financial resources from this society to engage
new anglers is taking away from the task of ensuring full stocking of our lakes
and streams thus hindering further opportunity of new fisheries. The FFS,
originally with the Ministry of Environment, is structured with staff,
facilities and expertise to produce fish and not as an organization to deliver
angler education and recruitment. However, it is clearly in their interest to
see increased license sales, because an increase in licensed anglers means an
increase in their revenue.
Engaging New Anglers:
Novice anglers, particularly young people, must
clearly perceive the chance to catch something when they learn to fish or
otherwise they will soon become put off future involvement. Success (catching a fish), therefore, is
extremely important. The need for success must also be combined with the fun of
the experience. To recruit new anglers there must be several aspects considered
and made available to provide success in order to ensure that individuals take
up the pastime more than just once.
This equation breaks down the recruitment criteria:
Education
+ access + product = success
Education
– Teach the How tos’, what tackle,
and where - Being helped by a mentor or experienced angler - Community fishing
events that provide one-on-one angling opportunities – Make available resources
with a BC focus such as literature, videos and web materials - and local
community centres running basic angling courses.
Access
- Lakes, streams, and tidal
waters open to fishing - accessibility must be developed to attract urban
residents – Fishing docks and fishing piers that are located with proximity to
good fishing. Simplified and reduced regulatory and license requirements – BC
Parks developed to encourage and educate about fishing not just camping/hiking,
etc.
Product
- Fish, not just trout and salmon
(some less focused species like bass) – the need for abundance and
availability. Stock new lakes and stock
urban ponds – inform the public of exotic species fishing opportunities –
Increase hatchery production – community programs that raise pink salmon for
easy access shore-fishing opportunities – stocking East Coast Vancouver Island
watersheds with sea run cutthroat trout with an eye to angling to replace the
lost steelhead fishery.
Provide Greater Assistance to Existing Proven
Programs:
There are several specific programs in BC that
already focus on generating new anglers.
All too often these programs have scant resources and rely so heavily on
the good will and the generosity of volunteers that the programs’ goal to
generate new anglers is not fully realized. With the slashing of western
spending by DFO there has been a reduction in support by the federal government
as well. Many programs remain successful as a result of the great generosity of
angling NGOs like the BCWF or BCFDF.
If these programs are to continue to be successful
in recruiting new and young anglers, we MUST all support them and government
should make a priority to ensure that adequate financial resources are
available for their full operation.
Initiatives such as:
B.C. Family
Fishing Weekend
BCWF – Fishing
Forever Program
BCWF –
Becoming an Outdoor Woman
BCFDF –
Pathways to Fishing
The BCWF sees great merit in working cooperatively
with your Ministry to promote and develop an even healthier recreational angling
community in this province. Where appropriate, we can assist in delivery of
educational and promotional programs that will encourage identified B.C.
residents to take up fishing as a pastime. One of the BCWF strongest resources
is our membership which is willing to volunteer time and angling expertise
toward the goal of seeing kids and many other BC residents learn the joys of
fishing.
In 2010 the eyes of the world will focus on British
Columbia; let us capitalize on the time remaining to promote our angling
resource wisely. Any comprehensive
strategy for recreational angling must seriously focus on recruiting new
resident anglers, especially young people and provide plentiful fish and easy
access.
The Environment - “Death of a Thousand Cuts”:
The west coast of Canada is our home and we feel
deeply and fundamentally connected to our surroundings and our fish and
wildlife. A vibrant healthy environment supports and enhances these cultural
values, maintains healthy living and affords recreation that adds greatly to
the broader economy of this region.
Today our environmental challenges are not just the
massive threats from big industry or natural disasters, but often those small
little unseen acts that when totalled impose greater danger to our environment
as a whole. Most of the perpetrators have little or no knowledge of the damage
they do and/or they feel immune from any recourse. Education of our citizens
and industry about how to reduce pollution and a commitment from government to
enforce penalties diligently will greatly reduce the “death by a thousand cuts”
that our environment faces each and every day.
Detergents, petrochemicals, hormone based
medications, sediments and silts all contribute to the destruction of habitat
if released into streams and rivers. Pollution of this kind is basically
uncontrolled. Construction in or around streams that alters the integrity of
those streams reduces the habitat potential.
The quality of urban storm water run off near
delicate fish and wildlife habitat is an issue that rarely gets addressed and
almost never enforced in BC. As humans we choose to live in places that are
also habitat for many other species. The building of communities in areas that
have unique and important fish and wildlife values leads directly to the
downturn in production of the resident life forms. Our government must do
better at facing the challenges of small infractions
The Lower Mainland and the Greater Fraser River
Basin have thousands of spawning streams for wild Coho salmon; those streams
are under such assault from the effects of sprawling urban development that
more and more streams are failing to produce Coho. Storm water run off, urban
expansion leading to loss of wetlands (the natural filters of our watersheds),
agricultural run off and excessive water extraction, and sharp increases in
hard topping (covering of land with large-roofed houses, tarmac roads/parking
lots and cement structures) is happening everywhere.
We have failed to enforce the regulations in the
existing Fisheries Act. Why now are we rewriting the act and creating a new
Wild Salmon Policy if we are NOT truly committed to habitat protection and
rarely enforce infractions in the existing act? If our Wild Pacific Salmon are used as the “thermometer” to test
our habitat “health”, there are many instances where there are habitats in
crisis. A huge process of writing more policy and enacting more regulations
will not fix the problem if there is no money and no will to follow it through
and enforce penalties.
In the Greater Georgia Basin, in addition to the
millions of existing residents, there is a steady influx of people coming to
live in direct competition with resident fish and wildlife. The flora and fauna
are losing out to urbanization, agriculture and industry and all the resulting
waste products and pollutants.
Is it worth going beyond a “finger in the dyke”
solution? Should we strive on all fronts as a united community to better manage
the remaining best opportunities for conservation?
The BCWF’s 30,000 members and 125 clubs say an
emphatic “yes” and we pledge to employ all our expertise and resources to save
our ecosystems, wildlife, fish and communities in British Columbia.