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-The Chilliwack Progress- 09/04/ Unusual fisheries closure By Jennifer Feinberg Fisheries and Oceans management took the unprecedented step of closing the salmon fishery in the Hope area because of the irresponsible behaviour of some fishermen. Effective August 29, a small section of the river, upstream of the Trans Mountain Pipeline to the Hope Bridge, is now closed to all salmon fishing until further notice. The affected area on the river is known as Scale Bar or Landstrom Bar and is located at the end of Landstrom Road. "This action is an interim measure that is being taken as a result fishing activities in this area which do not follow within Fisheries and Oceans policies for conducting responsible and orderly harvesting of the fisheries resource nor do they fall with the Code of Conduct for Sport Fishing in B.C.," says Paul Ryall. Sandy Ritchie, chair of the Sport Fishing Advisory Committee (SFAC) of the Upper Fraser Valley, says several Landstrom Road residents attended a Hope council meeting recently to express outrage about the unsportsmanlike behaviour of the visitors. Citizens' concerns included reports of fishermen trespassing, destroying private property, stealing wood, stoning local dogs, making physical threats and using private property as an outhouse. "Fisheries and Oceans officials sent a strong message to the perpetrators of this bad behaviour," says Mr. Ritchie. "The sports anglers that I know, do not conduct themselves in this manner. He says he has mixed emotions about the DFO's salmon-fishing closure. "In one sense it shows they are concerned about the residents and understand they lost their quality of life," he points out. "On the other hand I don't like to see any part of the river closed. It's going to take some discussions to find solutions." DFO officials pledged to sit down with sport fishing reps and a focus group this fall to develop long-term solutions to address concerns. "We've also met with City of Chilliwack parks and recreation officials," says Mr. Ritchie. "They've taken the lead to bring together stakeholders to improve the conditions out there because there are so many people drawn to the river now. This fishery has just exploded and we're not prepared it. We don't have adequate facilities." Scale Bar is a small area that attracted as many as 300 people a day when it was open. "I've visited that area on several occasions to see what was going on," says Mr. RItchie. "I was taken aback by the reports of trespassing and physical threats. It's a case of these fishers behaving badly on quite a number of occasions. This was not an isolated incident but the fact remains that true sports anglers do not conduct themselves this way. We have a Code of Conduct that members of the sport fishing community adhere to."
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<15665>
I just don't get one thing - why should "true sports anglers" suffer for mis-conduct of some other fishermen?! I think that "true sports anglers" should continue fishing, and DFO should penalize those fishermen who violate the regulations including revoking the fishing licenses. Can you imagine that police would close a road because there are some people who speed or violate driving rules when driving by that road? (The right answer is "NO")
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<15669>
True sport anglers love catching fish, with stealth skill and lots and lots of patience. This new breed are flossers, jiggers, with no appreciation for fish, environment or other fishermen. Outlaw this technique (flossing), end of problem. This new breed would return to the pubs, golf courses, etc. and leave the river to true sports anglers once again.
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<15677>
I agree with you Sarus. consider as well there are at least 4 other fishing location hit by the closure other than the scale bar. I fished these and there were not the level of problems reported at the scale bar. It is unjust to close those areas because of problems at the scale bar.
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<15681>
Closing such a vast area, because of the problems at the Scale Bar, is definitely wrong.'Temporarily' close the area in question(Scale Bar) if there is no other solution, but leave the rest of the river alone. Education is the way to resolve the problems, not closures.Educating inexperienced anglers is more effective in solving the problem. In some cases, that doesn't help, some people are just unethical and the only way to get thru to them is a fine from DFO. It is unfair to close such a wide area.
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<15682>
If the DFO continues the policy of closures due to the actions of losers, then the number of licenses being purchased every year will surely drop. I know it probably won't happen, but this government has to recognize the potential financial loss and hire more officers to govern the trouble spots. I'm sure the violation-ticket revenue would pay for these officers. I am one fisherman who has yet to fish for Sockeye successfully in rivers. Every year, when I finally get the chance, I can't fish due to closures. I believe that many, like myself who don't fish that often, are considering not buying salmon tags next year. Regulating the numbers of all salmon retained per year (recording on licence and then having to leave as with steelhead fishing) looks like a better answer to the problems generated by concentrated areas. The fools who mishandle fish are only mishandling the fish they are retaining - then they have to get the hell out of there.
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<15686>
Bozzo, If you decide to not buy a salmon tag, or a license, then you actually play right into the federal gov't hand. Believe me, they would love nothing more than for all B.C freshwater anglers to fold up their collective tent and go away. Every time someone decides not to buy a license it just adds fuel to the FOC downsizing fire. If you really want to have FOC hear what you think, then write a letter, or join an organization and begin to have your voice heard. For every letter they receive they estimate that a thousand others don't write letters I belong to both BCFDF and SSBC, but there are a number of really good groups that are all fighting for the best interest of the fish and the angler (ie:BCWF, Fraser Valley Salmon Society, BCFFF)
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