Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Rodney on June 08, 2005, 11:43:41 AM

Title: Rockfish conservation areas implemented
Post by: Rodney on June 08, 2005, 11:43:41 AM
Rockfish conservation areas implemented (http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/fns/index.cfm?pg=view_notice&lang=en&DOC_ID=79390&ID=recreational)

Why is it that all types of sportfishing for groundfish is restricted, while mid-water trawl for groundfish is allowed in these restricted areas?

Other news... (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/fishy_news/index.html)
Title: Re: Rockfish conservation areas implemented
Post by: Fish Assassin on June 08, 2005, 11:47:59 AM
Simple answer: one rule for the commercial guys and one for the sportsmen. It's not an issue of conservation as money.
Title: Re: Rockfish conservation areas implemented
Post by: Sam Salmon on June 08, 2005, 12:57:56 PM
Why is it that all types of sportfishing for groundfish is restricted, while mid-water trawl for groundfish is allowed in these restricted areas?
First off Rod no-one Sportfishes midwater for Groundfish-not in this province-that's a non starter.
Targeted trawling can take mid water Groundfish-they literally fly the trawls at a certain depth.
It's the benthic dwelling species that are of concern.

I personally would like to see all of the Inside closed to Groundfish harvesting from Race Rocks around the bottom of the Island right up to Malcolm Island.
The patchwork closures around the Gulf Island are in my mind pathetic-with growing human populations constantly hammering the few fish left the closures are announced are too little too late.

Close Bowyer and Paisley Islands?
There hasn't been Groundfish there since Sewells old party boat the Tarquin killed every last thing they could find back in the 80's.

Some of the mid coast/northern locales-the McMullin Group for instance-are crawling with Groundfish and so should be protected now.
McMullin was closed last year when I was there in fact-just north of there @ Rempstone there were so many fish it was amazing.
Title: Re: Rockfish conservation areas implemented
Post by: Old Black Dog on June 08, 2005, 03:13:33 PM
I personally would like to see all of the Inside closed to Groundfish harvesting from Race Rocks around the bottom of the Island right up to Malcolm Island.
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Do you mean you want to close this to all fishing?
Title: Re: Rockfish conservation areas implemented
Post by: Sam Salmon on June 08, 2005, 05:20:55 PM
I personally would like to see all of the Inside closed to Groundfish harvesting from Race Rocks around the bottom of the Island right up to Malcolm Island.
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Do you mean you want to close this to all fishing?
I mean what I wrote.
Title: Re: Rockfish conservation areas implemented
Post by: Old Black Dog on June 08, 2005, 07:12:08 PM
You understand that Rockfish Areas are closed to all fishing.
DFO closes it to all fishing as you might catch them if you are fishing salmon.
The areas closed will probably be for your lifetime.
There will be more coming this year, as they want 50% of the rockfish areas closed in the straight.
Title: Re: Rockfish conservation areas implemented
Post by: Sam Salmon on June 08, 2005, 09:05:19 PM
You understand that Rockfish Areas are closed to all fishing.
That's the idea-Yes I understand.

DFO closes it to all fishing as you might catch them if you are fishing salmon.
Sounds like a great idea and the only way to go IMO.

The areas closed will probably be for your lifetime.
I don't have all that long to go really.Younger people 'might' be able to fish them with their Grandkids but if they don't that's fine-fishing isn't everything.
 
There will be more coming this year, as they want 50% of the rockfish areas closed in the straight.
Thanks for the Good News!
Title: Re: Rockfish conservation areas implemented
Post by: Rodney on June 09, 2005, 11:54:24 PM
Thanks guys for the answers etc.

Here's DFO's reply:

The RCA's are a fish management tool, not a park or marine protected area.  This is the reason that some types of fishing gear or extraction activities are allowed.  If the gear or activity is specific, that is, can avoid rockfish then it is permitted within an RCA.  All gear permitted was reviewed from data that we have showing whether or not there is significant bycatch associated with the gear.  Mid-water trawl has a minimal bycatch of rockfish and therefore is permitted within an RCA.