It seems as though lots of people are willing to pay $25 which is great, me too. I don't have a problem paying $25.00 in fact I would pay as a recreational angler and even more as a resource user. The trouble is that this is not about $25.00.
The Fraser Valley Angling Guides provides 82% of the data collected by the sturgeon conservation society for FREE. A large majority of this data is a result of non-residents & non-resident aliens on guided trips, paying customers. Much of the data collected comes from one day sturgeon charters and one day combination salmon/sturgeon charters. The already dwindling license sales in BC will continue to drop with more fees and a sturgeon stamp. When the non-resident steelhead tag was implemented at $60, the one day steelhead trips for non-residents in the Fraser valley collapsed. Many anglers locally and from abroad are only fishing for sturgeon, the license being purchased is already a sturgeon license, so in essence they are already paying for a sturgeon tag. Where is this money going?
Consultation period not fair and unclear. The length of this consultation period is unfair to all stake holders. The first I heard of this was two weeks ago at the Sturgeon Technical Working Group. We then again were unofficially informed at a meeting on April 27. April 29 we are informed of 4 meetings to take place in May with a May 30 deadline for submissions. Longer and more in depth consultation, as this time frame is very unfair.
There is no plan in place or at least we have not see one, what is the money to be used for, when , where and how much. Is the money generated by the lower Fraser going to be used solely for the lower Fraser? There are more questions than answers. We already give millions worth of free data.
End result
1. If this sturgeon stamp was to become reality in the dollar value being suggested, we are all very clear on the end result. Millions of dollars of revenue to the local communities will be lost, local guide companies will fold their doors and the majority of future data will be lost. There will be no longer be the appetite to tag sturgeon from FVAGA members as they will without a doubt, leave a sour taste.
2. Paying customers will not pay an additional $60 per person to fish a 1/2 day for sturgeon. As mentioned above, much of our data is collected during one day trips and 1/2 day salmon/1/2 day sturgeon charters. The increase of $60 per person or $240 for a boat of 4 will not fly. The only sturgeon charters that will continue are multi-day trips where the cost is spread out over time. This is less than 30 % of most businesses, a drop of 70%
3. During salmon charters we often introduce clients to sturgeon fishing by adding a few hours onto the end of their trip. This has no cost associated with it so the client is happy to try it out. A few sturgeon are caught and tagged, more data for FREE and the client is introduced to this incredible sturgeon fishery. More often than not, the client will re-book and request 1 or more days of sturgeon. Again, this scenario would be lost if this sturgeon stamp was introduced at the rate being suggested. More lost data opportunities.
4. Poaching is still a problem, guides and sport fisherman are the guardians on the water their eye’s and ears are very important. Take them off the water and you will increase poaching opportunities.
Possible Solutions
1. The guides in the valley and their clients already give millions and millions of dollars worth of their time to Sturgeon conservation through donations, fundraising programs and tagging sturgeon. It's high time government agencies stop taking and begin giving something back to help these fish and continue the programs currently under way. Monies can be raise in other ways through various organizations and fundraising.As we all know, programs such as these rarely help what they were intended for.
2. If a sturgeon stamp concept was to be embraced by local communities and guides, a one day stamp for resident, non-residents & non-resident alien would be a must. This would be the only way the concept of a sturgeon stamp would fly. All monies collected would have to go directly to local fish projects not diverted to other communities.
3. Continue to seek funding through grants and other venues and stop trying to wipe out the guiding industry in the Fraser Valley.
4. An internet licensing system would provide the tools for monitoring and fair distribution for funds that are already being collected. You don't need to re-event the wheel.
I know I will get hammered as I'm sure there are a few readers that are anti -guides but I thought some of the posters needed a bit of background info. The bottom line is that your still fishing for sturgeon because of the work done by Fraser River Sturgeon conservation group and local guides who have donated thousands of hours of thier time for Free. This is a great way to re-pay them for thier efforts.
Vic Carrao
STS Guiding Service
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Topic: Sturgeon Stamp. The Province is going to rip you off again.. (Read 14034 times)