Just in case if you are not familiar with the rockfish conservation strategy, the information can be found on
this page.
The strategy involves having designated rockfish conservation areas. DFO plans to designate more areas as RCAs in the near future. A map of current RCAs and proposed RCAs can be viewed in [urlhttp://www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pages/consultations/fisheriesmgmt/rockfish/Rockfish_maps_fall05/WebPage/RCA_Proposals.html=]this section[/url].
Fishing activities are restricted in a RCA. Permitted fishing practices in a RCA are listed on
this page.
Total closure of fishing with lines and hooks is in place in RCAs. Now this would be perfectly fine in the name of saving groundfish species.
However, why is groundfish by mid-water trawl allowed for the commercial sector in RCAs? Wouldn't they be catching the same fish that we intend to protect in the first place?
Why is there a total ban of fishing with lines and hooks, when you can flyfish on the beach, surface from a boat for salmonid species without encountering a single groundfish in the deeper water column?
I don't participate in saltwater fishing that much but it seems, as usual, the sportfishing sector is being singled out as the main factor of stock depletion. Such double standard (allowing one group to fish while shutting out the other) seems to be done for public relationship.
You decide.