NEWS RELEASE
July 9, 2010
MORE SHARP DEALING BY DFO
or THE CHAOS ON THE FRASER CONTINUES
DELTA, BC- "I never cease to be amazed that the Department of Fisheries
can find new ways to shaft fishermen in their ongoing mismanagement of
the Fraser River," said John Cummins, M.P., Delta-Richmond East.
"The latest shot is stunningly devious but well worth unraveling if you
care about salmon and those who harvest them legally" he said.
Indian Bands along the lower Fraser River have been fishing salmon
supposedly for food social and ceremonial (FSC) purposes on a weekly
basis since June 6th. The first FSC fisheries targeted Chinook.
Sockeye fisheries began August 1st.
Total reported FSC sockeye catch to date by Lower Fraser River native
bands is 85,384. That includes 34,400 caught August 1st and 50,177
caught August 8th.
Regular commercial fishermen have not fished sockeye for four years. On
Friday July 30th DFO advised them of a possible opening Wednesday August
4th. The opening was denied Tuesday August 3rd due to limits on the
"early miscellaneous portion of the Early Summer run" in the river.
Concern about the "early miscellaneous portion" did not stop native
sockeye fisheries in the river which have been on going on a daily basis
since August 2nd.
On Saturday July 31st native FSC fisheries were so successful nets were
sinking and boats were offloading late into the evening in Steveston.
There was no monitoring of the fishery - no DFO presence.
Recognizing that if this had been an all citizen's commercial fishery
DFO would have been out in force one fisherman went to the Steveston
Fisheries office and asked why fisheries officers weren't monitoring the
fishery. The response by the fishery officer on duty - "it's all
political."
Friday August 6th the Department announced the first all citizen's
commercial opening on the Fraser River in four years. The three hour
fishery will begin at 2p.m. Tuesday August 10th.
Three hours! And to rub salt in the wound the Musqueam will be fishing
commercially for twelve hours today the day before the commercial
opening and the Tsawwassen will be fishing commercially for six hours.
With heavy and virtually nonstop FSC fishing from Monday August 2nd to
Sunday August 8th and twelve hours of commercial fishing on Monday
August 9th experience shows there will be little or no fish in the upper
parts of the river on Tuesday for the all Canadian Commercial fleet.
As well conceding an opening to the Musqueam a day after a very
successful communal fishery makes it very easy for those who would
flaunt the law to move fish caught under a communal licence into the
market place along with legitimately caught commercial fish.
Adequately separating AFS and commercial fisheries to discourage this
practice was recommended by the Fraser Inquiry as well as other
inquiries into the Fraser fishery and is a practice endorsed by
government.
In fisheries cases courts have cautioned government that the honour of
the Crown can be brought into disrepute by sharp dealing with natives.
Given that fish are a public resource and that government's
responsibility is to manage that resource for all Canadians, government
should recognize that sharp dealing with any citizen including
commercial fisherman can bring the honour of the Crown into disrepute.
Contact: John Cummins, M.P.
(613) 992-2957, (cell) (604) 970-0937, (604) 940-8040 or
www.johncummins.ca 
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Topic: From John Cummins (Read 3111 times)