Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing-related Issues & News => Topic started by: Dennis.t on August 16, 2013, 02:49:52 PM

Title: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Dennis.t on August 16, 2013, 02:49:52 PM
Heard the DFO and RCMP were patrolling the upper Fraser last night looking for poachers using drift nets and this afternoon seized two boats under the Aggazsis bridge...
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Humpy on August 16, 2013, 02:52:02 PM
Good job by the DFO.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Randofish on August 16, 2013, 02:54:00 PM
They've been on the tidal a lot also in the last week.
RCMP got a new nice jetboat.
Good to see them out at least.
Rando
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Kenwee on August 16, 2013, 03:36:51 PM
Good job DFO. We need for of this to go on. Thank you for a great job.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: RiverRunner on August 16, 2013, 03:57:28 PM
About time
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: zap brannigan on August 16, 2013, 04:11:32 PM
awesome.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: salmonlover on August 16, 2013, 05:10:39 PM
they should make this well known, and make examples out of poachers. Whatever race it is it will not be tolerated. If this is true then it's good, but as for now its just heresy.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Dennis.t on August 16, 2013, 05:37:31 PM
they should make this well known, and make examples out of poachers. Whatever race it is it will not be tolerated. If this is true then it's good, but as for now its just heresy.
A little more detail...my buddy was camped on the upper river and bar fished yesterday till dark,they were up till late enjoying some beveridges and saw persons using a drift net come past them. A couple hrs later DFO and RCMP showed up using search lights looking for the poachers. This afternoon upon leaving they saw first hand the DFO sieze two boats near the Aggazsis bridge...
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: trot on August 16, 2013, 05:44:56 PM
A little more detail...my buddy was camped on the upper river and bar fished yesterday till dark,they were up till late enjoying some beveridges and saw persons using a drift net come past them. A couple hrs later DFO and RCMP showed up using search lights looking for the poachers. This afternoon upon leaving they saw first hand the DFO sieze two boats near the Aggazsis bridge...


They gave them a tow back to the reserve to offload-Trucks were broke down.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: liketofish on August 16, 2013, 05:55:00 PM
The fish are more important than politics or racial demand. Conservation should be the top mandate. Good job DFO.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: wonder on August 16, 2013, 06:25:15 PM
Finally doing something
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: steely02 on August 16, 2013, 06:49:06 PM
Good to hear!!
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: noobfisher on August 16, 2013, 07:19:35 PM
Nice work dfo, this is great news!
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: juno on August 16, 2013, 07:59:16 PM

They gave them a tow back to the reserve to offload-Trucks were broke down.  So you are raciSt? I may agree that some of the indians sell there fish but being outside racist  is ...just racist.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: rjs on August 16, 2013, 08:25:31 PM
sad thing is they probably blew there budget out of the water on this week , and they will have to lay off 2 more dfo officers next year !
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: bigblue on August 16, 2013, 10:18:20 PM
Great to hear that firm action is taken against poachers!
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: dcajaxs on August 17, 2013, 01:21:10 PM
I would gladly add a dollar or 2 on my fish license for visible enforcement on a daily or weekly basis. 
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: zap brannigan on August 17, 2013, 03:39:12 PM
easily agree with that.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: yoda on August 17, 2013, 09:37:00 PM
Excellent!!! Time to nail the poachers.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Damien on August 17, 2013, 09:50:30 PM
I would pay double for my annual license.  $10/month sounds about right for visible and consistant enforcement. 

And no 'warnings'.  You break the regs, you pay. 

The fines should be similar to parking/speeding infractions and go up from there based on severity.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: mko72 on August 17, 2013, 10:42:36 PM
I would ad $50 to the license, EASILY.  So roughly $75 per year for saltwater, plus a few conservation stamps, big deal! 

Fishing is/can be so cheap!  Make the freshwater license $99 for the year instead of $35 or whatever it is; get more DFO people on the water, more boats, fewer poachers, AND possibly more hatchery fish.  It might even keep some potential beeks from buying licenses and showing up.  Fewer meat fisherman. Think about it.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: zap brannigan on August 18, 2013, 12:49:04 AM
a lot of 'beeks' dont buy licenses to begin with, most get away with it for years i mean how many times have you guys been checked? for me never in my years have i been checked not enough enforcement out there its not a priority for bc apparently.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Fish Assassin on August 18, 2013, 12:55:48 AM
Don't think it's a matter of priority but a lack of manpower.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Bently on August 18, 2013, 01:35:53 AM
I've was checked twice last year {Island 22 Boat Launch, Kilby Boat Launch}, once the year before {Chilliwack/Vedder} and another one time the year before that even {Chilliwack/Vedder again}, maybe luck is on my side as I look forward to seeing and chatting with them.  :)

Funny thing was that they never checked for my Safe Boaters Card {even once !}at the ramps, just my fishing license which I thought was a little weird. I wasn't worried though as I always check and make sure I have the essentials {fishing licenses/boaters card} on my person as well as all the required safety gear for the boat before I pull out of the driveway in the morning. ;)
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: CohoMan on August 18, 2013, 08:16:56 AM
I was checked 6 times last year while steelheading .....
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: dcajaxs on August 18, 2013, 08:20:55 AM
must say the salt water licenses are cheap in comparison to the freshwater.   Maybe it should be one license for both waters which might mainstream enforcement.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Sandy on August 19, 2013, 08:39:28 AM
illegal nets should be seized and are , picked and the fish donated to the food banks, same applies to the domesticated canada geese.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: dennisK on August 19, 2013, 10:09:06 AM
But where was the DFO on way more serious issues like commercial guys letting fish die? There were at least 50 fish left to die in the news link below  ~ that's like catching 50 dumb fisherman on the river in one swoop. Honestly, I think the DFO would be better off focusing on the commercial guys as opposed to the recreational fisherman. Its a 50 to 1 damage ratio imo.

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/fishy-video-prompts-investigation-of-b-c-salmon-fishermen-1.1415165

Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: TNAngler on August 19, 2013, 10:18:16 AM
But where was the DFO on way more serious issues like commercial guys letting fish die? There were at least 50 fish left to die in the news link below  ~ that's like catching 50 dumb fisherman on the river in one swoop. Honestly, I think the DFO would be better off focusing on the commercial guys as opposed to the recreational fisherman. Its a 50 to 1 damage ratio imo.

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/fishy-video-prompts-investigation-of-b-c-salmon-fishermen-1.1415165
A net in the river can kill a lot more than the fish in the video.

I think they need a presence everywhere. 

Does DFO do any undercover work?  I think during the times fishing is open, if they showed up at a place with a bunch of people in a normal boat, in normal fishing clothes and just watched, they would be able to radio in to other's waiting nearby any major issues. 
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Rodney on August 19, 2013, 10:25:12 AM
Contrary to what most believe, nets, fish, boats, are seized a lot more often. Fishery officers present their seasonal work stats at each Sport Fishing Advisory Committee meeting, as well as video of undercover work at times. The other misperception is that enforcement spends little time on catching big guys, which is quite the opposite. Enforcement allocates their patrol time by determining which violations may pose the biggest impact on the resource. During fall months, most of the effort by Fraser Valley enforcement is focused on catch illegal nets on the Fraser River rather than recreational activities on its tributaries.

News like this is in fact not really news. What Fisheries and Oceans Canada fails to do well is their communication with the public. If each charge is published on their website, there'd be a few new threads on here about them on a daily basis.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: TNAngler on August 19, 2013, 10:29:52 AM
Contrary to what most believe, nets, fish, boats, are seized a lot more often. Fishery officers present their seasonal work stats at each Sport Fishing Advisory Committee meeting, as well as video of undercover work at times. The other misperception is that enforcement spends little time on catching big guys, which is quite the opposite. Enforcement allocates their patrol time by determining which violations may pose the biggest impact on the resource. During fall months, most of the effort by Fraser Valley enforcement is focused on catch illegal nets on the Fraser River rather than recreational activities on its tributaries.

News like this is in fact not really news. What Fisheries and Oceans Canada fails to do well is their communication with the public. If each charge is published on their website, there'd be a few new threads on here about them on a daily basis.

Why don't they publish this stuff?  Post the person's name and what they were allegedly doing online.  State person X's boat and net was confiscated and he has been charged with X and X and X which could total to $X fine and X years in jail.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Rodney on August 19, 2013, 10:32:00 AM
Don't ask me, ask DFO communication.

604-666-1746

media.pac@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Johnny Canuck on August 19, 2013, 12:11:17 PM
Could be a violation of their rights to have a name published. They could just publish the info and leave the name out. Sure would be very interesting to see all the charges that occur and even video footage.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: banx on August 19, 2013, 01:07:56 PM
if you are found guilty in court then yes your name can be published.  All court records are accesible through our ministries website.   their search function works well also.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: StillAqua on August 19, 2013, 05:10:29 PM
Provincial COs publish all Wildlife Act violations including tickets http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/main/compliance-reporting/reports.html (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/main/compliance-reporting/reports.html) but DFO seems to only publish major FA court convictions http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/charges-inculpations-eng.htm (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/media/charges-inculpations-eng.htm). I don't see why DFO can't publish all FA ticket recipients if the province can for the WA.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: armytruck on August 23, 2013, 04:32:06 PM
Listening to NW on my way home from work this afternoon .They said 6 boats seized today on the Fraser by DFO . Anyone else here any news on this .  >:( .
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: salmonlover on August 23, 2013, 06:07:55 PM
saw a segment on the news today. apparently people of all races are poaching. They are heavily patrolling the fraser from the mouth to hells gate. Of course there was a high school mentality iq commercial fisherman crying and complaining about first nations being allowed to net. its not fair bla bla. its funny seeing grown men act like children.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: shuswapsteve on August 23, 2013, 09:41:39 PM
Contrary to what most believe, nets, fish, boats, are seized a lot more often. Fishery officers present their seasonal work stats at each Sport Fishing Advisory Committee meeting, as well as video of undercover work at times. The other misperception is that enforcement spends little time on catching big guys, which is quite the opposite. Enforcement allocates their patrol time by determining which violations may pose the biggest impact on the resource. During fall months, most of the effort by Fraser Valley enforcement is focused on catch illegal nets on the Fraser River rather than recreational activities on its tributaries.

News like this is in fact not really news. What Fisheries and Oceans Canada fails to do well is their communication with the public. If each charge is published on their website, there'd be a few new threads on here about them on a daily basis.

Thanks for posting this Rodney.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Dennis.t on August 24, 2013, 08:58:48 PM
Well, well ,well! Nice to see some publicity about the boat seizures!!!! Keep up the good work DFO.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: rjs on August 24, 2013, 09:34:25 PM
sad thing is fn will take it to court and will win and get there boats and nets back + some all at u tax payers $
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Dennis.t on August 24, 2013, 11:20:07 PM
sad thing is fn will take it to court and will win and get there boats and nets back + some all at u tax payers $
We don't know that. And it must be real shitey to have your boat seized and have to got to court. Glad DFO is keeping up the enforcement as I had reported a week ago... ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Bently on August 25, 2013, 02:06:22 AM
Does anyone know if  ALL the boats and nets that were seized were First Nations, or is this just a big assumption ??

Although I myself have no idea ,I tend not to think so, as there's bad apples in all shades if you look at more than "one" rotten box.

No matter though, nothing would surprise me out there as sockeye on the black market right now is a big money maker, and anyone with enough greed in their eyes and the balls to try and get away with it,  probably will......sometimes !

Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: TNAngler on August 26, 2013, 06:09:25 AM
I would doubt they were all FN but at the same time, I would bet anybody with a net is FN because who has a commercial fishing net able to fish in the Fraser just sitting around the house?
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Bently on August 26, 2013, 06:49:08 AM
Lots of non FN have nets and boats too ya know, just sayin....
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: TNAngler on August 26, 2013, 07:07:33 AM
Lots of non FN have nets and boats too ya know, just sayin....

Yes, I realize that, but most don't have the type of nets required to fish in the river.  Chances are, a commercial net from the sound is going to be WAY too deep to float down the Fraser without risking losing your entire gear.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: Bently on August 26, 2013, 07:20:27 AM
Buddy, tons of nets owned by non FN are capable to fish the river, that's where all the boys fish since the licensing change years ago. You used to be able to fish the entire coast with a license then they changed it so that you had to have a double license to fish say the Skeena then travel south and fish the Fraser or San Juan etc etc.

Maybe you being an American you didn't know all that though. I know dozens and dozens of rag pickers in Steveston who have Fraser River nets bundled up and ready to go, every boat with a southern license has a few, their just different mesh size for what is allowed.
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: notracy on August 26, 2013, 08:57:18 AM
I was just reading this article posted yesterday

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/08/25/bc-salmon-ban-seizure.html
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: norton on September 02, 2013, 08:20:30 PM
All net fishing should be banned!
Title: Re: DFO Crackdown.
Post by: dcajaxs on September 02, 2013, 09:22:37 PM
whole system needs an overhaul, it would proabably make it better for everyone and the fish come first.