Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Morty on February 02, 2009, 10:51:02 PM
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It's time to do what we can to make our wild salmon stocks an election issue. I tend to believe that there can be a Win-Win if the floating farms convert to closed pen technologies. What I have done is talked to my MLA and expressed my personal concerns. I have additionally followed up with a series of email messages to him, each with an attachment to an internet article or video to demonstrate the broad based concern over this issue.
I have learned from past experience that I should not assume that other people understand what is obvious to me. Just because I can see first hand that our wild stocks are fading RAPIDLY, does not mean that my MLA will as well. He was actually surprised that there was any concern about it. Prior to my conversation only one other person had brought up the topic.
To save you some research time, here's what I have found in just a few minutes on the net:
From The New York Times
http://video.nytimes.com/video/2008/11/04/science/1194831199078/alexandra-morton-s-salmon-fight.html
From Save Our Rivers, a great video narrated by Rafe Mair
http://saveourrivers.tv/glendale_grizzlies2.html
From CBC NEWS
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/04/01/bc-sea-lice-herring-sockeye.html
From a Boating and Sailing website
http://boatingsailing.suite101.com/article.cfm/wild_salmon_endangered_by_sea_lice
and From the Piano Teachers no less
http://www.pianoinstructors.com/bc_fish_farms/
Our MLA's need to be informed that this is a widely recognized issue and that they can gain some votes by being vocal about change.
Please add a YES to this thread if you're going to take action.
Rick
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A Big YES here. Count me in.
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Great Athezone.
I'm thinking that those who don't, lose not only their future opportunities to fish, but also their "right" to complain about the number of openings.
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Great article Morty, I was thinking of bringing this article up myself. There is huge number of us out there, all it takes is for a majority of to take a few minutes and make a call or email our mla's with some facts and put a little pressure on them. With a bit of pressure and awareness we can help it happen.
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I'm sure that if we ALL took a little time and voiced our concerns with our elected officials either in person or by email, change would come. Imagine if all of the members did this once per month or even just the more active ones, this would lead to hundreds, possibly a thousand or two concerned 'voices' per month. Eventually, deaf ears would listen.
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Gets my support. If our message doesn't get through to them the first time, then eventually it will.
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I had 2 new customer come into my office this morning. They happened to notice the NorthRiver in the driveway and asked what I used it for.
Long story short... they had no idea about the dwindling salmon stocks and after a brief talk with them they were asking for more information and also willing to contact their MLA.
We can make a difference but we have to let peole know - humans are not mind readers!
Rick
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Read my last post under the gravel thread. It is tough slugging with these guys let me tell you but it does not hurt to keep after them as is suggested here on this thread. They always hope we will just go away and as well not enough people really care enough and unfortunately in most cases these two statements are right. In many cases groups and concerned people start out with good intentions but slowly fade away, due partly to frustration.
As I have said before on this forum I have been fighting these battles on several fronts for close to 25 years and many others and organizations for a lot longer. This gravel file is a prime example of how the government can stone wall. We win some small battles but the heavy hand of government in the name of so called progress along with big business and a money first attitude ends up getting its way most of the time.
Saying this I hope more people will get involved and take a more active role in all these issues as they arise in the days, months and years ahead.