Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing-related Issues & News => Topic started by: Nick78 on March 07, 2009, 04:33:43 PM

Title: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Nick78 on March 07, 2009, 04:33:43 PM
Read that the new synopsis is out already - where can I find it as the environment website still shows the current one? Also heard that the new licences are only available by E - licensing, is that true? Makes it more difficult for guys that just want to fish spontaneously for a day - you can't buy it in the stores anymore then...
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: WEEFISH on March 07, 2009, 07:19:50 PM
I've heard the stores will have the  online option onsite  ???
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: redside1 on March 07, 2009, 07:46:50 PM
got the new regulations at the Abbotsford sports show on Friday. Yes e-licensing will be the only way to get one. Tackle shops are to be able to do e-licensing for you but why bother them, just get one on-line, quick and wasy, I already got my 2009-10 freshwater license online
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Geff_t on March 07, 2009, 08:26:56 PM
Yes E-license only this year. You can register at home and then take your angler number to a shop to purchase your license. This way you do not need to use your credit card.E Licenses will be available for sale starting March 20th. I would suggest you do not wait to long as I am sure the site will crash when heavy traffic  occure just like it did last August.
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: speycaster on March 07, 2009, 08:27:31 PM
I emailed them a cheque and it got rejected ;D. Don't have credit cards, never applied for one much rather pay cash. Maybe i will just scan some bills and send them away. ;D
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: redside1 on March 07, 2009, 09:44:46 PM
Yes E-license only this year. You can register at home and then take your angler number to a shop to purchase your license. This way you do not need to use your credit card.E Licenses will be available for sale starting March 20th. I would suggest you do not wait to long as I am sure the site will crash when heavy traffic  occure just like it did last August.

you can get your new 2009-10 license now. They became available on March 1 this year. I got mine on March 2 so why wait and maybe incurr site problems?
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: younggun on March 07, 2009, 11:22:26 PM
so wat happens to the dude who can only pay cash!!!!!!!  >:( Thats a load! Just makes it more complicated and time consuming.
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: DionJL on March 07, 2009, 11:32:15 PM
so wat happens to the dude who can only pay cash!!!!!!! 

That's what I said a year ago. They should set up Interac payment like they do on other sites. That way you'd have an option if you don't have a credit card.

A teen cannot get a credit card until they are 19, but they need to have a license when they are 16. Silly!
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Nick78 on March 08, 2009, 12:47:11 AM
Tanks guys for your answers! I got exactly that problem as I don't own a credit card... Think I'll go to the tackle store (searun) around the corner next week and see what they can do. Maybe they can order it for me and I pay cash for it, we'll see.
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Steelhead King on March 08, 2009, 12:56:56 AM
you can still buy them from tackle store.  But instead of writting it out on a paper, we have to print them out from computer..... PS, you now also have to register for your " angler number" and that given number will stick to you for the rest of your life...
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: HARLEY on March 08, 2009, 10:30:56 AM
Someone sure is saving a pile of money with this idea of email licences. When you add the cost of the paper,the printing costs,the cost of distribution and the saving of the fees that the stores receive for selling the licences I am sure that is quite a saving. I have two questions
         !. Where is all this money that is being saved going to be used.
         2. I bought my licence on the computer today and it really is easy to do--but--because you can print as many copies as you
            want,what stops a person from retaining more Steelhead or Chinook than allowed. All a person has to do is print a new
            licence and that person is starting off again with a clean licence.

      Just a thought.

      harley
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Rodney on March 08, 2009, 01:43:02 PM
While discussions of the pros and cons of this new system are good on the forum, you should also express the same concerns to those who are managing the system so they are aware of them. These discussions will eventually sink into the archive and the message will not be heard if not delivered.

Online fishing licensing system has an email contact at:

frontcounterbc@gov.bc.ca

You can also phone them at:

1-877-855-3222 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm)

As Steelhead King has pointed out, the conventional license purchasing method (visiting a tacklestore, pay by cash, debit or credit card) will still be available. The difference will be that the staff will be filling it out on the computer instead of hand-writing it. In the next few weeks, more information will be available on which and when tackle stores will have this service available. Stay tuned.

Nick, the new version of the freshwater regulation synopsis will be on the same ministry webpage. When the new license year begins (April 1st, 2009), the PDF files will be updated to the files from 2009-2011 version.
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Nick78 on March 08, 2009, 02:16:35 PM
Thanks Guys! Did you change the Header/Name of this topic, Rod? Sounds more professinal now ;D As you get tagged with "your number" is good and bad at the same time. Violations and things like that can be seen easily now by just checking your number by a CO/FO and see your records. All they need is a laptop or connection to the internet ;) At the same time you'll get monitored by every person who got access to those files, don't we already got enough of this cupcakes... :-\ And with the retaining, you're right harley, but with the old system all you needed to do was buying one day or eight day licenses and you would have had a "fresh" one every time. Think the savest way would be to enter your fish in the license and within 24 hours into your "account ;)" so you can't print a new one without having it on your license or at least enterd at the "Headquarter". Also the DFO could count how many fish have been retained by sportfishermen. Maybe I shouldn't wright that down here... :o
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Rodney on March 08, 2009, 03:19:17 PM
Think the savest way would be to enter your fish in the license and within 24 hours into your "account ;)" so you can't print a new one without having it on your license or at least enterd at the "Headquarter".

That's an interesting suggestion Nick. Right now beside recording the catches of steelhead and chinook salmon on your license, there are no such requirements, probably because it simply isn't enforceable.

Recording by handwriting is only semi-enforceable. The only opportunity for an conservation officer to charge an angler for violations in this category would be on the day of the event, ie. the presence of the steelhead or chinook salmon that the angler has killed and the absence of recording on the back of the license.

If the angler is not caught when the fish is not recorded on the license, he or she would have the opportunity to exceed his or her annual quota. This was already possible with the conventional hand-written issued license, but the online licensing just made it easier. Even for anglers who intend to obey the law, if fish have been recorded on the license but it was lost unintentionally, then those recordings would be impossible to retrieve unless they have been copied onto somewhere else for future reference. This is where your idea of recording online once returning to home, but it would entirely be controlled by self-policing, because it is not enforceable.

Just a couple of notes regarding frequency of violations. Twice per year, we (representatives of the Fraser Valley Sportfishing Advisory Committee) are briefed by the Chilliwack DFO C&P detatchment on their observations in anglers' behaviours etc. Overall, anglers are generally very good at complying. With a few exceptions, most common violations are fishing without a license, barbed hook, retaining fish illegally. The common perception among seasoned anglers, especially on the online forums, is that incompliance is sharply rising based on personal observations and readings of other anglers' experiences. The problem with such method is that it does not paint the whole picture because we (not just anglers, just in general) have a tendency to be outspoken when negative experiences occur, while positive experiences are neglected as they often do not make an exciting story. This is very evident when one browses through today's news media. Statistics measures more accurately (not 100% accurately) when determining the trend of incompliance.

Majority of the observed violations are committed by entry-level anglers (violators who are well aware of their action would not be conspicuous for obvious reasons). To combat this problem, seasoned anglers should assist, not confront, them to ensure future violations would not be made. Appropriate approaches are needed if one wishes to protect the resource. The alternative would be to ignore or confront, which does nothing except to promote the growth of incompliance, because there will always be new anglers who are not fully informed when starting out.

We seem to be unable to find a good balance between access and protection of our resource. On one hand, we are proud and glad to have full public access to all fishing waters. On the other hand, we somehow expect all anglers to be at the same level and become intolerant to newcomers when they have simply found the same access and enjoy utilizing it as much as others do.

Nick would be aware of this, as he and I (and many others on the forum) have fished in Europe where freshwater fishery resource is often micro-managed privately. Stream banks are owned by farms. Local fishery society purchases access rights to a length of stream bank (measured in metres, not kilometres). Non-society members pay a day-user fee if they wish to fish it. The fee is then used to fund this access. Society members have the privelege to use this access indefinitely, but they pay a large sum of annual membership fee. Members also have the interest to protect this resource, so they log in their rod hours and catches. These data are collected in the end of the year, which can determine angling effort and stock status.

Such management is expensive for users, but it raises the quality of the fishery, which I personally find quite enjoyable. Whenever I have had a chance to fish streams that are managed in this way, I find myself fishing alone on garbage-free river banks. Perhaps this is the type of management that existing BC anglers are longing for? Perhaps this will be the future of BC's fishery management when population growth reaches an intolerable level.

While it is true that the resource should be managed soundly by the government, resource users have a large influence on the future of our recreational fisheries.

Like any other new systems, the online freshwater fishing licensing system is at its juvenile stage so glitches will occur. You can be part of the solution to these glitches by actively consult with those who run the system, as they cannot make changes unless there are feedbacks.

Did you change the Header/Name of this topic, Rod?

I changed the title when I merged two threads on this topic together this morning. :)
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: HARLEY on March 08, 2009, 03:33:13 PM
While discussions of the pros and cons of this new system are good on the forum, you should also express the same concerns to those who are managing the system so they are aware of them. These discussions will eventually sink into the archive and the message will not be heard if not delivered.

Online fishing licensing system has an email contact at:

frontcounterbc@gov.bc.ca

You can also phone them at:

1-877-855-3222 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm)

As Steelhead King has pointed out, the conventional license purchasing method (visiting a tacklestore, pay by cash, debit or credit card) will still be available. The difference will be that the staff will be filling it out on the computer instead of hand-writing it. In the next few weeks, more information will be available on which and when tackle stores will have this service available. Stay tuned.

Nick, the new version of the freshwater regulation synopsis will be on the same ministry webpage. When the new license year begins (April 1st, 2009), the PDF files will be updated to the files from 2009-2011 version.

Rodney:
I took your advice and I sent a copy of my post on Email licence`s to the Email address that you provided along with my own Email address if a person wanted to reply. I also agree that any rules are only a aid to make the honest anglers aware of the rules. The people that choose to break the rules will in some form always be there. We as humans all know that. But this is my 2 cents worth-some my like it some may not!

harley
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Rodney on March 08, 2009, 03:38:47 PM
Sounds good. Make sure you copy and paste the reply if you get one. I forgot to mention that the points you brought up were good, thanks. Some have already been in ongoing discussions between retailers and MoE for over a year now.

Regarding the point about money saving, I do not have an answer to that as it would all be speculations on my part since I do not know the numbers. I can however say that money saving is not the main reason behind these changes. This is one of many initiatives by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, which hopes to make it easier for people who wish to get into fishing. In the next several months, some of the other initiatives will become more apparent on this website so please stay tuned.
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: HARLEY on March 08, 2009, 08:05:08 PM
Sounds good. Make sure you copy and paste the reply if you get one. I forgot to mention that the points you brought up were good, thanks. Some have already been in ongoing discussions between retailers and MoE for over a year now.

Regarding the point about money saving, I do not have an answer to that as it would all be speculations on my part since I do not know the numbers. I can however say that money saving is not the main reason behind these changes. This is one of many initiatives by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, which hopes to make it easier for people who wish to get into fishing. In the next several months, some of the other initiatives will become more apparent on this website so please stay tuned.

Rodney:
The bottom line is always and has always has been the money--we all know that and any one that does not better give some thing a shake-the anglers in this province have always been riped off by some goverment office and we all know that-I would like to know where this latest cost saving is going-maybe some pension plan for some one that just retired-when they used to take excess fish out of some of the hatcheries the profit just went into general revenue. This is fact not fiction. As far as this making this new method making it easier to get into fishing--I do not believe this for one second--not everyone has a computer or a credit card and there are lots of sports shops in most areas that people fish--someone here is just grasping at straws. How about the young people between 16 and 19 that do not have a credit card and want a licence-when they go to the sports store are they still going to pay a fee because they do not have a credit card--are these not the people that we are trying to encourage to partake in the sport-this whole new system has a smell to it. Once again just my 2 cents worth-Right.

harley
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: HARLEY on March 08, 2009, 08:44:30 PM
Sounds good. Make sure you copy and paste the reply if you get one. I forgot to mention that the points you brought up were good, thanks. Some have already been in ongoing discussions between retailers and MoE for over a year now.

Regarding the point about money saving, I do not have an answer to that as it would all be speculations on my part since I do not know the numbers. I can however say that money saving is not the main reason behind these changes. This is one of many initiatives by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, which hopes to make it easier for people who wish to get into fishing. In the next several months, some of the other initiatives will become more apparent on this website so please stay tuned.

Rodney:
The bottom line is always and has always has been the money--we all know that and any one that does not better give some thing a shake-the anglers in this province have always been riped off by some goverment office and we all know that-I would like to know where this latest cost saving is going-maybe some pension plan for some one that just retired-when they used to take excess fish out of some of the hatcheries the profit just went into general revenue. This is fact not fiction. As far as this making this new method making it easier to get into fishing--I do not believe this for one second--not everyone has a computer or a credit card and there are lots of sports shops in most areas that people fish--someone here is just grasping at straws. How about the young people between 16 and 19 that do not have a credit card and want a licence-when they go to the sports store are they still going to pay a fee because they do not have a credit card--are these not the people that we are trying to encourage to partake in the sport-this whole new system has a smell to it. Once again just my 2 cents worth-Right.

harley

Rodney:
I would also like to mention the article written by Mike Mitchell from BC outdoors magazine on page 4 of the Jan/Feb 2009 issue about the new Conservation Licences for White Sturgon--Here is another case of money being collected by the MOE that no one has any idea where the money is going to or what the money is being used for. It certainly makes a person wonder why no one is willing to state or show what happens to the money.Maybe just another cash grab for the powers to be! How could this be a good thing?

harley
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Geff_t on March 08, 2009, 09:30:44 PM
so wat happens to the dude who can only pay cash!!!!!!! 

That's what I said a year ago. They should set up Interac payment like they do on other sites. That way you'd have an option if you don't have a credit card.

A teen cannot get a credit card until they are 19, but they need to have a license when they are 16. Silly!

  You can still use debit or cash at a shop as long as they have a computer set up to sell the license.
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Fish Assassin on March 08, 2009, 09:39:16 PM
How does one prove that he or she is who they claim to be ? Under the old system, you are required to provide your driver's licence as proof.
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: DionJL on March 08, 2009, 09:40:11 PM
no you're not.
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Rodney on March 08, 2009, 09:44:57 PM
How does one prove that he or she is who they claim to be ? Under the old system, you are required to provide your driver's licence as proof.

The topic on photograph ID was discussed last year:

http://www.fishingwithrod.com/yabbse/index.php?topic=17501.0
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: BigCoho on March 08, 2009, 09:53:23 PM
anyone have a link to register on the dfo site?
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Rodney on March 08, 2009, 09:55:09 PM
http://www.fishing.gov.bc.ca

The freshwater licensing is done by BC Ministry of Environment.
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Nick78 on March 08, 2009, 10:10:52 PM
Don't complain about the way it is here folks. Back in Europe I'd have to pay 90 Euro/140Canadian just for the basic license that gives you permission to buy all the others. to get that one you first have to successfully complete a course once in a lifetime that costs you about 300 Euro/480Canadian. Until here you got nothing that allows you to fish anywhere. Every lake or stream belongs to a fishingclub or a private person. If you want to fish now you have to apply for a license at that person or club. Not everybody gets one cause there are more fishermen than available licenses. About 50 percent of all the waters belong to clubs and only members will get a license for those. To become a member most of the time you first become a "member ;)" of the waitlist what can take up to 4 or 5 years! Ok, for the case you are able to get one now, the costs will be between 15-25Euro/24-40Canadian for a 1 day license. A 1 year license can cost up to 300Euro/480Canadian or even more. Let me give you an example. I was member of a club, had licenses for 4 lakes and a reach of a small but excellent brown trout river. Membership 60Euro/95Canadian, Lakes (bundle) 330Euro/520Canadian and the river 170Euro/275Canadian what makes 560Euro/900Canadian a Year!!! And almost all of those waters are not comparable to what you (still :-[) got here...Just think about it.
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Rodney on March 08, 2009, 11:00:21 PM
Nick, how much does it cost to get a driver license in Germany, from first lesson to receiving the license?
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Nick78 on March 08, 2009, 11:34:55 PM
visual test 8,- first aid course 18,- passport photo 8,- create the license 35,- basic fee @ the drivers school 300,-  schoolbooks 50,- driving lessons(basic) 30,- each but you need at least 23 so 690,- driving lessons(special night,highway) 40,- each you need at least 12 so 480,-  1st test (classroom) 50,-  2nd test (driving) 190,-

In case you don't fail it is about 1800 Euro/2900Canadian ;D No kidding!

Why are you asking Rod, want to move over ??? :D
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Nick78 on March 08, 2009, 11:39:14 PM
@ Ghostfish
An average Guy, not married and no kids makes about 1400Euro a month ... :-\
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: Rodney on March 08, 2009, 11:42:21 PM
No. ;D Just curious as the cost of that is pretty similar in Denmark. Just want to show others that there are additional high costs that need to be considered before getting to fish a river over there. Then there's also gas money... ;) :-\

Also, earlier when I brought up resulted quality angling from these high costs, I was referring to quality of anglers (more space to fish, better conduct, etc), not necessarily quality of the fishing (definitely not as many fish as here and not as big most of the time).
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: rln on March 09, 2009, 08:34:24 AM


Rodney:
I would also like to mention the article written by Mike Mitchell from BC outdoors magazine on page 4 of the Jan/Feb 2009 issue about the new Conservation Licences for White Sturgon--Here is another case of money being collected by the MOE that no one has any idea where the money is going to or what the money is being used for. It certainly makes a person wonder why no one is willing to state or show what happens to the money.Maybe just another cash grab for the powers to be! How could this be a good thing?

harley

The money is to be used to collect the data from all the sturgeon tagging programs that are in place and put it into a readable format. Thi swas being done for free outside of MoE in the past. MoE wishes to have more control over it and this stamp will pay for doing so.
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: HARLEY on March 09, 2009, 09:03:23 AM


Rodney:
I would also like to mention the article written by Mike Mitchell from BC outdoors magazine on page 4 of the Jan/Feb 2009 issue about the new Conservation Licences for White Sturgon--Here is another case of money being collected by the MOE that no one has any idea where the money is going to or what the money is being used for. It certainly makes a person wonder why no one is willing to state or show what happens to the money.Maybe just another cash grab for the powers to be! How could this be a good thing?

harley

The money is to be used to collect the data from all the sturgeon tagging programs that are in place and put it into a readable format. Thi swas being done for free outside of MoE in the past. MoE wishes to have more control over it and this stamp will pay for doing so.

This is real good information-for sure-But it certainly makes a person wonder why the Editor of a mazagine such as B.C. Outdoors would not know that! This is a quote of the last sentence of his article""So my question is, why not come out and let us know where and how the money will be spent?""End of quote.---------Interesting to say the least!!   

harley
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: VAGAbond on March 09, 2009, 07:32:07 PM
I think lotsa folks are going to have trouble with this.  I belong to an angling club of old-timers and most don't own a computer and those that do are not very capable with them.

I just purchased my license for 09 and I got all the way through to where they had my money and then I couldn't print the actual license.  Some problem with my version of Adobe.  I managed a work around and got it printed but many won't be able to do that.
Title: Re: 2009/2010 Non-Tidal Angling Licence
Post by: WEEFISH on March 09, 2009, 07:55:25 PM
I bought mine last night no problems....They actually offer a free download of a recent Adobe which was easy.
True some will have to buy from the fishing stores but if you register online and take your number in it will be easier at the store.