you think they will actually use nets with larger openings so that Sockeye can swim through while the Springs get caught?? I don't think so.... and do you think a Sockeye caught in a net has any chance of making it up river 
??
Rick, the opening diameter of (set and drift) nets used in the chinook openings are indeed larger than the ones used during the sockeye openings. I don't have and can't recall the exact numbers but they are stored in the computer back on my desk, which I will have access to tomorrow when I arrive home.
DFO is required to provide openings for First Nations, the law says so. The main concern isn't how many more fish they harvest than the sportfishing sector. They are entitled to. This isn't what I agree or disagree, this is just the way is unless the rules are changed. The concerns that we should strongly express is the absence of transparency between DFO, the sportfishing sector and First Nations. On one hand, First Nations see the increasing interest in the sportfishing sector on the Fraser River as a threat to their way of life. On the other hand, sportfishermen do not agree with the way harvested fish are being recorded in the First Nations' fisheries. All groups recognize these issues, and talks have been set up since last year. Progress is small, but at least there is some.
Nosey, if you are concerned about these notices not being delivered to the bulk of the users efficiently, then I highly recommend you to contact the regional staff of DFO and emphasize the importance of getting these notices out immediately after the announcement. Expressing your opinion on a discussion forum such as this is useful to other readers, but changes will not happen unless you deliver the message to the right people.
Back to an earlier post regarding compliance. How is compliance measured? Based on the number of anglers who are not participating in bar fishing? Based on the percentage of anglers on the Fraser River who are not participating in bar fishing? Based on the number of sockeye salmon that are caught and released per day? According to DFO, high compliance was actually reported last year. How this was measured, I do not know. I suspect it was the fact that not many sockeye salmon were reported by-caught during the month of May and June (there were not that many to begin with, of course by-catch was low) which was an indication of high compliance. If by-catch was high/compliance was low, the river would have been closed until Early Stewarts escapement was reached as suggested in a similar notice last year. Seeing a row of anglers bottom bouncing with long leaders at Grassy Bar may give people the impression that compliance is low, but if we are basing the number of sockeye salmon being hauled out and tossed back in this group and the percentage of this group out of all Fraser River anglers on that day then measurement of compliance changes.
And no, I am not implying those who choose to fish with that particular method is correct or not.
I am simply suggesting that there is most likely a cut-off number on sockeye salmon by-catch. If the number reaches that cut-off point, then it suggests anglers are not complying to the request, which may lead to a closure to reduce mortality caused by catch and release.
<My apology for the run-on sentences. It's 1am here and I just finished packing for my flight tomorrow>
You can catch sockeye barfishing. Ask Troutslayer or Chris.
I caught one too.
But don't ask me, according to many rumours on the internet, I am apparently the biggest flosser on this planet.
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Topic: Fraser River Sockeye Closure, Selective Fishing Method (Read 30251 times)