Over the past several years I have witnessed dozens, if not hundreds of Georgia Straight fishing violators off the front of my place on Mayne Island. Any calls to DFO were routed to an 'answering service' and likely ignored. Yesterday, for the first time in years, I saw the DFO swoop down (really!) on the single boat that had been fishing for a short time in front of the house, near the Active Pass Light Station. I watched as they did a LOT of paperwork on these guys as well as place a few large fish in plastic bags, no doubt, as evidence of the violation. I suspect they were unlicenced, had too many Ling Cod or that they were too small but more likely these days...all three.
It seems there may be a small glimmer of hope left after all. I hope this is a sign of a new 'get tough' policy from DFO. From what I have read here regarding their higher presence on the Vedder / Fraser this summer this may be the case. It seems that Harper's government has done more in a few weeks than what the Liberals could do in well over a decade. Hopefully the 'free-for-all' on Georgia Straight is over. Great to see....finally.
Steve