Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing-related Issues & News => Topic started by: Blue_Fox on September 02, 2012, 07:58:20 PM
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Starting in 1949, basking sharks finally made it onto the federal fisheries department's list of "Destructive Pests." Membership on the list was essentially a government-endorsed declaration for their eradication or at least control. Other varmints included black bears, merganser ducks, kingfishers, seals and sea lions. All of these animals were regularly killed by fisheries officers while doing their nine-to-five patrols.
http://thetyee.ca/Books/2006/12/07/BaskingSharks/
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=18575e15-3b23-4846-9439-7f47a3da6400
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Unfortunately the stupidity continues...... but I don't want to hijack your thread by talking about salmon feedlots.
They seem to be politically driven, rather than science driven, and conservation minded.
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People did a lot of stupid things in the 50's and 60's..........like testing nuclear weapons in the air and on tropical islands. ::)
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Stupidity in the 40's wasn't limited to DFO.
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Stupidity has never been limited to any single group but at least the DFO can blame most of their errors on the politically driven policy it has been required to implement. Other agenda driven groups don't have that excuse.
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I do not believe it is entirely accurate to put the blame solely on government at that time. The particular policies referred to were essentially driven by recreational anglers and commercial fishermen at the time. In addition, the paranoia and ignorance was further fuelled by sensationalized media reporting which helped get the general public to demonize predators like basking sharks. In hindsight, those government policies were not the right ones, but the stakeholders and the general public at the time were equally guilty for joining the lynch mob against sharks, bears, seals, mergansers, and even bull trout.