BCWF Supports Pinniped Harvests in BC
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December 2, 2020
The Honourable Bernadette Jordan, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard
200 Kent Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0E6
Dear Minister Jordan,
I write you today to make you aware of BCWF’s position regarding proposed control pinniped populations in B.C. In short, the BCWF supports controlled harvest of pinniped’s along B.C.’s coast because there is currently an imbalance between pinnipeds and their prey, namely wild salmon, herring, and other fish stocks of concern.
There is now good science available to give some insight about what has happened to the pinniped populations in B.C. and how these out-of-control populations are affecting many species of fish. Amongst several other scientists, Dr. Carl Walters of the University of British Columbia has produced studies that show that Steller Sea Lions alone consume over 1,000,000 Fraser River sockeye.
Seals are also of great concern. Their population has also expanded wildly in the last 50 years. Though the seals consume far less from a total consumption perspective, seals are calculated to consume over 40% of chinook and coho smolts in the Salish Sea (Gulf of Georgia). In some river systems, it is estimated that seals can consume up to 85% of outbound salmon smolts. With predation levels this high, when these smolts are just heading out to sea, it is hardly surprising that some rivers get any more than a handful of adult fish returning at the end of their life cycle.
The BCWF also recognizes that ocean survival is problematic but there is little opportunity to influence this overriding issue. Controlling numbers of predators of endangered fish stocks is something that your department can control. For example, there are currently IFMP proposals submitted to your ministry for a managed harvest of pinnipeds here in B.C. These proposals are backed by science, would help save these precious fish stocks, would help increase food abundance for the endangered Southern Resident Killer Whales and other species, and would provide employment opportunities for fishers in many coastal communities.
These are all positive steps that could happen with approval of these IFMPs by your ministry. Pinniped removal in rivers in the USA Pacific Northwest indicate immediate, positive effects on returning fish populations.
Though we realize that a harvest of pinnipeds may be controversial in some segments of society, we urge your ministry to approve a managed pinniped harvest in BC.
We hope that you, as Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, have the courage to make this difficult decision and support the managed harvest of pinnipeds in B.C. The future of endangered fish stocks in B.C. is in your hands.
Yours in conservation,
Bill Bosch
President
B.C. Wildlife Federation
101-9706 188th St, Surrey, BC V4N 3M2 | T: 604-882-9988 TF: 1-888-881-2293 F: 604-882-9933 | www.bcwf.bc.ca
Posted with permission...
Nog
Re: BCWF Supports Pinniped Harvests in BC
Yah I read that in my BC Outdoors magazine ...Good ...The more jump on this bandwagon the better it is ...Its only common sense..Time to make the lower mainlanders agree to science and cull some pinipeds...Dennis
Re: BCWF Supports Pinniped Harvests in BC
As long as it's an equal-opportunity harvest, I support it.
Re: BCWF Supports Pinniped Harvests in BC
Great move! I wonder though how you would reliably harvest one? I’ve never seen one that didn’t sink after being shot. A guy could make one tag last all year. :wink:
Re: BCWF Supports Pinniped Harvests in BC
I’m happy to see this letter written. Seals in the Fraser/Harrison systems alone have been problematic since the ‘80s with booms on the Harrison covered with them. Not sure what the harvest method will be, but I’d join the party. Last year one popped up in front of my boat and got drilled in the head hard. It spun around a bit then was gone.
Re: BCWF Supports Pinniped Harvests in BC
Quote:
Originally Posted by
fuzzybiscuit
Great move! I wonder though how you would reliably harvest one? I’ve never seen one that didn’t sink after being shot. A guy could make one tag last all year. :wink:
https://www.amsbowfishing.com/produc...eval-per-crank
Murica!
Would this be hunting or fishing? Florida seems to think it's fishing.
Harpoon crossbows aren't even hard to make, seen some using leaf springs and channel iron. Hard to make well, but Greeks and Phoenicians used them often enough.
Re: BCWF Supports Pinniped Harvests in BC
Lets wait and see what the 'traditional' method turns out to be....
Now that regs have changed in BC to outlaw spears
Re: BCWF Supports Pinniped Harvests in BC
Well written letter I hope the ministry goes ahead with it and stop catering to the ignorant latte sipping hippies...
Re: BCWF Supports Pinniped Harvests in BC
anyone know someone who trains dogfish to blood trail a wounded seal...heheheh
Re: BCWF Supports Pinniped Harvests in BC
I'd spend money to support that cull.