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Thread: DFO Poises To Close Huge Offshore Areas

  1. #31
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    Re: DFO Poises To Close Huge Offshore Areas

    Having read all the above responses, I just have to weigh in. First, this is not a "political" move. Believe me, if the Conservatives were in power, the same closures would exist. It is in response to the realization, in the mid 2000s, that southern resident Killer Whales were starving to death when there was an abundance of salmon, for the simple reason that they only ate chinook! This realization shocked many biologists, as well as fish managers. So, the next question is, how do we provide additional chinook salmon for Orca food? Well, if you look at the problem holistically, there are not any good options, and in fact not many options at all. Chinook are being exploited to their maximum extent, and in fact, probably beyond that. The crucial test is whether two spawning chinook will produce two spawning chinook 4 or 5 or 6 years down the line. This has been a challenge for fish biologists, due to the multi-year spawning capabilities of chinook salmon, but suffice it to say, we have generally been over-harvesting prior to the more scientific approach taken in recent years (decades?). Anyway, to make a long story short, it is not how many Orcas you see on the Swiftsure Bank, it is how many chinook that these restrictions can save for Orca consumption in Juan de Fuca Strait and the Strait of Georgia (or Salish Sea?). Trust me on this next prediction: If the amount of chinook saved by not catching them on Swiftsure Bank or in any of the other areas in this new closure does nothing for the Orcas (it definitely should do something regarding the abundance of chinook off Victoria!) then, there will be additional chinook closures. I can easily see a complete chinook closure on the BC coast (I think that would be excessive) but hey, the Province closed Grizzly Bears for no scientific reason, and I can surely see the Feds closing chinook for this justifiably scientific reason. And, as a final kicker, it will not be a partisan pollical decision, it will be based on established science.

  2. #32
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    Arrow Re: DFO Poises To Close Huge Offshore Areas

    Quote Originally Posted by Rupert Retired View Post
    ... And, as a final kicker, it will not be a partisan pollical decision, it will be based on established science.
    You are of course entitled to your opinion.
    I however respectfully disagree.

    Yes, we have too few chinook.
    Yes, we must seek ways to increase their numbers.

    However looking at the lower numbers of springs being the SOLE factor in the decline of the southern orcas is beyond questionable.
    That is simply one piece of the puzzle.
    Inbreeding is prevalent, and if continued, will further reduce their numbers.
    Pollution in their food sources and environment is concentrated in their fatty tissues. Many would be seriously considered "toxic waste" should they roll up on your beach.
    Mothers pass these toxins to their offspring through their milk. Many of those offspring die as a consequence.
    Shipping provides some interference, however IMHO it is the whale watchers who interfere with these animals the most.
    They are "loving them to death" and crowd them constantly / daily.
    There are more of course, but you see where this is headed.

    The government's own biologists told them what was required:
    - Ramp up hatchery production to the max (short term) and increase net pen releases;
    - Get on with major habitat mitigation & enhancement efforts yesterday;
    - Knock back the overly populated pinnipeds proven to consume damn near 1/2 the annual production of springs & coho in the effected areas. (By the way, these pinnipeds consume 600 % of the combined commercial & recreational catch annually).

    Those same biologists cautioned against area / fishing closures, specifically noting "they would provide very little in the way of significant positive results". DFO has chosen the "easy way out" in this case, choosing NOT to address what their own scientists are advising them, and proceeding with draconian closures in order to "appear" to be doing something, while in fact doing nothing.
    Sad.

    So, I'll choose to side with the Biologists. I trust their science, and I trust their gut instincts.
    The government has lead us into many many messes by ignoring their advice.
    Methinks this is simply another case of the same.

    FYI: Although a case can be made for some of Swiftsure, the same is not true northwest of that area.
    It is frequented by US origin chinook, that travel but rarely into the areas where they could present prey items to the southern orcas.

    Note that these whales have fluctuated up and down between where they are now, and 10 - 15 more individuals ever since the days of aquarium capture ended. This has been going on for some time now.
    There is a price to pay for being a "specialist".
    The northern and transient pods have been increasing through the same time periods.

    Also note Parks Canada involvement in this latest proposal.
    That fits ever so nicely with their twice defeated agenda of creating marine park areas in the exact same areas.
    Please do not try to convince me that is unintentional...

    Nog
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVNNhzkJ-UU&feature=related

    Egotistical, Self Centered, Son of a Bitch Killer that Doesn't Play Well With Others.

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  3. #33
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    Re: DFO Poises To Close Huge Offshore Areas

    Quote Originally Posted by IronNoggin View Post
    Don't lose hope Buddy!
    We do what we can to the best of our abilities, and try to keep the hope for a saner world alive!
    Thanks Matt, If for no other reason than the desire to have my son experience the joys of hunting and fishing that I enjoyed my whole life, I won't give up hope. When he shot his first buck last fall, that was one of the greatest moments of my life, something I will never forget ! Just like I have never forgotten the first time my Dad handed me the rod and the reel was screaming with the fury of a huge Ucluelet spring on the line !!!

  4. #34
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    Re: DFO Poises To Close Huge Offshore Areas

    IronNog.
    Where are seal populations now vs 15 years ago?


    What are the number one predators of chinook?
    What is the management strategy to reduce chinook predators?

    I can only roll my eyes when I look at this situation.

    Bankrupt coastal communities that rely on sportfishing?
    Continue to allow whale harassment and pursuit by eco tourism?

    Not focus on funding to protect and enhance productivity of salmon spawning grounds.

    Nuts.


    I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with keyboards and forums. - F L Wright


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  5. #35
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    Arrow Re: DFO Poises To Close Huge Offshore Areas

    Quote Originally Posted by Ourea View Post
    IronNog.
    Where are seal populations now vs 15 years ago?
    When the blanket protection was brought in, sea lions numbered around 10,000 and seals about the same.
    Today, the sea lions alone number over 300,000. Seals are "suggested" by our dysfunctional DFO (a complete guess) at 105,000.

    What are the number one predators of chinook?
    What is the management strategy to reduce chinook predators?
    Sea lions & seals consume 42 % of annual chinook production, and 47% of annual coho production in the gulf annually.
    Their combined removal represents 600% of the combined catch of both commercial and recreational fisheries.

    There are others, but these clearly are the number one predator at this juncture.

    Management strategy with pinnipeds is Blanket Protection.

    Nuts.
    Or rather quite clearly INSANE.....

    Not hard to see where Raincoast wants this to go...

    Biologist Misty MacDuffee, with the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, said limits on chinook fishing and restrictions on vessel movements are long-overdue initiatives, but more aggressive actions are needed to reduce the extinction risk for the southern residents.

    http://digital.timescolonist.com/epa...oredirect=true

    KeRist!
    Nog
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVNNhzkJ-UU&feature=related

    Egotistical, Self Centered, Son of a Bitch Killer that Doesn't Play Well With Others.

    Guess he got to Know me

  6. #36
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    Re: DFO Poises To Close Huge Offshore Areas

    This is going to put a f**k into Raincoast member's sushi dinners after they high five each other now isn't it. Oh no it won't because them sustaining a demand for salmon to eat is different.
    Insanity at it's best.

    Put seal on their menu.

    The left continues to keep sliding further and further to a world of extremism as the norm.
    Last edited by Ourea; 07-09-2018 at 07:22 PM.


    I'm all in favor of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of fools. Let's start with keyboards and forums. - F L Wright


    Try and be kind to everyone but fear no one. - Ourea


  7. #37
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    Jan 2014
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    Re: DFO Poises To Close Huge Offshore Areas

    Fin Fish Closures from Long Beach, South Bank, Big Bank, Rats Nose all the way to Swiftsure.
    Is that closure include every body of are the selected race going to be allowed to fish?

  8. #38
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    Re: DFO Poises To Close Huge Offshore Areas

    Quote Originally Posted by IronNoggin View Post

    Biologist Misty MacDuffee, with the Raincoast Conservation Foundation, said limits on chinook fishing and restrictions on vessel movements are long-overdue initiatives, but more aggressive actions are needed to reduce the extinction risk for the southern residents.

    http://digital.timescolonist.com/epa...oredirect=true

    KeRist!
    Nog
    That c*nt Misty i have emailed her numerous times pointing out the discrepancies in the shit she writes, never a reply. They all have their heads so far up their asses its a wonder they can even breath. Extinction my ass the numbers show the whales are within historical ranges. I am so tired of all this sh*t.
    Avatar is for all the conspiracy theory nut bars, for all the crow they have to eat when everything implodes

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  9. #39
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    Arrow Re: DFO Poises To Close Huge Offshore Areas

    Quote Originally Posted by 303savage View Post
    Is that closure include every body of are the selected race going to be allowed to fish?
    They will be allowed to fish.

    Quote Originally Posted by Piperdown View Post
    ... I am so tired of all this sh*t.
    aYup. There are a LOT of other things I'd like to be spending my time on...
    But if we don't spend that time now, there will be a lot less of the things we like to spend it on available to us.
    And damn rights, it gets tiring alright...

    Nog
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVNNhzkJ-UU&feature=related

    Egotistical, Self Centered, Son of a Bitch Killer that Doesn't Play Well With Others.

    Guess he got to Know me

  10. #40
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    Mar 2012
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    209

    Re: DFO Poises To Close Huge Offshore Areas

    15 years of big bank and Swiftsure fishing...multiple trips a year....80% hatchery fish.
    seen killer whales near ukee once....eating a sea lion.
    matt, you know the area extensively how many residents have you ever seen?
    its almost always transients preying on sea lions at Wya to long beach.

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