Government of Canada protects two new areas off British Columbia’s coast for Orcas

[silvertipp]

Why do we let this asshole post anything
he contributes nothing ,openly admits to posting only to stir the shat and collapse an informative thread started by one of the most dedicated people on here
completely ridiculous

[Piperdown]

Why do we let this asshole post anything
he contributes nothing ,openly admits to posting only to stir the shat and collapse an informative thread started by one of the most dedicated people on here
completely ridiculous

We need a like button

[IronNoggin]

Critical Habitat Designation: What Does this Mean for the West Coast Recreational Fishery?

On December 19, 2018 the DFO announced formal notice of intent to publish critical habitat (CH) orders for both Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) were listed as “Endangered,” and Northern Resident Killer Whales are listed as “Threatened.”


The area defined as new critical habitat comprises 5,025 square kilometers of Swiftsure and La Pérouse Banks off the west coast of BC. This is an offshore area stretching from Port Renfrew all the way up to Long Beach halfway between Ucluelet and Tofino. It extends out as far as 60 kilometers in the La Pérouse section.

Figure 1: Boundaries of current Southern Resident Killer Whale critical habitat in the transboundary waters of southern BC and northern Washington, and of proposed Southern Resident Killer Whale critical habitat off Southwestern Vancouver Island. (DFO Canada)


These same areas are very important recreational and commercial fishing areas and represent a significant number of boat days each year. The scientific basis for designating these areas as CH lacked significant data showing that killer whales actually utilize these areas directly. Local and indigenous knowledge was not consulted; had it been, the department scientists would have learned that killer whales are rarely observed in much of the area now designated as CH.


There is no turning back now—the decision has been rendered and a CH designation order has been issued. What next?


People might immediately believe that this CH designation automatically means there will be large area closures similar to what we experienced in 2018 when fin fishing closures were implemented in broad areas. That is not necessarily the case; in fact, it is highly doubtful that new management measures will result in widespread area closures impacting the recreational fishery. Why?


Several groups came together during the public engagement on the critical habitat area while it was a public proposal. Those groups offered the fisheries minister and DFO compelling, science-based rationale challenging the accuracy of the DFO’s science advice and providing a new perspective on the social and economic benefits the recreational fishery provides to Canada’s GDP. The minister learned that recreational fishing for salmon in tidal waters generates more than $1 billion in economic activity. For many small coastal communities that rely almost completely on the recreational fishery, area closures are devastating.


The core message to the minister was that there are alternative management measures that can be applied in CH areas that achieve viable protection for whales, while also allowing responsible use so that recreational and commercial fisheries can successfully co-exist sharing these areas.


The minister and DFO have acknowledged significant economic benefits resulting from the recreational fishery could be placed at risk if we repeated similar measures to those implemented in 2018.
To that end, the department has now initiated five technical working groups (TWGs), comprised of science experts and indigenous, recreational, commercial, and NGO subject matter experts to work on specific issues identified as threat pillars impeding SRKW recovery. The TWGs will be developing recommendations for March 1 on short-term measures to be implemented in May of 2019. They will also develop long-term measures for June of 2019.
Issue 1: Prey availability and accessibility

This TWG will review measures implemented in 2018 and identify potential measures for the 2019 season. They will also contribute to identifying measures to rebuild wild Chinook stocks, prioritizing those of greatest importance to SRKW, keeping in mind the objectives of the DFO’s wild salmon policy.
Issue 2: Identification and development of proposed sanctuaries

This TWG will advance feasibility work on one or more SRKW sanctuaries—those being areas where boundaries to define where vessel traffic activity will be restricted or permitted within sub-areas of CH
Issue 3: Vessel noise—commercial vessel noise measures (slowdown/lateral displacement)

This TWG will review the effectiveness of 2018 measures, and identify those for 2019 including extension of slowdown measures. It will also identify infrastructure required to effectively monitor compliance and education promotion to support the measures.
Issue 4: Vessel noise—general noise measures

This TWG will identify noise reduction targets and options for quiet-vessel design and other noise reduction measures for commercial vessels and ferries. It will also identify measures to reduce noise impacts of commercial whale watching and recreational vessels.
Issue 5: Contaminants

This TWG will develop a framework to assess effectiveness of existing controls on contaminants affecting SRKW. It will also identify key contaminants and evaluate contribution of sources of contaminant loadings to SRKW, their habitat, and their prey. The TWG will develop recommendations for additional measures to address those contaminants.


The TWGs will also be asked to consider the orca recovery plan Washington State has adopted. Washington governor Jay Inslee asked Canada to align management measures as closely as possible given the close proximity and vessel activity overlap.


The recreational community strongly supports implementation of SRKW avoidance zones. Those would apply a 400-meter protective avoidance zone that would require operators to stay back from killer whales, and if they find themselves in closer proximity to slowly depart at less than 7 knots, turning off sounding equipment and ceasing fishing activity. The avoidance zone would be applied to all killer whales for recreational vessel operators, but for those who have professional training and certification in identifying SRKW from NRKW and transient killer whales, a lesser approach zone distance could apply. That would be determined by DFO science. The 400-meter avoidance zone roughly matches Washington’s 400-yard approach zone.


The recreational community advances the argument that avoidance zones provide protection for foraging killer whales because that distance eliminates the threats of both physical and acoustic disturbance. Additionally, an avoidance zone also allows SRKW to successfully acquire prey because their ability to hunt is not impeded by vessel presence.


Going forward, we hope to work with DFO within the TWG process to help advance science-based alternatives that protect whales, while allowing responsible vessel operations for marine-based activities such as recreational and commercial fishing as well as whale watching.

Q&A can be found on the DFO site here.

https://islandfishermanmagazine.com/...ional-fishery/

We can HOPE!!

Cheers,
Nog

[Onesock]

At last somecommon sense. Thanx for this news.

[findlyflats]

The reason i have wandered into this discussion is because i see first hand what is killing off the salmon.
I believe stopping the fishing is not the solution and agree with the chief that the solution is in the rivers where the salmon start there life.
This is a news paper quote about new LNG terminal at the head waters of a spring salmon river that was devastated by logging.

Robert Dennis Sr., chief councillor for Huu-ay-aht First Nations, grew up near Sarita Bay, and described seeing the Sarita Valley “devastated” by logging and clear-cutting.
“[Kwispaa LNG] is going to be here for 25 years,” he said. “After 25 years, we’ll have earned a very significant economic benefit.”With this benefit, he said, Huu-ay-aht First Nations will be able to reduce harvest activity in the Sarita Valley, and see the forest and river “brought back to life.”
“To me, this is a way of renewing,” he explained. “That’s what it means to me. I’m looking at 50 to 100 years from now.”

The chief makes a point where logging has
“devastated” the river and has In turn has devastated the salmon run.
i took this quote from the Huu ay aht website.



"The Sarita Watershed is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island within the traditional territories

(the Haa-houlthee) of the Huu-ay-aht First Nations. The watershed has been heavily logged and most

(greater than 90%) of the forest is second growth while approximately 2% is old growth. Past forestry

practices have resulted in the degradation of the fish and aquatic habitat in the watershed and estuary.

[Onesock]

There are so many seals and sea lions no fish can get up the river. The logging probably hasnt helped but here is a place that predator control is sadly lacking!!

[Treed]

Iron Noggin - thanks so much for posting that PSF video, it was incredibly illuminating. Great to hear facts that contradict the common narrative. Everyone should watch it and forward a link to their friends, MLAs, and MPs.

[Dutch]

Chuckle ,,DFO science based decisions Ouija board and a spinning wheel with Anchors on it.Wonder why the US navy is never mentioned in any of these discussions nuclear submarine base Kitsap (14) Carrier strike force 9 at Everett live pinging with sonar buoys playing war games must be really nice to hear underwater if your an Orca while your chasing your smiley....

[Piperdown]

Mu guess is we will not be fishing this year. On the news last night they show 2 SRKW that are showing signs of starvation, they will not make the year...CRITICALLY ENDANGERED phrase used again. I for one am getting tired of the chit.

[Wild one]

The destruction of spawning grounds in a big one in my opinion and this goes way beyond logging. Lots of smaller systems were destroyed with the development of cities/towns on the island/coast. Many rivers and streams are not the quality they were in the past. 25 years ago the water in the Fraser was clear enough to see coho chase my spoon when fishing the bars around the wing dam. Some of the small creeks in the lower mainland that had solid runs of chum and coho are either dead or the rare salmon. These creeks changed to muddy sloughs from run off from roads and farms.

Seals and sea lions are a big issue as well and it’s clear to most fishermen

Effort rehabbing spawning grounds, re establishing salmon in some of the smaller systems, combined with culling seals would go a long ways to start salmon recovery

Salmon are getting hit at all stages of their life cycle and they won’t truly rebound without realizing this. Multiple factors need to be addressed