More DFO Insanity

[IronNoggin]

In a year we are witnessing the lowest return numbers of springs recorded to the Stamp River, DFO once again has stepped forward to Prove It's Collective INSANITY! :evil:

http://www.cheknews.ca/?bckey=AQ~~%2CAAAA4mHNTzE~%2CejlzBnGUUKY1gXVPwEwEe pl35Y795rND&bclid=975107450001&bctid=2488225363001

[BuckNaked]

Governments involved? Sihts gonna get f-ed up!

[IronNoggin]

http://www.sherv.net/cm/emo/funny/1/vomiting.gif

[kennyj]

I don't get it. Why WOULDN"T they release them??
kenny

[pnbrock]

that is crazy to even think of!!!!!!!

[IronNoggin]

I don't get it. Why WOULDN"T they release them??
kenny

You can hear their position in the video: Conservation of "Wild Stocks" are their supposed priority.
Except... The Stamp run of springs has been "enhanced" for so many decades, their isn't a "wild" component left.
And with The Dino's Uber-Aggressive harvesting campaigns, there are damn near no hatch clones left either (16,700 TOTAL predicted run this year).

So, in essence, they do not have a leg to stand on by denying the offered Gift of fish that will more than likely prove them (once again) In Error... save saving face that is... :roll:

AssHats! :evil:

[Bro 300]

If I worked there and the word came to destroy these fish. They would somehow manage to escape and end up in the lake. Don't know how it happened, must have been the bears.

[dakoda62]

DFO biologists cant even spell ocean let alone most have never seen one and they trying to manage the stocks. I call B(**&^T. The fisheries should be controlled by the stakeholders, not Ottawa.

[limit time]

It's all part of the master plan...deplete the stocks...close the GOS fisheries...and serve fresh,profitable, farmed salmon to everyone!

[dakoda62]

It's all part of the master plan...deplete the stocks...close the GOS fisheries...and serve fresh,profitable, farmed salmon to everyone!
You hit the nail on the head.

[Chessieguy]

I think that if the full story was known these fish more than likely originated from parents that are not considered to be "wild" and that releasing them into the environment would be against what most people would actually want to happen. If they progeny from wild fish I am sure that DFO would have no issue with their release...

[IronNoggin]

... If they progeny from wild fish I am sure that DFO would have no issue with their release...

Wrong. The non-clipped ("wild"?) broodstock for these fish were captured in-river, EXACTLY the same source utilized by the Robertson Creek Hatchery here.

Of course the case can be made that after so many years of enhancement by Robertson Creek that each individual fish in the system now shows genetic influence of that (drift) to the extent that they can no longer be considered truly "wild". However that point is mute as it is the exact same stock employed as broodstock by the Federally run hatchery here.

It is my opinion (shared by many locals) that DFO simply does not want to be proven wrong, and that the extra year in fresh water will realize far greater returns for the investment. That, and of course they did not raise the fish in their own facility...

Pathetic Really... :icon_frow

Nog

[Buck TraX]

At least the news reporter gave the impression that DFO WAS WRONG!!!

[40incher]

This is what you get when we, the taxpayers, allow bureaucratic dysfunction to prosper.

DFO is just imitating what the provincial Fisheries Branch has been doing for decades. Pretend that there is a crisis,by manipulating he numbers, to increase funding to their "wild" program. Remember the absolute failure of the "wild" captive broodstock program for steelhead on the Island that cost millions!!! WTF?

Bureaucracies hate public projects that they can't control ... I suspect that is what this issue is about!

It's time to do the right thing for those good fish, and for the future of our salmon stocks. Let'em'go now!! :).

It is also time to demand a change in staffing for public servants that don't understand who their employers are.

[gitnadoix]

Yea the hell with it lets all open our own hatcheries and start dumping as many smolts as we want into the ocean....I mean what's the worst that can happen.....I am sure there must be some reason why the application is still under review as was stated in the news story.....but its fun and easy to be experts and hate the Govt because we never have do defend our own positions a day later.....or dodge poaching Caribou stories in the Yukon....

[IronNoggin]

Git: This is NOT a case of some inexperienced backyard facility dumping questionable stock into the system! The folks in question have been involved in local enhancement for a considerably long period of time, have well done their homework regarding what works best in terms of survival rates and more, and put their own funding up to back the project. This is MUCH more a case of dogs pissing on posts on the part of DFO than it is over any real biological concerns.

Follow-up to yesterday's story on the matter: http://www.cheknews.ca/?bckey=AQ~~%2CAAAA4mHNTzE~%2CejlzBnGUUKY1gXVPwEwEe pl35Y795rND&bclid=975107450001&bctid=2492167722001

Nog

[Wild one]

Bureaucracies hate public projects that they can't control ... I suspect that is what this issue is about!

You hit the nail right on the head.

This is not the first time privately grow fish have been turned down by fisheries and DFO just the first publicly known. It is not a health issue either as the private sector in BC actually has a better track record than the govt hatcheries when it comes to healthy stock.

I know for a fact members of the private sector have offered to stalk fish for 1/2 the cost of govt hatcheries and were turned away and it was nothing to do with the quality of the fish.

[G.A.]

theyve been doing the fish stuff for many years already, all of a sudden they dont want them?..fishy to me...lol, i could see if this was their first fish exp and have regs to follow, from the news thing she does say thy have been doing this a long time already

[IronNoggin]

The smolts all come from eggs that were obtained from adult chinook at the Robertson Creek Hatchery.

http://www.avtimes.net/news/local/hatchery-wants-to-donate-65-000-chinook-1.232216

[Spy]

I think ! They want the fishery to crash , when there are no more fish in the rivers/oceans, then no need to protect them. Oil & gas lines can be pushed through with no problems. There is more to these dumbass decisions then we know.

[Peter Pepper]

DFO does not want any GOS fisheries. Too much Hassel for them. Much easier to monitor and control a commercial only fishery. Just like in Newfoundland. Think you can go out for cod or lobster there? Look at the transitioning of the halibut fishery to commercial hands. They already have plans to do the same with prawns, and after that crabs. Those in the know say 5-10 years max for the sport prawn fishery. Time for the province to seize control of tidal water fishing. Commercial, farmed, and native only, is DFO's long term plan.

[40incher]

Yea the hell with it lets all open our own hatcheries and start dumping as many smolts as we want into the ocean....I mean what's the worst that can happen.....I am sure there must be some reason why the application is still under review as was stated in the news story.....but its fun and easy to be experts and hate the Govt because we never have do defend our own positions a day later.....or dodge poaching Caribou stories in the Yukon....


Take a pill and calm down ... If you are so concerned then quit fishing and leave'em'alone ... The ultimate preservationist.

The sky is not falling. It's just that the "public service" fish bureaucrats continue to exhibit their dysfunction and the average person is finally starting to figure it out.

Hatchery salmon are part of the answer. Don't dismiss them. Wild fish will always be the cornerstone of our fishery but hatcheries can, and will, play an important role in understanding the big picture.

Try not to be so narrow-minded as some in the fishery that espouse a "wild only" panacea. Nice concept, but not realistic.

[IronNoggin]

Try not to be so narrow-minded as some in the fishery that espouse a "wild only" panacea. Nice concept, but not realistic.

Bang On 40incher. One has to only cast a quick glimpse at the "wild only" legacy of Hooten et al in regards to steelhead, and their still plummeting numbers in the vast majority of un-enhanced systems. Delving into the situation with salmon, the picture in many cases is even worse... :cry:

Cheers,
Nog

[IronNoggin]

Here's a press release just sent out by Carol Schmitt from Omega Pacific:

For Circulation – Update June 24, 2013
Due to much interest and response on this topic.
For additional information - carolgcl@xplornet.com

Donation of 65,000 Robertson Creek Stock Chinook Smolts to
Port Alberni Community for Release and Future Fishing Opportunities

Chinook Stock and Rearing Information
October, 2011, Omega Pacific Hatchery received a permit to acquire Chinook Eggs and Milt from Robertson Creek Hatchery. The adult Brood stock was randomly selected by DFO Staff at their brailer site. Omega Pacific staff then spawned the eggs and milt into zip lock bags, and transported these back to Omega Hatchery for incubation and rearing. Adult Females were disease screened for Bacteriology and Virology. Females numbered. # 818 to 848, spawned October 21, 2011, were fertilized with 30 Robertson males. This group is being donated to the community for release.

Omega Pacific Hatchery is located 15 km upstream from Robertson Creek, on Great Central Lake. Water source is cool fish free creek and well water, single flow through rearing pools, discharged by exfiltration into man made ponds. Since 1988 we have grown millions of high quality Chinook smolts.

Chinook smolts were ponded for first feed in June 2012 and reared in circular fiber glass pools until June 2013. Their current size is 10 to 16 grams. On May 16, 2013 sixty smolts were submitted to the Center for Aquatic Health Sciences for routine Health check. Report received June 7th, fish have a clean bill of health, free of any bacterial and viral pathogens. On May 16th Omega Hatchery submitted an Introductions and Transplant Committee Application (ITC) for release by June 30th, 2013, pending approval.

Committee Proposal to DFO for Release
Our community has a “Barkley Wild Salmon Working Group (BWSWG) made up of First Nations, Governments, Enhancement facilities and Residents to address topics of concern for the betterment of our salmon resource and ensure fishing opportunities.
Sub-committees under the BWSWG take on topics as projects.
• May 21, 2013 the Chinook Projects (S1) subcommittee submitted a proposal to DFO, Mel Sheng, to release the 65K donated chin. He replied he’d get back to us.
• May, 2013 the Alberni Clayoquot Regional District and City of Port Alberni designated a member to participate in the upcoming meeting with DFO.
• June 7th, BWSWG general meeting of all participants, Mel Sheng phoned in and said he just received the proposal, DFO has a process and the ITC and DFO’s Andy Thomson, and March Klaver would be handling the proposal..
• Committee response was- he had been informed in discussions at least two months previous and three weeks ago been sent the proposal. Although there is a process within DFO, there is also the ability to make a decision on this in a timely fashion.
• June18th, Andy Thomson updated us that Mel was overseeing this proposal.
• June 20th, James Lunney called from Ottawa having seen the media coverage. He called Andy Thomson who informed him the experts within the department were currently reviewing the proposal.
Proposal Submission Includes: Intro Letter, Proposal, Omega Summary, Documentation of S1 Prevalence in WCVI Streams, Disease Screening Results, ITC Application.

Robertson Chinook Smolt Release Locations
Robertson Creek Hatchery annually releases 6.5 million chinook S0 smolts (3 month freshwater rearing) and in past released several groups of S1 smolts (12 months freshwater rearing). Omega Pacific currently has S1 smolts. Chinook S0 and S1 are documented to occur in WCVI streams (Technical Fisheries Report 1482).

Robertson Creek Smolts have been released at several locations throughout the water shed from Great Central Lake, into Sprout River as well as many locations in the Alberni Inlet. This stock has also been released in Clemens Creek, head waters to Henderson Lake. The Chinook Projects (S1) Subcommittee has suggested Great Central Lake, having been a past release site by Omega Pacific in 1996 for Bob Wright’s Quick Start Chinook program, as well as Arden Creek, currently identified by DFO as a future net pen rearing and release location for Robertson stock. ITC requested a site for the permit so we entered Arden Creek. We have asked DFO their suggested site; however have not yet had a response.

Robertson Creek chinook releases are classified as “an enhanced stock”, the objective to provide fishing opportunities. The 2013 preliminary forecast of Chinook returns for this stock is 16,600 adults. (record low). The river requires 28,000 adult returns before any fishing opportunities are allowed. This year there will be no chinook fishery and the Salmon Festival Society annual Salmon Derby will be for Coho salmon. The loss of fishing opportunities is very costly and directly impacts everyone in our community.

With all things considered, there is no reason for the 65,000 Chinook smolts to not be given the go ahead for release. Omega Pacific staff and especially the beautiful school of chinook smolts hope this ends on a positive note, and the fish are able to swim as family school up to Alaska and back home in 2016 to 2018!

And STILL in "Hover Mode"...

Nog

[steel_ram]

"• Committee response was- he had been informed in discussions at least two months previous and three weeks ago been sent the proposal. Although there is a process within DFO, there is also the ability to make a decision on this in a timely fashion."

Send it out to committee for review?

[adriaticum]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1013051_10151439779742303_1031959676_n.jpg

[IronNoggin]

Standard Ops: Transplant Committee that oversees pretty well all enhancement projects.
Seems they have decided to take their bloody time!!! :cry:
Or perhaps simply wait until it is too late...

Nog

[Riverwalker]

Food for thought. Carol Schmitt's chinook are between 12 and 16 grams. Robertson Creek Hatchery raised chinook from the same brood year are likely in the 500 gram range or bigger in the ocean right now. Chinook from the Stamp at stream type and have evolved to migrate to sea during their first year. A better solution would have been to raise the chinook in an ocean pen for a couple of months and they would be the same size or larger that being raise in freshwater for one year. The effects of keeping stream type chinook in freshwater for one year longer than they would normally is unknow. IMHO the reduced escapes of Stamp river chinook are a result of over harvest and not of smolt production and survival.

[ratherbefishin]

preserving the ''wild salmon''seems to me to be a political spin on ''doing nothing'' rather than salmon enhancement.The Americans in Washington,Oregon and California were where we are-severely declining stocks, people abandoning sport fishery for the simple reason there were few fish to catch,and then they decided to build hatcheries and embarque on a concerted effort to enhance salmon runs-and voila-they now have a vibrant sports fishery once again.How do we know?-because a lot of the fish we catch off sooke are American hatchery fish....

[Wild one]

Food for thought. Carol Schmitt's chinook are between 12 and 16 grams. Robertson Creek Hatchery raised chinook from the same brood year are likely in the 500 gram range or bigger in the ocean right now. Chinook from the Stamp at stream type and have evolved to migrate to sea during their first year. A better solution would have been to raise the chinook in an ocean pen for a couple of months and they would be the same size or larger that being raise in freshwater for one year. The effects of keeping stream type chinook in freshwater for one year longer than they would normally is unknow. IMHO the reduced escapes of Stamp river chinook are a result of over harvest and not of smolt production and survival.


Can't do any off shore salmon rearing as it will be the end of all wild stocks.

Or so I have heard

[Riverwalker]

DFO currently has enhancement projects that uses sea pen rearing for salmon enhancement. The smolts are ussually only held for about 3 weeks but this can almost tripple their size and double the survival rate. The first 24 hours young salmon spend in saltwater they experience high rates of mortality.

What is needed for recovery of wild salmon is stratigic enhancement efforts combined with fisheries management. Could we see all funding that would pay for all hatchery chinook to be clipped and hatchery chinook retention as we see for coho? Also a total annual reduction in retained chinook per person. Say 10 a year instead of 30. All we need to do is look at the atlantic provinces to see what extreame conservation measures look like. If they are lucky they only get a couple of tags per angler if retention is allowed at all.

I would be happy to pay an increase salmon surcharge stamp fee if that money went directly to enhancement projects. The charge for the salmon stamp is the same as it was when I got my first licence 23 years ago!

I can see by the comments here thay every one is in favor of changes that will restore salmon populations.

[ratherbefishin]

the big problem with any surcharge stamp is while the initial intention is good,there is no guarantee the funds won't be put into ''general revenue''

[IronNoggin]

Good News arrived today. The release of these smolts was (FINALLY!) Approved late yesterday. :-D
Hope to be able to make the run back to Port to help out with their release next week...

Cheers,
Nog

[winchester284]

Good News arrived today. The release of these smolts was (FINALLY!) Approved late yesterday. :-D
Hope to be able to make the run back to Port to help out with their release next week...

Cheers,
Nog

Will be interesting to hear the "rational" for that.

[andrewscag]

Good news. .

[Spy]

X2 good news.

[IronNoggin]

Update: http://www.cheknews.ca/?bckey=AQ~~,AAAA4mHNTzE~,ejlzBnGUUKY1gXVPwEwEepl35 Y795rND&bclid=975107450001&bctid=2540766527001