Cuts to federal fishery programs to be felt throughout Pacific Region
Commercial and recreational fishing organizations in the province that are opposed to Fisheries and Oceans Canada funding cuts are racing the clock. They believe the federal cuts will further devastate fish stocks that have already been severely impacted by human activity, while opening the door for poachers and the destruction of natural habitat.
At a Vancouver meeting hosted by the Sportfishing Defence Alliance last Saturday, a representative for the Pacific Region of the FOC confirmed that the cuts were on the way, and would likely be announced by August.
According to a Fisheries and Oceans Canada publication, Oceans Extra, the overall Pacific Region budget will be reduced from $250.9 million in 2001-2002 to $209 million in 2002-2003. In 2003-2004, the budget will be reduced further to $195.4 million. Anglers have been told to expect total cuts in the 25 per cent range.
"It’s absolutely ridiculous," said West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast MP John Reynolds, the House Leader for the opposition Canadian Alliance.
"This government can find money to give to their friends, they can find money for ridiculous things, and yet we have one of the best sport fisheries in the world in British Columbia and they are going to do harm to it. It doesn’t make any sense at all."
Reynolds pointed to a recent federal grant of $238 million to support the arts in Toronto as an example of misplaced government spending.
"I think it shows two things," he added. "They don’t know what’s happening in British Columbia, and the federal cabinet ministers and MPs on the Liberal side from B.C. don’t have any power in the caucus. That’s probably why they are all supporting Paul Martin."
Of particular concern is the annual budget for the Salmonid Enhancement Program, which includes salmon stocking programs, habitat programs, inspection and enforcement. That program will be cut from $27 million to $23.5 million this year, and cut again the following year.
"Fisheries and Oceans Canada is saying ‘oh well, it’s still $23.5 million,’ but when you go back a few years the budget for the program was more like $50 million. It’s already been gutted, and now they’re cutting it further," said Dave Brown, owner of Whistler Fishing Guides, and a member of the Whistler Angling Club.
"Of a large concern for us locally is the cutback to the coho salmon program at the Tenderfoot Hatchery. After four years of not being able to fish for coho in the upper Squamish, upper Cheakamus, upper Mamquam, or in the Ashlu Rivers – not even catch and release – they’re telling us they’re going to cut funding."
The Salmonid Enhancement Program (SEP) is widely considered to be one of the most successful federal programs in the province, restoring salmon runs that had been all but wiped out in previous years.
Susan Farlinger, the acting regional director of habitat and enhancement for the DFO, told fishing interests at the meeting that the emphasis for the federal program is shifting from a hatchery approach to increasing numbers of wild salmon on a watershed-to-watershed basis.
"That would be nice, but the fact is these watersheds have already been damaged by human encroachment," said Brown. "There’s a dam on the Cheakamus, intense logging in the upper Squamish River. For some of the streams around Vancouver, 80 per cent of the habitat is gone.
"If we stop stocking, in four or five years we’re going to find out that there aren’t enough wild salmon out there to sustain any kind of fishery."
Brown estimates that the six local fish guiding businesses are a million dollar a year business for Whistler, employing approximately 30 people. In addition, he says fishing is a draw for Whistler, like golf and mountain biking, and helps to fill hotel rooms, restaurants, and stores.
The Sportfishing Defence Alliance further estimates that recreation fishing is a $600 million a year industry for the province that is at least partially dependent on stocking programs.
"The community groups at the meeting couldn’t understand the logic behind the cuts, because right now the government, for ever dollar they spend they’re getting about 10 dollars in return from volunteer work and the industry," said Brown.
The SEP program, which has been active for more than 20 years, releases approximately 600 million juvenile salmon into streams each year. This accounts for between 10 and 20 per cent of the Canadian salmon catch.
In the province it funds eight government hatcheries, and assists with several other community run hatcheries.
Scientists estimate that 70 per cent of the coho caught in the Strait of Georgia come from hatcheries, which the Sportfishing Defence Alliance says supports the argument that the habitat can’t support wild salmon runs at historical levels.
The meeting in Vancouver was attended by more than 40 people, including sportfishing guides, community hatchery representatives, and First Nations representatives. While members of the provincial legislature and Members of Parliament did not attend, the members were told they had the support of Canadian Alliance Members of Parliament on the issue.
"This issue has definitely brought the interested parties together," said Brown. "The people in the room were really working together, and we talked about forming a steering committee for the future to keep a closer watch on these kinds of issues."
The priority now, he said, is to lobby the federal government and Fisheries and Oceans Canada Minister Robert Thibault. The group also plans to take their battle to the provincial government.
"Under the terms of the union with Canada when B.C. came into the dominion, the federal government was solely responsible for the ocean fishery and the salmon. However, it’s the provincial government’s responsibility to hold them to this. Although they don’t have jurisdiction, they have a responsibility to say ‘Hey Ottawa, you’re not living up to your responsibilities,’" said Brown.
Reynolds has already written a letter to the federal minister, and is encouraging members of the public to do the same.
"Nothing is better than a public outcry. People should also make sure they call Liberal members in British Columbia and let them know how upset they are. We have a long time from right now until the House sits, so we need people writing to complain about this. If we get enough of the public involved, we can certainly force them to change their decision."
Overall, the budget for Fisheries and Oceans Canada is decreasing from $1.47 billion in 2001-2002 to $1.375 billion in 2003-2004.
Other regions are slated for cuts during that period. Funding for Newfoundland will drop from $150.8 million to $119.7 million; the Maritimes from $226.6 million to $157 million; the Gulf Region (St. Lawrence) from $42.1 million to $25.2 million; the Laurentian region from $140.2 million to $114.6 million; and the Central and Arctic regions from $133.7 million to $113 million.
At the same time, the National Capital Region surrounding Ottawa, where the FOC head offices are located, will see funding increase from $525.9 million to $650 million – 47.3 per cent of the entire FOC budget.
"Let’s put this in a geographical perspective," wrote Bill Otway, the president of the Sportfishing Defence Allisance. "The National Capital Region is approximately 3,000 square kilometres. Compare that to the Pacific Region with 29,500 kilometres of coastline, 6,500 islands and approximately 450,000 square kilometres of internal and offshore waters."
B.C. fishing groups have already started a letter writing campaign targeting the FOC Minister Robert Thibault and Alliance MP Reynolds.
"We’re asking everyone to send a letter or call their offices and asking them to hold off on any budget cuts to the Pacific Region," Brown said.
