BRITISH COLUMBIA – At the Sport Fishing Institute’s recent Annual Policy Conference it was announced that the non-profit organization would received approximately $143 million jointly supported by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Province’s Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund.
The Sport Fishing Institute (SFI) is receiving $1.6 million to develop a test fishery for chinook salmon to supplement and verify stock composition data that manage marked selective fisheries (MSF) for chinook salmon. Additionally, the recreational coho fishery on the west coast of Vancouver Island comes under the microscope in a new $1.7-million study about the effects of fisheries’ interactions on fish metabolism.
SFI will also receive more than $715,000 to build on ongoing work to improve the Fishing BC app. Recent improvements to the app added recreational fisheries regulations, catch and possession limits, safety notes and species identification. The next phase will enhance its information display and access.
The three projects will advance sustainable practices in recreational fishing to sustain BC’s wild Pacific salmon population.
“The SFI is thankful for the opportunity and funding to collaborate with DFO, the Province of B.C. and UBC on groundbreaking and necessary studies. Each project will help demonstrate a balance between predictable and reliable opportunity and the socio-economic benefits associated with the activity and achieving conservation objectives for salmon and marine resources. Among the outcomes, findings will help the recreational fishing community modify and adapt fishing and fish-handling practices to minimize the impact on a recreationally caught fish released for any reason,” said Owen Bird, executive director of the Sport Fishing Institute.
Recreational or sport fishing in BC contributes approximately $1 billion a year to local economies in revenues and in federal, provincial and municipal taxes. Approximately 9,000 people and their families depend on recreational fishing for their livelihoods, providing direct fishing services and services through transportation and accommodation.
BCSRIF is a contribution program funded jointly by the federal and provincial governments. The Government of Canada is providing 70% of the funding and the Province of British Columbia is providing 30%.
Business Examiner Staff
