The BCWF is in support of the petition to encourage and promote sustainable fish harvesting techniques. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans promotes gill net use for salmon harvesting and does not provide nor endorse any alternative salmon harvesting techniques. With dwindling fish populations, environmentally acceptable and sustainable fish harvesting technologies are a necessity. This call on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is about promoting selective methods of fishing to ensure sustainability of not just sturgeon but also steelhead, and weak salmon stocks.
By signing the petition you are calling upon the Government of Canada to:
- Encourage, implement and promote alternative sustainable salmon harvesting techniques that will reduce impact on salmon stocks of concern.
- Provide funding to research and implement sustainable fish harvesting technologies, such as fish wheels, fish traps, and fish-safe seines.
- Adopt policies and regulations that require gill nets to be fully attended and monitored during entire gill net soak time.
- Ban all night-time gill net use.