Every salt water species, whether of commercial or recreational interest on the BC Coast, is at serious risk and with populations at historical low levels.
A verbal poll of active local recreational fishers shows none have been checked by Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) officers more recently than six years ago. There is no effective enforcement.
The DFO is constantly blaming funding for the lack of habitat, hatchery and enforcement work. Meanwhile the DFO supports a new paint job on the MacMillan Arts Centre. It is a lovely project, but not for DFO.
There are without doubt hundreds of worthwhile projects needing the DFO money. DFO needs to focus on their mandate, not cheap public relations stunts.
Brian Lea
Qualicum Beach
