Nova Scotia’s 2009 Salmon Angling Seasons  … and Beyond

As I write this on Monday, May 25, 2009, we anticipate an announcement from DFO (our federal Dept of Fisheries and Oceans) later this week regarding Nova Scotia’s Atlantic salmon angling seasons, some of which may begin as early as June 1. Earlier this year a major fly-tying and salmon angling symposium planned for this summer in Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia, had to be cancelled due to uncertainty regarding the salmon sport fishery season. The event was seen as an important first step in rebuilding the St. Mary’s River’s reputation as a premier salmon fishing destination. As many of us can recall from “the good ole’ days”, the river’s outstanding fishing qualities attracted visitors from all over the globe, many staying in the region for days, weeks, or even months, a tremendous economic generator for our local businesses and community. In future, we must know where we stand with respect to angling seasons much earlier in the new year in order to promote the fishery and for visitors to plan their fishing vacations.

While other tourist attractions may bring visitors to the region, we desperately need something to keep them here. Quality fishing will do that. Guysborough County was, in recent memory, an angler’s paradise. Why isn’t that still the case? The fin-fish aquaculture industry has been heavily subsidized while wild fish populations in some areas, such as the Bay of Fundy, may have been decimated by problems caused by aquaculture’s practices. Is it conceivable that DFO’s policy in the Scotia-Fundy Region is biased toward aquaculture, with wild stocks being seen as a nuisance? That might explain why the Gulf Region’s policy toward sport fishing is so different, where angling, especially in New Brunswick, is a major economic generator. Policy often follows money, sometimes to a point where fundamental principles become obscured. Examples are all too common – Enron, the Gulf War, and so on.

Both aboriginal and sport fisheries in southern Nova Scotia and the Bay of Fundy have, of course, suffered as a result. Although considerable progress has been made in recent years regarding aboriginal rights, much of this exists only on paper, such as “paper salmon”. I believe that aboriginal and sport fishers can and must join and work together to repair the damage caused by many years of development and mismanagement to participate in a far more meaningful way in fisheries development, regulation and management. Through this process we can also gain an understanding of each other and begin to rectify other mistakes made in our past. That is my hope for our future.

Although our federal government, through DFO, is responsible for Atlantic salmon management, the best solution to these problems may come from our provincial government. The government of Nova Scotia is responsible for provincial tourism and culture, and is closer to and more sensitive to the social and economic requirements of our people. DFO can choose to delegate responsibilities to other agencies, for example NS government departments, as is now being done with protection of Atlantic salmon in some areas of Nova Scotia, through the NS Dept of Natural Resources. I believe that our Nova Scotia’s Inland Fisheries Division should assume responsibility throughout Nova Scotia for salmon management, development and regulation. That unit is well poised to do so in terms of staff and other resources, and is presently active in cooperative projects with DFO in their Gulf Region, for example the Margaree hatchery operation. If a deterrent to such an arrangement is financial, then I think our federal and provincial governments should work this out. It is, after all, the taxpayer’s money. In any case, resolution of this issue should be a priority for both governments.

I invite our political candidates to weigh in on this issue, and I’d suggest that we all voice our concern about it to them. This is important to all people of Nova Scotia, not just salmon anglers.

Roger’s Fancy

Originated in Quebec by Shirley Woods in 1973, this attractive wet fly quickly became a standard for Atlantic salmon angling everywhere.

Thread:              Black 8/0 UniThread

Hook:                 Mustad 36980 or Partridge Bartleet Supreme, barbless, in sizes 4, 6, 8

Tag:                   Fine oval silver tinsel behind fluorescent yellow floss

Tail:                   Peacock sword fibres

Body:                 Kelly green dubbed seal fur or yarn, picked out and trimmed

Rib:                   Oval silver tinsel

Throat:              A beard of bright yellow over which are bright green hackle fibres

Wing:                Grey fox guard hair

Cheeks:            Jungle cock (optional)

Head:                 Black thread with 2 coats of glossy finish such as Angler’s Corner Wet Head Cement.

Please stay on the line …