No hook-and-release in St. Mary’s?

DFO likely to shut down recreational fishery

BY HELEN MURPHY

SHERBROOKE – It looks like there’ll be no recreational angling on the St. Mary’s River this year. Directors of the St. Mary’s River Association were notified this week that the federal Dept. Of Fisheries and Oceans is expected to close the river to hook-and-release fishing because spawning numbers are weak.

Warden David Clark has some concerns about the process that resulted in the decision, including the lack of a fish counter on the river. He said DFO comes in the fall and counts fish in some of the salmon pools, stamping and releasing them. They come back at another interval to count new fish in the school, he said. “But they only select a few holding pools… There’s a lot of opportunity there for huge variances in numbers.”

Clark said the loss of the recreational fishery is a big blow to the area. “It’s an opportunity to be out on the river and to socialize with people who have the same common interests,” he said of angling. “I can say in  confidence that all the years I’ve been practicing catch-and-release, I haven’t killed any salmon… Through proper education and proper catch-and-release methods, if  you do it right you’re not harming the fish at all.”

There are significant economic factors as well. “In our municipality in terms of commerce, there’s a lot of money spent in this community by salmon anglers. It’s very noticeable when the river is closed.” The river was last closed to angling in 1998.

The warden also laments the lack of consultation on the issue. “Here we go again in the fact that decisions are being made and there’s no consultation with the local community about the importance of this river to us… People travel around the world to come here and fish.”

The DFO move towards closing the fishery comes after consultations with First Nations chiefs who have historic rights related to salmon fishing. Bill Taylor of the Atlantic Salmon Federation (ASF) said First Nations and anglers both want the same thing: “a healthy resource.”  “Conservation must still be the overriding priority,” Taylor told The Journal. “That said, I believe that DFO needs to provide more effective leadership on this issue… Maybe anglers, conservationists and First Nations should be working together to pressure DFO and our federal government to provide more funding for better salmon conservation, assessment, enforcement and restoration programs.”

He said the ASF is very concerned about the situation at St. Mary’s. “ Hook-and-release fishing is scientifically proven to be a conservationally sound practice. We need anglers on the rivers to deter poachers and we need groups like the St. Mary’s River Association to be active, delivering conservation, restoration, education and public awareness programs.”

The ASF is asking DFO to find a way to maintain the hook-and-release fishery while respecting the First Nations rights, said Taylor. “A well-managed hook-and-release fishery should not be considered an allocation or harvest.

“We’re also looking for opportunities to partner with First Nations that are interested in undertaking salmon conservation and restoration projects. We are willing and able to work with anyone or any

group that cares about wild salmon.”