e-4919 (Fisheries)

Petition to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard

• Closing the recreational fishery endangers Port Renfrew's economy, threatening over 100 small business owners’ livelihoods;
• Current proposals and static closures by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) overlook pertinent research, showing minimal environmental benefits for the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW);
• No supporting data for the efficacy of static closures has been provided by the DFO, while many communities economy's faces severe impacts;
• Viable alternatives, like expanding "mobile avoidance zones" around these whales, offer less economic disruption and potential increased environmental benefits;
• Studies highlight the abundance of Chinook Salmon, SRKW's primary food, often exceeding DFO targets, undermining the rationale for recreational fishery limitations;
• Critical threats to SRKW, such as pollution and large shipping vessel traffic, remain under addressed compared to the focus on recreational fishing;
• Port Renfrew’s significant economic contribution, backed by community and the Pacheedaht First Nation, underscores the need for sensible conservation efforts; and
• Advocating for a shift from arbitrary, punitive regulations to informed, evidence-based policies that ensure SRKW protection without compromising small communities economic stability and future planning.