Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[troutbreath]

I guess the cost of licenses will go (again) up to help pay for this With the closures of BC recreational sites at lakes, fees increase at others and limited fishing opportunities in the Province some years, like on the lower Fraser(not freshwater), it isn't hard to imagine why people don't buy certain licenses. There is hardly any boat launch places around anymore here as well. I've noticed a huge drop in people using our parks in the last few years too. Just keep adding fees and then build hotels in the parks people can't afford to go to. . Oops, sounding cynical again after reading too much Government BS

  NEWS RELEASE 
 
For Immediate Release

2006TSA0037-001024

Aug. 9, 2006
 Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts

FUNDING AIMS TO LURE MORE ANGLERS
VICTORIA – The provincial government is providing $90,000 to support an initiative led by the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC to improve the way recreational fishing is managed and marketed in B.C.
The funds will be used for the development of a provincewide market development plan aimed at attracting more freshwater and saltwater anglers.
“Angling is an important component of our varied tourism sector,” said Olga Ilich, Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts.  “Not only does it expose residents and visitors to our natural assets, it also generates about $1.2 billion annually in related spending – mostly in rural areas.” 
The number of B.C. residents purchasing freshwater angling licenses has declined by almost 20 per cent over the last 10 years, from 320,000 in 1995 to 260,000 in 2005. 
“By working together with government, industry and the angling public we hope to reach our mutual goal of ensuring the long-term health of our fisheries resources and the recreational fishing sector,” said Don Peterson, president of the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC.
Provincial funding for the marketing project comes from the Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts, the Ministry of Environment and Tourism BC.
“An initiative like this will go a long way towards increasing the number of sport anglers in B.C. and that’s good for everyone,” said Environment Minister Barry Penner. “Fishing is a wonderful way for families to enjoy the great outdoors together.”
Other contributors include the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC, the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund, the BC Fishing Resorts and Outfitters Association and the Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia.  The plan is expected to be completed this winter with implementation getting underway in the spring of 2007.
The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC is funded by anglers and works with the Province to conserve and restore wild fish and to sustain and enhance recreational fishing in the province.  For more information about the society, visit www.gofishbc.com.

 

-30-

 

 



 
 
Media

contact:
 Shawn Robins

Communications Director

Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts

250 356-9869
 Don Peterson

President

Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC

250 414-4200
 
 
 
 
 
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.
 

 

[DragonSpeed]

Meanwhile, angling pressure appears to go UP! Not down.  Perhaps more than just a few anglers have realized the very real fact that it is unlikely they will be caught angling without a license 

[Steelhawk]

Is there ever an explanation about the drop in licenses? Was it because of higher license fees, or less fishing success (just look at our coho fishing lately) ? Time for government to act wisely to lure fishermen back.

[Nostro]

Recreational angling in BC is BIG business. A 20% drop in business in any industry is very serious and is NOT explained simply by claiming that more people actually are fishing, but are not buying a licence. The statistics are over a 10 year period, with a steady decline.
Both governments should realize that there is a good thing in recreational angling in BC and should put this industry first, ahead of FN economic opportunities and commercial fishing. Recreational angling generates more revenues than the other 2 fisheries combined. It is sustainable. It has very little impact on the stock, etc. etc.
It would be nice to get preferential treatment, even if it meant catch and release.