Please don't be confused tidal fishing licenses (managed federally) with freshwater fishing licenses.
The money generated from your freshwater fishing licenses is allocated as follows:
- 21% to Ministry of Environment (~$2.7M)
- 25% to habitat conservation trust (~$3.3M)
- 54% to Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC (~$7.0M)
The purpose of the Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC is to conserve and enhance the freshwater fish resources of BC for the benefit of the public through various initiatives. Beside stocking 7.1 million fish in 818 lakes and streams across this province each year, the society is involved in conservation programs such as the recovery of white sturgeon and steelhead. "Your license dollars at work" is not simply a a marketing slogan, but it reflects by the effort and dedication of society staff, who are also mostly anglers.
Thanks for the numbers Rod from what I was already stating.
Putting lots of money into stocking steelhead, and salmon is risky. Their are just so many factors working against them such as ocean survival. With the stocking of trout in lakes their is little risk involved and provides a great fishery for people of all ages. Not only that but they dont have to compete with commercial fishermen, fish farms etc etc. Why put 10 million into the stocking of salmon if only a fraction of those fish make it back?
So you think paying for the rivers you fish is a better idea? Go look how expensive it is in Europe for a similar system. I think I am happy just paying my license which is under $100 as I am not buying a steelhead tag anymore as I am not fishing for them. For under $100 I get more enjoyment than I could ever get from any other hobby. I love my lake fishing. I also love my river fishing but know that the salmon fishing is never going to get better. Once the salmon fishing gets as bad as the steelhead fishing I will no longer fish for salmon either. Their are just so many things wrong with the salmon that the money from the tags is not going to do anything to help repair whats been done.