User fees, or pay-per-use fees, are reasonable in many cases, and especially for special-targeted and not-common activities, such as fishing for sturgeon.
It makes sense that people who enjoy such activities pay up a (very small, in my opinion) user fee, so that 1) the other many, many British Columbians, who never ever will take part in such activities, do not have to through their general tax dollars, and 2) there is enough financial support for research, monitoring and control of this species at risk.
I would consider supporting a pay per use fee for fishing as well, especially in heavy fished areas, such as the Vedder-Chilliwack system. I live in the lower mainland, but very far from the Ved-Chill area, and I get to go fishing for salmon maybe seven or eight times per season, that's it. Well, I am paying the same fishing license fee as everyone else, including the folks that are fortunate enough to live close by and can go salmon fishing every other day or so... Is that fair? It is a rhetorical question. I really don't mind paying the same fishing license fee, I enjoy fishing a lot and it is not much at all to pay for it...
Oh well, I guess I won't be very popular with such ideas especially among fellow 'daily' fishermen, be they bottom bouncers, flossers, or even the elite of the short floaters...
Cheers all,
guy