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Author Topic: The past stupidity of DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)  (Read 2590 times)

Blue_Fox

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The past stupidity of DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
« on: September 02, 2012, 07:58:20 PM »
Starting in 1949, basking sharks finally made it onto the federal fisheries department's list of "Destructive Pests." Membership on the list was essentially a government-endorsed declaration for their eradication or at least control. Other varmints included black bears, merganser ducks, kingfishers, seals and sea lions. All of these animals were regularly killed by fisheries officers while doing their nine-to-five patrols.

http://thetyee.ca/Books/2006/12/07/BaskingSharks/

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=18575e15-3b23-4846-9439-7f47a3da6400
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alwaysfishn

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Re: The past stupidity of DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2012, 08:11:19 PM »
Unfortunately the stupidity continues......  but I don't want to hijack your thread by talking about salmon feedlots.

They seem to be politically driven, rather than science driven, and conservation minded.
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Disclosure:  This post has not been approved by the feedlot boys, therefore will likely be found to contain errors and statements that are out of context. :-[

StillAqua

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Re: The past stupidity of DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2012, 08:44:10 PM »
People did a lot of stupid things in the 50's and 60's..........like testing nuclear weapons in the air and on tropical islands.  ::)
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dnibbles

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Re: The past stupidity of DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
« Reply #3 on: September 02, 2012, 08:52:23 PM »
Stupidity in the 40's wasn't limited to DFO.
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absolon

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Re: The past stupidity of DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
« Reply #4 on: September 03, 2012, 09:24:39 AM »
Stupidity has never been limited to any single group but at least the DFO can blame most of their errors on the politically driven policy it has been required to implement. Other agenda driven groups don't have that excuse.
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shuswapsteve

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Re: The past stupidity of DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
« Reply #5 on: September 03, 2012, 11:04:57 AM »
I do not believe it is entirely accurate to put the blame solely on government at that time.  The particular policies referred to were essentially driven by recreational anglers and commercial fishermen at the time.  In addition, the paranoia and ignorance was further fuelled by sensationalized media reporting which helped get the general public to demonize predators like basking sharks.  In hindsight, those government policies were not the right ones, but the stakeholders and the general public at the time were equally guilty for joining the lynch mob against sharks, bears, seals, mergansers, and even bull trout.
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