While I support a protest, but I will have no part in any unlawful activities. I wrote to Regan telling him I was ****ed off because of the DOF not enforcing the law...now I should break the law? Don't think so.  

Have talked to Rodney a few minutes ago and we will review OB at tomorrows CVRCC meeting and we will post further info then.

Be there in spirit I guess.

I just just received the word and I have personal problems with some of what is being planned however I will support it in principle and will be there to film it.

I will be talking to Rodney tonight and how he wants to present what is being planned on this board in respect of him.

In support I add this comment,

Whatever we do this Saturday, we need to rise above any illegal act. If a bunch of rec guys start to fish in defiance of the law... this could blur the line between law abiding citizens and out of control... law breaking... FN members.

I am afraid illegal acts this Saturday would, in the publics eye, make us all look the same.

If in the public's eye we all look the same we would lose a lot of the public support that we would be looking for on Saturday.

CJ.

Chris I have a few questions and thought you could answer them best.

For Operation BBQ I have heard there will be an illegal fishery on the Saturday.
#1 With this happening what is the SDA and others getting at to solve a solution?
#2 How will this prove anything? Chinook fishing is still open so fishing would be allowed? To make a point about the Sockeye are people going to kill them to make a point?

I don't understand, I for one would not participate in any illegal fishing as it is the same as what the First Nations have been doing and would do essentially nothing imho except for some nice gear collection for Fisheries.

If there is no illegal fishery what is the point of hosting the protest at Peg Leg? Wouldnt it get better attention in a less secluded area?

Could I please have a better understanding of what is scheduled to happen.

Thanks, Aaron.

*Note* I will not be able to attend as I am on holidays. If I did I would just be there for support but not be involved in anything illegal. Could the footage filmed possibily be available for viewing at the BC Rivers Day event?

I really appreciate all the comments made above.

 Yes the situation is very serious that we are faced with and there seems to be no easy answer to it, I wish there was. If only FOC would honour their mandate to enforce the fisheries act then we would not be in the situation we are in now.

I feel our precious fish stocks can not take all the effort that has been directed at them this season especially by FN.

If the FN people think they are entilled to more fish the proper process should be taken to change the laws of the land.

Do not block the railways, highways and fish outside the limits of their openings to reach their end goals as our democratic society is not built on such actions to get what you want.

For the SDA to also break the law, I agree whole heartly from my personal stand point that is not the way to go.

What is the answer I donot know but after writing letters to the Minister of Fisheries and other FOC managers they do not even have the courtesy to answer them and that is not right either.

The latest info I have received there is not to be any breaking of the law Saturday.

Actually as I type this an emergency meeting is on between SDA and some higher level FOC people talking about the situation.

I was invited to attend but was out fishing with Terry, Rodney and Nina after our CVRCC meeting today so did not want to change our plans.

I have a early am meeting tomorrow with a couple of fellows that attended the meeting tonight so will update things then for those interested.  

We had an enjoyable day fishing and Rodney will be reporting on it later as I need supper.

The SDA and the other groups attending may be trying to gt an extrnsion to the sockeye fishing as FN have been given as most of us know more openings.

Just returned from a small planning meeting for the SDA protest set for Saturday at 1 pm at Peg Leg Bar.

Some updates

A few members and others met with Savard and another FOC official last night for 3 and one half hours to try to get them to leave the Sockeye open as long as FN were fishing. They apparently had a 3 day opening but I just heard it has been scaled back to one day because of the high water tempatures.

So maybe last nights meeting helped save a lot of fish with the scaled back opening..

FOC would not bend on reopening it to the weekend for the REC fellows.

This should end the FN legal sockeye fishing for the rest of this year. Time will tell.

Another change in the SDA protest fishery plan there maybe the taking one one sockeye as a symbol of the displeasure of the inaction of FOC to enforce the law.

I have to go on record of questioning this decison but I am only one voice.

The breaking of the law has gone on for way too long on the Fraser by other user groups with poaching being rampant, illegal selling of fish, illegal equipment fishing during closed time, in closed areas to the point of some fish stocks being fished to dangerous levels.

Maybe sacrificing one fish to help save thousands of others may have some merit. It also easy to justify ones opinion I quess but I do not like breaking the law even though we all do it in some manner, be it speeding, not declaring income on our income tax and the list goes on.

One thing I do know we have to jar FOC to their senses some how to do a way better job of managing our precious fish stocks.

I know close to 20 years ago FVSS illegally killed a chinook when they were closed and actually it forced home the issue of unfairness the rec fishers were facing.

It was this action believe it or not was this act of disobience the got FOC to take notice of the Rec angler and we have all the fishing today partly because of it.

It got a meeting with Fishery minister of the day Tom Siddon who was not getting the whole story from his managers and once he stepped in things improved greatly.

Is it the time to do it again? I quess it is up to you the indiviual angler to decide if he wants to to paticipate or not.

Will I be there? I will, but I sure wish there was another way and I blame FOC for putting me there on Saturday.

How else can I react when I take hours writing letters,seeking others to write their concerns also and they donot have the courtesy to answere me just once. Disgusting and rude bahaviour to say the least.

If anyone is to blame for the action that happen and arises on Saturday it is FOC's senior staff and the man supposly at the helm, the Fisheries Minister.

In my books it is not the SDA fault they are taking this action and I hope many others from this board will attend if only to give their support by their present at the protest.

How did the saying go, when they came for the------- and I said and did nothing, then they came for the----- and then they finely came for me and no one was left to help me.

I do not want this to happen to our precious salmonids it is time to speak for them now or forever rest your case.