An advocate for fisheries
Outspoken officer’s book calls for everyone to be accountable
By Vancouver Sun, Vancouver Sun July 18, 2014
Randy Nelson’s book describes the adventures and politics of being a fishery officer in B.C.
Combine a thirst for adventure with a dedication to conservation and a gift for innovative scheming, and you will have Randy Nelson, a fishery officer in B.C. In Poachers, Polluters & Politics, he tells of some of his most memorable moments at the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and expresses opinions about how we are succeeding and failing at protecting B.C.’s most important resource.Q You’ve had some pretty creative strategies for catching poachers. Do you have an all-time favourite?
A My favourite method of catching a poacher was chasing them down on foot (I ran a 2:32 marathon). I chased literally hundreds of poachers throughout my career. I learned to never catch them right away — run them until they dropped. I never got into a physical confrontation with anyone I chased; they were usually a pile of wheezing, gasping jelly by the time I caught them.
Q Your job was full of all sorts of dangers. Was there a specific threat — either human or natural — that worried you the most?
A Well, you can’t reason with a charging grizzly bear — but then again — you can’t reason with some of the people out there. I was stabbed in the chest, hit by a truck, had my shoulder broken with an oar, and nearly drowned (to name a few), but the most lasting threat I felt was an anonymous death threat I received at home. I often left on patrols leaving my wife and two infant daughters alone, wondering who’d made the threats and if they would ever come to the house.
Q As a fishery officer, you must have a lot of knowledge about aquaculture, and its effects on the wild salmon population. Do you think it is possible to build a sustainable aquaculture industry?
A The industry should be moved to closed containment. The effluent and chemicals that are being put into fish-bearing waters would land anyone else in court. Closed containment would be a sustainable industry and could expand into a worldwide model of environmental stewardship that any politician could boast about.
Q The Cohen Commission on Fraser River sockeye was announced in 2010. What has come out of this $26-million public inquiry?
A 1. Zero response to the public
2. Muzzling of the internal response prepared by DFO staff
3. Lifting the ban on aquaculture (contrary to the recommendations)
4. Shutting down the website without giving the public an official response — now that’s arrogantly alarming!
Most things work on a three-strike principle but that’s four and counting! I predict some form of response before the next federal election to try to put out some of the flames. I also predict the response will be filled with hollow promises and studies and a few committees.
Q If the DFO received additional funding for protecting our waterways, how would you like to see it allocated?
A The Cohen Commission came up with a number of recommendations that describe what needs to be done. I would also like to see B.C.’s habitat protection staff numbers reinstated. This would put control of our habitat back in the DFO, not the National Energy Board! I challenge the federal government to talk to me about a host of ideas that could save money and improve DFO. The current bureaucrats are too scared and filter the facts, much the same way beer becomes urine, or food becomes effluent.
Q You are rather outspoken about the federal government, and its handling of fisheries issues. How did you manage to stay out of trouble throughout your career?
A I tried to always stick to the facts, and hold on to them until a timely opportunity arose to present them to the right person. Holding people accountable applies as much to your supervisors as it does to your employees. I can honestly say I never got in trouble for sticking to that strategy, despite the many attempts that were made to “throw me under the bus” (a direct quote from a very senior person in Ottawa) after I testified and told the truth at the Cohen Commission.
Q What poses the most risk to our fish populations and waterways: poachers, polluters or politics?
A Everyone has an impact and until everyone admits that and stops pointing fingers we’re not likely to improve. All user groups, including the public and environmental groups, have become too complacent. Governments are experts at dividing the public so they can continue to procrastinate. I really can’t believe the lack of response to the Cohen Commission. If you haven’t spoke out and demanded a response, then you too are part of the risk to the resource.
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