Enforcement #3

One last category to continue illustrating the point of poor enforcement.
This one is called Exceeding Soak Time. This pertains to gillnetters, who in so-called 'selective gill netting utilise the 'short net/short set' method. This involves using a half length net and only keeping it in the water for 40 minutes





(20 minute soak times: The maximum amount of time the net is allowed to be in the water from the time it is completely set to the time it begins to be retrieved is 20 minutes. Note that this “soak time” is designed to equal a 40 minute time from when the first portion of the net enters the water to the when the last portion of the net leaves the water. Times will be monitored on the grounds.)
Exceeding Soak Time
Year.......Charges..........Warnings
2000...........0....................0
2001...........0....................0
2002...........0....................0
2003...........0....................0
2004...........0....................0
2005...........0....................0
2006...........0....................0
2007...........0....................1
This is especially telling of what the level of enforcement is like on the fishing grounds. And the excuse of short staff in 2006 doesnt seem to make a difference here...no matter what year it is there are no charges.
In a peak season opening up to 450 gillnetters can be fishing...and when the 'selective gillnetting' requirements are in place you would think someone would go over the allotted 40 minute soak time. But, amazingly not according to these statistics...except for one warning in 2007.
Interestingly, I was at a meeting in the spring where a commercial representative actually said the short set/short net routine is too tough to physically do all day for the aging gillnet fleet operators and that's why there is low compliance with the regulation. But, that low compliance is not reflected in the enforcement statistics.
The two problems exacerbate each other: lack of enforcement leads to further non-compliance...and further non-compliance spreads throughout the fleet until its the norm rather than the exception. Now not every commercial fisherman cheats the system of course. But, the ones that do really ruin it for all the others as they all get tarred with the same brush.
These two issues, enforcement and fisher compliance, are core issues in the future of the fishery as openings wil be tighter controlled and more targetted or directed. If no one follows the rules....the wheels quickly fall off even the most well intentioned fishery management plan.

You would think that sooner or later the fleets would catch on and realize being forthright and actually fishing in a responsible manner might lead to more fishing time. And if the commercial fleet ever came clean on the real number of steelhead they intercept we might start to see the process of building trust between sectors begin in earnest.
And just so we keep things even, we feel the recreational and First Nations fisheries should also be well policed so that each sector is dealt with fairly.
(Charge information courtesy of DFO Prince Rupert)

For comparing the charges listed above to inland Conservation Officer charges and warnings check out the link and see hundreds of charges for freshwater fisheries offences, hunting offences, and environmental offences.....all from Regional Conservation Officers who have similar staff levels to DFO North Coast.
http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/main/prgs/compliancereport.html

And lastly, here's a pertinent quote from a Fishery Notice for the July 17th opening:
NOTICE TO ALL GILLNET FISHERMEN:Fishers are reminded to have their revival boxes operating at all times when fishing. This is being enforced, and charges are likely if non-compliance is encountered.
Almost as if they are saying " honest, we really, really, mean it this time..." Not even guaranteed charges...just 'likely'....