12/11/2025
911 for all Canadians. This is truly is devastating to everyone. The government is hiding this over the holiday season in hopes the public doesn’t react.
URGENT: DFO Proposes Removing Recreational Priority for Chinook & Coho
Deadline for Action: January 9, 2026
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) is currently reviewing the Allocation Policy for Pacific Salmon. For decades, this policy has granted the recreational sector priority access to Chinook and Coho salmon after conservation and First Nations Food, Social, and Ceremonial (FSC) needs are met.
The Proposal: DFO is considering changes that would remove this recreational priority, potentially placing the commercial sector on equal footing or prioritizing their access. This could mean fewer opportunities for public anglers, shorter seasons, and reduced retention limits, even when stocks are sufficient to support a fishery.
The Economic Reality: Removing priority access ignores the massive economic value the public fishery brings to British Columbia. According to recent DFO data highlighted by Island Fisherman magazine (https://islandfisherman.us17.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8edf2f727d7906186dfe9f949&id=1239826141&e=cddd7dd766):
• Massive Revenue: The recreational fishing sector generates an estimated $1.275 billion in annual revenue for BC’s coastal economy.
• Community Support: This revenue supports tackle shops, lodges, guides, hotels, and fuel docks in small coastal communities that rely on a stable public fishery.
Why This Matters: The public fishery is the lowest-impact harvest sector, utilizing selective gear and strict regulations to protect stocks of concern while maximizing the economic return of every fish harvested. shifting allocation away from the public toward the commercial sector risks sacrificing thousands of jobs and millions in local revenue for a fraction of the economic return.
Take Action Now: The consultation period is short. We need every angler to voice their support for maintaining priority access for Chinook and Coho.
Submit your feedback by email to: mailto:[email protected]
Key Points to Include in Your Email:
• Oppose any removal of the recreational priority for Chinook and Coho salmon.
• Highlight that the recreational sector generates significantly more revenue and jobs and supports coastal community stability. Comment on how it affects you.
• Emphasize that public access should be prioritized over commercial harvest to maximize the social and economic value of the resource.
Deadline: January 9, 2026