Dear DFO, SHOW ME THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE 2017 STRIPED BASS REGULATIONS!

I'm lost for words at this latest disgrace in fisheries management ... closing the Northwest Miramichi River below the Red Bank bridge for 3 weeks at a time of your (DFO's) discretion? Based on what? What is the lower limit (I've heard rumors of Cassilis)? How is this going to affect outfitters? How is this going to affect the striper cup? How is this going to affect shore anglers who have few options and even fewer places to fish?

This issue is by your (DFO's) own numbers, there are currently, AT MINIMUM, ten times the number of spawning fish required for the population to self sustain and this number continues to trend upwards year after year under current recreational fishing practices. So where's the justification for this closure? Why are you blaming anglers for an issue that doesn't exist? What year class of juvenile is rumored to be appearing in lower numbers? Where is the science to support this and why are you assuming it's anglers and not the fungus frequently being observed on bass up and down the river? What are your efforts towards studying this fungus/disease and are you concerned of the overpopulation that's occurring due to ongoing protection of bass? What role does Quebec repopulation play in this? Are you finally abandoning science in favor of opinion and political based management?

I suppose next there'll be an announcement that you're allowing grilse tags for the 2017 angling season for "socioeconomic reasons" (instead of science) while ignoring the same during your 3 week bass shutdown on the NW ---- don't forget the outfitters and other businesses who will be affected during this unjustified shutdown.

Link to DFO's page:
EPIC FAILURE

Notice to Recreational Anglers

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Gulf Region

Striped Bass Recreational Fishery in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence in 2017

Moncton, New Brunswick – March 31, 2017 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) today approved the Plan for Striped Bass Recreational Fishing in the waters adjacent to the Maritime Provinces in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence for 2017.
This year, fishing days are added, distinct seasons are established for tidal and inland waters, and retention of Striped bass is authorized every day of the fishing season.

• In 2017 , the Striped bass fishing season in tidal waters of the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence will take place from April 15 to October 31;
• In 2017, the Striped bass fishing season in inland waters of New Brunswick* and Nova Scotia draining in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and inland waters of Prince Edward Island will be from May 1 to September 15 (*inland waters of the Miramichi River system: from April 15 to October 15);
• Retention of Striped bass will be authorized every day of the open fishing season.

During the 2017 season, anglers will be able to retain a maximum of one Striped bass per day and will be prohibited from possessing more than one (1) striped bass at any given time from April 15 to June 14 and from September 1 to October 31, and two (2) Striped bass from June 15 to August 31.
The following management measures will apply during the 2017 Striped bass recreational fisheries:

• The size window for the retention fishery is established at a minimal length of 50 cm and at a maximum length of 65 cm. The length is measured in a straight line from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail (total length);
• Angling activities will begin two hours before sunrise and end two hours after sunset of each day;
• The use of a non-offset barbless circle hook is mandatory when bait is used while fishing for striped bass in tidal waters.
• NEW: Closure of the Northwest Miramichi River spawning ground to all angling during the spawning period. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada will issue a variation order closing all angling for a duration of 3 weeks in an area of the Northwest Miramichi River below the Red Bank Bridge once concentrations of Striped bass are observed spawning. A closure notice will be posted on the DFO Gulf Region Recreational fisheries Internet page

Anyone wishing to report suspicious fishing activity anonymously is asked to contact the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office or to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
See the 2017 recreational fishing plan for Striped bass in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

For more information on this fishery, please contact:

Frédéric Butruille
A/Regional Senior Fisheries Management Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Moncton, New Brunswick
506-851-7358
Email: Frederic.Butruille@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Honourable Dominic LeBlanc (Minister of Fisheries & Oceans) 506-533-5700 dominic.leblanc@parl.gc.ca (hill office 613-992-1020)


I encourage everyone to call or write to DFO to tell them how you feel and demand an explanation behind closing the Northwest Miramichi for 3 weeks..

So to recap: DFO, SHOW ME THE SCIENCE BEHIND THIS DECISION!

And in case you're wondering, I'm the pr!ck holding the dead bass...

Please contact the following people to let them know how you feel about the 2017 striped bass regulations:

DFO Management
Frederic Butruille
frederic.butruille@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
ph: (506)851-7358

Minister of Fisheries & Oceans
Dominic LeBlanc
dominic.leblanc@parl.gc.ca
ph: (506)533-5700

Member of Parliament (Miramichi)
Pat Finnigan
pat.finnigan@parl.gc.ca
ph: (506) 778-8448