Summer fishing closures proposed for Vancouver Island streams

The province is proposing summer fishing closures for most streams on southern Vancouver Island in response todroughtsin recent years that produced stressful conditions for fish.

Fishing can put an added burden onfish stocks when stream flows are low and the water temperature iswarmer than usual, saidBrendan Anderson, a senior fisheries biologist with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.

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"That's a period of stressful conditions for fish that are in streams at those times," Anderson said.

The proposed regulation changesinclude a sustained fishing closure from July 15 to Aug. 31 for most streams on the south island.

The Koksilah and Chemainus rivers, which have seen some of the lowest water flows during the summer months,would be closed to fishing from July 1 to Sept. 30.

Vancouver Island rivers that have measures in place to manage water flow, such as the Puntledge, would continue to operate under existing fishing regulations.

Proactive approach

In the past, the province has put fishing closures in place during aseasonif water runs low and the temperature rises.

But given the extreme dry conditions, especially this past summer and in 2015, Anderson saysit makes sense to put the blanket closures in place, rather than scramble to try to notify anglers during the season.

"To do all of that in real time and try and change regulations and communicate that to the public is difficult," he said.

Anderson doesn't expect much pushback from Vancouver Island anglers, given the health of fish stocks is at stake, and the summer months when water is low arenot peak season for fishing activities.

DavidGunn, who runsfishing tours on theCowichanRiver through his River Quest Charters business, says he agrees with the new measures.

"Once the water temperatures reach those levels, it's not good practice to fish," he said."It's really hard on the fish."

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Many anglers are more concerned with potential sport-fishing restrictions in ocean waters, Gunn said.

An expansion of fin-fishing bans in waters along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island are under consideration as Fisheries and Oceans Canada works to boost fish stocks and support the dwindling southern resident killer whale population.

The province is accepting public comment on changes to fishing regulations on Vancouver Island streams until January11.

If approved, the changes will go into effect in April.