In receiving increased funds, it’s time for the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. to re-evaluate their dated approach to recreational fisheries management, which is not a viable long-term solution for maintaining healthy ecosystems (Fishing License Revenue Flows Back To Lakes, PNR online, March 9).
How does adding millions of young fish impact finite ecosystems?
The far-reaching consequences on native systems resulting from unnatural fish stocking are abundant and not fully understood in each lake’s case.
With a shortage of reputable monitoring to assess, or even consider, the impacts of fish stocking on freshwater ecosystems, stocking programs give no attention to the overall health of ecosystems or their long term integrity. Instead, the only measurable criteria for success are the number of fishing licenses sold and happy fishermen.
But hey, if you want to play games with B.C.’s freshwater ecosystems, go fish.
Emily Mercer, North Saanich