From the CFAX site:

"Frank Stanford's Editorial Comment aired at 8:30 a.m. this morning on CFAX 1070 AM:

for Wednesday Sept 7, '11

The federal government must be capable of understanding that recreational fishing is a generator of jobs, worthy of some policy support. I don't understand the cavalier willingness to sacrifice the recreational halibut season.

The howls of protest we hear over the decision aren't critical of the federal responsibility to protect fish stocks. Nobody is saying 'plunder the resource'. In fact, they're saying quite the opposite...that a recreational fishery can thrive, putting less pressure on stocks than a commercial fishery does.

This debate over apportionment of the catch has got to be resolved with some recognition that the interests of the casual fisherman shouldn't automatically be the first to be cut. Opponents of this season's closure say 40 per cent of Canada's allocated halibut catch is still out there...but it's off limits to the recreational boater because 88 per cent of Canada's total halibut catch is reserved for commercial interests. That seems heavily disproportionate."

The station is also running a poll on how many people fish. Right now it needs a bump as only 25% suggest they fish. Please distribute this to all of fishing fishing pals and get them to vote. Voting is today, Wednesday only so act quickly please.

Here's the link to the poll on their home page: http://cfax1070.com/

Let the Voting Commence!!

Cheers,
Nog

Done..........It's funny how one commercial sector interest can override the interests of tourism....recreational sport fishing.....marine products sales...etc...etc....Could it be that discretionary money is given to DFO from PHMA ???..........hp