Mr. Speaker, looking ahead to the upcoming fishing season, our B.C. public fishery is facing an uncertain future.
I have met with countless members of the B.C. fishing community who are gravely concerned that if the Minister of Fisheries continues to ignore sound science, their futures are at risk. The science tell us there are over 110 million hatchery chinook annually entering our Pacific waters, along with many rivers, showing strong and even record returns.
Closing the fishery simply is not required. There are other solutions, including increasing opportunities for a mark-selective fishery.
I was honoured to be one of 25 B.C. members of Parliament to sign the member for North Okanagan—Shuswap's letter calling on the minister to support this promising initiative. Mark-selective fishing can help conservation efforts, while also supporting economic and social activities.
It is time for the minister to start listening to the science and the voices of British Columbians and to support our B.C. public fishery.