Fears that Fisheries and Oceans Canada would push through their habitat protection plan in popular west coast fishing areas were confirmed yesterday.
Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson announced that Swiftsure and LaParouse banks off Barkley Sound will now be listed as critical habitat for resident killer whales, and restrictions will be put in place around the areas.
DFO held open house sessions in Port Alberni and Ucluelet in October, and heard from dozens of anglers and fishing guides that any fishing closures in the area would have devastating effects on the local fishing economy.
They also said members of the Southern Resident Killer Whale population were very rarely seen in the area, which was confirmed by DFO’s own statistics.
