April 23, 2004
Friday

It is time to be thankful for the closure of Behm Canal for this year 2004. Although our concerns were excluded up until now, we may have our foot through the door. We may even be back in the building, but it's a big building, and there are a lot of rooms to explore.

First of all, a heartfelt thank you to all of the people who wrote letters for Sitnews and Juneau. The spontaneity of these letters truly reflects the importance of the herring issue. I would also like to thank the folks at Sitnews. What a tremendous media for all of us to voice our opinions and send our messages.

The point has been made. We are on the right course. Behm Canal should not have had a herring fishery. One remaining downside is, the lack of large spawn herring. We must continue our efforts to support a herry study area. We should strive to provide a refuge where spawning is allowed and not interrupted. West Behm Canal is the place.

ADF&F appears to have a high level of commercial fishing pressure as its driving force. Looks to me like, "the fox in the hen house syndrome." We need some collars on these foxes, and they know who they are. When fishery management is wrong on certain issues, why not just admit it?

The way the fishery was proposed, and the erratic population swings of herring, made it wrong to pursue the Behm Canal Fishery in 2004. Amazingly, ADF&G is still trying to convince us of their wonderful herring management skills. Many of us will continue to folllow this issue very closely and when discrepancies appear we will be vocal.

There is a lot of work to be done. Leave the herring alone and let them come back to our local harbors. Feed our fish and marine mammals, and put a smile back on the faces of all herring users.

Lawrence "Snapper" Carson
Ketchikan, AK - USA

 

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