Accompanying this column is a picture of the group of angry recreational anglers who carried out a responsible, democratic protest at the office of

John Duncan, our local Member of Parliament and Minister of Aboriginal and Northern Affairs.

At the risk of repetition, let me again emphasize that halibut are a common property resource owned by the people of Canada. The anglers were protesting the 12/88 per cent division of the total allowable catch as assigned to Canada under the International Pacific Halibut Commission. Twelve per cent of the catch goes to over 100,000 recreational anglers and 88 per cent goes to 450 individual Licence Quotas holders of which, it is reported, less than 150 actually go out and fish their quota licences, the balance lease them out to other fishers.

To add insult to injury, after the issues expressed by the recreational anglers, in a news release Federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea announced the 12/88 allocation division for 2011 would be in place for this season and if the recreational anglers wanted extra fish after the 12 per cent allocation has been reached they could purchase the right to fish for them from the commercial licence holders.

In the Allocation of Fishery Resources, United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization Conference, one of the speakers noted that the lobbyist who has the most influence will end up with the largest quota. From this inference we can conclude those 450 commercial licence holders are able to form a more effective lobby than 100,000 recreational anglers.

In many respects democratic governments are not particularly easy to run because citizens are involved with the process of governing at many levels in between elections, and if they are stirred up enough about particular issues they change the government through the election process. We do not regard ourselves as subjects of a particular group or individual; but rather as members of a society where the government in power serves the greater good of the majority of its people.

On the halibut issue I believe that a significant number of recreational anglers throughout the West Coast are sufficiently upset enough over the current arrogant attitudes of federal government policy makers in Ottawa and the uncompromising power of the Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada that they may bring about electoral change, particularly at the local riding levels in coastal British Columbia.

I recently attended a talk by Ray Grigg, the noted philosopher and environmental writer from Quadra Island. The subject of the talk was Finding Peace of Mind in These Changing and Troubling Times. In his closing remarks he stated that one of the best ways to reach a peaceful state was to be actively involved in the ongoing processes of society. In this regard I respectfully suggest that recreational halibut anglers stay involved in the peaceful process of change.

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A brief saltwater fishery report: We haven't had many days when you could get out on the water lately, but I did get out last Monday. To start with it was cold, so if you do go dress warmly. We fished the waters off Quadra Island and as far south as Shelter Point, not catching any salmon or other fish that we could keep. Our best fish of the day was a lingcod that would have weighed close to 10 pounds.

While we were fishing we had six prawn traps soaking in about 400 feet of water. When we pulled them we had a modest catch of medium-sized prawns and one shy little octopus that we released. When we returned to the launch ramp the seagulls were feeding on the head of a salmon somebody had cleaned – oh well.

The annual run of Pacific herring is taking place. Friends spent last Sunday trying to find some herring they could catch for bait. They were unsuccessful. The latest report I have is that bulk of the spawning is taking place south of our waters, similar to what took place last year.

If you wish to witness this spectacular event I suggest driving along the old highway towards Qualicum and Parksville, although there may still be a significant spawn in Baynes Sound. Watch the beaches.