Submission 0505-BEVILACQUA

Submitter: Brady Bevilacqua

Community: Burnaby

Date Submitted: April 9, 2011

Summary:
The commission should investigate whether increased crab fishing has caused the decline of Fraser sockeye. Crab larvae are vital to the ecosystem and food chain.

Submission:
Has it been suggested that the decline in the salmon fishery is the result of increased crab fishing? It was only in 2007 that female crab retention in B.C. was illegalized. The crab fishing has been increasing. The crab larvae are a vital part of the ecosystem and food chain. Female and undersized crab protection has been a problem.
http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/fns/index.cfm?pg=view_notice&lang=en&DOC_ID=98534&ID=recreational
and
http://www.bcseafood.ca/PDFs/fisheriesinfo/fishery-dungeness-crab.pdf