On Thu, Sep 11, 2008 at 6:32 PM, Rick Harbo <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>  Hi Andrew... interesting observations and understandable confusion. It is
> sad to hear how the productivity of the beaches have changed over time.
>
> The Ogden Pt. breakwater, Victoria, is in fact closed to the harvest of
> shellfish, http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish/Tidal/area19_e.htm, but
> hook and line fishing is not closed.
>
> Closures and bag limits are outlined in the Sportfish Guide (available in
> print or on line).
> shellfish limits:
> http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish/Species/shelltable_e.htm
>
> I have forwarded your comments about the guide book to Harbour Publishing
> www.harbourpulishing.com who in turn will forward comments on to the
> author.
>
> I can provide you with additional information off-list.
> cheers
> Rick Harbo
> Nanaimo
> [log in to unmask]

>Harvesting of shellfish is prohibited in these waters:*
>Ogden Point: Those waters inside a line from the navigation light at the
>western end of the Ogden Point Causeway thence to Brotchie Ledge Light,
>thence to Holland Point on Vancouver Island;Race Rocks: Those water within
>0.5 nautical miles of Great Race Rock; and Ten Mile Pt: Those waters within
>0.4 nautical miles of Cadboro Pt navigation light.

WEST end, note... a line from there to Holland Pt misses all but the final
outer leg of the breakwater (my collecting was on the first leg, outside the
ban area, anyway). The Brotchie Ledge light is further offshore, so the ban
would appear to be to protect "shellfish" (which have no scientific
status) from scuba divers (not that THEY are uncommon on the breakwater...
there were several groups while I was there).

A reserve cannot be enforced if there is no sign that it's a reserve. A ban
on "harvesting" cannot (and should not) be enforced if there is no legal
notice of reserve status, or of the ban. A lawyer could make hash of this
prohibition.Besides, I'm not after shellfish, I'm after molluscs. Again, a
lawyer could shoot them down. And if they mention specific colloquial names
like "butter clam", that couldn't be enforced either.

Also... there is no causeway there, so the whole thing would legally fall
over anyway!

Anyway, I'm not after commercial or edible species, and not after large
numbers. The website is seriously in need of being reworded so that it
actually means something; as it is it's nonsense.

--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin, New Zealand
Fossil preparator
Mollusc, Toyota & VW van nut
Temporarily in Calgary, AB, Canada

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