TERRACE
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$
S TANDARD
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VOL. 25 NO. 8
www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
New fish regs affect tourism By LAUREN BENN STEELHEAD fishing restrictions placed on non-resident anglers will harm local tourism, say local business owners. In September 2011, the provincial and federal government changed fishing regulations to put limits on when anglers from outside B.C. and Canada could fish — axing weekends in some favourite fishing spots and changing guiding times and guiding days in other circumstances. The local Wild Duck Motel & RV Park relies heavily on anglers to sustain its business, and owner
Claudia Lee says this year she’s seen more cancellations than ever before at a time when anglers account for 80 per cent of her business. “Last year at this time there were lots of registrations for the summer season ... but this season, it’s too slow.” Lee says several long-time guests of the motel have told her by email they won’t be coming back this year. “She doesn’t want to stay this year because they can’t fish during the weekends,” explained Lee of one guest from France. Another long-time client of the
motel from the United States has complained about the regulations as well. “They booked last year, but this year with new regulations, they wanted to cancel,” said Lee. Local tourism body Kermodei Tourism is concerned about effects on the industry the changes will have. “We’ve had several different types of feedback from not only people who are involved in guiding but also from long-time visitors that have come here from overseas,” said director Graham Genge. “Mainly to do with the disruption of the fishing days.”
Changes came into effect April 1st, including resident-only fishing in two “hot spot” zones on Saturday and Sunday from July 1 to December 31. Changes also include changes to water classifications, extended classified water sections which require different tags or permits, mandatory steelhead stamps, Canadian-resident only times and zones, and changes to the number of guided angling days allotted, and higher fees for anglers from elsewhere. In the Skeena region, these changes affect the Bulkley, Babine, Morice, Kispiox, Suskwa, Kitseg-
uecla, Kitwanga, Skeena, Zymoetz, Lakelse and Kitsumkalum rivers. “There is concern because ... fishing is one of those key things that does bring in a lot of revenue and money into the community,” said Genge, adding that Terrace and the Northwest region in general attracts specific types of tourists. “We’re not a cheap bargain destination ... for Europeans... we’re a big price point and people have to think and plan about this trip,” said Genge. “Added costs and added barriers I think is detrimental to guided or recreational fishing.”
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Crash probe underway THE INVESTIGATION continues into the cause of a helicopter crash that claimed three lives near Terrace last week. The Bailey Helicopters’ Eurocopter AS350 crashed onto the back side of Sleeping Beauty Mountain 11 nautical miles west the morning of June 1, and its three male occupants were confirmed dead hours later. Federal Transportation Safety Board investigators travelled to Terrace later that day to begin their investigation. RCMP and Terrace Search and Rescue members were at the location within hours but pulled back when conditions were deemed too dangerous. “The avalanche technician deemed the area unsafe for emergency crew and everyone was pulled out,” said RCMP Constable Angela Rabut the afternoon of June 1st. The weather was poor that morning and it was raining and snowing at the location. The three men aboard were Bailey Helicopters’ employees on a training flight. Going into the weekend, one of the men had been confirmed to be Peter Bryant, 45, from Terrace, a pilot who’s been working with Bailey Helicopters for 11 years. A Canadian Armed Forces Buffalo fixed-wing aircraft and a Cormorant helicopter out of Comox were sent to the area the morning of June 1 after the Bailey helicopter’s emergency beacon went off. On June 2, safety board investigators, the RCMP and avalanche specialists again assessed the conditions at the crash location.
STAFF PHOTO
■ Good reading THORNHILL ELEMENTARY School students Tayler Polyck, Travis Frank, Jessica Cain and Gillian Frank look over some library books pertaining to Canada’s role on D-Day, June 6, 1944. The school has received a large book purchase grant. See story Page 4.
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Great grad
Oil Money
Rugby record
Parkside Secondary celebrates its largest graduating class \COMMUNITY A22
Enbridge drops big bucks on ads across B.C. \NEWS A5
Men’s team tackles its decade-long track record at tournament \SPORTS A30