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FRIDAY
May 19, 1995

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with blooms: 13

a Woskly Real Estate
listings: . 33 — 68

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Wi Classifieds............29
Crossword. 37
Entertainment..... tT

+ Heritage...............

@ inside Stories...............13_

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#N. Shore Alert...........10
. @ Sports.......... 412
: ; a Sunshine Gir sone 16
| Mh Tide Charts....2.....:30
a Ww Listings..............18

Will West Van's seawalk |
be widened? Read all ~
about it this weekend.

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Weather

Saturday and Sunday: sunny,
Highs 20€, lows 9°C.

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NEWS photo Paul McGrath

SAFE AT first: North Shore Rebel first baseman Dave Hankin (left) applies a tag to Burnaby Fraser’s Ross Mcintesh on
an unsuccessful pick-off ‘play from. the mound during a Midget Triple-A double-header at Ambieside Park in West.

- Vancouver. Burnaby won the first game 8-6; the Rebels took the second game 6-3.

Trawlers raise Indian Arm alarm

SHRIMP TRAWLERS in Indian Arm
have residents up in arms, —

By lan Noble
News Reporter

They say the fishing boats pose a hazard to
local sea life because their bottom-dragging nets
rake up all marine life in their path.

‘Resident Maire Goodman dropped a line to
Fisheries: and Oceans Minister Brian Tobin,
requesting studies on the impact of trawlers in
Indian Arm. ;

“If indeed no such study of the environmental
impact of the damage has been undertaken, it
would be irresponsible to allow commercial
wawling in (his area to continue until such assess-
ment has been made,” said Goodman.

She added: “Local residents are appalled by ;

the large quantities of dead or maimed fish and
shellfish released back to the waters after being
dragged for hours along the sea bottom.”

Caffyn Kelley said she watches the trawlers
‘scooping up marine Jife from her home. in

... Thwaytes Landing, north of Beep Cove on'the
"west shore of Indian Arm, | ‘

She'has talked to the federal fisheries depart-
ment about the issue, looking for information on
whether the fishery is sustainable — “even
though we know from our own prawn nets it is
not sustainable.” :

She said she used to catch 70 prawns in her
net ovemight; now she catches none. ,

’ “As long-term residents of the area, we have
seen a tremendous loss of aquatic life, including
rockfish, prawns, crab, clams, marine plants and
sea birds.” she said.

Kelley canvassed for support of her trawling.
ending efforts ‘Tuesday night at a Deep Cove
meeting for the recently announced Indian Arm
park. She wants:Indian Arm also dedicated as a

“marine park.

Bruce Adkins, the Nanaimo-based regional
shellfish coordinator forthe Department of
Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), said he has received
four letters and a few phone calls outlining the
Indian Arm ‘esidents’ concerns. Adkins added
that the Indian Arm shrimp fishery is difficult to
comment on because he does not know catch lev-
els. He said he will ask a local biologist to report

on the number of shrimp boats in Indian Arm and

the size of their catch. "
That should reveal whether the Indian Any

fishery is significant or not, he said. Based on that
information, the DFO can make a decision on
whether to modify the fishery. So

“1 don't think we. will unilaterally close that
fishery unless conservation concerns are identi-
fied.” Adkins said. ; ve

“Conservation is te bottom line”

Indian Arm’s shrimp fishery will be discussed
at fisheries meetings May 24-26. A week later,
Adkins said he plans to visit the area for a first-
hand look at Indian Arm. co,

Speaking of shrimp fishing generally, Adkins
said most shrimp trawling occurs on muddy bor-
toms, “

. “There’s no bard evidence: to suggest trawl
fishing damages the seabed," Adkins said.

He added that prawns usually, escape: the
trawlers’ nets because prawns live in rocky areas.
Nets rip when they are dragged over rocks...

He. acknowledged that an. “unfortunate
aspect” cf. trawl fishing is its “non-selectivity.”
But a-“sort of grate” used by East Coast trawlers

“can reduce the amount of murine life snagged in’
‘trawlers’ nets by. separating shrimp from. other

Species, Adkins said,

Although the grate is new to the West Coust,
Adkins said it provides shrimp fishermen with
two advantayes: it prevents the need to sort:
shrimp from other species and prevents the waste.
of other marine resources. ae

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