Recently you have shown a number of pictures of large halibut caught near Sooke. These huge fish are the matriarchs of the halibut world.
The male fish do not grow to a large size.Instead of being caught, slaughtered and photographed, these great fish should be left alone or, if accidentally hooked, should immediately be released so that they can live and reproduce as nature intended.
It takes eight years for a young halibut to grow to 32’’ at which size it can be legally harvested so, with the cooperation of all fishers, it is going to take a minimum of 10 years before our halibut numbers can, once more, increase to where the annual quota can be enlarged, or even maintained.
We proudly protect our “Giants of the Forest” and our whales and seals.
Surely we should also protect these “Giantesses of the Sea” and allow them to reproduce and feed us for years to come.
It is time to give our collective heads a shake.
Joan Coates
East Sooke