Fishing derby waste

Thank you to Kathi Travers for Friday’s “Let’s Talk” and her further attempts to wake up P.G. residents to their bad habits with garbage that attracts bears which force conservation officers to set traps and destroy the animals.

I recently heard of another conservation atrocity that I did not know even existed. My uncle who has resided in Fraser Lake for over 40 years told me last week of the huge waste that occurs at most fishing derbies, in particular, at Francois Lake. one of the folks who clean up after these derbies has counted hundreds of fish thrown in the trash.

I must be naive because it didn’t even occur to me that many people who attend fishing derbies fish for the sake of a derby prize or for the adrenaline rush of the catch with no intention of actually keeping/eating the fish.

As a kid, my father’s employer held an annual fishing derby at Francois and we enjoyed smoked lake trout for months

What can be done to utilize this waste? How about adding a “fish cleaning contest” at the end of the derby, then giving the fish to a receptive food bank or nonprofit society? An industrious person wlth a fish smoker could make a nice little profit or fill his cupboards. could any farmers use them for fertilizer?

Pet food? The thought of the waste created after just one derby and knowing hundreds take place every summer across the province makes it a very sad but also very reversible food waste situation. We really need to re-think how to reduce this waste and take advantage of discarded fresh fish from our local lakes.

I am particularly interested in hearing from the organizers of these fishing derbies to see if they have any fish-saving ideas already in place. Otherwise, happy summer everyone!

Wendy Fredette

Prince George