Locals fear fish fee hikes spell disaster for tourism DAVID TAYLOR TERRACE'S ECONOMY will take a hard hit as tourists head for other fish- ing areas ta avoid a four- fold increase in angling fees, say those involved in the angling business. Some local’ guides say their own licensing costs will-rise by 1,100 per cent. ‘Last year it was the feds telling. everyone there weren't any fish here. Now the province is having their kick at us,’ says Brian Patrick, owner of Misty River Tackle. ‘If they want to completely kill tourism in this town, this isa good way to do it.” Key among the changes brought in by the environ- ment ministry is a 400 per cent increase in licensing fees for all non-residents to fish in classified waters — areas noted for their aesthelic valucs. This takes in most of the rivers around Terrace, That means tourists from Alberta, Europe or any place else will have to pay about $60 for a B.C. fishing licence, then fork out $42.80 per day to fish in classified waters. ‘Licences alone for a va- cationing couple will cost over $1,000. Who can af- ford that?’’ Patrick asks. ‘‘It puts a two-week fishing trip to Terrace completely out of reach for the average fam- ily. They will have to go someplace else like Alaska.” Fishing guides have been hit even harder, Guiding fees have been increased from $1 per angler per rod day to $11 per rod day, “They warned us in Janu- ary that we would see some increases, but nobody ex- pected this,”’ says Steve Nickolls, president of the Terrace and District An- gling Guides Association. “The worst part is the lack of uctice, They're telling us this in March when the sea- son starts in April.’ ‘'We've been told by Ger- man booking agencies to ex- pect a 40 to 50 per cent can- cellation rate,’ he says. “There’s a myth that all Germans are sich. But lots of them save for months or years for a dream vacation to the Canadian wilderness. Now those people are going to go to Alaska to fish in- stead.” Nickolls says that even at a conservative 35 per cent cancellation rate, the four lodges in Terrace alone that specialize in © German rms weet aes ' Can't Wait For Spring Get Away Contest bee ee ee ee Bw eH DoT How are we doing? Wher we fail shor! of your expectation, please tell ws. Wien a newspaper slary does nol seen to reflect fairiy what was said, fet our cdfitors kuow When we are unable to salve your complaint, we encourage Jou £0 subrait it to the: B.G-Press Counctt 900 - 1281 We Georgia St. Vancouver BC VGE 377 Tel/Fax (G04) 683-2571 The BC. Press Gowrell was created in 1983 as cin independent review board to protect the public from press inaccuracy or wefaimess and to broinoie quality Jouraultsin,- ‘_ www. beprosicoundi.cam/ink tourists will lose about 210 clients. If each of those clients was to spend $1,0U0 while here, that translates to $210,000 in lost revenue for Terrace businesses, plus a half million in lost airfares — and that’s just the losses from four lodges. But Nickolls says the bad news doesn’t cnd there. He points out that with the huge increase in classified water fishing fees, people will flock to the only non- classified waters near Ter- race -— Ferry Island and the Kitimat River. “Those areas are already overcrowded,”’ Nickolls says. ‘‘Can you imagine how packed they'll be now?’’ But Bob Williams from the fisheries branch of the environment ministry says the changes’ were made be- cause of concems about overcrowding in the clas- sified waters. “The idea is to preserve the quality of the angling experience,’” Williams says. **Which is one of the main concerns of the fishing Brian Patrick guides,” Williams says the higher guiding fees will go toward a new fish habitat conserva- tion program that will fund extra enforcement to crack down on illegal anglers and guides. Conservation proups aren't too keen on the plan either. Steelhead society president Bruce Hill says the massive fee increases areabig mistake, ‘T's disgusting, despicable and conipletely irresponsible,”’ Hill says, “This will be devastating to Terrace. We're talking about losses in the millions and that means layoffs,’’ Hill says-he wouldn’t. be surprised if some shop owners simply refuscd to sell the licences. “J don’t think they’re going to be willing to put up with the anger they'll face all summer (from tourists),”” he says. “‘There are families from Alberta who have taken their vacations here for decades. How are they going to feel when they’re told the trip could cost them thousands cxtra? They won't stay here,”’ Hill says the Steelhead society is going to work to get the fees clawed back, but some damage has al- ready been done. “This sends a slrang mes- sage from the government that anglers simply aren't wanted,’’? he says. “‘And neither are tourists.” Dodge Ram Ciub Cab 23C Package: * AM/FM stereo cassette w/4 speakers * 5-speed manual transmission ° Bench 40/20/40 (double split back) with deluxe cloth ° 6 passenger seating Priced to move at + $26,995 Includes $900 freight Dodge \% CAAAY YOUA lor: hile equipped aries Dodge § af 1997 mode tant deat The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, March 19, 1997 - A7 MARCH 1387 PALACE LUCKY DOLLAR BINGO MARCH 1997 4410 Legion, Terrace Family Singo Every Saturday Afternoon T.V. MONITORS “SUNDAY _, MONDAY © TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY. | °~ SATURDAY 1 Youth Ambassador Youth Soccer Ter. 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