Randy has been providing the Cowichan Valley with fresh seafood forever it seems, but it probably has not been that long. OK, 20 years is more like it. He, and the crew of the Silver Maid are deeply concerned about the environment around them.

These peaceful waters are capable of providing a bountiful harvest as long as industry is not allowed to dictate what happens in the water. Randy has been a very vocal opponent of the proposed BC Hydro Gas Pipeline crossing from the mainland to Vancouver Island.

Pipelines can affect the migrating crabs the same as a pipeline in the Arctic can disrupt the migration of the caribou.

The waters of the Satellite to Swanson Channel to Haro Strait are still to this day, an area of consistent stock recruitment for various Commercial Fisheries, including Prawn-by -trap, Shrimp-by- trawl, Ground fish-by -trawl/longline, and Geoduck-by-dive. Fishing strategies and fishing patterns in this area could be severely impacted by the presence of this pipeline no matter where its final placement is. Stocks of various species are found through-out the expanse of the Waters described and the presence of fixed, bottom contacting fishing gear is a definite conflict with the introduction of a pipeline.

These waters must be protected from encroachment by industry so they can continue to supply us with the healthy sea foods we harvest daily.