“The closure takes three months of business away from us,” he said. “I can’t run a business only working two months of the year.”

In Pat Ahern’s neighbourhood in Nanoose Bay, boats are sitting on trailers rather than in the harbour. Popular fishing areas are quiet.

“We’ve had cancellations,” said Ahern, a fishing guide and president of the West Coast Fishing Guide Association. “But I think we’ll really see the impact of this next year. This decision will hurt B.C.’s reputation (as a destination for sport fishing).”