亚洲天堂 Lake is getting its own Conservation Officer.
There were once multiple COs stationed in the 亚洲天堂 Lake at a time, but in recent years all the environmental enforcement work by the Conservation Officer Service (COS) was conducted out of Vanderhoof.
鈥淯pon the successful completion of field training in nearby Vanderhoof, a new Conservation Officer will be based out of 亚洲天堂 Lake,鈥� said a spokesperson for BC鈥檚 Ministry of Environment.
That new CO is Blake Knibbs. He finished his academy requirements in September at Lethbridge College and has been doing his practical component with the Nechako Lakes Zone ever since. He is the son of a CO and was raised in Smithers so he has a working familiarity with the region.
鈥淥ne of the best parts about this job is, no two days are the same,鈥� Knibbs said.
He was on his way to becoming a Red Seal automotive mechanic when he switched career paths. He considers his original trade to be an asset in his life out on the land, now. His previous knowledge is handy out there because 鈥測our truck breaks down, your quad breaks down, and you鈥檙e out in the middle of nowhere, sometimes, so you鈥檝e got to be resourceful.鈥�
He knows he will be in many senses alone as the sole CO in the vast Lakes District. Vanderhoof is not far away, however, and the COS works closely with other enforcement agencies like the RCMP, the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, the province鈥檚 Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement, CN Rail police, and many others.
鈥淎dditional resources will be brought in from other areas to address priority issues in 亚洲天堂 Lake as necessary,鈥� the ministry said.
The Ministry of Environment was asked why, after years of multiple COs being stationed in 亚洲天堂 Lake, there was none and now only one, the response was 鈥淐O deployment is regularly reviewed and adjusted by the COS as required. Factors for consideration for CO deployment include officer safety, geographic location and call volume.鈥�
Knibbs said the general public in a region such as the Lakes District tends to have a working appreciation for the environment. While he is well aware that some individuals, groups, and even companies sometimes deliberately attempt to flout the law for their own benefit, a great many infractions are committed simply out of lack of knowledge. Responsibility lies with the public to know the laws of the land, but Knibbs enjoys raising public awareness.
鈥淥ne of the main goals of the CO service is voluntary compliance (so education is more important than enforcement on many issues of the day) because we want to make sure there鈥檚 fish and wildlife, and the environment is safe and good, for generations to come,鈥� he said.
