SkeenaWild closure British Columbia, Canada

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

A complete closure of recreational fisheries on the Skeena Watershed, both freshwater and marine, has been requested by a group representing eight northwest First Nations.

Bruce Watkinson, co-chair of the Skeena Nations Fish Secretariat, “says his group is also against the DFO’s decision to allow the recreational fishery to harvest Chinook during the current salmon crisis, and the province’s decision to issue guide outfitter permits and individual licenses to allow the recreational steelhead catch and release fishery to remain open.” Via CFTK.

[JayDubP]

Bill, 2018 has seen the worst salmon returns in BC history.

I have relatives in BC so I have heard about the salmon/steelhead problems for years and that BC salmon fisheries seem to be going the way of California-Oregon-Washington. The Canadian & BC government seems to act like our US government has when it comes to protecting the salmon (not really doing anything proactive). As on the Klamath, the First Nations are the most vocal and the most organized group fighting for the salmon.

In the article you referenced, they are talking about the saltwater portions of the Skeena drainage. In May, the freshwater portion of the Skeena drainage and most other coastal rivers nearby were closed to all fishing. Commercial fishing was closed in both saltwater and freshwater. (for all non-Native recreational and commercial fishermen)

The Fraser River was closed this year for chinook and sockeye. (for all non-Native fishermen).

BUT the First Nation people are still fishing-- and that is creating some tense situations in BC. There are 8 bands on the Skeena while there are 94 bands involved on the Fraser River with a lot of politics involved-- the First Nations are trying to force the government to deal with the US/Alaska and to move foreign commercial fishermen further out while the government is opposed to providing welfare assistance to First Nation people who rely on sockeye to eat- as a tradeoff to get them to stop fishing this year. Plus the government experts have consistently over estimated future years salmon returns (kind of like the Klamath)-- so not a lot of people have any faith in predictions of future salmon returns... or the actions the government is taking to protect the salmon.

Another problem on the Skeena is that Alaska commercial fishermen take about 23% (2009 study) of sockeyes- not on purpose but when they are legally fishing for chum and pink salmon. BC Fisheries has tried to get Alaska to restrict commercial fishing to close to the rivers where the chum and pink salmon spawn-- which would keep them away from the path of salmon headed for the Skeena and other coastal rivers.



Jim

[Rossflyguy]

Seems like the commercial fishery is too large for the amount of fish naturally provided. Something needs to be done about commercial fishing and it’s effectivness. Maybe scrap netting entire schools and only allow line caught salmon.