Skeena Sockeye Return Expected to Be Low
Wednesday, July 3, 2013 @ 3:58 AM
Prince George, B.C.- The Department of Fisheries and Oceans is keeping a very close watch on the sockeye returns in the Skeena River system as this is expected to be a “low” year of return. “It’s the natural cycle” says Mel Kotyk, DFO Area Director for the North Coast of B.C. “ Four years ago was a low return ( of sockeye) and we are still in recovery mode”.Kotyk says the pre season estimate for the Skeena sockeye run this year is 600-800 thousand, which is well below the more than 2 million sockeye that returned last year.
The daily test fishery is just coming off the “flat-line zero” mark says Kotyk as the first of the sockeye run are just starting to show up in the system. He says a decision on the Skeena sockeye fishery will likely come in another week or two. “If there aren’t sufficient numbers of sockeye, then we will have to make a decision about possible closure of the fishery”.
There had also been talk the Chinook fishery would be closed on the Skeena just below the Kalum river, but Kotyk says that’s not so, there is no plan to close that fishery.
Kotyk says notices will be posted with the local fisheries offices once any decisions on the fishery have been finalized.
Comments
Why would they close the fisheries? The natives will still be allowed to net as many as possible
If they decide to close or limit some fisheries in order to preserve spawning salmon, then they need to close or limit the fishery to all people, of every race and creed. It does not make sense to allow one group of people unlimited netting and/or gaffing of salmon, while denying or restricting others. I think what should matter most is the total number of fish allowed to make it to their spawning beds, in order to maintain future populations.
metalman.
Seen fish return affected by Alaskan fishery mismanagement
http://skeenafisheriesblog.blogspot.ca/2012/01/news-release-on-alaskan-fisheries-and.html?m=1
That should be Skeena not seen. Auto correct on the phone can get interesting.
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