Terrace BC- Federal fisheries say they will not know until Wednesday of this week whether a general shut down will occur in fishing Chinook and Sockeye on a popular portion of the Skeena River.  

The Sockeye fishery, for sports fishermen, did not open this year due to a steep decline in the returning numbers of Sockeye into the system.

So far this year as of July 21st 196,590 Sockeye have been counted crossing the counting fence near the mouth of the Skeena , as opposed to 982,600 on the same date in 2012 , and 464,003 in 2011.

Concerns are also being expressed about the returns of Chinook in the Skeena system that spawn in the Kalum River . The season for fishing between the bridge leading into Terrace and the mouth of the Lakelse River normally closes on August 6th. If the season were closed, that would move the closing of this section of the river for Spring Salmon up by 2 weeks .

 

The department of Fisheries are not yet specific as to what will be closed and what will be open on the Skeena River, pointing us to any announcement being made on Wednesday, July 24th.

Coho salmon and Pink salmon fishing remains open on the main stem of the Skeena River.