Sturgeon Demise Our Own Fault: One Man's Opinion

By Ben Meisner

  
When the matter of the fate of the Nechako Sturgeon was brought up at the BCUC hearings, Alcan said they were not responsible for them because nothing had been signed into the agreement covering these fish.

The feds stood around, along with the province, yawning about what a good deal the dam and cold water release might be and every time the issue was brought up, they simply said it is not in our mandate to look into the plight of these majestic fish.

So we should be surprised some 15 years later that their very survival is in jeopardy?                                                      

You might think that, unless of course, you had attended those hearings. Had youbeen at the hearings, youwould have seen the writing was on the wall.

So why now are we setting about to fix the problem?  Fix it how?  The fish need more water on a normal basis. In other words, high in the spring low in the fall to survive. They are not going to receive that, indeed, with a new cold water release proposed by Henry Klassen and the gang, they will be able to cut yet some more of that precious commodity that these fish need to survive.

I recall reading the settlement  agreement of 1987.  It contained a letter from Bruce Strachan saying his department was happy with the agreement and they would make an effort to look after the Trout.

Sturgeon didn’t make the page, and why should they?  They were doomed form the moment the deal was signed.  All we are doing now is preparing these prehistoric giants for a final farewell.

I’m Meisner and that is one man’s opinion.

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