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Early Stuart Sockeye Survival In Serious Jeopardy

By 250 News

If last years results are in line with what can be expected in the upper reaches of the Stuart River, the Early Stuart sockeye run could be on the brink of extinction. 

Last year 187,000 fish were counted going through the counting station on their migration north to the Stuart river, just  9,244 fish arrived.  That prompted Conservative MPJohn Cummins,  to call for a Federal Judicial Inquiry. 

The 2004 disaster means the 2008 catch(sockeye are four year cycle fish)  will be closed completely and will translate into a loss of between $170 million and $500 million in 2008.  

An arrival at the spawning beds of less than 10,000 fish this year would signal a complete collapse of the early Stuart sockeye run. 

In 2004, DFO blamed warm water for the problem, but MP John Cummins said at the time that between July 1 and August 15th migrating salmon experienced only three net free days upriver of Mission. On all other days, as many as 560 nets blocked the free passage of the fish. 

A ban has been placed on the fishing of Early Stuart sockeye this year by all parties. Last year that ban was only partially observed.
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