Fisheries closed to renew Fraser River salmon stock
With just a fraction of the typical sockeye salmon run expected during this year’s return to the Fraser River, fisheries officials have had to step up conservation efforts to the dismay of recreational anglers.
Jennifer Nener, director of salmon management for the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, said Fraser salmon stock returns have been low this year, which has meant limited fishing opportunities, including those allotted to Indigenous peoples. Historically, there has been just under 4.5 million sockeye returning to the Fraser annually, but Nener said roughly one-third of that is expected this year.
Sockeye return to the Fraser on a four-year cycle and 2017 was not expected to be a busy year. But the lower than expected returns are believed to have been further impacted by salmon migrating to sea and finding warmer water in recent years, which has disrupted the entire food chain.
To date, there has not yet been an Indigenous fishery for Fraser sockeye, which would have typically been done by now, Nener said.
First Nations groups fishing in saltwater or freshwater have been permitted to harvest other salmon species — pink and chum — but have been holding off because catching sockeye has not been permitted, she said. Whether sockeye are dead or alive in nets, fishers have been required to return them to the ocean.
There was a brief window from noon Thursday to 6 a.m. Friday during which some groups with salmon allocations were allowed to keep dead sockeye caught while targeting other species, Nener said.
“From what we understand to date, it was a pretty reasonable opportunity out there and people were really grateful for it,” she said.
In the Lower Fraser, some Indigenous groups have been given the go ahead to catch chinook for food, social and ceremonial purposes.
Upriver, there have been challenges because many Indigenous groups were under evacuation orders due to recent wildfires, Nener said. As they have returned to their communities, many species have already migrated through. “We are allowing very limited harvest of Fraser sockeye just so that the communities have something,” she said.
Among those disappointed to be sitting idle on the riverbank is Fred Helmer, co-chair of the Fraser River Sportfishing Alliance.
Helmer said his group respects the DFO’s conservation efforts, but wants to know how long it will be before members will be allowed to catch chinook and pink salmon as the season winds up.
“We’re still not fishing, this whole industry is in dire straights,” he said.
The DFO is asking the public to help by reporting any fisheries violations at 1-800-465-4336.