Plan to shut more salmon fishery areas spurs concern

The Fisheries and Oceans Department's proposal to expand foraging zones for southern resident killer whales and close more areas to the chinook salmon fishery could have a “devastating ” impact on Port Renfrew.

The town on the southwest tip of Vancouver Island is heavily reliant on anglers who flock to the area in the summer and early fall to catch the premium sports fish.

The problem is, the endangered killer whales, just 75 animals, rely on chinook as their main food source, prompting the department's proposal to expand existing foraging zones in place since 2019 on Swiftsure Bank in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The expanded closures could potentially reach right up to shorelines surrounding Port Renfrew, where most small-boat anglers and charter companies fish from April to October.

The Swiftsure Bank encompasses an area extending south of Port Renfrew to past Bonilla Point Lighthouse.

“This basically closes (Port Renfrew's) fishery ... it could be devastating,” said Chris Bos, president of the South Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition. “Port Renfrew is known as a fishing destination, but if you can't catch and keep a chinook there, people will go elsewhere.”

About 300 people met in Langford last week to discuss the proposed plan. The gathering included lodge and store owners, charter companies, guides and anglers.

Federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier is expected to make a decision on the expanded closures for 2024-25 in the coming weeks after a month-long public engagement that ended Feb. 12.

The department is revisiting its management measures within the southern resident killer whale critical habitat and a subset of their range. That includes the key areas of Juan de Fuca Strait, Swiftsure Bank, the Gulf Islands and the mouth of the Fraser River.

Chris Tucker, president of the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce, said the new restrictions have sparked profound concerns in the community.

He said the prospect of closing the recreational fishery poses an imminent threat to the town's economy, endangering several livelihoods dependent on fishing.

Port Renfrew has a year-round population of about 500, including members of the Pacheedaht First Nation. Tucker said the vitality of the town hinges on businesses that cater to fishing during the season.