More sockeye salmon are expected to return to B.C. rivers this summer.
Fisheries officials say they’re expecting nearly five million sockeye in the Fraser River, much more than last year.
The salmon coming back to the Fraser this year were born in 2009 when just 1.5 million sockeye returned.
The forecast was for 10, and it closed every fishery on the river.
The missing fish spawned the Cohen commission, a 2.5-year, 25-million dollar inquiry that made dozens of recommendations, but found no smoking gun explaining the low numbers.
The 2010 run counted 35 million sockeye, down to 4.5 in 2011 and just 2.3 million last year.
However, this year’s high return might not translate into good news for commercial fishermen.
Salmon counts and favourable river conditions will open or close the season.
Officials say it’s still too early to know if First Nations will be the only ones fishing this summer.
It’s unclear how many commercial nets will be allowed this season.
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