VANCOUVER – Conservationists are worried that the current fisheries off BC’s northern coast are doing permanent damage to the threatened population of chum salmon.
Fishermen who are out on the water catching pink salmon are required to throw back any chum they catch. But there are claims they aren’t throwing the chum back until it’s too late.
Aaron Hill with the Watershed Watch Salmon Society says chum salmon are of enormous value to BC’s ecosystem.
It’s just one reason that the health of pacific chum is vitally important to the health of our province, and why the public should be very concerned if they are in trouble, which they are.
“There have been concerns that chum salmon are not returning in sufficient numbers in a number of areas on the north coast, like area six that incorporates Kitimat-Gil Islands,” says Paul Ryall with Fisheries and Oceans Resource Management.
Get daily National news
Because of the decline in their numbers, there is no chum fishery in area six. There is, however, a pink salmon fishery on right now and that is presenting a problem, because both species of salmon are running together and it’s hard to catch one without catching the other.
“They are supposed to be releasing the fish into the water with the least possible harm, so that these fish can actually return to the river and spawn to rebuild these depleted stocks,” says Hill.
The Watershed Watch Salmon Society represents just one of several environmental organizations concerned that while many fishermen are releasing the chum quickly and safely, many more are not, and that some of the nets used to fish the salmon out of the massive seines are too big, resulting in chum on the bottom being crushed under the weight of those on top.
“We have seen this stuff out on the water for ourselves,” says Hill. “We had reports from the local First Nations, and DFO has admitted that there are problems with compliance with fishing regulations in these fisheries.”
But the Department of Oceans and Fisheries says their conservation protection officers have been going out to ensure the fishermen are complying with the regulations, but they have come across some of them who are not.
“These fisheries have typically had one charter patrol officer to monitor dozens of boats in a fishery and in most BC fisheries, they are required to have observers on every boat or video cameras, and we don’t have any of that in this fishery,” says Hill.
While there are many potential solutions to the problem, it appears what is required is the will to make them happen, because saving pacific chum isn’t just a good thing. It is essential if BC’s coastal wildlife and the wilderness itself are to remain vital, but even the Department of Oceans and Fisheries admits it needs help.
“It is a very large area and not all places on the coast can be covered, and if people see where activities are not being enforced or regulations are not being met, then we would certainly like to get that information.”
To report poachers, call 1-800-465-4336 or in Greater Vancouver 604-607-4186. For more information, go here.
Comments