Decision Day fast approaching for DFO on salmon issues for 2018

A test fishery on the Skeena near Tyee
(from the DFO website)

The fate of fishing on the North Coast in 2018 will apparently be decided by July 19th, that date the pivotal one according to notes for the membership of the Metlakatla First Nation from late last week.

In and advisory posted July 5th to the Metlakatla First Nation Facebook page, Metlakatla Aquatic Resources provided an update on the Tyee Test Fishery, a North Coast benchmark that provides a good indication as to the state of the regional fishery.

Learn more about the Tyee test fishery here

From the most recent results, Metlakatla has noted that the current estimate is well below the FSC cut off of 400,000 sockeye, with the estimate recorded as 231,000 sockeye.

From that, Metlakatla has outlined the timeline ahead, with DFO scheduling a call for consultation on the fishery for July 19th, where conservation measures to ensure that enough sockeye make it to spawn will be discussed.

Metlakatla's Aquatic Resources notes that if they estimate has not improved then FSC fisheries targeting Skeena Sockeye will most likely be closed for everyone after consultation with all Nations takes place, adding the observation that at the moment, reports to this point have been rather grim.

The full statement from Metlakatla can be reviewed below:

At the June 25th City Council session, Councillor Joy Thorkelson, who also serves as President of UFAWU/Unifor outlined how the early period of July was destined to shape up.

Ms. Thorkelson noted for Council members that an opening on the Nass had started on June 25th and that there would only be two weeks for fishing on the Nass owing to fisheries restrictions.

She also noted that the first seine opening for the region was to take place on July 5th, observing that local businesses  would have a three week window as far as providing services and goods for the commercial fleet.

You can review her fish industry status report from the City's Video Archive starting at the 46:32 minute mark.




Further items of interest from Metlakatla can be explored here.

For more items related to the North Coast fishery see our archive page here.


Cross posted from the North Coast Review.