In the story ' Sockeye salmon count improves' published in the Lakes District News' Aug. 26 edition, after a late sockeye salmon return, Lake Babine Nation was considering opening commercial harvest on Babine Lake.
Lake Babine Nation Chief Wilf Adam said commercial harvest is now permitted with a 20,000 salmon license quota. Chief Adam said that depending on how the harvest goes and the salmon count, the fishing season might be extended even further this year. The sockeye salmon return was particularly late this year. However, even with the improved salmon count estimated at 1.16 million, this year’s sockeye return is still drastically lower than the pre-season estimate of over three million. The Skeena Fisheries Commission (SFC) has recently sent a letter to Fisheries and Oceans Canada condemning their decision to open commercial fishing in some areas of the Skeena watershed.
“This late opening decision completely undermines and makes a mockery of our months of consultations,” said the SFC in a letter sent to Fisheries and Oceans Canada. “Fisheries and Oceans Canada has, by this action, disregarded any credibility in such consultations.”
The SFC has requested that Fisheries and Oceans Canada cancel the opening of commercial fishery on the Skeena stocks.
Michelle Imbeau, Communications Advisor for Fisheries and Oceans Canada, explained that the unusual run timing of Skeena sockeye led to a “change in the planned harvest method.”
“This [change in the planned harvest method] was to ensure that commercial fishing would be carefully controlled and monitored to ensure careful management of the returning stocks,” said Imbeau.
Chief Adam said he does not oppose commercial fishing on Babine Lake.
“The fish that we’re after are surplus fish that will die in the lake anyway,” said Chief Adam, referring to the enhanced sockeye that go to Babine Lake’s man-made spawning channels.
Chief Adam said Lake Babine Nation will continue to closely monitor the harvest on Babine Lake.