First Nation group expresses concern over commercial salmon fishery opening before conservation levels met – BiV
Mon Jul 28, 2014 9:00am PST
The Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations has expressed its concern over the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) Canada’s opening of a commercial sockeye fishery before agreed-upon salmon count levels have been met.
The fishery is located in Smith Inlet on British Columbia’s central coast. The First Nation group said that the DFO had previously stated that a fishery wouldn’t open until a minimum count of 100,000 salmon passed through a counting fence located at Docee Creek.
The Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw said there have been fewer than 75,000 sockeye counted.
“We are really surprised by this,” said elected Chief Paddy Walkus.
