Conservation groups call on DFO to modify their fisheries in the face of extreme conditions for salmon


Six conservation groups representing the Marine Conservation Caucus (MCC) are calling on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to act on their own acknowledgement that river conditions for spawning salmon are unprecedented and reduced mixed stock marine fisheries are needed to protect returning salmon. The record low flows and high temperatures expected in many BC rivers are difficult, if not lethal, for migrating salmon.

“DFO has acknowledged the extreme conditions spawning salmon face, but they are failing to act on the necessary protection salmon require,” said the MCC’s Greg Taylor. “While the BC government has closed many streams to recreational fishing, DFO has not protected returning fish by curtailing marine fisheries. The majority of the recreational and commercial harvest occurs in the marine area.”

The MCC requested that these adverse environmental conditions be incorporated into this year’s harvest plans. Our concerns were ignored and fishing plans proceeded as if 2015 was going to be a “normal” year. Everyone, including DFO, knew this was unlikely.

One example of DFO’s “business-as-usual” management in the face of unprecedented environmental conditions is ongoing in Barkley Sound, on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Marine commercial and recreational fisheries are occurring in Alberni Inlet while water temperatures in the Somas River have reached lethal levels and citizens are reporting dying fishing that have not yet spawned. Not only has DFO not reduced the harvest on these stressed fish, they just increased it.

The MCC has made seven recommendations to DFO for immediate actions to protect salmon by reducing the impact of mixed stock fisheries, and increasing the number of successful spawners.

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Contact Information:

Greg Taylor, MCC gtaylor.fishfirst@gmail.com 604 -970-0277

Greg Knox, SkeenaWild 250-615-1990, gregk@skeenawild.org

Jeffery Young, David Suzuki Foundation jyoung@davidsuzuki.org

Misty MacDuffee, Raincoast 250 -818-2136, misty@raincoast.org

Aaron Hill, Watershed Watch 250-818-0054, aaron@watershedwatch.ca

Zo Ann Morten, Pacific Streamkeepers Federation zoann@pskf.ca

Brian Braidwood, Steelhead Society of BC brian_braidwood@hotmail.com

Photos of dead (pre-spawned) sockeye in the Somass River near Port Alberni can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/watershedwatchsalmonsociety/photos/pcb.1020327767997632/1020326504664425/?type=1&theater (Photos by Nitanis Desjarlais)

Letter to DFO by the MCC salmon committee is available here:
https://mccpacific.org/pages/resources/files/executive_letters/15-07-20-MCCSalmonCom-FisheriesAdjustments-MinisterShea-SusanFarlinger.pdf

Media Inquiries

For inquiries or to join our media list, please contact:

Dene Moore
Communications Specialist

dene@watershedwatch.ca 
250-644-3175

Conservation groups call on DFO to modify their fisheries in the face of extreme conditions for salmon


Six conservation groups representing the Marine Conservation Caucus (MCC) are calling on the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to act on their own acknowledgement that river conditions for spawning salmon are unprecedented and reduced mixed stock marine fisheries are needed to protect returning salmon. The record low flows and high temperatures expected in many BC rivers are difficult, if not lethal, for migrating salmon.

“DFO has acknowledged the extreme conditions spawning salmon face, but they are failing to act on the necessary protection salmon require,” said the MCC’s Greg Taylor. “While the BC government has closed many streams to recreational fishing, DFO has not protected returning fish by curtailing marine fisheries. The majority of the recreational and commercial harvest occurs in the marine area.”

The MCC requested that these adverse environmental conditions be incorporated into this year’s harvest plans. Our concerns were ignored and fishing plans proceeded as if 2015 was going to be a “normal” year. Everyone, including DFO, knew this was unlikely.

One example of DFO’s “business-as-usual” management in the face of unprecedented environmental conditions is ongoing in Barkley Sound, on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Marine commercial and recreational fisheries are occurring in Alberni Inlet while water temperatures in the Somas River have reached lethal levels and citizens are reporting dying fishing that have not yet spawned. Not only has DFO not reduced the harvest on these stressed fish, they just increased it.

The MCC has made seven recommendations to DFO for immediate actions to protect salmon by reducing the impact of mixed stock fisheries, and increasing the number of successful spawners.

-30-

Contact Information:

Greg Taylor, MCC gtaylor.fishfirst@gmail.com 604 -970-0277

Greg Knox, SkeenaWild 250-615-1990, gregk@skeenawild.org

Jeffery Young, David Suzuki Foundation jyoung@davidsuzuki.org

Misty MacDuffee, Raincoast 250 -818-2136, misty@raincoast.org

Aaron Hill, Watershed Watch 250-818-0054, aaron@watershedwatch.ca

Zo Ann Morten, Pacific Streamkeepers Federation zoann@pskf.ca

Brian Braidwood, Steelhead Society of BC brian_braidwood@hotmail.com

Photos of dead (pre-spawned) sockeye in the Somass River near Port Alberni can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/watershedwatchsalmonsociety/photos/pcb.1020327767997632/1020326504664425/?type=1&theater (Photos by Nitanis Desjarlais)

Letter to DFO by the MCC salmon committee is available here:
https://mccpacific.org/pages/resources/files/executive_letters/15-07-20-MCCSalmonCom-FisheriesAdjustments-MinisterShea-SusanFarlinger.pdf

Media Inquiries

For inquiries or to join our media list, please contact:

Dene Moore
Communications Specialist

dene@watershedwatch.ca 
250-644-3175