Salmon Steward is the official publication of the Pacific Salmon Foundation in British Columbia, Canada
Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/300930
D ebates about Pacifi c salmon from the Skeena River have existed for decades without much resolution. The issues are typically surrounding the harvest of Sockeye from multiple lakes and the unintentional catch, or "by-catch," of Coho and Steelhead in Sockeye net fi sheries. Intense public debate regarding the management of salmon fi sheries in the Skeena watershed came to a head during the summer of 2006, when an unexpectedly large number of Sockeye returned to the Skeena River amidst weak Steelhead returns. The combination of strong Sockeye and weak Steelhead runs forced the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to make some di cult and controversial decisions. On the one hand, DFO was being pressed for more openings to take advantage of the abundant Sockeye. On the other hand, recreational fi shermen were pushing to close commercial fi sheries at the usual time to avoid additional Steelhead by-catch. To seek solutions to these ongoing debates, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation funded an independent scientifi c review of the fi sheries management system in the Skeena. A four-member expert panel was tasked with identifying critical monitoring and data collection needs for the Skeena and recommending a renewed approach to salmon fi sheries management. It was hoped that this review would lead to more productive dialogue in the watershed and the resolution of many of the longstanding problems. The independent science review and the subsequent Skeena Salmon Program were implemented through the Pacifi c Salmon Foundation. The new program worked to address the recommendations of the review panel by compiling data on everything from Sockeye spawning habitat to water-quality threats. While the focus was primarily on salmon, particularly Sockeye, the work also benefi ted Steelhead. Recreational fi shing for Steelhead generates $30-million a year in economic activity in the watershed, but little is known about the abundance of adult Steelhead in the Skeena basin. The program unlocked access to Steelhead data from test fi sheries and fi sh-counting stations throughout the system to get a better understanding of the health of Skeena Steelhead and to evaluate conservation concerns. It also funded genetic testing to identify the di erent sub-populations of adult Steelhead. The Pacifi c Salmon Foundation has also been able to support community projects in support of salmon conservation and assessment. Stories of community partnerships like the Kitwanga Sockeye are a familiar one in the Skeena watershed. Where once tens of thousands of Sockeye returned to this Skeena tributary, by the 1970s there weren't enough fi sh for the local Gitanyow people's needs. So, DFO partnered with the Gitanyow and the federal government on a Kitwanga recovery plan, which included the construction of counting facilities for returning adults and their ocean-bound progeny. Kitwanga Sockeye are just beginning to show signs of recovery, and fortunately, the Skeena Salmon Program has been able to provide the needed balance of funds to keep the counting facilities operational in spite of repeated cuts to government stock assessment budgets. salmon Steward magazine 13 The Bigger Picture The Skeena Salmon Program provides a model for understanding and protecting a thriving salmon stronghold BY RYAN STUART 12 2014 psf.ca PHOTO: PAUL COLANGELO A bear snacks on a Sockeye in Meziadin Lake in the Skeena watershed. p12-13Skeena Salmon.indd 12 14-04-11 2:12 PM