A recent Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announcement restricting chinook salmon retention is having a significant impact in this area, according to North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney.
The federal government recently announced catch and release for chinook salmon in BC coastal waters until July, and limited retention until the end of the summer. The initiative is to protect endangered Fraser River chinook runs.
Blaney said she is currently finishing a survey involving many local businesses across the riding, to gather what the impacts are going to be in the region.
“So far, we’ve heard clearly from multiple sectors that the concerns are around habitat restoration, and that has been underfunded for more than 15 years,” said Blaney. “There’s a great desire to see more resources given to habitat restoration.”
The other issue Blaney has heard is there are not enough DFO staff members on the ground in the region, providing local information to Ottawa, and working in the areas of some of the concerns that have been brought forward.
“The people that are there are doing good work, working hard, but without enough people on the ground to look after such a vast area, it’s a very big concern,” said Blaney.
Another issue Blaney has heard is there needs to be more support for small, local hatcheries to work within some of those areas that desperately need support to build up the chinook numbers.
She said she has also heard the timing of the announcement was of concern. It took a long time to make it, according to Blaney.
“It was being held over the heads of many folks that needed to make a plan,” she added. “That announcement timing just took too long.”
The other part Blaney said has been interesting to learn is that the clarity of the announcement has not always been seen as helpful. A number of small businesses in this region are having to update people about what the actual closure looks like and when it will be open for some accessibility, added the MP.
In terms of her report to government, her office is still working with multiple people in the riding and Blaney expects the report will be presented to the minister of fisheries and oceans within the next week or two.
“We are open to people contacting our office if they want to add anything to it,” said Blaney. “It’s definitely been a big issue with a lot of dialogue.”
Blaney said the fishery has not been managed in the proper way for a long time and there has been a lack of consultation and communication in the region. Her office is working hard to make sure local voices are heard; that’s why she’s putting together a report, she added.
“What I want to see is a strong, bold plan that this government is going to put together to support the people, however they are impacted in this area,” said Blaney. “I want to make sure we receive funding to do things like building up our small, local hatcheries, making sure we have restoration in our creeks, streams and rivers, so we don’t have to face this in the long term.”
