BC Fisheries News Watch August 19 to August 23, 2013
The Pacific Salmon Foundation traveled to Seattle today to announce the Salish Sea Initiative. A joint US/Canada research program to evaluate the causes of weak salmon and steelhead survival in the Salish Sea marine environment. Read more about the exciting new project at the link: http://www.lltk.org/rebuilding-populations/salish-sea-marine-survival/overview
Scientists Take Aim at Mystery of Declining Salish Sea Salmon
By Gabriel Spitzer, KPLU, August 21, 2013
Survival rates for salmon and steelhead in Puget Sound have plunged since the 1970s, and a big new international study is aiming to figure out why.
For salmon and steelhead in the Salish Sea, which consists of Puget Sound and neighboring Canadian waters, life gets pretty hard as soon as they hit saltwater. Less than one percent of king salmon and steelhead survive into adulthood, a fraction of what it was 40 years ago. Now scientists are launching a coordinated effort to solve this biological mystery.
http://www.kplu.org/post/scientists-take-aim-mystery-declining-salish-sea-salmon
Celebrations Mark a Century of International Cooperation in Conserving Fraser River Salmon
BOSTON BAR, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Aug. 22, 2013) - Representatives from the Government of Canada, First Nations, the United States, and U.S. Indian Tribes today celebrated 100 years of cooperation in conserving and managing Fraser River salmon.
In a special event held at historic Hell's Gate, dignitaries from both sides of the border unveiled commemorative plaques to mark the occasion and reflected on the enduring legacy of cooperation sparked by rock slides a century ago.
http://www.benzinga.com/pressreleases/13/08/m3859273/celebrations-mark-a-century-of-international-cooperation-in-conserving-
Reference Link: Pacific Salmon Commission – News and Announcements - The Pacific Salmon Commission publishes and distributes news releases and regulatory announcements issued by the Fraser River Panel during the Fraser River salmon commercial fishing season
http://www.psc.org/news.htm
Salmon run, water level low
By Tom Fletcher, Black Press
Commercial and sport sockeye fishing remained closed on the Fraser River system this week, as the Pacific Salmon Commission reported a lower than expected return of fish in what was already expected to be a poor return year.
http://www.rosslandnews.com/business/219694551.html
Fraser sockeye run size upgraded but concerns linger
By Jeff Nagel - BC Local News, Published: August 16, 2013
The estimated size of the Fraser River sockeye run was boosted Friday as more inbound salmon are arriving later than anticipated in the waters around Vancouver Island.
http://www.abbynews.com/news/219987601.html
Fraser fishing ban due to warm water
Cornelia Naylor / The Chilliwack Times, August 20, 2013
A ban on salmon fishing on the Fraser River announced last week will hit local First Nations hard and take a bite out of local guiding company.
http://www.chilliwacktimes.com/news/fraser-fishing-ban-due-to-warm-water-1.594030
Low salmon numbers keep nets out of the Fraser
Maple Ridge News, August 21, 2013
They would rather be out on the Fraser River chasing sockeye, but instead local commercial and sport fishermen alike were engaged in their second-favourite pastime Tuesday afternoon – cursing Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
http://www.mapleridgenews.com/news/220436091.html
Salmon fishing banned in Thompson
'They're closing it for one reason and that's to enhance the population later'
Kamploops Daily, August 22, 2013
...On Wednesday, the DFO announced that recreation fishing for salmon is prohibited until further notice in Kamloops Lake and the Thompson River from the outlet with Kamloops Lake downstream to the confluence with the Fraser River. Even businesses that rely on the sport are being understanding and even welcoming the news.
http://www.kamloopsnews.ca/article/20130822/KAMLOOPS0101/130829948/-1/kamloops01/salmon-fishing-banned-in-thompson
Recreational sockeye salmon fishery closes due to migration concerns
Osoyoos Times By staff1 on August 21, 201
Fisheries officials say that warm river temperatures have halted the migration for many fish, which are remaining in the pool above the Wells Dam on the Columbia River.
A “thermal barrier” has meant that about half the fish that have passed the dam are not swimming up the Okanogan River in Washington State
http://www.osoyoostimes.com/recreational-sockeye-salmon-fishery-closes-due-to-migration-concerns/
Dismal return so far for ‘sockanee’
By Phil Melnychuk - Maple Ridge News, August 22, 2013
They must be out there, somewhere. Somewhere in the South Alouette River sockanee are skulking about, hiding where it’s cold and dark, and waiting until the river cools down, when they can make a run to the Alouette reservoir, where they can spawn and complete their life cycle.
Usually, by this time, they’ve already done so.
http://www.mapleridgenews.com/community/220747101.html
DFO targets salmon poachers on Fraser River
CBC News, Posted: Aug 23, 2013
Conservation officials are warning poachers to get their nets out of the Fraser River.
This year's disastrous sockeye salmon runs have prompted the closure of all commercial and recreational fisheries.
But enforcement officials say they've pulled up dozens of illegal nets and seized several vessels in the last week alone.
"We're facing a fair number of nets that are fishing at night,” said Herb Redekopp, chief of conservation and protection for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.
"There's a real pent-up demand for these fish and the market price on the black market is very high."
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/08/23/bc-salmon-poaching-fraser-river.html
