Skeena Bulkley-Valley MP Nathan Cullen is calling for “real leadership” from the federal fisheries minister in what he calls a high-stakes period before a grim season for sockeye and chinook returns.
In a press release today, March 15, Cullen said he is still waiting for a phone call from Fisheries and Oceans Canada MInister Dominic LeBlanc, as promised three days ago.
“It is frustrating and unacceptable for a federal ministry to stonewall a Member of Parliament on issues of such economic and cultural importance to the riding,” he said.
Last week DFO issued a warning to residents of the North Coast and Skeena watershed that sweeping bans on sockeye and chinook are a high probability. Official counts, and a planning decision on all recreational, sport, First Nations and commercial fisheries, would not howeverbe ready until early May. DFO said it was one of the most challenging seasons the region has ever faced, with current sockeye projections slightly above 500,000, about 300,000 short of requirements for a recreational river fishing. The chinook season was described as possibly the worst on record.
READ MORE: Fishing bans on sockeye, chinook a possibility
“Balancing the 2018 harvest to meet First Nations, recreational and commercial needs while also protecting the health of threatened stocks will be a delicate dance,” Cullen said.
“It is absolutely imperative that all sectors work together to equitably share our precious salmon resource.”
Following a six-week closure of the chinook fisheries last year, during a season-long ban on sockeye, arguments escalated between First Nations and recreational fishers racing to fill their quota before season’s end.
“The stakes, tension and conflict are very high. We must plan for peace, put fish first, and support our salmon-based economies and cultures in every way possible.”
Cullen said he’s spent most of the two-week parliamentary spring break talking with stakeholder groups about the harvest plan. He’s hoping DFO will release harvest numbers as soon as possible to avoid a repeat of 2017’s last-minute closure that deeply impacted fishing-related businesses.
“Harvest decisions have an incredible economic impact on the salmon-based economies of many Northwest communities and the sooner tourism operators and patrons know what the season will look like, the better,” he said.
More to come.