If you are considering fishing the Skeena.

[OldBlackDog]

By Bob Hooton
Here's a bit more evidence of just how much support we can expect from the people we pay to manage our steelhead. Well known friend of wild steelhead, Pete Soverel, sent a letter to the Provincial Minister responsible (Doug Donaldson who hails from Hazelton, right in heartland of Skeena steelhead) shortly after the Gitxsan chiefs first announced the Skeena recreational fishery in their traditional territory would be closed to fishing in 2019. Here we are just short of seven months later and a response from the Minister's delegate finally arrived. Read it and tell me how our interests are being served.


June 3, 2019
Pete Soverel
soverel@msn.com

Dear Pete:

Thank you for your email dated December 11, 2018 regarding the Gitxsan Government announcement of a recreational fishing closure on the Skeena River. Minister Donaldson has asked me to reply on his behalf. My apologies for the late reply.

The Province of BC and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada have been working with the Gitxsan First Nation to understand their concerns regarding the closure notice for the 2019/2020 fishing season. This includes participation with a crisis management team since January 2019. These discussions are ongoing.

For your upcoming travels to the Skeena watershed, angling licences sold by the Province remain valid and any changes or updates will be posted to http://www.fishing.gov.bc.ca/. If you are crossing First Nations reserve lands, please seek permission in advance and respect First Nations rights and perspectives, including representations on the land. If you experience conflict while fishing, please avoid confrontation as public safety is first priority. If safety concerns exist, please call the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, New Hazelton Detachment at 250-842- 5244.

You may also follow up with Paddy Hirshfield, A/Resource Manager for the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development at paddy.hirshfield@gov.bc.ca, 250-847-7655 if you have further questions.

Sincerely,

Geoff Recknell
Regional Executive Director – Skeena Region
Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development

Thanks so much Mr. Recknell. Perhaps you could provide naive recreational anglers with a map indicating just where they need to seek permission to cross "First Nations reserve lands" so the don't find themselves seeking assistance from the RCMP if they are confronted for inadvertently trespassing just to toss a fly between gill nets. A list of the appropriate Gitxsan chiefs (38 we're told) and their contact information would also be helpful.

 

[wildmanyeah]

It’s basically says fishing is open, if you get confronted by First Nations call the cops.

 

[IronNoggin]

Fishery Notice
Category(s): RECREATIONAL - Salmon
Subject: FN0704-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Region 6 - Skeena River Watershed - Closure Effective July 27, 2019

Effective at 00:00:01 hours July 27, 2019 until further notice - The Skeena
River watershed is closed to fishing for all salmon.

Skeena Sockeye returns continue to be below the identified conservation level
of 400,000 as described in the Northern BC Salmon IFMP, and the Department has
undertaken extensive consultations with First Nations and stakeholders
indicating that measures will need to be taken to address Sockeye conservation.
This closure is a part of the identified conservation measures.

Variation Oder #: 2019-RCT-408


Notes:

Possession limits are two times the daily limits.

Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal waters and rivers
of British Columbia.

The term "marked" means a hatchery fish that has a healed scar in place of the
adipose fin.

Sport anglers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery
program by labelling and submitting heads from adipose fin-clipped chinook and
coho salmon. Recovery of coded-wire tags provides critical information for
coast-wide stock assessment. Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program
toll free at (866) 483-9994 for further information.

Anglers are advised to check http://bcsportfishguide.ca for fishing closures
and other recreational fishing information.

Tidal Water Sport Fishing Licences can be purchased via any computer connected
to the internet at
https://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/nrls-sndpp/index-eng.cfm
or by using Google search key words "Recfish Licence".

Did you witness suspicious fishing activity or a violation? If so, please call
the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line
at (800) 465-4336.

For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at
1-(866)431-FISH (3474).

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Darren Chow
A/North Coast Recreational Fisheries Manager
250 627-3441

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0704
Sent July 25, 2019 at 1630

 

[Whitebuck]

I will.be fishing it. I will be respectful but I will not be abiding by their wishes.