Sushihunter
Active Member
Fishing bleak in the Fraser
June 23, 2008
Researchers are worried the disappearance of the chinook will extend to other species, such as sockeye (above), which show up in mid-summer.
Leader file photo
The graph shows the scary reality for Fraser River salmon this year as much as anything.
Flatlined.
Data on a Fisheries and Oceans Canada test fisheries in May and June in the Fraser near Albion shows only a handful of chinook caught from daily May test fisheries.
Eight in all, actually.
That's what the test vessel Witch Doctor caught after putting the nets in the Fraser River off Albion from May 5 to June 5.
Compared to a graph that shows a 1982-2006 daily average of up to one fish, for that same time of year, and the number is scary.
"When you see the graph, it's more than just late," said Geoff Clayton of the Alouette River Management Society.
The plunge parallels what's happened along the U.S. West Coast, where California, Oregon and Washington have closed their chinook or spring fishery.
The big question is whether the disappearance of the chinook extends to other species, such as sockeye, which show up in mid-summer.
"The chinook come in first and the chinook are just not there," Clayton said.
Even fishing lodges along the north B.C. coast are having trouble. Clients are showing up and not catching any fish.
"Ten years ago, when we first got the warning of global warming … many were disagreeing with what was causing it," Clayton said. "The global warming is having an effect on the Pacific Ocean, there's no question."
The low returns have the organization SeaChoice slapping a yellow listing on the Pacific stocks. The yellow listing indicates there are concerns about sustainability of the stocks.
Al Baker, on the Witch Doctor, has been doing the test fishery for 28 years, and said the numbers have been steadily declining every year.
Twenty years ago, between 75 and 80 chinook would have been caught in that period of time.
"I think everything is down. Something's not right, that's for sure." He's not even sure if there will be a commercial salmon opening this year.
He disagrees that it's just a question of the fish just showing up late. It's just the fish that should be there, are not there.
According to David Suzuki Foundation biologist Jeffrey Young, this year's Pacific salmon returns will be the lowest in 50 years.
Salmon are under threat from habitat loss, fisheries mismanagement, and changes in ocean conditions, exacerbated by climate change, the foundation says.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada would not comment.
– Phil Melnychuk
Find this article at:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/surrey_area/surreyleader/business/20659689.html
Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://ca.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250
June 23, 2008
Researchers are worried the disappearance of the chinook will extend to other species, such as sockeye (above), which show up in mid-summer.
Leader file photo
The graph shows the scary reality for Fraser River salmon this year as much as anything.
Flatlined.
Data on a Fisheries and Oceans Canada test fisheries in May and June in the Fraser near Albion shows only a handful of chinook caught from daily May test fisheries.
Eight in all, actually.
That's what the test vessel Witch Doctor caught after putting the nets in the Fraser River off Albion from May 5 to June 5.
Compared to a graph that shows a 1982-2006 daily average of up to one fish, for that same time of year, and the number is scary.
"When you see the graph, it's more than just late," said Geoff Clayton of the Alouette River Management Society.
The plunge parallels what's happened along the U.S. West Coast, where California, Oregon and Washington have closed their chinook or spring fishery.
The big question is whether the disappearance of the chinook extends to other species, such as sockeye, which show up in mid-summer.
"The chinook come in first and the chinook are just not there," Clayton said.
Even fishing lodges along the north B.C. coast are having trouble. Clients are showing up and not catching any fish.
"Ten years ago, when we first got the warning of global warming … many were disagreeing with what was causing it," Clayton said. "The global warming is having an effect on the Pacific Ocean, there's no question."
The low returns have the organization SeaChoice slapping a yellow listing on the Pacific stocks. The yellow listing indicates there are concerns about sustainability of the stocks.
Al Baker, on the Witch Doctor, has been doing the test fishery for 28 years, and said the numbers have been steadily declining every year.
Twenty years ago, between 75 and 80 chinook would have been caught in that period of time.
"I think everything is down. Something's not right, that's for sure." He's not even sure if there will be a commercial salmon opening this year.
He disagrees that it's just a question of the fish just showing up late. It's just the fish that should be there, are not there.
According to David Suzuki Foundation biologist Jeffrey Young, this year's Pacific salmon returns will be the lowest in 50 years.
Salmon are under threat from habitat loss, fisheries mismanagement, and changes in ocean conditions, exacerbated by climate change, the foundation says.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada would not comment.
– Phil Melnychuk
Find this article at:
http://www.bclocalnews.com/surrey_area/surreyleader/business/20659689.html
Jim's Fishing Charters
www.JimsFishing.com
http://ca.youtube.com/user/Sushihunter250
