Derby
Crew Member
Sockeye salmon run expected to be large
Alberni Valley Times May 2, 2012
This year's sockeye salmon run is expected to be one of the biggest in decades, local fishing authorities say.
Alberni Sport Fish Advisory Committee member Bob Cole said last year the run was approximately 1.4 million, when it expected to be only around 600,000. Run projections are expected to be 700,000 to one million this year, Tseshaht chief councillor Les Sam said. Cole said if they are already calling for that number at the beginning of the year the actual run could be one of the best they have seen in the past three years. He said three years ago they saw record returns, and he hopes that will be a reality again this year.
Cole said the Fraser River had about two million return last year, so the thought of a number even half as big for the Alberni Valley is encouraging.
"These salmon are returning from the 2008 and 2009 migrations," Cole said. "They're rebounding due to proper catch and escapement practices."
Cole said this is the first time in years the limit has been set so high at the beginning of the season.
"Not since the 1990s," he said. This is the third year in a row the sockeye salmon run is expected to exceed 600,000. Last year, the run was more than one million, Cole said.
The first sockeye have already been caught by Tseshaht First Nations. The fish are four and five-year-olds from the 2007/2008 migration heading back to Sproat and Great Central Lakes to spawn.
May is just the beginning of the season, and sockeye will not hit big numbers until about June.
At that time, the group will determine possible commercial fishery numbers.
From preliminary projections for this year's run, the indications are there will be more than enough fish to make a limited commercial run viable, but accurate numbers cannot be determined until the season is in full swing in a month or so.
"There are indications there will be good commercial access on sockeye," Cole said.
Expectations are for gillnetters to be in the water June 12 and seiners shortly afterward.
Cole said there is an agreement for a seiner-free zone around the China Creek/Underwood area at least to Sproat Narrows.
With the unprecedented sockeye salmon run projected for this year, Cole said there will also be a "full economic opportunity" for a First Nations' commercial run.
© Copyright (c) Postmedia New
Alberni Valley Times May 2, 2012
This year's sockeye salmon run is expected to be one of the biggest in decades, local fishing authorities say.
Alberni Sport Fish Advisory Committee member Bob Cole said last year the run was approximately 1.4 million, when it expected to be only around 600,000. Run projections are expected to be 700,000 to one million this year, Tseshaht chief councillor Les Sam said. Cole said if they are already calling for that number at the beginning of the year the actual run could be one of the best they have seen in the past three years. He said three years ago they saw record returns, and he hopes that will be a reality again this year.
Cole said the Fraser River had about two million return last year, so the thought of a number even half as big for the Alberni Valley is encouraging.
"These salmon are returning from the 2008 and 2009 migrations," Cole said. "They're rebounding due to proper catch and escapement practices."
Cole said this is the first time in years the limit has been set so high at the beginning of the season.
"Not since the 1990s," he said. This is the third year in a row the sockeye salmon run is expected to exceed 600,000. Last year, the run was more than one million, Cole said.
The first sockeye have already been caught by Tseshaht First Nations. The fish are four and five-year-olds from the 2007/2008 migration heading back to Sproat and Great Central Lakes to spawn.
May is just the beginning of the season, and sockeye will not hit big numbers until about June.
At that time, the group will determine possible commercial fishery numbers.
From preliminary projections for this year's run, the indications are there will be more than enough fish to make a limited commercial run viable, but accurate numbers cannot be determined until the season is in full swing in a month or so.
"There are indications there will be good commercial access on sockeye," Cole said.
Expectations are for gillnetters to be in the water June 12 and seiners shortly afterward.
Cole said there is an agreement for a seiner-free zone around the China Creek/Underwood area at least to Sproat Narrows.
With the unprecedented sockeye salmon run projected for this year, Cole said there will also be a "full economic opportunity" for a First Nations' commercial run.
© Copyright (c) Postmedia New
