The restrictions on the recreational fishery this summer were punitive and ultimately not helpful to the salmon they were meant to protect, says angler Dave Brown, who is also an executive member of the Sea to Sky Fisheries Roundtable and the Squamish-Lillooet Sportfish Advisory Committee.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada issued a blanket closure for chinook salmon, with a few exceptions, in the waters around Squamish, Vancouver and much of the south coast, depending on the area, until — July 15 or Aug. 1.
"That was a devastating thing for people who like to fish for chinook and for people who make a living off of sport fishing — fishing guides, marinas," Brown said.
It was the most restrictive chinook closures in more than two decades.
"The most restrictive that I have seen, for sure," said Brown.
When the closures were announced, hundreds of protestors rallied against them outside federal Fisheries Minister Jonathan Wilkinson’s constituency office in North Vancouver.
The protestors argued that the closures did little to protect the fish, but kneecapped the sport-fishing industry — a $1.1 billion industry that supports more than 9,000 jobs.
Wilkinson told The Chief last week that he understands there were negative impacts to the closures.
"Not just on recreational anglers and sports fishing lodges. [The closures] were felt by commercial fishermen and they were felt by First Nations because the closures — with respect to the Fraser chinook runs — were for all of those at the time the Fraser chinook were moving through those areas. But as you know, 12 of the 13 Fraser chinook stocks have been suggested for listing under the Species At Risk Act, because they are threatened. They are an endangered species, so if we don't take action… there won't be fish for anyone in the future."
Brown said he and others in the industry understand there is a problem with some chinook populations.
Chinook salmon populations have been declining in the Fraser River for years to the point that of the 13 wild Fraser River chinook salmon populations assessed, only one is not at risk, according to the Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
"The sport-fishing community recognized there was a need to protect early Fraser chinook that are returning to the upper Fraser watershed," Brown acknowledged.
But Brown argues that Wilkinson is wrong to suggest there's a chinook salmon crisis in B.C.
"In actual fact, we are talking about seven distinct stocks that go in the upper Fraser watershed... these stocks haven't been doing well for years and there are numerous reasons this is occurring," Brown said.
Those stocks have been impacted by commercial, sport and First Nations fishing, he added.
"Right now there is not the ability in-river to do the selective harvest. Gillnets are non-selective when they harvest fish," he said.
Fish farms, environmental conditions, such as water extraction for agriculture, and climate change, have also played a role, Brown said, as has the sea lion population.
"One of the other ones is for years the government has cut back on government enhancement programs on these stock," he said.
"It is going to need a commitment by our federal government and the department of fisheries and oceans to put together a recovery plan, which is absent.”
Brown argues that while there are areas of concern for salmon such as in the upper Fraser, the sport fishery could have been open all summer, particularly in Howe Sound.
"Howe Sound is becoming an area where they come in to feed. We have such massive numbers of herring and anchovies. So, there is very good bait in Howe Sound, thanks to the work being done by the Streamkeepers and just the cleaning up of Howe Sound," he said.
"Their stocks are doing well; the Cowichan is doing well, the returns in the Qualicum on the island are good; the Chilliwack Vedder has good returns. And this summer, we saw the best-in-25-years return on chinook heading back to the South Thompson Watershed," Brown said.
Wilkinson told The Chief that the closures were based on scientific information the DFO has collected.
"We looked at where the endangered stocks went through and at the time we were satisfied those stocks had gone through and when they were no longer there, we reopened the fishery."
Brown is quick to say there should be credit given to some of the DFO enhancement programs, such as at the Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery in Squamish.
The Tenderfoot Creek hatchery program, which was started in 2014 in response to declining chinook stocks, caught adult chinook salmon at Porteau and Britannia, spawned them at the hatchery and then released the juveniles, once hatched, the following spring into net pens at Porteau Cove. The program was to support a recreational, First Nations, and commercial fisheries, especially in Howe Sound.
Though it’s too early to really be sure of the survival percentages, the survivals so far have been great, Brown said.
"A well-run hatchery program, that does collect the brood in the river and mimics as much as they can the natural environment they are in, is very successful," he said.
Brown and others, in conjunction with the Spruce City Wildlife Association, put forward a hatchery program proposal to the fisheries’ minister, Brown said.
"It was a detailed proposal for upgrades to their hatchery and also increasing the number of fish that they marked," he said.
Brown said the minister has ignored the concerns and suggestions put forward by stakeholders.
Brown and three others involved in the recreational fishery, met with the minister on May 22. At that meeting, among other things, Brown said Wilkinson promised to look at a variance to the closures, but the group got radio silence from the minister the rest of the summer.
"He committed looking at a variance," Brown said. "It would have created an opportunity where anglers could have gone out and caught one hatchery fish and had no impact on the wild salmon at all."
Wilkinson told The Chief in an interview on Sept. 19, that he did look at the variances proposed by Brown's group and others.
One variance was granted to open up a small area that had been closed, he said.
"In a couple of other cases, we looked at them and we were concerned that there were some Fraser chinook in the area and we couldn't agree to those variances," he said.
Wilkinson also said he had struck a committee, as promised at the May meeting, that includes recreational fishers, fish harvesters, First Nations, and environmental organizations. The group's aim is to have discussions around the future of marked selected fisheries, hatchery programs and other issues where, at this point, there is not a consensus.
"That table started a few months ago," Wilkinson said, adding the Sport Fishing Advisory Board (SFAB) has at least two members on it.
The four stakeholders Wilkinson met with, including Brown, did not know of the committee, they reiterated to The Chief.
"We heard nothing back," Brown said, adding he followed up numerous times with Wilkinson's staff, to no avail.
Brown said under the Liberal government there has been little response to the sport anglers' concerns and little true help to recover the salmon stocks in need of support.
"He was touting the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund as a recovery plan," Brown said. It is $140 million and there is $20 million a year over five years.
"It is a cap-in-hand fund. It is not targeted specifically at any specific system. It is targeted so if a group like the Squamish River Watershed Society, for example, wants to do a project, they have to write a proposal, put in an application for funding and go to various groups for letters of support and then they will get a portion of it and have to raise money from other sources."
It helps, but is "far from a recovery plan," Brown said.
"What we need is a well-funded DFO, with money where the work is done by the department, not dependent on volunteer stewardship groups," he said.
Wilkinson agreed the Innovation Fund is not a recovery plan, but pointed to the Wild Salmon Policy Implementation Plan, which was released earlier this year.
"That is the policy document that says, 'these are the areas we need to focus on if we are going to address some of the challenges facing wild salmon’," Wilkinson said.
He acknowledged, though, that the habitat restoration work done by many of the community groups, used to be done by DFO, before cuts under the previous government.
He suggested the Salmonid Enhancement Program could use more funding.
"It needs more money in part to ensure that the DFO itself has the capacity to do some of the work itself, and to leverage the work being done by smaller groups. That is something we need to address going forward."
He added that Fisheries and Oceans was significantly cut under the Stephen Harper government and it has been the Liberal government's aim to build it back up.
"Is there more to do? Absolutely, there's more to do. But I would tell you we have done an enormous amount to try to repair some of the damage."
Where do the candidates stand on fisheries issues?
For many in Squamish, issues around fish conservation, sport fishing, fish farming are at the heart of living and thriving in the Sea to Sky Corridor.
With this in mind, The Chief asked incumbent MP for North Vancouver Jonathan Wilkinson, who has served as Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard since July 2018, and each Sea to Sky federal candidate questions related to fisheries.
The Conservative Party's Gabrielle Loren missed the deadline but sent an email the next day saying she hadn't seen the request. She sent the following statement at that time:
“I strongly support — as does the Conservative Party — the protection of our fisheries. Our party understands the ecological, cultural, and economic values of Canada’s Pacific salmon. Not only has the current administration failed to deliver its promises of fully implementing recommendations from the Cohen Commission report, and taking concrete action to restore Pacific wild salmon stocks, it is also clearly failing its responsibilities to regulate and manage fisheries.
"I believe — as supported by the Conservative Party — that we must protect these iconic species. I will continue to stand up for the conservation of wild Pacific salmon, and for all British Columbians who depend on this important resource.”
The other politicians sent replies to the following questions:
Q: Do you support the use of hatchery enhancement to either maintain or build salmon populations, in particular, stocks of concern?
A: North Vancouver Liberal Party’s Jonathan Wilkinson: There are areas where the salmon runs have got to such a low level, that you must use hatcheries to maintain the stock. But in areas where you have relatively healthy stock, there is a concern about weakening the healthy stock of the wild fish. So there is a conversation we need to have. There may be some areas of the province where we need to do more hatchery work and other areas where it is probably not appropriate. And that is exactly what I have asked the fishery committee to talk about and to come back with some recommendations.
A: Sea to Sky Liberal candidate Patrick Weiler: Healthy wild salmon are iconic to our coast and play a critical role in our ecosystem, economic prosperity, and are fundamental to the culture of many First Nations communities.
There is a role for hatcheries and their enhancement, but it’s only part of the solution. For example, I understand there is a concern that an over-reliance on hatcheries can weaken the genetic diversity in native salmon stocks, and so we need to be cautious. Other measures, such as habitat restoration, which the Liberal government has contributed over $100 million towards in B.C., is an important piece of tackling this issue.
A: The NDP’s Judith Wilson: Yes.
A: The People's Party of Canada’s Doug Bebb: As I have no previous expertise in this matter, I am not able to provide you with an informed response at this time.
A: Green Party's Dana Taylor: Hatchery enhancement, like done in our riding at the Squamish’s Tenderfoot Creek Hatchery, and at the fish hatchery on Bowen Island, is critically important as fishery levels have been unsustainable for a long time. Without hatcheries, we would see very little salmon in our waters today. The rock jam in the Fraser River shows us that hatcheries play a critically important role in helping wild stocks.
At the same time, hatcheries are a great example of people working together toward a common goal. It provides a wonderful opportunity for young and old to connect with one of the most wonderful lifecycles we know.
Yet hatcheries can never be seen as the sole solution to helping struggling salmon stocks survive. It is one piece of the puzzle and this work must always be in combination with: Protecting wild salmon stocks through protection and restoration of spawning habitat; taking open-net-salmon-farms out of coastal waters; reducing the catch of wild salmon wherever needed so stocks can rebuild.
Q: Currently, B.C. only marks 10 per cent of its hatchery fish, would you commit to 100 per cent of hatchery marking as Washington State does?
A: Liberal Party’s Jonathan Wilkinson: It is more complicated than is sometimes appreciated. One of the issues is it does increase, almost certainly, recreational fisheries, which means you would have more mortality among the stocks of concern. We would have to think about that. That would create some issues for some First Nations who aren't big fans of the hatchery fishery anyway, because of the mortality and they have a constitutional priority. Also, the DFO use the marked fish now as a proxy to understand how many fish are being taken over all. It isn't that we couldn't change that. We could, but that would require a change within the DFO and that would be complex. So, we aren't closed to the idea, but there is a range of issues.
A: Liberal Party’s Patrick Weiler: It’s important that any measures we take are grounded in a sound basis of scientific-evidence and support an ecosystem-based management approach and meaningfully engage with First Nations and stakeholders.
If this is ultimately seen as a measure that can support healthy salmon stocks, I would be supportive of it.
A: The NDP’s Judith Wilson: I don't have specific knowledge on this question but if the science and discussions with stakeholders suggest that this process is critical to building fish populations then I would support it.
A: The People's Party of Canada’s Doug Bebb: If the Washington State results are shown to be adequately positive, then I would be convinced to support 100 per cent hatchery marking.
A: Green Party's Dana Taylor: It would help clarify where fish, when caught, are from. It can help fishers, recreational fishers, make a distinction between stocks of concern, wild stock, and marked fish from hatcheries. What is happening right now is that even selective fishing of marked fish is rejected as Fraser River chinook stocks are struggling, and the fisheries minister has closed recreational chinook fishing. Climate change also affects salmon stocks for a number of reasons, a big one being higher average water temperatures. What we are seeing is a perfect storm of circumstances. It helps no one to not be careful with our salmon stocks.
Q: Do you support moving away from gillnetting to selective harvesting?
A: Liberal Party’s Jonathan Wilkinson: We have been pushing selective techniques, we will certainly continue to push for that in some areas. There are some folks who continue to use gillnets because that is their traditional way of fishing. But we are interested in ways of reducing by-catch.
A: Liberal candidate Patrick Weiler: I think it’s important that we move toward selective techniques that reduce bycatch, while at the same time respecting traditional fishing techniques that have been employed by some First Nations.
Ultimately, what I believe we all want is a sustainable and collaborative approach that respects Indigenous rights, protects our environment, and helps our communities and economy thrive.
A: The NDP’s Judith Wilson: I would want to consult with stakeholders about this question.
A: The People's Party of Canada’s Doug Bebb: This is an attractive option if effective, controlling harvest timing in specific areas, while using gear that will minimize catching the wrong species.
A: Green Party's Dana Taylor: Regardless of the fishing technique we use, or allow for, we have to make sure that its use will not lead to the depletion of fish stocks. The goal must always be: sustainable fishery.
Q: What is your position on open-net salmon farming? Would you support moving toward closed-containment for farmed fisheries?
A: Liberal Party’s Jonathan Wilkinson: We have taken a number of steps in that direction. We are taking an area-based approach, which means moving farms away from areas of salmon migration. We have announced a whole bunch of testing for the farms. And we have done a technology study with the province of B.C. to look at closed containment. We are very interested in moving toward closed containment. The challenge right now is it is more expensive. We want to get there, but there are some issues around cost reduction.
A: Liberal candidate Patrick Weiler: We need to make sure that we’re protecting our wild salmon stocks and reducing any negative impacts from open-net farming.
I support moving in the direction of closed-containment fish farms and continually investigating other measures to ensure our wild salmon stocks are thriving in our waters now and for generations to come.
A: The NDP’s Judith Wilson: I have long been opposed to fish farms in the ocean in favour of land-based closed-containment systems. This is the position set out in the platform document for the NDP in this election. Years ago when I lived in Tuwanek I was an activist against fish farming in the Sechelt Inlet.
A: The People's Party of Canada’s Doug Bebb: Yes, I would support a move towards closed-containment fish farms. There seems to be some precedent for this both in Norway and in the U.S.
A: Green Party's Dana Taylor: The problem with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans is its mandate is the following:
-Sustainably manage fisheries and aquaculture and work with fishers, coastal and Indigenous communities to enable their continued prosperity from fish and seafood;
And,
-Ensure that Canada’s oceans and other aquatic ecosystems are protected from negative impacts.
In reality, that means DFO actively supports and promotes fish farms, and that is in direct conflict with the part of the mandate that talks about protecting aquatic ecosystems from negative impacts, as it has been sufficiently proven that aquaculture like the open-net-salmon-farms placed in B.C.’s coastal waters directly negatively impact Pacific wild salmon stocks.
Sea lice and piscine orthoreo virus are two of the main issues directly associated with salmon farms in how they negatively impact the survival rate of young salmon as they travel for the ocean. Other big issues with open-net-salmon farms are fish feces and chemical pollution.
Regardless of how you farm salmon, you need a food supply, as salmon are carnivores. Food catch needed for farmed salmon adds to the depletion of the oceans.
To amplify how heavily DFO is involved with salmon farming is reflected in the salmon research done at the Pacific Science Enterprise Centre in West Vancouver. That research is mostly funded by the fish farm industry.
With the knowledge we have today about how negatively salmon farming impacts wild salmon stocks, I share the same opinion as outgoing MP, Pamela Goldsmith-Jones: To protect our wild stocks, we must remove open-net salmon farms from BC’s coastal waters. There is no question about that. And, we have to continue with the funding for protection and restoration work of spawning habitat.
Since salmon plays a prominent role in Indigenous cultures, we see the Nations in our riding taking up leadership when it comes to protecting wild salmon stocks, like Goldsmith-Jones, I will support that.
***Please note since this story was posted, the extent of closures has been corrected.
