BC’S COAST IS DIVERSE AND PRODUCTIVE.
STRATEGIES TO PROTECT IT SHOULD BE, TOO.
Mark Selective Fishing Strategy
Mark Selective Fisheries allow hatchery salmon—“marked” by having their adipose fins removed—to be retained by anglers, while unmarked salmon must be released. This approach, if implemented when necessary to protect stocks of concern, will provide the BC salmon fishery, particularly in the southern coast, a degree of access—to chinook retention that will enable the fishery to survive while at the same time offering almost complete protection to endangered and threatened unmarked stocks.
Wild salmon have the adipose fin intact and in BC, many hatchery fish do too. Any salmon without an adipose fin was hatchery produced. A hatchery retention fishery is possible when the prevalence of hatchery produced marked fish is high and unmarked stocks of concern are low. Release of unmarked salmon guarantees that wild salmon are protected.
A HATCHERY RETENTION FISHERY (A MSF STRATEGY) IS JUST ONE TOOL IN THE BOX
The retention of marked hatchery produced Chinook is just one of many successful and proven selective fishing strategies that can be implemented to protect stocks of concern and maintain access to the public fishery. Additional tried and tested strategies include length, area and timing restrictions, bag and possession limit variations, and gear restrictions. The SFI believes that all effective strategies should be considered as part of an adaptive, flexible management regime. The SFI supports implementing a mix of management measures and strategies that afford stocks of concern the most protection possible and provides the highest potential for Chinook retention. The measures required will be specific to the stock composition and specifically the timing and prevalence of stocks of concern for each fishing area.
ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT IS THE FUTURE
By utilizing all the tools available to fishery managers, achieving a balance between conservation objectives and social, cultural, and economic objectives in the management of the BC Chinook fishery is possible. Important activities are being planned and implemented through the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI). This work must address habitat concerns, the potential to implement mass marking of all fishery related hatchery production, and implementation of unmarked conservation hatchery production for specific stocks and in strategic areas. The use of these habitat and enhancement related strategies will increase the potential for a complete recovery of wild salmon populations in BC over time, while also allowing for the economic and social recovery of communities that depend on fishery related activity.
Chinook salmon issues, news and information
An archive of relevant and important documents.