The recent mega-floods have brought an opportunity to rectify one of the problems that has long plagued salmon runs in the Lower Fraser Valley. Hundreds of miles of outdated flood protection infrastructure has been chopping fish up when they return home to spawn. Now much of it will have to be repaired or replaced. The Watershed Watch Salmon Society sees this as the opportunity to install ‘fish friendly’ flood infrastructure in its place.
Continue reading Opportunity to install ‘fish friendly’ flood infrastructure in the Lower Fraser ValleyTag Archives: Watershed Watch
Is Ottawa breaking its promise to close fisheries and protect wild salmon?
National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
West Coast conservation groups are worried Ottawa is backtracking on a recent commitment to close the bulk of commercial salmon fisheries as a radical measure to save endangered stocks.
Continue reading Is Ottawa breaking its promise to close fisheries and protect wild salmon?
BC’s vital salmon route is seriously clogged
National Observer, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Floundering Pacific salmon stocks are finding little refuge in the lower Fraser River — the lifeblood for the iconic species, and historically, the most significant spawning and rearing grounds on the West Coast of North America.
Researchers have found 85 per cent of the historical floodplain habitat for salmon in the lower Fraser has been lost.
Continue reading BC’s vital salmon route is seriously clogged
Sweeping reductions to BC’s commercial salmon fisheries
By Matt Simmons, The Narwhal, Local Journalism Initiative reporter
For Kevin Carpenter, a Heiltsuk gillnetter from Bella Bella, fishing has long been a way of life for him and his community.
“I started on boats when I was like five or six years old,” he told The Narwhal on a call from Prince Rupert.
In fact, he said he was preparing his boat for the fishing season a few weeks ago when he heard an announcement that would send him and the entire commercial fishing community reeling.
Continue reading Sweeping reductions to BC’s commercial salmon fisheries
Asking the feds to not renew BC fish farm licenses
Twenty businesses and organizations are recommending that the federal government not renew BC fish farm licenses, when they come up for renewal next year.
Continue reading Asking the feds to not renew BC fish farm licenses