This is an excerpt from the PSC report on the upgrade of sockeye counts
in the Fraser. PLease pay particular attention to the catch allotments for
natives and sports fishing. "On Friday August 6th along with the U.S.
Section we met in Richmond with the Pacific Salmon Commission staff and
were given their estimation of the probable run size of Fraser Sockeye.
The following are the run size projections given by the Salmon Commission
staff.
Stock PreSeason Size Est. Current Est.
Early Stuart 318,000 150,000
Early Summers 477,000 400,000
Summers 5,328,000 1,400,000
Late (Adams) 2,125,000 1,100,000
----------- -----------
Total Run Size 8,248,000 3,050.000
The spawning escapement targets under this new run size are as follows
Early Stuart - 140,500
Earl Summers - 316,000
Summers - 1,000.000
Lates - 853,000
----------
Total Esc Goal 2,309,500
Plus Test Fishing 74,000
________
Total 2,383,500
Balance available 666,500
for harvest
Less Native exemp 400,000
TAC to split with U.S 266,500
U.S. Share 59,500
Canada Share 207,000
Plus Native Exemp 400,000
----------
Total Canada Share 607,000
Canadian Commercial Catch to Aug 6 - 55,000
Canadian Sport Catch (No data yet - 1,500 (Est)
Native catch - 57,100
Canadian Balance ------------------ 493,400
Balance owing to the natives - 1,060,900"
Please note the total estimate taken by sports fishing and the total to
be given to the natives.
Sports fishing to date: 1,500 sockeye!!!!!!!
Natives to date: 57,000 sockeye!!!!!!
balance owing to the natives :OVER 1 MILLION
I find it difficult to believe that those fish are used for food and ceremonial
purposes. I am not ragging on the natives here, I just believe that if resource
conservation is necessary, it should be equally shared across the user groups.
If the sports fishing community has only HARVESTED an estimated 1500 sockeye
to date, where is the harm in a CATCH AND RELEASE sockeye fishery? It allows
the guides to keep their businesses operating, and we get to keep fishing.
The "business"of sports fishing contributes 100 fold to economy
more than ANY OTHER SECTOR or sockeye user group. We also contribute more
to resource conservation than any other group.
Its time for a radical re-thinking of the priorities of our judicial system
and resource management.
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