First nation forgoes salmon fishing to protect stocks

In a world where Cultural Traditions and Rituals are sacred and protected. The First Nations are taking steps to  forego  a tradition for the time being to ensure Cultural traditions  continue for coming generations.  From personal experience it is hard for First Nations to take drastic steps to save a species and a food source.  Salmon fishing with nets and spears the act of drying salmon on racks on sites used hundreds of years ago by their forefathers is a time honoured tradition and celebration of their roots.  First Nations decision to do so, shows they truly practice what they preach in Environmentalism.

Many in this world cannot claim the same thing.

url="http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=80adffe0-49eb-4268-a4f0-4406e166948b&k=3046"]For the first time in history, a first nation is voluntarily forgoing its right to fish for sockeye salmon in the Fraser River, fearing that taking any fish could jeopardize future sockeye stocks.

The Tsleil-Waututh Nation have voluntarily agreed to a sockeye embargo in the Fraser, Chief Leah George-Wilson announced.

Federal and first nations fisheries officials and conservationists said they believe it marks the first time a first nation has voluntarily given up their aboriginal right to Fraser sockeye.

Tsleil-Waututh First Nation members discuss options after opting not to fish sockeye this year because of their concern for salmon stocks.

Tsleil-Waututh First Nation members discuss options after opting not to fish sockeye this year because of their concern for salmon stocks.

Glenn Baglo/Vancouver Sun

"This is not a race-based fishery," George-Wilson said. "This is a rights-based fishery. By not exercising our aboriginal right today, we are hoping to conserve that right for the future."

George-Wilson said she is very concerned about the future of the run, since this year's returns have been much lower than anticipated.

"I don't want to raise children who don't have access to sockeye on the Fraser because it's being fished out," George-Wilson said.

The Tsleil-Waututh, a Coast Salish community in North Vancouver with a population of about 450 people, traditionally fish in the Fraser River, Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm.

This year they would have been allocated 700 sockeye for food, social and ceremonial use, said George-Wilson - considerably less than the 7,000 they usually get allotted each year.

George-Wilson said the Tsleil-Waututh - pronounced slay-wah-tuth, also known as the Burrard Band - support first nations' right to fish for food. But she said this year, they want to see 700 more sockeye have a chance to spawn.

"Every fish counts," said Mel Kotyk, a spokesman for the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

He said the Tsleil-Waututh's decision not to fish is good news. Kotyk said other first nations are discussing similar measures in light of meagre summer sockeye returns.

All four Fraser River sockeye runs have been disappointing, he said. In the first run, 45,000 fish were expected but only 13,000 returned. In the second or "early summer" run, the department expected 690,000 fish and only 120,000 showed up. The third or summer run, which was supposed to draw three million, yielded only 750,000, he said.

So far, it is the same story for the late Fraser sockeye run. The department anticipated 2.4 million fish, but that has been downgraded to only 731,000.

"It's unprecedented," Kotyk said. "They just haven't showed up."

Ernie Crey, fisheries adviser to the Sto:lo Tribal Council, said this year's sockeye run is the worst in more than 40 years.

"It's a desperate, desperate situation," he said.

He called the Tsleil-Waututh's self-imposed embargo "commendable" and encouraging. Crey noted that other aboriginal groups - like the Soowahlie First Nation in the Cultus Lake area - have also worked to conserve fish stocks by refraining from food fishing.

Chief Sid Douglas of the Cheam First Nation said declining stocks are a concern, but so is food.

"There'll probably be some fishing [by the Cheam]," Douglas said, adding he will take part in a conference call Thursday, along with other first nations and fisheries representatives, for an update on sockeye allocations.

"It's very important to a lot of our members because they're low-income and fish is part of their mainstay in the winter," Douglas said. "We're always concerned when there's declining stocks."

Tsleil-Waututh elder Ernie George said refraining from this year's sockeye run is a good choice.

"In my lifetime we've seen our ability to harvest clams, crab and other marine resources impacted by industrial development in Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm," George said. "We had no voice in the protection of those resources. We have a voice and a choice today."

George-Wilson said she hopes the Tsleil-Waututh's choice will inspired others - not just first nations - to think about conservation.

"Our biggest worry is that there will be no more sockeye," she said. "Tsleil-Waututh does not want to fish the last sockeye in the Fraser."[/q]