Salmon fishery in B.C. over for another year
With returns of sockeye salmon to the Fraser River well below anticipated numbers, the fishing season for wild salmon in British Columbia is all but over. Commercial fishers on the north coast of B.C. were given a couple of weeks to try to catch some fish, while south coast boat owners were told to stay ashore.
One day of fishing was given to south coast aboriginal boats in order to catch some fish for food, but many of the vessels that went out came back empty. A short opening in the Fraser River is expected for both aboriginal and commercial vessels, targeting chinook or pink salmon. And later in the fall, chum salmon will more than likely provide some fishing opportunities.
In the meantime, the sport fishery for salmon has had another good year. Strong catches of chinook salmon on the west coast of Vancouver Island are reported, and coho salmon has been caught in good numbers along the central and north coast of the province. The Campbell River is also showing good returns of chinook and pink salmon.
