A moratorium is needed on fishing of Early Spring Chinook, say local B.C. First Nations.
Early Spring Chinook are on the brink of extinction, say a First Nations from the Siska Band, and they are asking for a moratorium on all fisheries -- including their own -- for food, social and ceremonial uses.
The early Spring Chinook in the Fraser River are in crisis and cannot sustain any fishing pressure, according to Chief Fred Sampson of the Siska Band, who is also the Fisheries Manager of the Nicola Tribal Association
Sampson told CTV News the early Spring Chinook are being fished to extinction adding that "First Nations are adamantly opposed to the sport fishing of these stocks."
Sampson says last year only 25 Chinook made it back to the Spius area in the Nicola River System.
First Nations along the upper Fraser River are asking the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to impose a moratorium on all early Spring Chinook fishing in the Fraser River.
This comes after three days of meetings between Fisheries and Oceans Canada and First Nations from all areas of the Fraser River watershed, as well as many First Nations from Vancouver Island and the surrounding marine area.
This is the third year in a row that First Nations have asked for reduced fishing pressure on early Spring Chinook.
With a report from CTV First Story's Shirley McLean
