The federal government is investigating what anglers in Northern B.C. are calling a deceitful act of illegal salmon fishing involving a Terrace-area lodge and leaders of high-profile American conservation organizations.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans investigated the complaint Aug. 12 on the Ecstall River, a lower tributary of the Skeena roughly 40 kilometres southeast of Prince Rupert. Officers observed fishing in the closed river but did not lay charges when the party presented a food-fishing permit issued by the local Lax Kw害羞草研究所檃laams band.
The Komaham Lodge, a private retreat owned by Bass Pro Shops, which hosted the group, later said the fishing was part of joint research project with the band on low salmon stocks.
During the DFO害羞草研究所檚 second consecutive year of extreme conservation measures prohibiting all recreational fishing for chinook salmon throughout the Skeena watershed, the incident has prompted calls for action from several B.C. conservation groups, and outraged the local angling community.
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害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a joke. It害羞草研究所檚 window dressing of the highest order,害羞草研究所� said Bob Hooton, a local angler and retired biologist and former B.C. environment ministry fisheries section head for the Skeena region.
害羞草研究所淭here was never an intention to do research, it was just a cover to do what they really wanted to do 害羞草研究所� rip out a bunch of chinook salmon.害羞草研究所�
In a letter responding to concerns from anglers, the Komaham Lodge identified some of its guests as a former director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, now CEO of Ducks Unlimited, and the president of the Congressional Sportsmen害羞草研究所檚 Foundation.
Guido Rahr, president of the Oregon-based Wild Salmon Center, was identified as giving a presentation to the group, but in an email to Black Press Media he clarified his participation was by phone. He has never visited the Komaham Lodge, he said.
Efforts to reach other members of the party were unsuccessful.
The lodge害羞草研究所檚 letter defended the fishing as part of a project to build relationships with local First Nations by gathering and sharing much-needed data on king and silver salmon (the American names for chinook and coho) as no return or spawning data is available for many lower tributaries of the Skeena River. The letter stated the Lax Kw害羞草研究所檃laams had freely issued the six-day fishing permit for the 害羞草研究所渃utting edge害羞草研究所� study.
In an email Komaham Lodge management maintained the primary goal of the gathering was to help find positive solutions to the salmon crisis.
害羞草研究所淭he Komaham Lodge donated the lodge and trip expenses to host the Congressional Sportsmen害羞草研究所檚 Foundation in an effort to advance key conservation issues,害羞草研究所� the email read.
害羞草研究所淭he Lodge openly communicated with the DFO and First Nations and obtained necessary permits. A First Nations fisheries biologist accompanied the group.害羞草研究所�
But federal fisheries害羞草研究所� North Coast Acting Director Amy Wakelin, speaking for the vacationing director, Colin Masson, denied the department害羞草研究所檚 involvement, further adding they were unaware an arrangement had been made between the other parties.
害羞草研究所淲e have not approved any scientific research on the Ecstall,害羞草研究所� Wakelin said. 害羞草研究所淣ormally people would submit an application for a scientific licence and that did not happen.害羞草研究所�
In regards to the permit, she added, First Nations are allowed to designate persons to fish on their behalf for food, social and ceremonial purposes, but a catch-and-release research exercise as described by the Komaham Lodge would not qualify.
害羞草研究所淲e don害羞草研究所檛 believe that the designation in this instance was consistent with the intent and spirit of bringing food into the community,害羞草研究所� Wakelin said.
Representatives from Lax Kw害羞草研究所檃laams could not be reached for comment.
In an email to Hooton Aug. 21, prior to going on holiday, Masson wrote Bass Pro Shops had contacted an employee at DFO regarding the concept of a research project. He went on to write that Lax Kw害羞草研究所檃laams later acknowledged they were trying to develop a working relationship with the Komaham Lodge in an attempt to build an assessment program.
Anglers and conservationists worry arrangements like these will do nothing to advance understanding of threatened salmon stocks, but rather allow wealthy anglers a way to circumvent conservation laws.
This perception only deepened when a photo of nine private jets, parked at the Terrace airport, began circulating on social media at the time of the fishing excursion.
| This photo of private jets parked at the Terrace airport began circulating on social media mid August (Facebook photo) |
He added angling in a closed area can be justified by collecting meaningful biological data, but pointed out the data collected in August consisted only of length and weight measurements 害羞草研究所敽π卟菅芯克鶞hardly useful for population estimation, the purported objective.害羞草研究所�
Hooton, who害羞草研究所檚 led efforts among Northwest anglers to get answers and assurances from DFO, said the scenario is the first he害羞草研究所檚 seen after a 37-year career with the province害羞草研究所檚 fish and wildlife section.
害羞草研究所淣othing comes close,害羞草研究所� Hooton said. 害羞草研究所淚 wouldn害羞草研究所檛 have spent any time on this if I thought the outcome would be inconsequential. This is precedent setting. No doubt about it.害羞草研究所�
Meanwhile, lawyers for the SkeenaWild Conservation Trust, which describes the Skeena river system as one of North America害羞草研究所檚 last remaining intact watersheds, are looking into the legality of the Lax Kw害羞草研究所檃laams permit.
害羞草研究所淪o far DFO is saying they don害羞草研究所檛 think it害羞草研究所檚 illegal and that it害羞草研究所檚 just a loophole in the permit system, but害羞草研究所t becomes the Wild West of fisheries management, where if you have some sort of arrangement or you have money to purchase one of these permits from a First Nation, you essentially have the same rights as First Nations to harvest fish,害羞草研究所� said Executive Director Greg Knox
害羞草研究所淲here does it end? Who害羞草研究所檚 accountable, ultimately, to managing the resource and ensuring the salmon populations are protected?害羞草研究所�
quinn@terracestandard.com
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