October 2008

Upper Skeena Roundtable Report

Summer in Skeena country brought returning salmon back to the rivers in varying levels. Sockeye was good and provided a commercial and a surplus fishery in river. Chinook salmon was average, coho returns were good, but pink salmon and chums were almost non-existent. Pink and Chum continue to demonstrate the biggest decline in  species numbers on the Skeena along with the Pacific Lamprey which also seems to be disappearing. Eulachons are also in serious decline.

Low flows in summer and early fall restricted access for fish into tributaries until October. How this affected sockeye and coho remains to be seen. Steelhead runs were good early with above average returns to Skeena systems according to the Tyee Test Fishery. Sport fishing was good for all target species until the masses beat the fish down in later September.

The Skeena Watershed initiatives are moving forward through Skeena Wild on the consultation aspect with a number of meetings to garner support and develop principles to move forward with. A report from the Skeena Independent Science Review Panel has revealed that the positions and assumptions brought forward by the Ministry regarding steelhead are based on indefensible data and that there is serious lack of steelhead stock trend data which is the most serious failing of the MOE’s historical monitoring and so called management system. Recommendations  included more work on steelhead population status such as a Bulkley/Morice population estimate which the Province has been dead against since 2001. Operation of the Toboggan fence would also assist in this process but again the Ministry does not support more science.

The Provincial Quality Waters initiative is still ongoing and they have successfully divided all of the sportfishing sectors from guides to residents and B&B’s to sporting goods stores, and they now want to consult with the Non-residents from out of the country before they decide anything….  So the saga continues on the 6th process in 20 years to resolve the issues on steelhead rivers. Frankly the Ministry has done nothing over 20 years in the form of management of the resource or the rivers and our paid professionals treat it as a cash cow with little respect for residents views. The current process does not even include fish, habitat or enforcement which have strangely gone missing from the agenda.

The Skeena Watershed Coalition continues its battles to save the Upper Skeena from Coal Bed Methane development by Dutch Shell. Dutch Shell has suspended exploration activities for one year due to public and community concerns. The BC Municipal Association has come out in opposition to the Dutch Shell proposal as well. This issue seems to have built a large support base within the watershed.

The Enbridge Pipeline Proposal to cross Northern BC with two pipelines is in the consultation stage with meeting throughout the communities. This project certainly has the potential to affect rivers in the area but time and development plans will provide more focus. Heads up!

February 2008

Upper Skeena Roundtable Report

A scientific review of Skeena River salmon and steelhead stocks has been initiated through an agreement with Fisheries & Oceans Canada and the Provincial Ministry of Environment. This process is headed by a group of 5 noted scientists from the west coast who are to review existing stock information on the Skeena and come up with recommendations for future fisheries prior to the 2008 commercial fishing season. A lot of information to digest and a short time frame for serious comment but we wish the panel well and are hopeful for a constructive result. The funding for this initiative is apparently through the Tide Foundation and from the Moore Foundation from the USA. Our government must not have the money or a serious enough commitment to the Skeena resource to look after the second largest river on the west coast.

The Moore Foundation via Tide is also fronting money to the Skeena Wild Foundation for a Skeena Watershed Committee De-brief. Skeena Wild is the newest NGO in the area and the Skeena Watershed Committee (SWC) was a multi-sectoral groups set up in the 1990’s to deal with Skeena fisheries management issues in a co-management context. Since the SWC’s demise, when the commercial sector stepped away from the process, North Coast fisheries management has again slipped back into its old ways and stocks of all species are again in decline on the Skeena. One can only hope that taking funds from outside sources does not compromise the process for residents and fishers of the area. The purpose of the de-brief is to try and take what worked from the old process and perhaps try and establish a new consultation/management process with Skeena stakeholders. The group attending will include agency members, some interested observers and a few of the other First Nation, sport and commercial sector members from the past committee.

The Provincial Quality Waters Process has completed it’s first of a few trips through the watershed towards compiling Angling Management Plans for many northern rivers with angling use issues. This is the fifth process and fifth consultant in the past 15 years that the province has hired to try and do their job for them. Let’s hope something gets done this time around.

The latest resource news from the mining sector related to the Upper Skeena is a proposal from Fortune Minerals to run a pipeline from the Upper Skeena to a railhead at Hazelton to transport a coal and water slurry from the coal deposits in the upper watershed to the Prince Rupert container port. They contend that the water used to transport the coal in the pipeline should be clean as it would be just like running it through a charcoal filter….perhaps they think it’s a way to cleanup the sour water from their methane deposits!?

October 2007

Upper Skeena Roundtable Report – Fall 2007

The Bulkley River went from a forty year low water period in summer/fall 2006 to historic recorded high in June 2007. Heavy snow packs and a slow spring thaw kept all upper Skeena tributaries at high levels into late summer. This affected angling for Chinook due to water conditions and sockeye and coho fishing were considered poor overall for most systems.

High water also affected access to Chinook broodstock in upper Bulkley but spawners did make it into the upper watershed to areas they have not always make it to in recent years.

A new program for Morice Chinook was initiated through Pacific Salmon Commission funding from the Northern Endowment Fund for Chinook Enhancement, the purpose is to provide a CWT group from the Morice River. Broodstock was taken from the Morice by the Toboggan Creek Society in September of 2007 to start this program.

Coded Wire Tagging is again an issue for the north as results from the monitoring are dismal for the commercial trollers who were found to be non compliant overall (>70%). There is also no structured monitoring of marked fish for the burgeoning charter and tidal sportfishery which leave a large gap in any CWT data being collected.

Chinook runs to the Upper Skeena continue their downward slide with no apparent action by area managers. Results from 2007 are 30% of the 5 year average in the 1990’s and many rivers such as the Kispiox are not even being assessed for spawner counts.

Coho stocks in the upper Skeena appear to be down approximately 30% from last year and anglers reported poor success rates for their efforts, likely partially due to water conditions. Toboggan creek reported 2630 Coho adults into the stream of which 11.9% were CWT tagged hatchery returns. Coho were observed in Canyon creek following a 3 year fry outplanting program from the Toboggan facility and it was heartening to see Coho back to this system after many years.

The Gitanyow Chiefs are taking Fisheries & Oceans Canada to court for not meeting escapement goals for sockeye returns to the Kitwanga River. This has been a long standing issue with First Nations in the Upper Skeena as Fisheries continues to prosecute commercial fisheries at the mouth of the Skeena and continually fails to meet escapement goals for natural sockeye stocks in the region while attempting to harvest the enhanced Babine sockeye runs. Unfortunately this affects not only native sockeye stocks to all other tributaries but Chinook, Coho, Chum and Steelhead stocks bound for the upper Skeena rivers as well.

MOE has approached local anglers through the local SFAB to introduce a “NEW” initiative for a “Quality Waters Program” said to be designed to apply “Angling Management Plans” to some Skeena quality rivers by late 2009…..This after 20 years of a legislated requirement for Angling Use Plans that were never put in place. As mentioned in our last report and brought up by local anglers at the meeting it may well be too late as that boat has sailed and our rivers appear to have been sold for $20 a day to as many non-resident as want to come.

Steelhead runs were said to be about the worst since the early 70’s and you won’t find much argument from anyone who bothered to go down to the river. Some big fish were caught and more smaller fish than normal but the average 6 – 16 pound fish were virtually absent from the population through much of the fishery. This from Babine and Kispiox reports as well. Local anglers report recent improvement in the fishing since the hordes have left the river but still slower than usual for this time of year.

Dutch Shell continues the push to develop Coalbed Methane in the Upper Skeena, Nass and Stikine Rivers with the support of the Provincial Government and against the wishes of the majority of the northern population. For more info see: http://skeenawatershed.com
We need all the help we can get to “Keep the Shell Out”

February 2007

Upper Skeena Roundtable Report
The Skeena system has had numerous years of years with low snow pack and as a result of this, and lack of precipitation in the summer we experienced very low flow conditions in most of our rivers (estimated to be 40 year lows). Groundwater tables were lower as well with many long term shallow wells drying up in the summer and fall. The lack of water in late summer fall impacted salmon trying to access the tributaries for spawning. Sockeye, Pink and Coho were the most noticeably affected. Current snow levels are said to be 150% of average and in the Bulkley valley we have over 3’ of snow on the ground and have had since the end of October.

In 2006 Chinook returns to the upper Skeena were slightly improved in a few main tributaries, such as the Kispiox, Kitwanga (5000-5500) and Morice, but dismal in the Bear Sustut, Babine etc. Runs to most streams are still well below optimum escapements and harvest by commercial trollers and commercial sport fishers in NWBC continue to climb. FOC spawner escapement estimates are inconsistent and considered unreliable due to lack of effort and concern. Chinook captured were considered to be larger in body size that the past year for 4 to 6 year old fish, this information was drawn from anglers at large and is analogue information only.

The Toboggan Creek Enhancement Society has received notification from the Pacific Salmon Commission of funding from the Northern Endowment Fund for Chinook enhancement to provide a CWT group from the Morice River. This will in future provide an index on Upper Skeena Chinook for more catch information from Alaskan and north coast fisheries should the effort to recover CWT’s continue.

On that we note we would like to reiterate the concern of northern groups on the reduction and/or elimination of CWTagging for Coho and Chinook from the CEDP and volunteer facilities. While we do recognize the high cost of tagging we question how you will be able to distinguish “wild salmon” from enhanced stocks should that policy ever reach the ground. We are losing our only sources of empirical information on who is catching what stock short of DNA sampling of a large portion of the landed catch. While collection of heads is poor in the Northcoast commercial and commercial sport fishery information from Alaska and inland sport fisheries are more consistent.

Coho returns were determined to be good in the area with estimates of 35–40,000 coho to the Bulkley Morice system, good returns o the Kispiox and a consistent return to Toboggan Creek (3100). Bulkley/Morice Coho estimates are derived from a tagging program through the Wet’Suwet’en First Nations at Moricetown, with upstream sampling at Toboggan Creek and Little Bulkley fence programs and tributary and helicopter surveys by WETfish and FOC staff.

Mission Creek, which is a small lower Bulkley stream enhanced by the Chicago Creek Enhancement Society counted 194 coho into the creek while expecting 900. Low flows were considered to be the primary reason for the low numbers of fish entering the stream.

The Provincial Government is still not participating in the existing SFAB process. There appears to be initiatives to set up their own process with meetings for the Skeena area in a central location. They do not intend to provide travel costs for volunteers and are currently trying to solicit more anglers at large to complement their selected membership. While crying lack of funds and staffing over the past so many years as the reason for not participating in SFAB they seem to have found monies for their own game and selective process. Efforts to engage MOE in steelhead assessment have again been rejected and there appears to be little hope in sight for cooperation on stewardship with the province in the north.

Perhaps the biggest issue facing northern fishers from the provincial perspective is the continued sale of our steelhead rivers to the parades of non-guided non-residents who invade our rivers in the fall. The Ministry seems to believe that conservation is accomplished only through catch and release of steelhead. They apparently do not feel there is any conservation concern for the spawning salmon, eggs in the gravel or other species of wildlife that used to frequent our rivers. Wildlife that depends on access to the river and its bounty can hardly get there without traffic control. There is absolutely no control over the numbers of stream stomping, how many, how big, how cheap, anglers that can arrive from outside of Canada to fish our rivers for weeks on end. Locals are tired of watching anglers wade through spawning salmon and redds and watching the parade of boats of all types from daylight to dark. Most locals have hung up their rods for steelhead, or at least until late fall in hopes the pressure will dissipate, but there appears to be no end in sight. While resident angler licence numbers plummet the Province continues to reap the bounty from the sale of access to our fair rivers to non-residents at $20.00 per day. Enforcement is at an all time low on the rivers and the increase of outfitters and guides from outside the country grows annually. When is enough enough?

We would like to thank SEHAB for their support on the upper Skeena Chinook index issue and for providing the list of abbreviations used so often in correspondence these days.

Our concerns from the north regarding habitat will be presented in the EPMP discussions and working group.

May 2006

Upper  Skeena Roundtable Report - May 13 and 14, 2006 As prepared by Ev Person
There has been little change in the situations in the north since the last SEHAB meeting in February. This in itself suggests there is little going on and no progress on issues brought forward previously.
There has been no response on the Chinook issue fishers have been complaining about over the last few years. Proposals to enhance and put out CWT groups from Upper Skeena stocks have been deep-sixed in favour of attempting to capture wild smolts and CWT tagging them. This will be cost prohibitive, marginally successful based on past attempts and we still won't have anything constructive or otherwise for another full cycle. The poor recovery efforts on existing CWTs suggest that unless there is more monitoring of catch for CWT this exercise will be futile.
The lack of attention to the declining Chinook stocks has set us up for another CK crisis similar to the 70s and early 80s. Managers should bear the blame for allowing this to get to this stage and ignoring the declining trends of the past cycle. Word is there appears to be lots of fish off the coast now but it remains to be seen how many actually make it up the river to spawn.
The fish farming issue continues to be the priority for many groups and individuals in the Skeena region as the Province and FOC are quietly supporting the initiative and ignoring the constituents. Coastal and upriver communities strongly oppose any fish farming off the Skeena and are very vocal but with little progress to date.
As previously mentioned there is currently a dramatic increase in exploration for coal, coalbed methane and minerals in general in northern BC, and with limited population and resources stewardship and environmental groups are working hard to keep up. Their efforts are currently to try and keep up to speed with the companies and agencies involved and to establish meaningful consultation processes rather than the open house scenario being utilized by the Ministry of Mines and others. A similar tack is being taken by Enbridge with the oil pipeline issue where public open house meet and greet are held but no meaningful consultation process for questions and answers are in place.
For more information on the coal and coalbed methane issue contact: Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition at 250 842-0021 or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..   For more information on the Fish farming issue contact: www.saveourskeenasalmon.com
With respect to the EPMP, the word in our area is that we have already lost staff out of Prince Rupert and even if that person or position is replaced we will still not maintain status quo. I think we all know what status quo means. We have been going backwards already and less effort, more compliance based monitoring etc. will do little to protect habitat and fish from the impending projects in the north.

February 2006

SEHAB Roundtable North Coast February 2006
Upper Skeena Roundtable Report - February 17, 18 & 19, 2006
As prepared by Ev Person & G. Wadley (Alternate)

1. Priority Issue: As reported in Ev Person’s Oct. 2005 roundtable report the Chinook issue remains the priority issue from the Northwest. The depressed runs over the past few years have raised alarms with inland fishers with minimal response from FOC staff. Average run strengths to Skeena tributaries have declined dramatically in the past 10 years, in some cases by >60% of average escapements in the 1990’s.  (See attached Table “Chinook Escapements for Upper Skeena Tributary Streams”) This issue has been brought forward to FOC over the past 3 years through stewardship groups and the Sportfish Advisory Board and the response from FOC has been rhetoric. (See attached notes from the Northcoast SFAB meetings at the end of this report)

Skeena stewards have asked for a Chinook index stream from the upper Skeena for at least 5 years and applications for support and funding have been ignored. Currently the only Chinook index stream is the Kalum River, flowing into the lower Skeena, which is not representative of upper Skeena stocks. In past years (1980’s – late 1990’s) CWT Chinook were produced for the upper Skeena from Kispiox (middle Skeena), Fort Babine (upper Skeena) and the Toboggan Creek (upper Bulkley/Morice) Community Involvement Projects. These provided a much needed supplement to depressed stocks and information on harvest by Alaska and Canadian fisheries. Similar to Coho CWT programs from the same facilities, these provided the only relevant information on interceptions and exploitation rates available to FOC prior to and during the coho crisis.
Recent moves by FOC to reduce marking of enhanced fish appears to be a huge step backwards for assessment and is not viewed as positive by local fishers. 

To further articulate our position as an action item……We in the north want an upper Skeena Chinook indicator from at least one of the stocks in jeopardy and we want SEHAB support for this initiative to HEB.

2. Marking and Assessment Priority: Where hatchery fish are being released we want support to continue marking (regardless of who pays for it) and a commitment from FOC to continue to improve monitoring for marks. We feel this is key to better understanding our Skeena stocks for all concerned. FOC locally seems determined to drop marking as a priority even if stewardship groups are willing to pay for it. In some jurisdictions on the coast all released fish must be marked and one would think that consistency would be key to assessment goals over all jurisdictions. Currently FOC recovery and monitoring efforts for marks through the commercial and commercial sport fishery in the north are abysmal and we need this information to determine why our upriver stocks are in decline and who’s catching them.

3. Relevant to the Chinook enhancement and marking issues, the Kispiox SEP was closed by the current CA in 1996 and the Fort Babine SEP facility was taken from the 20 year contractor (Fort Babine Enterprises) and handed off to the Chicago Creek Enhancement Society to operate for the past 3 years. FOC - HEB staff were directly involved in both of these debacles and recent comments and initiatives by OHEB staff continue to irk First Nations stewards and compromise their efforts to remain involved in stewardship activities. Unsolicited comments from the above groups, as well as Houston representatives suggest there are continuing issues related to FOC’s selective working relationship with stewards in the area. This is nothing new for some of the groups here but should be a cause for concern for HEB officials and FOC regional staff.

4. Another major issue looming for Skeena Country is the Coalbed Methane exploration being pushed by the Province of BC. The following excerpt from the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition outlines the issue.

SHELL OIL DRILLING ON THE SKEENA
~ Submitted by the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition 
Shell Oil has been granted tenure to drill exploratory wells for Coalbed Methane on the Skeena River.  4 wells have been approved by the government without any input from the residents or First Nations.  There is no place in the world where Coalbed Methane and salmon or steelhead have been able to co-exist but the government and Shell have assured us that our resources will be protected.  Their promises are about as meaningful as the promise the fish farms won’t harm our wild salmon!  The Ministry of Energy and Mines as well as the Oil and Gas Commission of BC have fewer laws in place than Alberta to protect our wild resources.  Employment seems to be the key reason the government claims to support such mega-projects in our sacred headwaters but when the 11 other coalbed methane projects in BC get 85% of their employees from Alberta, I tend to question whose employment are we trying to improve?  Less than 1% of the jobs on a coalbed methane jobsite go to residents of the local communities affected by the development.
In a study conducted last year on the Oil and Gas sites currently operating in Northeastern BC, there were more than 3000 environmental infractions cited as well as more than 75% of soil or water near the sites contaminated to the point that it is not fit for consumption and in some cases, quite lethal.  If you would like more information on this, you can visit any of the websites listed below.
www.dogwoodinitiative.org, www.wcel.org, www.cbmwatch.ca

5. A Mega Project proposed for Northern BC with major habitat protection implications.
The Enbridge Gateway Pipeline Project

The Environmental Process Modernization Plan proposed by Fisheries will have to demonstrate a profound ability to deal with the methane exploration AND the Enbridge Gateway Pipeline. This mega project proposes to cross the northern part of the province from Alberta with an oil pipeline to the Port of Kitimat.  The proposed pipeline, along with the Shell gas exploration constitute the two major issues facing Northwest BC and pose a serious environmental risk to upper Fraser, Skeena, Nass, Stikine and the upper Finlay Rivers. The first four of which represent the best remaining salmon rivers on the BC coast.

With little population base in our northern communities the need to review and monitor development plans places an onerous burden on regional stewardship groups. In order to protect environment and habitat through these processes reliance on our agencies and other NGO’s is imperative.  Fisheries and Oceans and Environment Canada will have to demonstrate a strong commitment early in the process to ensure habitat and water quality are a priority issue. More on Enbridge as the information comes available. (web address for preliminary report – www.endbridge.com/pdf/2005-11-02-gatewaypip.pdf  )


6. SEHAB related issues brought forward are as follows:

•    Roundtable issues are a priority to constituents. Written reports can bring issues forward but there needs to be adequate time for discussion of major issues such that actions can be seen to follow from FOC.  There is no assurance that written comments or concerns will be adequately addressed through the process. We need to follow issues through the SEHAB process to see what has been resolved other than new processes.
•    In that vein, there has been a myriad of new processes and new directions, re-organization, obvious dis-organization and little action from FOC. It appears the issue of $ to carryout the programs we are concerned with remains one of the biggest stumbling blocks and more effort towards funding of programs deemed priority by the public may be required. What did happen to the CEDP review?
•    Conservation and Protection issues related to habitat remains a concern with northern groups as the history of enforcement in our region is fraught with dissension and lack of action. We look for a clear path through the agency to record and report habitat violations and to follow the investigation and resolution or possible prosecution. FOC efforts with the two major projects should be transparent and accessible.
•    Efforts are underway to increase communication with more stewardship groups in the area and an updated list will be forwarded within a month .
•    If SEHAB is going to be responsible for, or expected to be educating the public about issues such as EPMP, Groundwater contamination, priority roundtable issues and funding sources, FOC will need to consolidate some of the information in concise presentation for dissemination to stewards and NGO’s. Formal presentations for EPMP will probably be required and FOC staff will have to be presenting.
•    Ev Person (his 73rd birthday this year) has requested a dictionary of acronyms for ease of understanding the flow of e-mails and reports.

Copies of Notes and motions from a recent Northcoast Sportfish Advisory Board Meeting

NCCM01-10 – It was moved by Terri O’Neil and seconded by Tom Protheroe that DFO move quickly to provide for (finance and implement) an indicator stock for the upper skeena chinook stocks, and an indicator stock for lower skeena coho stocks.  PASSED UNAIMOUSLY
John McCulloch – Opportunities to establish conservation units for upper Skeena chinook may be possible through the Wild Salmon Policy.
Upper Skeena – Terri O’Neil
There is a growing concern regarding chinook escapements to the Bear/Sustut and Bulkley/Morice systems.  There was a discussion around Skeena sockeye and the restrictions placed on the recreational fishery in-season.  The Babine weir issue was discussed and it was suggested that DFO stock assessment should be invited to the next meeting.  3 motions were introduced.
Chinook Stock Assessment – Ivan Winther(FOC CK BIO)
All of the normal summertime stocks came in less than we have been experiencing recently.  The Nass was better than the Skeena.  The Bear was very low and the counts were conducted by Dan Wagner so there is no concern with the method.  The Sustut was down to a lesser extent.  Doesn’t believe the Bear is being hit disproportionately in any fishery.
John Brockley – What is the difference between historical escapements and biological based escapements?
Ivan Winther – The biological based goal is the amount needed to get maximum output.
Terri O’Neil – Why is there no CWT data for the Bulkley.
Ivan Winther – The Cedar and little Bulkley stocks have passed Tyee before the test fishery starts.  We have looked at the little Bulkley CWT’s but because of run timing they miss most all of the domestic fisheries other than in terminal areas.  They are being harvested in Alaska.
John Brockley – There was a motion passed last spring to establish a tagging program in the upper Skeena.
Ivan Winther – Would have to look into it and would have to do a program of a few systems in the Skeena and also use radio tagging to compare to Kalum data.
Dave Peacock – Would cost 1 million dollars over 2 years.  We will do work for the Wild Salmon Policy but don’t believe will have any new funds.

October 2005

Upper Skeena Roundtable Report - February 17, 18 & 19, 2006
As prepared by Ev Person & G. Wadley (Alternate)
1. Priority Issue: As reported in Ev Person’s Oct. 2005 roundtable report the Chinook issue remains the priority issue from the Northwest. The depressed runs over the past few years have raised alarms with inland fishers with minimal response from FOC staff.
Average run strengths to Skeena tributaries have declined dramatically in the past 10
years, in some cases by >60% of average escapements in the 1990’s. (See attached
Table “Chinook Escapements for Upper Skeena Tributary Streams”) This issue has
been brought forward to FOC over the past 3 years through stewardship groups and the
Sportfish Advisory Board and the response from FOC has been rhetoric. (See attached
notes from the Northcoast SFAB meetings at the end of this report)
Skeena stewards have asked for a Chinook index stream from the upper Skeena for at
least 5 years and applications for support and funding have been ignored. Currently the
only Chinook index stream is the Kalum River, flowing into the lower Skeena, which is
not representative of upper Skeena stocks. In past years (1980’s – late 1990’s) CWT
Chinook were produced for the upper Skeena from Kispiox (middle Skeena), Fort Babine
(upper Skeena) and the Toboggan Creek (upper Bulkley/Morice) Community
Involvement Projects. These provided a much needed supplement to depressed stocks and
information on harvest by Alaska and Canadian fisheries. Similar to Coho CWT
programs from the same facilities, these provided the only relevant information on
interceptions and exploitation rates available to FOC prior to and during the coho crisis.
Recent moves by FOC to reduce marking of enhanced fish appears to be a huge step
backwards for assessment and is not viewed as positive by local fishers.
To further articulate our position as an action item……We in the north want an upper
Skeena Chinook indicator from at least one of the stocks in jeopardy and we want
SEHAB support for this initiative to HEB.
2. Marking and Assessment Priority: Where hatchery fish are being released we want
support to continue marking (regardless of who pays for it) and a commitment from FOC
to continue to improve monitoring for marks. We feel this is key to better understanding
our Skeena stocks for all concerned. FOC locally seems determined to drop marking as a
priority even if stewardship groups are willing to pay for it. In some jurisdictions on the
coast all released fish must be marked and one would think that consistency would be key
to assessment goals over all jurisdictions. Currently FOC recovery and monitoring efforts
for marks through the commercial and commercial sport fishery in the north are abysmal
and we need this information to determine why our upriver stocks are in decline and
who’s catching them.
3. Relevant to the Chinook enhancement and marking issues, the Kispiox SEP was closed
by the current CA in 1996 and the Fort Babine SEP facility was taken from the 20 year
contractor (Fort Babine Enterprises) and handed off to the Chicago Creek Enhancement
Society to operate for the past 3 years. FOC - HEB staff were directly involved in both of
these debacles and recent comments and initiatives by OHEB staff continue to irk First
Nations stewards and compromise their efforts to remain involved in stewardship
activities. Unsolicited comments from the above groups, as well as Houston
representatives suggest there are continuing issues related to FOC’s selective working
relationship with stewards in the area. This is nothing new for some of the groups here
but should be a cause for concern for HEB officials and FOC regional staff.
4. Another major issue looming for Skeena Country is the Coalbed Methane
exploration being pushed by the Province of BC. The following excerpt from the
Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition outlines the issue.
SHELL OIL DRILLING ON THE SKEENA
~ Submitted by the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition
Shell Oil has been granted tenure to drill exploratory wells for Coalbed Methane on the Skeena River. 4
wells have been approved by the government without any input from the residents or First Nations. There
is no place in the world where Coalbed Methane and salmon or steelhead have been able to co-exist but the
government and Shell have assured us that our resources will be protected. Their promises are about as
meaningful as the promise the fish farms won’t harm our wild salmon! The Ministry of Energy and Mines
as well as the Oil and Gas Commission of BC have fewer laws in place than Alberta to protect our wild
resources. Employment seems to be the key reason the government claims to support such mega-projects
in our sacred headwaters but when the 11 other coalbed methane projects in BC get 85% of their employees
from Alberta, I tend to question whose employment are we trying to improve? Less than 1% of the jobs on
a coalbed methane jobsite go to residents of the local communities affected by the development.
In a study conducted last year on the Oil and Gas sites currently operating in Northeastern BC, there were
more than 3000 environmental infractions cited as well as more than 75% of soil or water near the sites
contaminated to the point that it is not fit for consumption and in some cases, quite lethal. If you would
like more information on this, you can visit any of the websites listed below.
www.dogwoodinitiative.org, www.wcel.org, www.cbmwatch.ca
5. A Mega Project proposed for Northern BC with major habitat protection implications.
The Enbridge Gateway Pipeline Project
The Environmental Process Modernization Plan proposed by Fisheries will have to
demonstrate a profound ability to deal with the methane exploration AND the Enbridge
Gateway Pipeline. This mega project proposes to cross the northern part of the province
from Alberta with an oil pipeline to the Port of Kitimat. The proposed pipeline, along
with the Shell gas exploration constitute the two major issues facing Northwest BC and
pose a serious environmental risk to upper Fraser, Skeena, Nass, Stikine and the upper
Finlay Rivers. The first four of which represent the best remaining salmon rivers on the
BC coast.
With little population base in our northern communities the need to review and monitor
development plans places an onerous burden on regional stewardship groups. In order to
protect environment and habitat through these processes reliance on our agencies and
other NGO’s is imperative. Fisheries and Oceans and Environment Canada will have to
demonstrate a strong commitment early in the process to ensure habitat and water quality
are a priority issue. More on Enbridge as the information comes available. (web address
for preliminary report – www.endbridge.com/pdf/2005-11-02-gatewaypip.pdf )

June 2005

Ev Person – Smithers and Northwestern B.C. (Brenda Donas)

1. Chicago Creek PIP project building destroyed by fire January 28th. New building close to lock-up stage according to Greg Houlden, Chair of Chicago Creek.
2. Babine River Fish Health Monitoring Program not happening due to budget cuts.  (This was to establish a baseline to check against the introduction of fish farms at mouth of Skeena.)
3. Steelhead started spawning two weks early due to warmer water temperatures.  I walked a short stretch of Toboggan Creek two weeks after spawning started and observed 18 spawners.  Light was poor for observing.
4. Toboggan hatchery is going well.  Money-wise, we had to extend our line of credit to $40,000 as we were $26,000 into our credit line before our first advance came through.
5. I attended a Friends of Wild Salmon Workshop in Terrace May 7th.  It was attended by many groups, natives from the Skeena and Kitimat, commercial fishermen, anglers, sport fish lodges, Alaska trollers, etc.
6. They want a moratorium on any further expansion of netcage finfish farms on the Coast of B.C.
7. Mike O'Neill, our hatchery manager, has been on CBC Radio and Northern TV promoting the turning in of heads of adipose-clipped hatchery fish.  (see handout)