|
SALMON fishermen in the Canadian state of British Columbia are enjoying an unprecedented Sockeye salmon season.
The River Fraser, one of the main fishing areas, has been the scene of an enormous salmon run during the past couple of weeks. According to the latest reports, the run is expected to total more than 30 million fish.
Canneries are working overtime and one of the busiest places in the state capital of Vancouver is the harbour area which has been buzzing with seafood activity.
Commercial fleets have not been permitted to fish on the River Fraser for the past four years when the total catch allotment was 3.7 million. However, this year, the allowed allotment is 7.5 million — which has come as welcome relied for both commercial fishermen and recreational anglers. The run has been so tremendous that the Department of Fisheries and Oceans two weeks ago permitted two more commercial openings for gill netters.This year's massive sockeye run also came in good time for the Wild British Columbia Seafood Festival a few days ago. Festival spokeswoman Sandra Merk said: "It did encourage more people to come."Rob Hart of the Gulf of Georgia Cannery Society in Steveston told CBC news that he hoped all the people "walking by with bags of fresh salmon that they've bought off the docks" will visit the historic cannery, with its operational canning line and other exhibits.
He added: "When they see the fish coming off the dock, we're hoping that their interest is piqued in learning more about how that industry was built and what its history has been."
Should fisheries be closed during breeding time to allow stocks to reach more sustainable levels?
