Stikine River salmon enhancement problems

Officials from Fisheries and Oceans Canada (the DFO) are meeting with members of the public and other organizations in Dease Lake today, to discuss problems that have arisen in a complex enhancement program. I met Kevin Gould and his father Bob last night at the Gold Rush to discuss the issue – they are members of the Iskut Stikine Enhancement Society and owners of Great Glacier Salmon, the only salmon processing operation on the Stikine.

In a nutshell (and as I understand it), Canada initiated an enhancement program that used Tuya Lake as a stocking resource. This is an extremely rich lake for raising fish, but salmon find it nearly impossible to get through the canyons to the lake to spawn. Thousands of salmon simply beat themselves to death on the rocks. Today’s meeting is to find a solution. Stop using Tuya Lake? Find a way to ensure 100% capture of Tuya Lake stocks? Or something else. One of the complications is that the fish returning to Mother Nature’s most productive lake, Tahltan Lake, must not be harmed.

Kevin is going to send me an update in the next couple of days – I’ll let you know what happened.