Thx for the vid Rod,
The Salmon number problem is much bigger than First Nations fisheries even though they do impact the Fraser and other rivers tremendously.
I'm on the Fraser on a regular basis and what we see during the course of the year is mind numbing. Go to Sturgeon Slayers Instagram page and look at the multiple dead Sturgeon left in nets on the beach to rot. Same with Salmon. Shameful and sickening.
Chum Salmon are in deep trouble so are Pinks. Yes, last years Pink run was bigger than expected but still poor. 2 yrs previous it was terrible.
Watching 1000's of male Pinks been thrown back in the river because they are worth nothing is a waste, yet The Harrison Chum pet food contract the Natives have (not sure if they still are doing this) send those male Chum to the US. Why not Pinks also? At least take the males out of the net if they are still alive and release them so they have a chance to spawn.
Us sport fishers are also not angels on the water. I've seen people snagging black Springs in the Vedder and watch family members run down the bank fill their totes and drive away to only come back and see it happen again. This is common practice. Not a good practice to teach your kids.
I've seem anglers takes over their limit of Coho and Chum at the Nicomen Slough, Vedder and Fraser on a regular basis. We counted a least 20 poached Spring and Sockeye on the beach at the Port Mann boat launch a few days ago that the Vultures we eating.
The Albion test set numbers are scary low. In one 5 day stretch only 2 Sockeye were caught where it should be at least 100's.
Off shore fishing from other countries catch our Salmon as do we on many US fish.
My point is that the massive reduction of Salmon is a extremely wide spread problem with so many issues affecting the numbers. Nobody can bitch about the natives net fishery on the Fraser if they are not getting any fish because those fish are not their to be caught.
Yes we do need to clean up our own yard with this fishery issue. Make our limits smaller, educate people on how to fish properly and like you said Rod work together with First Nations to enhance the Salmon runs......
I feel some Nations will but there are a handful and we know who they are that will continue to do what they want, when they want with very little if any reaction from DFO. I'm not sure how many fisher people know that there are quite a few hatcheries that are owned and run by First Nations, so let's not paint them all with the same brush.
DFO have to pull their heads out of their @sses and change the rules in so many areas for our Salmon to make a successful come back. And please people let's not forget about the Sturgeon. They also need help especially from poaching.