“yg A4 Terrace Reviews — Wednesday, September 4, 1991. by Tod Strachan The federal Department of Fish- eries and Oceans is getting it from all sides these days. Commercial fishermen are unhappy, the native fishery is feeling the crunch of poor retums in the Skeena and Nass systems, and the Skeena Watershed Sportfishermen’s Coali- tion has fired what they call their "initial salvo" in a new campaign with the same old cry for help that has been ignored for years. The Skeena Watershed Sports- fishermen’s Coalition was formed by the B.C. Steelhead Society and the B.C. Wildlife Federation about five or six years ago and now has support from almost every corner of the Northwest. Some of the groups currently supporting the coalition include the Terrace and District Chamber of Commerce and the Terrace and District An- gling Guides Association; and soon, Terrace city council is expected to climb aboard. Outside the Terrace area, the coalition has the support of the Hazelton Chamber of Commerce, — the entire Kispiox Valley tourism and fish guiding industry, guiding groups in the Bulkley Valley, the North by Northwest Tourism Asso- ciation, Smithers and Houston city councils, and soon, the Smithers Chamber, of. Commerce... According to coalition represen- tative Jim Culp: "All of us are disillusioned with what is happen- ing at the current time. The Skeena and Nass watersheds have.a major problem. This is the worst steelhead return in history, if not a tie with 1956. Escapement now is only 25 percent of the 1980’s 10- year average. Culp blames the problem on the federal government for ignoring priorities laid down in the mandate of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Their primary responsibil- ity is supposed to be conservation, he says, while the native food fishery comes second and the recreational and commercial. fish- ery are third and are supposed to have equal importance. Instead, though, Fisheries and Oceans manages the resource for commercial fish stocks and has largely ignored non-commercial species. As a result, "We are facing a disaster of major propor- tions. The steelhead situation is serious, chinook stocks are severe- ly depressed, and coho stocks are in trouble." Culp says, "We need an organ- ized public behind us and we expect an active campaign to carry on for a number of months where correspondence with the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans will: expand." Also present at a coalition press conference last week were coali- tion members Gil Payne, Bruce Hill and Steve Nickholls, who focused on the nature of this year’s sports fishery disaster. Commercial fish stocks were in short supply. in lower. mainland this year and as a result the entire commercial fleet focused primarily on the mouth of the Skeena. Dur- ing the week of July 20 there were over 400 seiners outside the Skeena and 758 gillnetters at the mouth. One high-tech seiner is the equi- valent of 10 gillnetters, making a setting every 18 to 20 minutes and laking as many as 1,000 fish in each setting. An average setting might net 200 sockeye, 400. coho and pinks, a few steelhead and a variety of other miscellaneous species. oo - — - mo The situation at the mouth of the Skeena was so severe this year. according to the coalition, that even the inshore gillnetters were complaining that offshore seiners were taking everything. For all intents and purposes, no fish were reaching the mouth of the Skeena. But this is only one example of federal mismanagement. Openings, says the coalition, are sometimes scheduled only to give commercial fishermen the required number of days to collect UIC... Not because stocks are sufficient to allow fish- ing. Is this living up to the federal mandate which places conservation at the head of their list of prior- ities? According to the coalition, of all fish taken, 92 percent are taken by the commercial fishery while only four percent are taken by the native fishery and another four percent by the sports fishery. It is obvious too many fish are being taken, they say, and it’s also obvi- ous where the most effective cuts can be made. .. Under present. fishery’s: manage- ment practices, though, says Culp, "The situation is desperate and the industry is still allowed to fish. If conservation is the first priority, there should be no gaff fishery at Moricetown and no. net fishery at the mouth of the Skeena at the present time." Kalum River rapids claim life of Campbell River scientist A 38-year-old Campbell River man is dead following a kayaking accident in the Kalum River Aug, 27. Terrace coroner Jim Lynch. says John Dickie Barrie, a Campbell River marine biologist and veterinarian, drowned after the kayak in which he and a friend were riding overturned and Barrie apparently struck his head on rocks. Barrie’s friend is also a Campbell River resident. Lynch says both men were very experienced and properly equipped for their adventure. The accident clearly demonstrates the risks FAST FOREST FACTS sponsored by Canadian }Women In Timber _ Terrace Branch FACT: Timber Is a natural material. It is ecologically benign io grow, fal! and replant. It Is a renewable resource. It can be virtually endlessly recycled. (source: Timber Research and Development Association) involved in white water kayaking, he says. According to Lynch, the _pair were camping at the mouth of Deep Creek and launched . their kayak from the mouth of Lean-to Creek for their down-river adven- ture. Both men were wearing dry suits, floatation devices and hel- mets. The accident occurred south of the Kalum Canyon at about 7:30 p.m. Because of high water, recovery of the body was deemed too dan- gerous the evening of the accident. Instead, the body was recovered early the next morning with the Terrace Search and Rescue Water Recovery Team standing by in case one of the rescuers ran into trouble in the rapids. Effective September 3rd. 1991 Doris’s Coiffures Will be Owned and Operated by AUDREY COX _ Doris and Diane will still be on staff to continue serving their clients. Drop in and see us! Monday thru Saturday 9 to 5 4603J Park Ave. 638-1704 The coalition campaign, is target- ing the management of the fishery, not commercial fishermen, say otganizers. They explain that some - commercial fishermen are cooper- ative and are trying to make a difference. But with current man- agement practices of the resource it is impossible for them to make any real difference. In their appeal to Ottawa for better management practices, the coalition has made four recommen- dations that they say would make a difference. Their first suggestion calls for area licensing of the com- mercial fishery. The problem with this idea, they say, is that someone would have to decide which fisher- man gets to fish in which area. Another recommendation calls for table fishing. This would require seiners to use a smaller net fo selectively take fish in their é Sports fishermen launch new campaign Local agencies back anglers’ group seine net before releasing all other species. The present system of hauling the net over the stern of the seine boat kills the fish. Another idea is a reduction of the commercial fleet. The problem + with this idea is determining which fishermen would be required to ‘surrender their licenses. And a _ final suggestion calls for redrawing of estuary boundaries to keep commercial fishing boats further from the mouth of the river. Whatever solution the federal government may or may not decide on, however, the effective- ness of that solution will be far more important than the method. Because as Culp explains, "The © Skeena is still the greatest wild steelhead river in the world. But if we can’t save the summer steelhead run, what’s the point." And as for their current campaign, "This is a last bash." _ Ufyouwish to announce... the birth of YOUR baby, for Leon and Trishia. weighing 7 Ibs. 5-1/2 oz. please fill out the form available in the maternity ward at Mills Memorial Hospital. We will pick up your forms every week. BLAKEBURN — Gordon and Cindy are the proud par- ents of daughter Elisha Kaylee, born August 27, 1991. weighing 5 Ibs. 9 oz. A little sister for Sarah. DALY — Andre and Kim are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter Kirsten Leslie on August 24, 1991 weighing 7 Ibs. 12-1/2 oz. GODFREY — Doug and Lesa are proud to announce the birth of their son Nathan on August 27, 1991 weigh- ing 7 Ibs. 8 oz. A little brother tor Becky. GOSNELL — Ted and Lisa are pleased to announce the birth of their daughter Shawna Lee on August 29, 4991 at 10:30.p.m. weighing 8 Ibs. 13 oz. A little sister MORGAN — Annie and Sterling are the proud parents of son Frederick Ernest, born August 29, 1991 weighing 9 Ibs. 11 oz. A little brother for Tyson and Shaun. RUSSELL/SAMPARE — Michael Russell and Leanne Sampare are pleased to announce the birth of their son Marcel Michael Cameron Russell on July 15, 19914 Lawrence and Debble are proud to announce the birth of their daughter Katherine Elizabeth on August 30, 1991 at 12:15 p.m. weighing 8 Ibs. 9 oz. A baby sister for Christopher, Michael and Jamie. FLOWERS _ A LA CARTED SKEENA MALL “EXPECT THE EXTRAORDINARY” WE DELIVER 635-4080 12 - 4741 LAKELSE, TERRACE After Store Hours 638-1954 / Telex 04765549 TERRACE FLOWERS A LA CARTE LTO.