NASS RIVER sockeye runs are’ lower than anticipated but fisheries biologists aren’t that surprised. ; ‘This year’s returning fish were born i in 2000 and that was a low return year as well, meaning there were fewer fish available to spawn, says bi- ologist Richard Alexander who has been tracking the Nass fishery for 14 years. As of last. week, Nisga’a fisheries officials es- timated the return was 550,000 sockeye, off from an expected run of 700,000. “In 2000, the return was 540,000,” said Alex- ander. He and other biologists suspect that increased warm water in the ocean waters off of British Co- lumbia may be affecting the returns. Warm water-translate¢ into fewer nutrients for plankton, and that in turn reduces the amount of food available for salmon. The result can translate into smaller, underfed salmon that can be too weak to out-swim deadly predators. Warm water ocean conditions can also force salmon to range further. Alexander said the warm water suspicions _ were firmed up when a fish more common to the Portland Inlet leading to the mouth of the Nass -River in mid July. “It’s called a kingfish and it really looks like a small mackerel,” said Alexander. Although numbers are off of projections in the 1.2 million. down from forecasts. Commercial fishing has been banned on the Fraser and on the Skeena but the native food fishery has been allowed. In response to the low Nass sockeye returns, the Nisga’a are reducing their pre-season com- mercial entitlement of 123,510 fish. ' Alexander expects the final figure to be in the 112,000 range. What this does is bolster the _ Spawning numbers to build up future generations . Of fish. -. The food fishery is set at a standard catch of 30,000 sockeye a year and that’s already been NISGA'A FISH technician Charles Morven, left, with biologist Richard Alexander and: technician Leonard Gunois3"<66nTRiBUTED PHOTO: aps fan bne ck baal THE BACK Eraser, Pencil, Sharpener, Ruler Ww [AGlue. Value Pack . 5 piece Set tS. AG " Students! Come in and get your free discount card! | warmer waters off of California was caught in - Nass, the situation is more serious in the Skeena’ ‘with federal fisheries officials reporting a return | _ of 672,000 sockeye compared to a projection of - Early run return numbers on the Fraser are also | The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - A3 Low Nass run not surprising FISH TAGGING, shown here at one of the fishwheels used by the Nisga’a on the Nass River, helps biologists track numbers and runs. Lower Nass water levels this year mean it is taking longer for'fish to reach their spawning grounds. RICHARD ALEXANDER PHOTO . formation-sharing; which extends to Alaskan fish, Calculator Latterind Guide, Commas ; eee ae reached on the Nass. ‘ That 550,000 anticipated return figure this year is taken from what biologists call an in-season tally and is subject to revision when a variety of other data is available by early October. Based on accuniulated data, Alexander and other biologists are predicting a weaker sockeye ; run next year in the 400,000 range to ‘be followed -. ‘by several years of much higher returns. Managing the Nass fishery is different than on. v1 other rivers because of the Nisga’a involvement | through their 2000 land claims treaty. A fisheries department of the Nisga’a Lisims Government works conducts both assessment and enhancement programs and works with the fed- eral Department of Fisheries and Oceans through provisions in the treaty. Alexander described the co-operation and in- eries officials, as excellent because it results in much better data upon which to make decisions. “What's important is the recognition this is a sustainable resource and to have a good manage- ment system in place increases that sustainabil-° ity,” he said. A good management plan combined with ef- forts to boost fish numbers results i in larger com- . mercial catches. ° The. biologist also noted the Nass chinook run «was also lower than expected this year and that the Nisga’a then lowered their catch in response. There are three parts to the Nisga’a commercial fishery — the one that takes place in the marine waters off of Gingolx at the mouth of the Nass River, an individual sale gillnet fishery in the river itself and a fishwheel fishery at two locations, near Gitwinksihlkw and above Old io Alyansh. As of late Cash in and La-z-t ‘Rebates from gat la to°I50 — Receive half of your rebate Instantly from your La-Z-Boy — retailer and the other half asa malll- in cash rebate. News In Brief Strike vote planned by B.C. teachers TEACHERS Y ne and across the province are taking a strike vote beginning Sept. 20 to back ° demands for a pay increase and ’ for changes to the way they’ bargain with the provincial government. Those changes include re- moving education, as an essen- tial service and allowing teach- ers to bargain on the number of students in classes and on the . composition of those classes Jinny Sims | All of those measures were brought in by the provin- cial Liberal government following the 2001 election. BCTF President Jinny Sims said teachers do not take job action lightly. “ “We would rather not have to do so, but we have been working under increasingly difficult: classroom conditions for many months and our students deserve better,” Sims said last week. Demands. for wage ‘increase contradict, the general - provincial government policy ‘that all public sector workers go through a three-year income freeze. . _ Teachers and the province have been. bargaining since 2004 but have made no progress. 0 Since education is now an essential service, ‘teachers. won't be permitted to undertake a wholesale strike. But they could stop teaching some programs, such as sports and music, if they are not considered essential. Cable guys count __- Hwy37 traffic - SEVERAL CABLESS laid across various stretches of Highway 37 South between Terrace and Kitimat earlier this month recorded not just the number of vehicles but also the type. : .“It’s able to tell us the configuration of the vehicles . whether they’re tractor trailers,” explained Randy | Penner, Skeena ‘district operations , manager with the transportation ministry. _. The cables remained on the road for eight days, The * ministry had placed the counters along Highway 16 and by the four-way stop at the intersection ofHwy37 South | and Hwy 16 as well, said Penner. ‘ _ The information gathered from the ‘counters was: downloaded into a computer database in . Prince George. The data will be used to determine if any changes are . “necessary to better accommodate traffic needs. .Penner noted the information will also factor into’ highway response time classifications. Higher. classi-:. fications receive quicker attention to damage. such as _cracks and potholes. ' The road between Kitimat and Terrace currently has a 3A rating which is one of the highest provincial clas- sifications. The road was also completely paved in 2003 and in 2004 with safety features such as rumble strips being » installed... ~ ENTER TO WIN! -A full Art Supply Sewing Supply Kit! Over $50 value! Disney Princesses, Scooby-Doo ay Powerpuff Girls and morelg ELEANOR RECLINA-ROCKER’ =537.50 INSTANT REBATE . CHAISE RECLINER , 537,50 MAIL-IN REBATE S49 4 AFTER , Get*75 i in La-Z-Boy Rebates ON SELECT .LA-Z-BOY® RECLINERS & CHAIRS reg.5569 REBATES Get *100 i in 1 La-Z-Boy Rebates ON ALL LA-Z-BOY® LEATHER RECLINERS, LEATHER CHAIRS, PLUS SOFAS & LOVESEATS, RECLINING SOFAS & SLEEP SOFAS Reg.5899 : re 50, 00 INSTANT REBATE “™ ° : =550.00 MAIL-IN REBATE & . 2 vy SOFA 199 REBATES alii: ee 2 ‘ aa . & Get °125 in La-Z-Boy Rebates ON ALL LA-Z-BOY® LEATHER SOFAS, LEATHER LOVESEATS, _ LEATHER RECLINING SOFAS & SLEEP SOFAS peg. 1599 ~ $2.60 INSTANT REBATE ~ 62,50 MAIL-IN REBATE ONION og GENUI RAIN LEATHER LA-Z-TIME* $] 4A]. AFTER ° RECLINING SOFA ; REBATES ’ CHAISE 79 Get*100 in La-Z-Bey Rebates ON ALL LAZ-BOY® LEATHER RECLINERS, LEATHER CHAIRS, PLUS SOFAS & LOVESEATS, RECLINING SOFAS & SLEEP SOFAS" LEATHER RECLINER Rag. 5899 { —S50.00 INSTANT REBATE gf — $50.00 MAIL-IN REBATE (aa AFTER REBATES sae cia 635-1422 1-888-984-8880 www.creativezonecrafts.com © 2005 Lo-2-Boy iIncemorated Mutiple tebotes on all quoified products may be used. Modular Group rebate is $50 per piace, with a marinum solo! rebate of $150 per modutat group. Ofer good on select styles purchased from outhonzed dealers behesen Augus! 17 and Saptanber 7, 2005. No subsiitutions of roin checks. Otticio! vedote claim form ond soles recerps must be feceived by L0-2-Boy by December 31, 2005. Otter ret watid where pronibiies by tow. Omer rules cred eeshictions apply. Soe store ce wirw.lazdoy.com/radate lor dekoits. TOTEM FURNITURE & APPLIANCES 4501 Lakelse Ave., Terrace, B.C. ¢ 638-1158 « 1-800-813-1158 a