Feds find |
silver lining
from fishery

TERRACE — This summer’s
inland native commercial fishery.

was a success despite ap-
pearances of chaos and confu-
sion, says a federal fisheries offi-
cial.

“T think that we learned a lot,”
said Norm Leminen, north coast
acting manager for the Depart-
ment of Fisheries and Occans
(DFO). “It could have been bet-
ter, but I think it’s a success.’

DFO is still investigating four
individuals _— fish sellers and
processors — in connection with

alleged incidents of food fish :

sales.

Fisheries officers seized more
ihan 20,000 pounds of fish in
(bree busts at processing or pack-
ing plants in Prince Rupert aud
Vancouver.

It was the first year natives
were allowed to fish commercial-
ly on the Skeena.

Four native groups — the Tsim-
shian, the  Gitksan, the
Wet’suwet’en and = the Fort
Babine band — were allocated a
combined total of 150,000 sock-
eye and 150,000 pink salmon.
Those were surplus fish over and
above escapement targets, which
were to be taken selectively using
fish-traps and other methods.

Lemmmen said the native groups
ended ‘up taking less than half

their allocation because some of. ©

the selective gear they were using
—-such as fish wheels and beach
seines. — didn’t work as well as
natives had hoped.

Lemmen called the Fort Babine
fishery a definite success, but said
both. the Tsimshian and Gitksan-
fishcrics were ‘‘a little bit more
complicated.”

There was some confusion

about who was authorized to sell
fish.

“Ht could have been bet-
ter. but I think it’s a.suc-
cess.

“Also, the early closure by DFO
of . the ‘Tsimshian — fishery
prompted Tsimshian Tribal
Council president Art Sterritt to
lash out at DFO.

Some miscommunication, Lem-
men explained, created a ‘‘greal
deal of confusion” between the
departincut and the Tsimshian.

But overall, he ‘said, it was a
landmark season because of the
introduction of the selective
methods,

‘He said the advent of a fishery
that'.can selectively take one
species, or just one stock of one
species, is anew method of maxi-
mizing the, resource without
endangering weaker species.

"IPs a very exciting prospect.
for managing the resource,” he
said.

Food fishing activity — despite
ihe accusations of some commer-
cial fishing representatives ~- ap-

peared to be average, Lemmen —

said,

didn’t seem to increase, allhough

the effort at each site may have ~”

been a bit more vigourous.’’

He said no decision has been - “i
made yet about charging the .~-],

people under investigation,
Lemmen says fisheries officers
have continued to investigate in-

cidents of native food fish sales, .

but it's ‘been two years since
they've had anyone in court on
charges.

That’s because the Supreme
Court of Canada’s 1990 decision
in the case of Ron Sparrow, a
Musqueam native

cess ahead of all other users. to
fish ‘for . food, Social and
ccremonial purposes.”

‘DFO says that aboriginal right:
‘to fish doesn’s include the ight to:

sell those fish.

Natives, however, believe sell-
ing fish is inclided, arguing they *

historically traded. fish with other
native groups. :
Justice: deparuirient

is clarified by: the courts:
Natives :

ly selling food fish out of pickup
tricks downtown in plain view of
‘fisheries officers.

The issue of legality of food

fish sales ‘could: be decided sas wow

winter, however:

“The number of fishing sites "Ee

fisherman, . te
gave natives the first right of ac-

officials MS
have decided: not “to ‘prosecute’ oy
most food: fish sale cases in-the. |...
wake of Sparrow, until the issue”). °

in; Sinithers have a
flaunted the regulations; frequent-

B.C. Court of Appeal will hand
down their written ruling in the

case of Moricetown native Jerry —

Nikal and several other native
fishing cases.

They are to interpret the Spar-
row ruling and decide whether
food fish sales are allowed and
how much DFO can restrict them.

And this winter negotiations
will take place with native groups
on the Skeena leading to what
Lemmen hopes will be a longer

_term agreement on native inland
commercial fishing.

He says it would be an exten-
sion of this summer's pilot pro-

ject, but with: better enforcement .

and a more clear-cut agreement
on what's permitted and what
isn’t.

“We will. have well defined
tules for how each fishery will
lake place,” he said. ‘Everybody
/will know what the rules are,”’

’ Fach native group would have
an interim measures agreemcut

’ on fish that would be in effect un- -

til its land claim is settled. ;

“7 believe we will be able. to
achieve this very quickly,”’ Lem-
men said. “I would like to have
this in place by next summer.”

Commercial fishermen will be
compensated for any permanent
loss in allocation to natives, Lem-
men said,

Terrace Concert Society

Announces its

1992 - 1993, Season

Saturday October 3. 8 pm
Joelle Rabu in. -:
“Tonight. .Piat"

Friday November 6+ r pm...

Golden Mountain (Su- -Chang Lim Discovers Card)

Friday November 20- 8pm

The Kiev Symphony Orchestra ;

 Miednesday February 17- epm_ —
cow MiVeza.

Saturday January 16-8pm

The Lenny Solomar Trio ia Tribute to Jazz Motiny

~ Friday March 5 - 8pm

ACloser Walk with Patsy Cline .

All Concerts Will Take Place At The
. R.E.M. Lee Theatre ©

Individual Ticket Prices: (On

sale after Sept. 17th).
> Adult Student

& Senior
Tonight...Piaf . $18.12
Golden Mountain - oo) $iae$e
The Kiev Symphony Orchestra *: .. $25°$16
_. ATribute to Jazz Violin "$15 $10
" Viveze Sy A $15 810
Closer Walk With Palsy cine S $20 $14"
Z $106 $70

ES SAVINGS OF ces

Senso Package: Six Concerts Adults: $65; ‘studen Is 4 4 Sénlors: $40.

Al} lickets, including season's packages, will be sold on:a RESERVED SEAT- . eS
ING basis, Tickets and seat selection are available al Em's, House af Fine

Jewellers in lhe Skeena Mall.
ALL PRICES INCLUDE G.S.T.

Terrace Concert Socieh
Post Office Box 368 - ;

Terrace, B.C.

VB8G 481

wa -T he Terrace & District Teachers’ Union .
+. The, Academic Workers Union (Academic Faculty) of
oo Northwest, Community College :

A Very Special Thank You
To Our Generous Sponsors
-ITP Terrace Travel
- The Fabric Boutique
2 Dre& Mis. A.E. Manji
- Drs. BW, & J. Strangway
“+ Omenica Medical Laboratories
_ s2cTymoschuk Agencies (Petro-Canada) _

- Kermodei. Trading Co.

Braid Insurance’

r& Mrs. B.L. Phillips

And To Our Supporters Of The Society
Erwin’ s House of Fine Jewellers

keena Beverages (Pepsi)

nee-Dee Printers

The Terrace Standard

. - The Terrace Concert Society gratefully acknowledges the.
“generous support of aif our Sponsors, Supporters of the

_: Society, The Terrace & District Aris Council, The City of
~ Terrace, & The Ministry Responsible for Culture.

beret value.”

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