There's a good-news story swimming up Howe Sound, a fisheries official says.
Two weeks ago, for the first time in half a century, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) allowed commercial fishing in the waterway. During an exploratory three-day commercial fisheries trial, trawlers hauled an estimated 282,400 pink salmon out of the sound.
I think it was a good experiment, said Brigid Payne, DFO acting area chief of resource management for the Lower Fraser. We were happy that there was some success for the fisheries.
Two boats at a time were permitted to used seine nets to capture the fish. Hauls were recorded as DFO officials wanted to determine the run's strength and whether commercial fishing could be opened in future years.
The department doesn't have a lot of information regarding pinks in the Howe Sound system, Payne said, and noted the recent catch exceeded DFO officials' expectations.
Trawler crews made efforts to limit their catch of other species of salmon. Four sockeye were returned to the water, along with five Chinook and 11 coho salmon. Three sockeye, two Chinook and three coho were accidentally retained.
Data from the haul will be used in integrated management plans for the next pink run in 2015. Stakeholders from recreational fishing groups and the Squamish Nation will be consulted during the process, Payne said.
There is no guarantee each year that you are going to get the same level of return, she said, adding that it's too early to say whether the figures support further commercial fishing.
Squamish Streamkeeper Jack Cooley said he appreciates the cautionary steps DFO officials and commercial fishermen took during the exploratory fishing. Any fish caught unintentionally were placed in water pens and then released into the ocean.
The pink salmon are currently swimming up streams that they normally don't explore, Cooley said. Last weekend, he spotted pinks jumping up Hop Ranch and Swift creeks, a fact he attributed to recent heavy rains. The salmon seek clear water in the creeks while escaping the muddy main rivers, Cooley said. The Squamish Lillooet Sport Fish Advisory Committee is holding a meeting this month to discuss possible concerns.
We really don't know how many [coho] will come back, Cooley said.
