As of yesterday, June 2nd, the Nisga’a Nation’s food, social, and ceremonial fishery is open, but there are some conservation measures in place to protect Chinook Salmon in the Nass that fishers should keep in mind.
Since 2010, returns of Chinook Salmon to the Nass have been below the levels the Nisga’a Fish and Wildlife Department would like to see to ensure a robust spawning population; with that goal having been met just 5 times in 15 years.
With that in mind, and with escapement still below target last year in the upper Nass but with better returns along the coast, a 3-day harvest plan has now been implemented where marine and in-river fishing is allowed from 6am to 9pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, but with no overnight nets allowed to be set in the river.
Nets can be set during the day, but only 1 net per fisher, and no more than 40 corks, or about 210 feet in length. Nets are also limited to no more than 60 meshes deep, with 5 and a quarter inch max mesh size.
Nisga’a’s Fish and Wildlife Department says it will be keeping a close watch of salmon returns throughout the month of June, and they will use this data to inform conservation and management decisions as needed.
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