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Council for Hupacasath, unceded territory at Port Alberni on Vancouver Island, put conservation and sustainability first by working with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to close Area 23 to harvesting Somass River sockeye. The decision was based on of the pre-season forecast of only 170,000 returning fish.
Each year, as the nation works with DFO to monitor escapement of sockeye to spawning grounds, collected bio-samples from the Sproat and Great Central Lakes are taken to assess stocks,
determine the age composition, male/female ratio and fish lengths. Per agreement with DFO, these fish are distributed to Elders living in the community.
At the fish ladders, salmon abundance is also estimated by a test fishery. The Area 23 Test Fishery harvests an agreed number of fish annually, with the sale of the limited harvest used to finance the program costs of hiring a boat and crew.
The fish are put up for bid from commercial buyers. The bids are sealed and opened on a set date in the presence of DFO, neighboring Tseshaht First Nation and Hupacasath Nation.
This year, Tsuma-as Seafoods LP, a 100 per cent owned and operated Hupacasath company, was the highest bidder.
Hupacasath said the test fishery harvest provided an “excellent opportunity to provide fish for their community in a year of likely scarcity.”
Chief Councillor Steven Tatoosh said “We are proud to support our community, provide food fish for our members and protect our resources through a variety of innovative opportunities.”
Those other opportunities, include administration of a salmon habitat restoration program which hopes to restore many inflow tributaries on Great Central Lake. The first project intends to restore spawning habitat and create overwintering habitat for several species of salmon.
This project also incorporates an educational aspect that will engage Hupacasath youth in the monitoring and protection of salmon habitat.