Uniting for Salmon: Why Fighting Over Declining Fish Stocks Misses the Bigger Picture
In British Columbia, a critical question looms over salmon-reliant communities: who gets to catch the last salmon? According to Jonathan Moore, if we must ask this question, we have already failed. Instead of engaging in divisive battles over dwindling fish allocations, Moore contends that all stakeholders should unite to fight for the survival of salmon and their habitats.
The Allocation Battles: International and Local Disputes
At both international and regional levels, tensions are rising as different groups vie for their share of the shrinking salmon pie. Canada and the United States are currently negotiating fisheries allocations as part of the renewal of the Pacific Salmon Treaty. Meanwhile, within British Columbia, the salmon allocation policy is under review, with recreational fishing organizations expressing concerns about potential loss of priority over commercial fisheries for species like coho and chinook.
These allocation decisions are becoming increasingly difficult as salmon populations decline. Since the 1980s, commercial salmon fisheries in B.C. have seen their catches reduced by 70% to protect stocks. Over the past 50 years, some Indigenous communities have experienced an 80% drop in their salmon harvests—fisheries that are not only culturally essential but also constitutionally protected. Recreational sectors have faced reductions in fishing opportunities, partly to decrease conflicts with southern resident killer whales.
The Bigger Picture: A 70% Decline in Salmon Populations
Moore warns that focusing solely on allocation disputes risks missing the larger, more urgent issue. Recent analyses by the Pacific Salmon Foundation reveal that 70% of B.C. salmon populations are in decline. This alarming statistic underscores the need for a shift in focus from division to collaboration.
All salmon fisheries, regardless of sector, are united by a fundamental need for healthy salmon populations and ecosystems. As stocks dwindle, the conversations about who gets what must not overshadow the collective goal of conservation and recovery.
Challenges in Salmon Fisheries Management
There are no simple solutions in salmon fisheries management. Catch-and-release practices in ocean fisheries, often seen as a compromise, are not without consequences. A recent study found that even when coho salmon are released in good condition, they suffer a 17% post-release mortality rate. Hatchery propagation, while supporting some fishing opportunities, can harm wild stocks through competition and genetic effects.
The salmon fisheries of the future will need to adapt to new realities. Strong salmon returns are increasingly uncertain and unpredictable. Fisheries management must become more resilient and responsive to these fluctuations, requiring robust information on stock status, migration routes, and timing. This understanding relies on data from creek-walkers, angler catch records, and advanced genetic tools. However, cuts in monitoring mean fisheries managers are often operating in the dark.
A Path Forward: Collaboration and Habitat Protection
Shifting some fisheries from the ocean to rivers could lower the risks of accidentally harvesting non-target stocks and facilitate more sustainable harvests. Sustainable fisheries will depend on different groups working together to collect and share data, plan fisheries, and manage risks collaboratively.
Beyond fisheries management, broader environmental threats must be addressed. Aggressive forestry practices lead to landslides and flooding, while poorly regulated mines pollute waters. The federal government has recently passed legislation that can fast-track major projects and bypass environmental assessments, with discussions of more pipelines ongoing. Continued inaction on reducing greenhouse gas emissions is making oceans increasingly inhospitable for salmon due to warming temperatures. Provincial and federal budgets are failing to sufficiently invest in salmon monitoring, rebuilding efforts, and watershed health.
In conclusion, the future of B.C. salmon depends on a unified approach. Instead of fighting over the last fish, salmon-reliant peoples must join forces to advocate for habitat protection, sustainable practices, and stronger environmental policies. Only through collaboration can we ensure that salmon—and the communities that depend on them—thrive for generations to come.
