In the story ‘Commercial harvest still not allowed at Babine Lake’ published in the Lakes District News’ Aug. 19, edition, Lake Babine Nation Chief Wilf Adam said the sockeye salmon count at Babine Lake was too low for commercial harvest to be considered.
About 10 days ago, the total return of Skeena sockeye was estimated at approximately 900,000. As it turns out, the sockeye salmon was just a bit late this year. Chief Adam said the salmon count over the weekend was “way over a million.”
With the improved salmon count, commercial harvest is now being considered.
“This week we will probably have limited commercial fisheries on the lake,” said Chief Adam.
Lake Babine Nation needed at least 1.05 million sockeye for commercial harvest to be allowed. Fisheries and Oceans Canada is now negotiating with Lake Babine Nation to decide on how much sockeye will be allocated for commercial use.
The recreational daily limit of sockeye salmon at Babine Lake has also increased. Effective Aug. 22, 2015, the daily limit increased from one to two per day.
This limit does not include tributaries, and excludes those waters within a 400 metre radius of the following tributary streams: Morrison creek, Six Mile creek, Pierre creek, Pendleton creek, Hazelwood creek, Twain creek, Tachek creek, Five Mile creek, Four Mile creek, Sockeye creek, Big Loon creek and Tsezakwa creek.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada also reminds people to be aware of the following no fishing closures in the area: Babine Lake east of a line from Gullwing Creek to the south shore of Babine Lake; and Babine Lake within a 400 metre radius of the mouth of Pinkut Creek.
Usually the salmon fishing season is over by the end of August, but since the salmon is late this year, Chief Adam said fishing will continue in early September.
