Port Edward has questions about the Great Northern Salmon Classic

While they understand why Prince Rupert is holding a fishing derby, the councillors at Port Edward council have some serious concerns about the entire project and its impact on fish stocks in the area.

It’s just the latest indication of the bad feelings from around the region, generated by the derby launched by Tourism Prince Rupert. Communities across the Northwest have expressed disappointment and concern over the tournament and its impact around the northwest. Another sticking point was the fact that the derby was centered in the Prince Rupert region, a situation that has provided for it’s own fair share of attention.

The Port Edward angle was covered on the front page of the Daily news in its Wednesday edition; we land it on your computer screens below.

Port Ed councillors attack fishing derby
By Patrick Witwicki
The Daily News
Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Page One

The District of Port Edward understands why Prince Rupert decided to hold an ongoing fishing derby to lure more tourists to the region after the sinking of the Queen of the North but that doesn’t mean they’re happy about it.

In fact, Port Ed councillors said last night they are concerned about the ramifications of how the derby may affect future coho stocks on the North Coast.

“This salmon thing, I’m not happy about it,” said Coun. Murray Kristoff at the district’s regular council meeting.

“I know they’re trying to do good with tourism, but I thought DFO (Department of Fisheries and Oceans) would have stepped in by now and put a stop to this.

Kristoff reminded council about limitations on fishing Skeena coho in effect since 1997.

“In 1997 and ’98 the (commercial fishermen) didn’t fish,” he said. “And the commercial sector to this day does not keep coho, and now they’re trying to target coho with this derby?”

Coun. James Brown agreed with Kristoff, adding that First Nation fishermen have also been limited in their coho catch in recent years.

”I have some relatives who were charged for having coho on board,” he said. “And now they’re letting this go?”

Kristoff said that this derby, long-term will simply add fuel to the fire in blaming commercial fishermen in the decline of fishing stocks.

“Four years from now, everyone’s going to forget what killed the coho, and they’re going to blame the commercial fishermen,” he said.

Kristoff added that he didn’t understand why Tourism Prince Rupert chose coho as the target.

“I work with the commercial sector and they’re not happy,” he said. “They could’ve targeted a different salmon, or held a one week derby, I’m fine with that.”

But Brown didn’t agree, pointing out that a fishing derby on such a large scale could impact fisheries in general.

“They’re catching all kinds of species out there,” he said.

Mayor Dave MacDonald said that at first, when he heard about the fishing derby idea, he supported it because the North Coast was hurting from the drop in tourism this season. But he agreed that it didn’t make sense for the main fish in question to be coho.

“When I first heard about it, I though that it was good for Rupert,” he said. “But they wouldn’t let anyone fish coho, and now they’re letting this happen? It doesn’t make sense.”

Kristoff wondered if the main reason behind DFO’s silence on the subject was because at first, they weren’t consulted.

“Then, to save face, they’ve said they’re okay with it,” he speculated. “But I want to know how this will or won’t impact the salmon stocks.”

Council then decided to contact DFO and request the situation be examined further.

The fishing derby officially got underway on August 1 and will continue until September 15, with a monetary prize of $100,000 for the biggest coho salmon caught during that time-frame.

An additional prize of $40,000 will be awarded for second place with other many other prizes also on the line.
The derby initiative was born from consultative meetings by the Northern Fund Management Committee, which was created after $450,000 was provided to the Northern Tourism Region by the provincial Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts.