A troubling report from the International Union for the conservation of nature (IUCN) has listed the Skeena River sockeye as a threatened species, with indications that certain sockeye sub-populations are at serious risk of extinction.
The report which was reviewed by the Vancouver Province on Monday (see article here) was given some local attention by the Daily News on Tuesday, as Kris Schumacher outlined worrisome the findings of the environmental group.
Skeena sockeye salmon listed as threatened
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Pages one and two
The Skeena River sockeye salmon populations have now been added to a global list of threatened species, prompting environmental groups to demand more immediate protectionist action.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) added the Skeena sockeye to its Red List of Threatened Species, indicating that certain sockeye sub-populations are at serious risk of extinction.
To arrive at its ratings, the IUCN grouped the Skeena River’s 33 genetically distinct sockeye runs into five sub-populations and measured changes in abundance over a 12 year period.
The IUCN found the Morice-Nanika sockeye sub-population has declined more than 80 per cent and has been listed as ‘critically endangered,’ and the Lower Skeena sockeye as ‘vulnerable’.
“This is a red flag for managers and resource users. It shows we need immediate, substantive action to protect Skeena wild salmon,” said Greg Knox, executive director of Skeena Wild Conservation Trust.
“DFO and the B. C. Ministry of Environment are taking this crisis seriously, but the pace of change must accelerate if we are going to reverse these alarming declines.”
The scientific report contains a number of recommendations to reduce the threats and reverse the loss of sockeye biodiversity, as it states that “the greatest concentration of threatened subpopulations is found in British Columbia, a region that also harbors the greatest biodiversity for this species.”
The study found that of the 33 B. C. subpopulations studied, six were data-deficient and 12 were threatened, with declines of up to 93 per cent.
The majority of these threatened sub-populations are from B. C.’s two main salmon rivers, the Fraser and the Skeena.
The report cites a combination of impacts leading to these declines, including climate change, habitat loss, over-fishing, and the use of hatcheries and spawning channels.
“This report demonstrates how critical Canada’s role is in protecting salmon diversity,” said Jeffrey Young, an aquatic biologist with the David Suzuki Foundation.
“Stronger habitat enforcement and full implementation of the federal Wild Salmon Policy are necessary to reverse these declines.”
The Skeena’s Morice-Nanika sub-population is one of only four in B. C. given the most severe listing of ‘critically endangered,’ and represents an important source for the Wet’suwet’en nation’s traditional food fishery.
“The Morice-Nanika runs are at such low levels, it will be difficult to restore them to appoint where we Wet’suwet’en can meet our needs,” said Walter Joseph, manager of the Wet’suwet’en fisheries program and a Skeena Wild Conservation Trust trustee.
The report which was reviewed by the Vancouver Province on Monday (see article here) was given some local attention by the Daily News on Tuesday, as Kris Schumacher outlined worrisome the findings of the environmental group.
Skeena sockeye salmon listed as threatened
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Pages one and two
The Skeena River sockeye salmon populations have now been added to a global list of threatened species, prompting environmental groups to demand more immediate protectionist action.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) added the Skeena sockeye to its Red List of Threatened Species, indicating that certain sockeye sub-populations are at serious risk of extinction.
To arrive at its ratings, the IUCN grouped the Skeena River’s 33 genetically distinct sockeye runs into five sub-populations and measured changes in abundance over a 12 year period.
The IUCN found the Morice-Nanika sockeye sub-population has declined more than 80 per cent and has been listed as ‘critically endangered,’ and the Lower Skeena sockeye as ‘vulnerable’.
“This is a red flag for managers and resource users. It shows we need immediate, substantive action to protect Skeena wild salmon,” said Greg Knox, executive director of Skeena Wild Conservation Trust.
“DFO and the B. C. Ministry of Environment are taking this crisis seriously, but the pace of change must accelerate if we are going to reverse these alarming declines.”
The scientific report contains a number of recommendations to reduce the threats and reverse the loss of sockeye biodiversity, as it states that “the greatest concentration of threatened subpopulations is found in British Columbia, a region that also harbors the greatest biodiversity for this species.”
The study found that of the 33 B. C. subpopulations studied, six were data-deficient and 12 were threatened, with declines of up to 93 per cent.
The majority of these threatened sub-populations are from B. C.’s two main salmon rivers, the Fraser and the Skeena.
The report cites a combination of impacts leading to these declines, including climate change, habitat loss, over-fishing, and the use of hatcheries and spawning channels.
“This report demonstrates how critical Canada’s role is in protecting salmon diversity,” said Jeffrey Young, an aquatic biologist with the David Suzuki Foundation.
“Stronger habitat enforcement and full implementation of the federal Wild Salmon Policy are necessary to reverse these declines.”
The Skeena’s Morice-Nanika sub-population is one of only four in B. C. given the most severe listing of ‘critically endangered,’ and represents an important source for the Wet’suwet’en nation’s traditional food fishery.
“The Morice-Nanika runs are at such low levels, it will be difficult to restore them to appoint where we Wet’suwet’en can meet our needs,” said Walter Joseph, manager of the Wet’suwet’en fisheries program and a Skeena Wild Conservation Trust trustee.
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“It’s unacceptable that we have to depend on neighbouring nations and non-aboriginal sources to meet our food fish needs.”
“It’s unacceptable that we have to depend on neighbouring nations and non-aboriginal sources to meet our food fish needs.”
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