It was bound to happen…we saw it coming…but the numbers are still shocking.  British Columbia’s treasured Sockeye did not return in their expected numbers this year, in fact over 9 million failed to return to the Fraser River.  They aren’t late, they aren’t lost, they just didn’t make it.   It is finally time to address Canada’s troubled salmon industry and do what we can to protect their survival before we loose them forever.

A document prepared by Stuart Nelson, Nelson Bros Fisheries Ltd, for the BC Seafood Alliance back in 2006 reviewed the glorious past of the BC Salmon industry and compared this industry’s success and overall impact on the fishery today.  As early as the late 1980’s, values for pink and chum salmon began to decline putting more pressure on the Sockeye catches. By the 1990’s, “changing ocean conditions resulted in dramatically lower harvest levels for pink and chum salmon in the north and central coasts. Lower volumes of pink and chum, coupled with lower per-pound values, made reliance on Fraser sockeye even more acute.”

In 1994 the sockeye industry peaked, with a poor Alaskan catch that season, BC sockeye was in high demand and resulted in an enormous economic return.   A  “10-million piece catch of Fraser sockeye with an ex-vessel value of more than $150 million, and a wholesale value exceeding $250 million.”  The over reliance on this fishery would soon take it’s toll and it did.  The years after 1994 showed a steady decline of salmon numbers, fleets and related fisheries.

Period     Fraser Run Size     Escapement     Cdn Comm. Catch
1990-97     13,314,405          4,514,305          7,046,191
1998-05    7,468,473             5,843,335            874,413

(courtesy of Nelson Bros Fisheries Ltd)

So…four years later, 2009, only 1 out of ten sockeye made their long return to the Mighty Fraser River.  An expected 10 million were meant to return but less than 1 million actually made it.  So what has lead to this massive drop in numbers??  Over fishing?  Sea lice?  Climate change? Weak research models and calculations?

Possibly all of the above.  According to Craig Orr, executive director of the Watershed Watch Salmon Society, “the mathematical models DFO uses to predict salmon returns are notoriously unreliable.”  Better research and development must be implemented to ensure realistic results in order to help solve these critical issues impacting our salmon.

Fish farms are also taking some heat for the poor salmon return as sea lice produced by such farms has long been a suspect in depleted salmon runs.  When salmon are young and returning to the ocean they do pass under such farms and have been documented to be affected by such salmon farming lice.

However climate change is also a serious threat to our salmon.  The ocean’s temperature is rising and so has the Fraser River.  According to Ernie Crey, fisheries adviser to the Sto: lo Tribal Council, “the Fraser River is warming rapidly. The river is currently at 21.9 degrees. Between 20 and 24, spawning success quickly falls off, and above 24, many fish die in the river, as warm water robs salmon of energy and increases their susceptibility to disease.” (The Globe and Mail)

It is clear that all BC Salmon is facing a crisis, one that must be addressed quickly with better research, commitment, and most of all protection.

Please visit Watershed Watch Salmon Society for new and up to date information concerning British Columbia Salmon.

Maybe now is not the right time to choose salmon for dinner!

I decided to take on a mission this year and support a cause that truly inspires me, one that I believe can make a huge difference for the future.  Sustainable Seafood.

I’m taking it one step further though, I am choosing not to eat seafood for one year so that I can make a statement for sustainable seafood.  I work in the food and beverage industry and my not eating seafood is bound to raise several eye brows, that of course is exactly what I want.

I want to start a conversation about our oceans and their future.  Ocean Wise TM estimates that “over 90% of all predatory fish are already gone from the world’s oceans.”  These numbers are over whelming but indeed a fact!  Over 50% of the world’s oxygen comes from our oceans and with devastating extinction and habitat destruction it is very likely that we will witness the entire collapse of the World’s oceans by 2048!  What happens to us when our oceans die???

It may already be too late to save many marine species, but I’m willing to try.  Refraining from seafood will allow me to spark conversations with people and will provide a window for me to educate the public on a subject that is in the shadow of Green Living and  Global warming.

It will be interesting to write about the response that I get from my guests in the restaurant, my family, my friends and my colleagues.  I expect many to completely dismiss what I say entirely.  I only hope that I can reach those who do believe in this cause and  create a buzz on the Internet, through you!

Please pass on this blog to your friends and family, make comments,  support me, berate me, whatever you feel, just be a part of this important conversation and help people choose sustainable seafood!

Thanks!!

Jennie