Change of Status will Threaten You and the Fish!

Those of you who frequently fish the mighty Fraser would be familiar with the white sturgeon. Visitors from other parts of the globe come here just so they have a chance to tangle with these prehistoric-looking beasts. Unfortunately, all this may end in 2006, because white sturgeon may possibly be listed as an endangered species in SARA (Species at Risk Act). Negative impacts of this endangered status on the sportfishing community and economy of the Fraser Valley are immeasurable. In fact, this move may possibly harm the Lower Fraser white sturgeon population!

Six distinct sturgeon populations have been identified in Southern BC - Upper, middle and lower Fraser River, Nechako, Upper Columbia and Kootenay. While recruitment of Nechako, Upper Columbia and Kootenay populations is reported as almost nonexistent, the Lower Fraser population has been making some comeback in the last decade since catch-and-release was implemented. COSEWIC has reported that today's Lower Fraser population is nowhere near historic populations, even though officials are unable to produce population data from decades ago. Overfishing, habitat degradation such as gravel extraction have been the main threats in the 20th century. In the worst scenario, officials hope to possibly lump all six populations as one and label it as an endangered species so the overall stock would rebound.

The proposal doesn't sit well in the sportfishing community. Many Fraser Valley anglers love to sturgeon fish between March and October. If the SARA status is implemented, this catch-and-release fishery will be closed indefinitely.

While the current white sturgeon population in the Lower Fraser is nowhere near what it was one hundred years ago, the population appears to be somewhat rebounding. Total annual catches by the Albion Test Fishery in the last twenty years indicate the population is in fact increasing. In the past five years, the Fraser River Sturgeon Conservation Society has been conducting a sturgeon tag-monitoring program. During this period, over 20,000 fish have been tagged and around 5,000 recaptures. To this day, there has not been a single tagged fish show up dead in the river, which may indicate low catch-and-release mortality.

One can only ponder how SARA could justify this proposal since there are no proven facts that suggest this catch-and-release fishery is harming the growth of the white sturgeon population.

Closure of the sturgeon fishery would not only disappoint anglers, but destroy a majority of Fraser Valley guiding businesses. In an FOC documentation on Socioeconomic implications of SARA, it reports over 10,000 guided sturgeon angling days were recorded in 2004. Most visiting anglers from Europe, US and Asia come to the Lower Fraser specifically for white sturgeon. Closure of this fishery would mean a tremendous loss in profit, which jeopardizes the survival of many small businesses. This directly affects towns such as Chilliwack, which rely on sportfishery to generate part of its economy.

The economic implication argument obviously does not sit well with the general public. After all, is the survival of one national gem less important than the livelihood of a few who have a choice to change careers? It is not always about money of course, keeping this fishery open can actually benefit the population. Unlike land mammals, white sturgeon is a benthic scaleless being that sits on the bottom of a turbid river. A person cannot simply stand on the river bank and expect to see a white sturgeon! Would the general public be concerned about a fish that is not as attractive as Bambi after five years of closure? How would officials determine the health of the population if no sportfishing effort and catch data are available? It has been said in the past that anglers are the eyes and ears of the river. If sturgeon anglers are absent from the Fraser, who will be observing and reporting sightings of water pollution, poaching and other activities that may be harmful to sturgeon? The tag monitoring program done by angling guides has been successful, shouldn't we extend it to gain more understanding?

The 2005 sturgeon season is just around the corner, but your opportunity may be taken away in 2006. Take action now, voice your concerns to your local MLA. Protection of a fish species should be made based on scientific facts with some consideration on social and economical impacts.

Rodney Hsu
Webmaster

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