Fraser River recreational fishing access has been blocked! On August 5th, Cheam First Nation filed a motion for an injunction in the Supreme Court of British Columbia to ban sportfishing in a section of the Fraser River, and a temporary injunction has been given until over this weekend, and the court will reconvene on Monday.

Chief Sidney Douglas claims sportfishermen have infringe the Aboriginal Fishing Right of the Cheam. During First Nations fishery openings, they are unable to harvest their quota as actions of sportfishermen, such as anchoring a boat in the fishing area, interfere their food fishing rights.

As a result, they wish to have an injunction against sportfishermen prohibiting them from carrying out the 2005 sportfishery in the Pilalt Area without the permission or consent of Cheam. The Pilalt Area includes the confluence of the Fraser and Harrison River, mouth of Maria Slough, Chilliwack Mountain, Upper, Middle and Lower Drifts (around Agassiz/Rosedale), Upper and Lower Herrling Drifts.

The temporary injunction prohibits anglers to anchor and fish in the above mentioned areas this weekend during the First Nations sockeye driftnet opening (Saturday August 6th 08:00 - 20:00).

Sportfishing Defence Alliance will be back in the Supreme Court of British Columbia on Monday to argue that conflicts do not exist in the areas shared by the two sectors.

Anglers should be aware of this temporary injunction and the details of First Nations fishery openings. Please report all illegal activities such as drift netting outside opening time, illegal sales of sockeye salmon, etc to DFO's Observe, record and report line 1-800-465-4336. We urge anglers to also take photos and videos as they are crucial evidences that can be used by the Sportfishing Defence Alliance in court.

To find out more about the Sportfishing Defence Alliance, go to this page. If you wish to make a donation to the Sportfishing Defence Alliance (donation is needed to cover legal cost), please download this donation form.

Currently, there are no scheduled recreational sockeye fisheries in the Fraser River. Recreational chinook salmon fishery remains open in the Fraser River. Pink salmon fishery is to be announced soon.

Useful Links

Lower Fraser River First Nations Opening Times - This DFO section contains current and past openings as well as First Nations fishery reports.

Recreational Fishery Notices - This section contains the latest notices from DFO such as recreational openings and closures.

Region 2 Freshwater Salmon Regulations - Including non-tidal Fraser River.

Fraser River Panel News Release - This section provides the latest Fraser River sockeye salmon updates.

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