Smithers council is throwing its support behind SkeenaWild Conservation Trust’s fight against what they call an increasing rate of Alaskan interception of wild steelhead and salmon bound for the Bulkley River.
Last month, Executive Director of SkeenaWild Conservation Trust Greg Knox asked council to issue a letter of support and submit a UBCM resolution in support of halting the Alaskan fisheries interception of steelhead and salmon migrating to Northwest BC including the Bulkley River.
At the June 25 regular meeting of council, Knox told council southeastern Alaskan interception fisheries just North of Prince Rupert are killing an estimated 10 - 50 per cent of Skeena steelhead each year.
At the regular July 9 council meeting, council agreed to have the mayor write a letter of support, as well as, refer the SkeenaWild Conservation Trust request for a Union of British Columbian Municipalities resolution to the 2025 North Central Local Government Association (NCLGA).
Previously, council, wrote and issued a letter similar to the letter of support requested by SkeenaWild Conservation Trust to Diane Lebouthillier, federal minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Nathan Cullen, the provincial minister of Water, land, and Resource Stewardship. However, Smithers Mayor Gladys Atrill said that was slightly different because it didn’t mention the Alaskan interception and she felt another letter was needed.
Council unanimously agreed.
