B.C. First Nation fish treaty talks delayed

The federal government is putting off salmon fishery talks with B.C. First Nations pending the results of an inquiry into declining salmon stocks in the province.

Fisheries Minister Gail Shea said treaty negotiations involving salmon will be deferred until after the inquiry produces its recommendations.

She said that before the talks continue she wants to see what the inquiry recommends on issues like improving the sockeye salmon fishery in the Fraser River.

The collapse of the salmon run on the river last year forced the closure of commercial sockeye fisheries and First Nations food fisheries.

Last November, the federal government named B.C. Supreme Court Justice Bruce Cohen to lead a judicial inquiry into the collapse, and he's expected to produce an interim report by August, with the final report following in May 2011.

Shea said the freeze on talks won't affect final stage treaty negotiations with several First Nations, including the Yale, near Hope, B.C., and the Sliammon, outside of Powell River.