Heiltsuk First Nation says DFO fishery decision will hurt BC herring stock
"They're not listening. They're not being reasonable." That's what Marilyn Stett says of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Ms. Stett is the Tribal Council Leader of the Heiltsuk First Nation on BC's Central Coast....
"They're not listening. They're not being reasonable." That's what Marilyn Stett says of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. Ms. Stett is the Tribal Council Leader of the Heiltsuk First Nation on BC's Central Coast.
This week, a commercial herring roe fishery is set to re-open near Bella Bella. That's based on a decision by Fisheries and Oceans Minister, Gail Shea. But Heiltsuk leaders say the herring stock is too fragile to sustain the commercial fishery.
The fishery has been closed since 2006, when the herring population fell below the commercial cutoff point.
The fishery has been closed since 2006, when the herring population fell below the commercial cutoff point.
The Heiltsuk First Nation is planning on re-opening its own spawn-on-kelp fishery in the same area this spring.