By Nora O’Malley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Ha-Shilth-Sa Port Alberni, B.C. – With wild-caught Chinook salmon fetching as high as $7.75 per pound early in the season that opened mid-August, Hupacasath and Tseshaht First Nations commercial fishers are reeling with gratitude for the lucrative run. Tseshaht gill netter Nasimius Ross holds a licence for the Tsu-ma-uss (Somass) River fishery, an economic opportunity fishery collaboratively operated by the two Alberni Valley-based nations. Ross said they usually start selling at $3.50 per pound and the average weight of a Chinook is 15 pounds. “It’s good money. One of the openings caught 600 to 700 fish. That’s one night of fishing. It’s estimated that brought just about $5 million into the economy, and that’s locally. All that stays here,” said Ross. Fellow Tsu-ma-uss…
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