By Rochelle Baker Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer -Fisheries and Oceans Canada cut the monitoring of salmon streams along BC’s North and Central Coast, leaving critical stocks uncounted at the height of spawning season. Seasonal \u201ccreek walkers\u201d \u2014 contractors for the fisheries department (DFO) who trek along streams to record salmon returns \u2014 haven\u2019t been hired as stocks return along the coast from Bella Bella to the Alaskan border, including major watersheds like the Skeena, Nass and Kitimat systems, says a coalition of conservation groups. Assessing returns to key streams is critical for estimating stocks, managing fisheries and conservation, said Misty MacDuffee, wild salmon program director at Raincoast Conservation Foundation. \u201cNot having contracts in place as salmon are returning to rivers is unprecedented,\u201d she said. \u201cBudget cuts have… <\/p>\n
By Rochelle Baker Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Canada’s National Observer –Fisheries and Oceans Canada cut the monitoring of salmon streams along BC’s North and Central Coast, leaving critical stocks uncounted at the height of spawning season. Seasonal \u201ccreek walkers\u201d \u2014 contractors for the fisheries department (DFO) who trek along streams to record salmon returns \u2014 haven\u2019t been hired as stocks return along the coast from Bella Bella to the Alaskan border, including major watersheds like the Skeena, Nass and Kitimat systems, says a coalition of conservation groups. Assessing returns to key streams is critical for estimating stocks, managing fisheries and conservation, said Misty MacDuffee, wild salmon program director at Raincoast Conservation Foundation. \u201cNot having contracts in place as salmon are returning to rivers is unprecedented,\u201d she said. \u201cBudget cuts have... <\/p>\n