SkeenaWild Issues Report Card for Salmon Harvest

The SkeenaWild Conservation Trust has been monitoring the Skeena Wild Salmon Fishery and has issued a report card on the operation.

According to the report, harvest rates for salmon were set to high and managers failed to meet federal obligations for Skeena First Nations. Executive Directors of the Trust Greg Knox says "if harvest rates aren't addressed for the 2009 seasons, we're going to see weak salmon stocks put at even greater risk of extinction."

The report looked at seven categories - Harvesting, Habitat, First Nations, Economy, Enforcement, Communication and Collaboration.  

The highest grade received was a "C", which the trust hopes to see improved in their next report card to be released in October.

~Karin Koppitz, Smithers