Record number of sockeye salmon return in B.C.
By Tracy Sherlock, Vancouver Sun August 24, 2010
VANCOUVER — Sockeye salmon on British Columbia's Fraser River seem to be back from the brink, after years of fears the fish would fade away.
The Fraser sockeye return this year is the largest its been in nearly a century, with 25 million fish, according to this year's estimate from the Pacific Salmon Commission — the largest return since 1913.
After four years of sockeye being off-limits, West Coast fisherman have been allowed to catch the fish this year. Officials from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans determined earlier this summer that returns have been much better than expected.
The orange-fleshed sockeye is a popular dish, thanks to its strong flavour.
Recent estimates pegged the return at between seven and 11 million fish by the end of the season. Early forecasts projected an even lower five to eight million fish would return.
The sockeye fishery was last open to commercial fleets in 2006 when a total commercial catch of 3.7 million fish was approved. A limited fishery was opened in 2008, with only 17,000 sockeye caught.
