The Federal Fisheries minister says the state of salmon stocks in B.C. is at a critical stage.

Jonathan Wilkinson says there have been significant declines in the size of several stocks over the past few decades, most notably due to climate change.

“From recent marine heat waves, changes to marine food webs, warmer fresh water conditions and more extreme rain and drought, there is no question that climate change is having a significant impact on our salmon.”

Wilkinson says 2019 has been a difficult year for key salmon stocks like the Fraser Chinook, noting some significant conservation measures are underway.

“12 of 13 Fraser River Chinook stocks have been recommended for listing under the Species at Risk Act reflecting the long term sustained decline in these populations. While the returns in these runs in 2019 has not been as poor as they were in 2018 and 2017, they remain well below even recent year returns and remain very much threatened.”

He says the situation is causing some concerns among First Nations and other stakeholders across the province.

First Nations have been particularly concerned to ensure that opportunities exist for food, social, and ceremonial purposes. Recreational anglers have been concerned with the real economic impact that are associated with fisheries restrictions that try to ensure that these stocks will continue to exist. And commercial fish harvesters have also voiced concerns about the future of the commercial fishering.”

Just yesterday, the DFO revised the expected return for Fraser River sockeye salmon from 4.8 million at the start of the season, to 628,000.