Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has closed Chapman Creek to recreational salmon fishing. DFO said the closure is necessary because of “extremely low water levels” and will stay in place until Oct. 15.
David Burnett, executive director of the Sunshine Coast Salmonid Enhancement Society, which operates the Chapman Creek Hatchery, told Coast Reporter they’ve been anxiously watching water levels and temperatures for weeks and had been expecting the DFO closure.
“We have contingency [plans],” Burnett said. “We’ve commissioned a well pump in order to pump water to cool down ambient water temperatures, and we also have oxygen on standby.”
Burnett said coho are starting to mass out in the ocean, but it will still be another couple of weeks before they start attempting to spawn. “We need water for them to come in, and a good rain.”
The water temperatures, which Burnett estimates could get into the low 20s (Celsius) during the warm spell, are not only unhealthy for spawning salmon, but can be harmful to salmon fry maturing in the creek.
Burnett said the DFO closure won’t impact hatchery operations or the last session of their summer camps for children, which is set to take place next week.
Burnett is also on the area’s Sport Fishing Advisory Committee. He says they’ve been pushing for more DFO staff based on the lower Sunshine Coast for enforcement of bans and other regulations. The two fisheries officers based in Madeira Park were moved to field offices in Nanaimo and Powell River in 2012.
West Vancouver - Sunshine Coast - Sea-to-Sky Country MP Pam Gold-smith-Jones recently hosted Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc for an announcement on the Liberal government’s response to recommendations from the Cohen Commission. They included more money for research and scientific staff at DFO, but there was no mention of more funding for enforcement.
Continuing dry weather is also a concern for the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD). The SCRD imposed Stage 2 water use restrictions on every system except Pender Harbour on July 25, but people have been using more than the Stage 2 target of 15 million litres per day. On Aug. 10, for example, water consumption was 19 million litres.
SCRD officials say if the weather continues hot and dry over the next few weeks, a move to Stage 3 is likely.
