Projected low salmon returns are on the agenda for the bi-annual meeting of the Area 15 & 16 Sport Fishing Advisory Committee (SFAC) on March 15.
The 2016 outlook for salmon returns suggests a period of continued reduced productivity in the Sunshine Coast region. This is likely due to the extremely warm water temperatures in the region – which are expected to continue this summer – and the resulting changes in the marine food web.
For Pacific salmon, the full implications of these conditions are uncertain; however, these conditions have been linked to reduced survival and/or growth for salmon in the past. These conditions could also affect returning adults in 2016 due to changes in fish condition, age-at-return, migration routes and run timing.
From a local saltwater and freshwater angler’s perspective, the Area 15 and 16 SFAC is an important link in the management of our local recreational marine fisheries. It is our combined voice in the province-wide Sport Fishing Advisory Board, which is involved in many of the local regulations that govern our tidal and in-river fisheries.
All saltwater and freshwater anglers and members of the community who have concerns about the local fishery, including crabbing and prawning and enforcement, are welcome to attend the open meeting at 7 p.m. at the Chapman Creek Hatchery.
