The Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs have closed off their territory to all recreational fishers.
In response to the DFO’s denial of their recommendation to close frshwater fisheries which impact Skeena Chinook salmon populations, the Chiefs are forbidding BC issued permits on their territories.
The Chiefs teamed up with the Skeena First Nations Technical Committee to issue the original recommendations.
According to the pair, while they are still open to discussing options with the DFO and BC, they are obligated to step in to protect their Constitutional Aboriginal Rights and dwindling salmon stocks.
The pair claim that the current management regime will exacerbate the crisis and allow for overfishing on the Skeena.
The Skeena River is one of the largest freshwater systems in the northwest.
