The Creek Crier

Spring Edition - May 1998

Legal Protection for Our Urban Streams

by Jutta R-Haunerland

The new provincial Fish Protection Act - giving fish a RIGHT to water!

Recently there was a public forum held on the new Fisheries Act in the Tri-City at the Evergreen Cultural Centre. What will the new provincial law do?

The proposed Fish Protection Act will address degradation and destruction of fish habitat through urban, industrial and agricultural development, one cause of the decline in fish stocks and populations that the province can regulate. The new law will amend a number of existing statutes, including protection of instream flows and fish habitat through amendments to the existing Water Act. This is a crucial element for healthy fish. Fish currently have no “right” to water, and the needs of domestic, agricultural and industrial water users are given priority over fish (review of water licenses necessary).

The Act would include - • Amendments to the Wildlife Act to enable designation of fish, plants and invertebrates that form part of fish habitat as threatened or endangered. This is a welcome proposal, though it is limited to elements of fish habitat. • Amendments to the provincial Fisheries Act to prohibit new major dams on the Fraser river and its major tributaries. This action will be beneficial for the protection of fish and fish habitat, as experience elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest demonstrates that dams have had and continue to have a major negative impact on fish populations. • Amendments to the Municipal Act to enhance local government’s ability to protect salmon habitat and other parts of the environment. These amendments are also critical, in order to allow the level of government, which controls land use, to give higher priority to environmental protection. The proposals enable the inclusion of environmental policies in the OCP; enable the requirement of development impact assessments; and require consultation with MELP on environmental issues.

Observations on the “Coho Crisis”

by Rick Simpson

(Emailed to Dr. Parzival Copes and Mr. Colin Masson following the BC Coho Initiative Meeting and DFO Coho Consultation Meeting at SFU Harbour Centre, Vancouver, BC. April 15, 1998)

Following, as requested at both of these meetings, are my constructive suggestions, comments and concerns regarding the 1998 BC “coho crisis”. Although I am a volunteer director of several non-profit conservation organizations, these comments, suggestions and concerns are my own and in no way represent the positions, if any, of these groups on this “coho crisis” issue.

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

Since moving to BC with my wife and two children from Edmonton in 1981, besides working as an outside director and/or management consultant with senior people in technology-based companies on business development issues for a living in the real world, I’ve been a volunteer working on salmon and trout enhancement and salmon and trout habitat rehabilitation projects.

• Coquitlam River Hatchery. From 1981 to the present, my volunteer work continues with the Coquitlam River hatchery operated by volunteers from the Port Coquitlam and District Hunting and Fishing Club and related watershed stewardship and rehabilitation initiatives. Volunteers from the Coquitlam River hatchery raise: coho; chum; steelhead; chinook; pinks.

• Noons Creek Hatchery. From 1989 to the present, my volunteer work continues with the Noons Creek hatchery operated by volunteers from the Port Moody Ecological Society and related watershed stewardship and rehabilitation initiatives. Volunteers from the Noons Creek hatchery raise: coho; chum; sea-run cutthroat trout.

I am therefore one of the 8,000 to 10,000 volunteers that are involved in these kinds of efforts across BC. The value of the business contribution of this significant volunteer donation in the dynamic economic model of the BC fishing industry is unknown to me. According to the 1997/98 SEP Directory, there are roughly 250 volunteer groups around BC like the Noons Creek and Coquitlam River Hatcheries. About 110 of those volunteer groups listed are involved in one or more phases of coho life cycle ecology In 1996, Public Involvement Program (PIP) groups like the volunteer-operated Coquitlam River and Noons Creek hatchery raised and released 2,816,023 coho fry.

The annual coho run in the Coquitlam River has now stabilized at between 800 and 1,000 adults—from near extinction in 1979/80 when the PCDHFC began its enhancement activities. Apparently the carrying capacity of the Noons Creek watershed is approximately 250 to 350 adult coho; in 1995—250+ coho adults returned; in 1996—400+ adult coho returned; in 1997—34 coho adults returned; coho smolt releases have varied from around 4,000 to 18,000 since 1978. Prior to that, fish were extinct in Noons Creek as a consequence of industrial and urban processes.

So...my perspective is that of a volunteer from two facilities which have a broad base of community support—not as someone who is directly involved in earning a living in BC’s industrial fishing business.

I hung up my rods and reels a long time ago and no longer fish—mostly because I was so bad at it; but fisherpeople like having me along just to do other chores in the boat or on shore, while they focus on fishing.

I am however a salmon and trout consumer—especially smoked or barbequed the way my wife does it...and as a consumer, I have a preference for wild as opposed to farmed salmon or trout.

It struck me that millions, perhaps billions, of words have been written and spoken about BC salmon fishing, including many words about BC coho.

Some of those words came from First Nations, whose stewardship of BC salmon, including coho, date back 8,000 years or more...which makes my 18 years as a volunteer salmon steward look pretty puny.

Perhaps now is the time for many fewer words about coho...instead...perhaps now is a time for prudent action by prudent people. Therefore, as requested, the following 23 points are my personal comments, concerns and suggestions about the B.C. “Coho Crisis.”

1. “Coho Crisis” Not A Surprise. From what I’ve seen, heard and read, this current “coho crisis” cannot have come as a surprise to anyone directly and/or indirectly involved in BC’s industrial fishing business. Archival documentation indicates grave concerns about coho for more than 30 years.
2. Deliberate Policy Decisions About Coho Got Us Here. The “coho crisis” is the result of deliberate policy decisions—including “do nothing” and “do as little as possible to stay out of jail”.
3. “Coho Crisis” Ain’t Goin’ Away Quickly. The “coho crisis” isn’t going to go away quickly. Industrial salmon fishing in BC began apparently about 170 years ago in the 1830’s. Aquaculture and hatcheries should not be viewed as a potential quick-fix to the “coho crisis”.
4. Coho Consultation Overload. As a volunteer I’m thrilled and flattered to be asked for the first time ever for my involvement, in spite of the exceedingly tight time frames to respond, in the almost overwhelming number of 1998 “coho crisis” consultation meetings. None of the other “blue ribbon panels” in my 18 years of salmon enhancement and stewardship volunteer experience, have made provision for or even bothered to seek out and request my views. Thank you. There are about another 8,000 to 10,0000 community supported salmon enhancement and watershed stewardship volunteers in BC.
5. Learning A Foreign Language About Coho. Please recognize that as a volunteer I do not have the specialized vocabulary and/or fisheries scientific and/or technical background that many presenters at these “coho crisis” meetings possess. What for example does “terminal fisheries” or “escapement” mean to me as a volunteer lay-person? Perhaps effective communicators like Terry Glavin could be retained to translate for people like me. It is also strange to me to hear killed coho adults referred to as “pieces” and to hear those near extinct remnant coho adults that somehow straggle back to their birthing streams to spawn referred to as “surplus to requirements” and somehow “wasted”.
6. “Coho Crisis” Information Overload. At these meetings and in the preparatory materials provided to me prior to them, I have been presented for the first time with a truly bewildering amount of numerical and textual information about BC coho races, with very little time to absorb it and to question it with people who can patiently explain in lay-English areas where I’m lost or confused.
7. “Coho Crisis” Information Quality Suspect. The quality and integrity of the “coho crisis” information being presented appears to me to be “thin” (eg.: tiny and infrequent samples; known data “holes”; haphazard data collection on a best-efforts basis...). perhaps, the credibility of the “coho crisis” information is understandably suspect. It is certainly self-serving. I have this uncomfortable feeling that “we” are literally flying blind. Frankly, i don’t know who or what to believe. Perhaps, somehow credence could also be given to “anecdotal” information about coho from “on-the-ground” or “on-the-stream” or “on-the-water” people, like salmon stewardship volunteers province-wide, who aren’t fisheries scientists.
8. BC Coho Races Status. There were, in 1996 according to T.L. Slaney et al, 2,594 stocks of coho in BC and Yukon. At least 29 of those are “Extinct”; 214 are “High Risk”; 22 are “Moderate Risk”; 21 are “Special Concern” and 1,024 are “Unthreatened”...but the status of 1,284 stocks of coho or roughly 50% are “Unknown”.
9. Reliable Coho Information Absent-Caution Urged. My instincts, in the absence of reliable information about BC coho, are to be cautious.
10. Moratorium On Coho Races Nearing Extinction. I would suggest a moratorium on killing BC coho for as many coho ecological cycles as needed, for those coho races that are nearing extinction so that these can recover robustly to normal historical levels.
11. Coho Recovery Action Plans And Implementation Needed Now. Specific properly funded recovery plans should be drawn up and actioned, post-haste for those races of coho that are nearing extinction. This may be too late for some coho races already. Adequate endangered species legislation, if enforced, may help.   
12. Coho Information Plans And Implementation Needed Now. Action plans to competently fill the “holes” where information about coho stocks is “Unknown” must also be implemented, without any further dithering.
13. Moratorium On Coho Races Nearing Extinction Continues Until Recovery Complete. A coho moratorium for those coho races nearing extinction should continue until the coho adult returns for these races match and/or exceed their normal historical levels, whatever those populations were. Then and only then, allow coho adults in those stocks to be killed again, but in ecologically sound quantities.
14. Moratorium On “Unknown” Coho Stocks Continues Until Information About “Unknowns” is Known. A moratorium for those coho races where information is “Unknown” should continue until these information “holes” are reliably and thoroughly addressed. If the information about these “unknown” coho races becomes available and it appears that these coho stocks are indeed ecologically robust and coho in those races can be killed again in ecologically sound quantities, then the moratorium on these stocks might be lifted.
15. Coho Marine, Estuarine and Aquatic Habitat Throughout BC Needs Focus And Funding. Following 170 years of industrial fishing activity in BC, coho marine, estuarine and aquatic habitat needs focus and funding. Many presenters at both these “coho crisis” meetings offered their practical views about and constructive suggestions on protecting coho marine, estuarine and aquatic habitat, preventing damage to it, rehabilitating it, and creating it. Many of these suggestions seem to make sense to me. Action should be forthcoming quickly on the most ecologically sound coho habitat suggestions province-wide, without any more foot dragging. Just do it. Leadership appears absent.
16. Put Fish, Including Coho, Back Into Fisheries Portfolios And Move Fisheries Portfolios Closer To The “Throne”. The fisheries portfolios at the cabinet level in Ottawa and Victoria reflect the political and economic realities of the 1990’s. Fisheries appears to be a long way from the “throne”. Fisheries ministers are not currently in the inner cabinet. Negotiating for their constituents, namely fish, at the cabinet level might be problematic, coho will continue to suffer.
17. Recognize Effectiveness Of Skilful Paid BC Industrial Fishing Business Lobbyists’ Impacts On Coho. The impact and effectiveness of paid BC industrial fishing business lobbyists, and more noticable recently real estate developers lobbyists, who skilfully operate outside the normal elected political process, none of whom apparently speak for the ecological survival needs of coho, is impressive and should never be underestimated. Perhaps the role and considerable impact of these BC fishing industry business lobbyists and other lobbyists in the “coho crisis” should be intensively examined back to the 1830’s.
18. Accountability For BC Coho Races Comes With The Territory. The “track record” of the government departments accountable for managing the coho fisheries in BC, in view of the list of coho races extinctions and near extinctions above, is poor. As a business person, if I were presented with such a “track record” in a hiring situation, my response would not likely be positive, regardless of the extenuating “political” circumstances. Accountability comes with the territory, like it or not!
19. Coho Need Good People. My current impressions of both DFO and the BC provincial equivalent, during this “coho crisis”, vicariously through the eyes of the people i deal with as a volunteer, is that, like the high-tech industry, good people vote with their feet. Usually when the work environment created by the leaders is poor, good people go where their contribution, skills and talents are valued and not squandered.
20. Coho Suffer From Voluntary Compliance And Non-Enforcement Of Existing Laws. At my level as a volunteer, my observations over the past 18 years is that: voluntary compliance with and enforcement of existing municipal, provincial and federal laws dealing with coho and coho habitat is a pathetic joke. Witness the scofflaw gravel mining operations on the Coquitlam River polluting hourly 365 days a year with complete impunity. A daily object lesson of our true collective regard for coho and coho habitat. There were a countless number of other concrete examples aired during these two “coho crisis” consultation meetings, all of which pointed to blatant disregard for existing federal, provincial and municipal laws that might protect coho and coho habitat. Leadership is absent.
21. Coho Aren’t Really A Focus Of Government People Now. Currently it seems to me that politicians and civil servants within the various government departments responsible for the health of coho races are preoccupied with, and are focused and morbidly fixated on: “budget cut-backs”; “cost containment”; “down-loading”; “down-sizing”; “abdication”; “demoralization”; “taxpayer fatigue”; “squelching and muzzling scientists”; “finger-pointing at each other, at ‘foreigners’, at the Alaskans, at Washingtonians”...none of which appears to have much to do with constructively ensuring healthy BC coho races. All of which is reflective of exceedingly poor leadership—assuming “our” focus is on coho races survival.
22. Coho Caught In A Revenue Canada Maze. BC industrial fishing businesses are well advised. Overcapitalization and overcapacity in the BC industrial fishing business are the result of legally following existing Canadian and Provincial tax laws. “We” voters and taxpayers elected the politicians who passed these laws. BC coho seem to be adversely impacted as a result. Perhaps BC industrial fishing business and other vested-interest lobbyists should be personally and collectively proud of their accomplishments in this regard. Their clients got good value for their fees...and coho got...??
23. “Coho Crisis” and Coho Need Leadership. Leadership to deal with coho stocks ecology prudently and definitively and to avoid additional BC “coho crises” in future, appears absent.

CONCLUSIONS

To conclude: the “coho crisis” appears to me to represent “the tip of the iceberg”. This “coho crisis” is symptomatic of the difficulties in BC’s industrial fishing business. Thousands of positive and useful suggestions from concerned people have been made over the years about coho. Many more were offered during these current “coho crisis” meetings. The one ingredient missing to translate these ideas into action is leadership. Without leadership, BC coho races will undoubtedly and inevitably succumb to “our” indifference.

As a volunteer salmon steward working for the past 18 years with broadly-based community supported groups, I feel I must be able to honestly face my wife, my 25 year old daughter and my 27 year old son...and in good conscience say to them and prove to them by my actions...that I really tried to do something constructive to help “our” BC coho stocks, and that not one more race of BC coho went extinct on my watch!

As Matt Foy says: “Listen to the Fish, My Friend, Just Listen to the Fish”.

Saturday, April 18, 1998

President’s Message

by Jutta R-Haunerland

The Society held its Annual General Meeting in February again at the Port Moody Arts Centre. The audience enjoyed a special slide presentation on the Society’s history and development by our famous local photographer and stream protector, Peter Hulbert. Special thanks to Peter for this great presentation. A second presentation followed by Dr. David Spence, entitled “Mythology of the Atlantic Salmon”. Dr. Spence got inspired about this fascinating topic during his trip to Ireland last summer. Thank you again, David, for your continuing contributions to the Port Moody Ecological Society.

We also expressed our gratitude to the numerous volunteers and supporters. Without these dedicated individuals the Society wouldn’t have been so successful over the years. There are many young volunteers who come and go, work with us for some time before they move on with their lives; they all learn a lot at the hatchery, but also give plenty of their “free”(?) time. And some even stay for several years. We are very thankful to have them, but more importantly, it is essential and enlightening to get great fresh ideas from these youthful minds.. Of course, we should not forget our core group of “regulars” What can I say: their energy is endless in giving to the little fishies. Nancy, Dave, Eric, John, Jake and Cliff. If they wouldn’t be there every single day and doing what they are doing ... I really don’t know! Thank you so much!

The biggest change the new board faced was the resignation of our treasurer from day “one”: Joanne Bartlett resigned this year after 7 years of service to the society. A big thank you, Joanne. Our new treasurer, Paul Bethel, has already impressed the board with his professional accounting abilities. Welcome on board, Paul. Two other new members joined the board this year: Sarah Jamiesen and Colin MacGillivray. Sarah will help developing a record of policies for the Society, while Colin will assist with computer work. Welcome to you as well!

Soon after the Easter Holiday the school program will resume and it will be a very busy spring season with lots of children on site. Most of the naturalists will be familiar, but there will be some new faces as well. On May 3, 1998 our biggest yearly event is coming up: the Fingerling Festival. Organizing and preparing is coordinated by Dave and is in full swing. Jim Spurr will be organizing our participation in the annual Golden Spike Days in June. Ideas and input for our much needed Education Centre (small building next to hatchery) are being sought right now. Please, let me know your thoughts.

It’s going to be another exciting year!

(PS: Welcome also to new members: Bill and Carol Nichol Sherri Coyle Rejean Dallaire Steve and Darlene Lyth Brenda and Benjamin Michael We appreciate your support and interest, and will be watching for you down at the hatchery!)

COMING EVENTS - Mark your calendar

Fed’s Visit Noons Creek Hatchery

by Ann Hulbert

One Saturday in late March, Federal Fisheries Minister David Anderson paid a surprise visit to the Noons Creek Hatchery. Minister Anderson was accompanied to the site by Lou Sekora, the Liberal candidate for the local by-election. (Sekora was successful in his bid to represent this riding in Ottawa). PMES vice president Ann Hulbert introduced the visitors to the volunteers working that morning, digging channels and water quality testing. During the visit, “Lou” was introduced to the graceful art of fin clipping. He and the Minister fed the fish in the rearing pond and later took a walk down to the Inlet at the mouth of Noons. Minister Anderson spent some time in the lab observing the water testing procedures being supervised by Jim Mattson. The federal government (Fisheries and Oceans Canada) provided the Noons Creek Hatchery with an operating grant of over $5,000 in 1997.

Hatchery Report / School Report

by Nancy Aichberger

In the hatchery now we have 74,000 chum aelevins and fry. These fry will be divided between Noons Creek and South Schoolhouse Creek. At the Fingerling Festival on May 3rd we will be releasing approximately 12,000 of these fry. The remainder will be released the following week.

We have about 21,000 new coho fry this year. The reason we have so many is that Larry Cardis kindly gave us his 5,000 to raise. We also have 1000 Cutthroat eggs from an egg take on April 19, 1998. We would like to extend a thank you to the Loons and the Osprey Fishing Clubs for their

efforts in helping us obtain cutthroat broodstock from Burrard Inlet. The 17,000 or so almost smolts in the outdoor rearing pond are growing visibly by the day. This must be why they act like piranhas when we feed them. I wouldn’t want to fall in there!

The School Programs are well booked, however there are a few dates still open. This spring the most booked program is the Estuary Exploration, followed by Salmon and lastly Stream Science. Our naturalists so far are Heidi Sutherland (who is expecting a little naturalist in July), Catherine Sherlock, Murray Lashmar and myself. Jutta will also jump in when we need help. Kirsten Aichberger will also be available to help in May and possibly June. I have also talked to two new naturalists who are interested.

Our Saturday student volunteer program has been almost TOO successful. In addition to our regular hardworking crew of four (Jeremy, Scott, Anita and Karen), we have had up to 11 more energetic hopefuls on site who need orientation, direction and follow-up. ENOUGH, ALREADY! THANKS, EVERYBODY!

Thanks to Corporate Donors

by Dave Bennie

The following local businesses were very generous in providing raffle prizes and support for our upcoming Fingerling Festival: Forrest Marine - 6 frozen pink salmon Babcock Fish and Tackle - fishing hat, scale and pocket knife Jaymer Fish and Tackle - $50 gift certificate Wild Bird Store - bird house Reichold Limited - $100 donation towards food Gladys Dorn made the kind donation of a painted bird house. And as always, a big thank you goes to Ted Rathonyi-Reusz, city workers, and the City of Port Moody for the donation of hyacinth and tulip bulbs offered on sale at the hatchery during April and May.