The start of Lake Babine Nation鈥檚 (LBN) annual food fishery has been delayed as salmon counts remain below the required threshold for opening.
Canadian and LBN officials are waiting for about 600,000 salmon to pass the counting fence near the outlet of Nilkitkwa Lake before granting the go-ahead. Fish numbers are also monitored at other points on Babine Lake. As of now, only about half that number have arrived, following the salmon鈥檚 migration up the Skeena and Babine rivers into Babine Lake. Last year, the target was met by this time.
鈥淲e run the risk of negative impacts on the wild salmon stocks. They are depleting, so we have to be very careful,鈥� said LBN Chief Operating Officer Bernard Patrick in a press release. He added that while conditions are not yet right, 鈥渢hings actually look good for the 2025 food supplies.鈥�
Initial assessments of the Skeena River run suggested nearly 2 million fish were on their way, but they are arriving late. Patrick said LBN is preparing for multiple scenarios, noting that last year鈥檚 run still required the Nation to purchase salmon from the Nisga鈥檃 Nation to meet community needs 鈥� a continuation of trade practices common among First Nations.
鈥淲e are still expecting a large number of fish, but we don鈥檛 know when, we don鈥檛 know how many, and on top of that we don鈥檛 know what the quality of the meat will be,鈥� Patrick said in the press release. 鈥淓very one of us is anxiously awaiting the result, this is our main source of household protein, now just like past centuries. We will let the members know as soon as we possibly can, but all understand what鈥檚 at stake, so we can鈥檛 cut corners on something so important.鈥�
Other factors influencing salmon availability include B.C.鈥檚 recreational and commercial fishing industries, as well as climate change impacts, Patrick noted.
Under LBN鈥檚 harvest system, member families collect their own fish at the fence, while urban members and those unable to fish can receive up to 25 cleaned and delivered salmon at checkpoints in Houston, Smithers, Prince George, Kamloops, and Vancouver. On-reserve elders aged 65 and over are also eligible for home delivery.
