Alaskan Plunder of Canadian bound salmon is theme for campaign to put pressure on Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray

District 104 off the Alaska panhandle is the area of contention for
Skeena Wild and Watershed Watch over intercepts of Canada  bound salmon
(image from video presentation)

Skeena Wild and Watershed Watch have upped the pressure on provincial and federal politicians to take action on a still percolating cross border fishing issue. 

One that the environmental groups note has plundered vast amounts of Canada bound salmon in fishing grounds just off the Alaskan panhandle. 

We offered up some background on the issue back in January, when Skeena Wild first released a report they had taken on to explore the issue and raise the alarm over the loss of what could a huge volume of Canada sound salmon in an area known as District 104 in Alaska.

The organizations have recently launched an information campaign, calling on British Columbians and Canadians to write to MLA's and MP's to express their concern over the fishing haul by Alaskans just north of the A/B line.

Include in the campaign is a call to take the concerns directly to Fisheries Minister Joyce Murray which you can review here.

More background on the issue can be explored from the Alaska's Dirty Little Secret information page here, which includes interviews with some of those of the North Coast who have been impacted by the Alaskan practice.

Ken Bryant, Lax Kw'alaams

Donnie Wesley, Lax Kw'alaams

The video below to serve as a narrative to the concerns of those of the Skeena and Nass River fisheries.

Federal Fisheries
Minister Joyce Murray

For those sending their regards to the latest of Fisheries Ministers, perhaps add on an invitation to come on up to the North Coast and Northwest to explore the concerns of those in the fishery and those who rely on those stocks in their day to day life.

As we've noted more than a few times over the years, successive Federal governments have treated the Fisheries Portfolio as somewhat of a revolving door. 

And while the door swings open and close often, actual visits to the North Coast to look into a range of concerning issues have been few and far between.

A reminder as to where we are and maybe a map as to how to get here couldn't hurt in the current campaign.

More notes on themes of the fisheries of the North Coast and Northwest can be reviewed here.