Allied Tribes of Lax Kw'alaams outlines opposition to Commercial Herring Fishery in their territory

The 2024 Herring Fishery could be a contentious season for harvesters, with the Lax Kw'alaams Band outlining its opposition to any commercial herring operations in their territory during the 2024-25 season.

Lax Kw'alaams announced its opposition and the measures it will be willing to take by way of a letter delivered on February 6th to Federal Fisheries Minister Diane Lebouthillier.

The correspondence from Braden Dudoward, Lax Kw'alaams Fisheries Chair highlights  notes of the Band's concerns over both commercial herring spawn on kelp and roe gillnet fisheries for the season ahead.

It details the Band's opposition to commercial fishing the territories of the Allied Tribes of Lax Kw'alaams. 

A copy of a map of those territories is also included in their dispatch of Tuesday.

Allied Tribes of Lax Kw'alaams Territorial map
click to enlarge

The letter which has been posted to both the Lax Kw'alaams Website and Social media page is a short two paragraph outline that notes the reasons behind their decision. 

Observing how close to a decade has passed since the members of Lax Kw'alaams have had a successful harvest for their own people.

Lax Kw'alaams Fisheries Council letter to DFO
click to enlarge

The position of opposition to the Commercial harvest is noted as one that will remain in place until several years of successful herring on bough harvests have been observed and celebrated by its members.

In the letter, the Fisheries Chair calls on all Lax Kw'alaams fishermen to sign on to an agreement that they will not activate a herring commercial licence in the Allied Tribe waters during the 2024-25 season

The correspondence also outlines the measures that Lax Kw'alaams will take should a fishery take place,  with Lax Kw'alaams leadership prepared to activate a protest on the water to physically block their commercial fishing activity.

First Nations fishing concerns on herring in Pacific waters were noted by DFO as part of their 238 page Integrated Fisheries management plan for 2023-24. 

The DFO stock assessment for the Prince Rupert District for the 2024 season is noted below:

The full DFP Fisheries plan can be reviewed here.

There so far has been no public response from DFO related to the  letter from the Lax Kw'alaams Fisheries Chair.

More notes on the fishing industry on the North Coast can be reviewed here.

Further items of interest from Lax Kw'alaams can be explored here.