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Rotting sockeye salmon dumped along Fraser River signals 㽶Ƶֱrampant㽶Ƶֱ illegal sales

B.C. Wildlife Federation says the dumping involves thousands, possibly tens of thousands of fish
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B.C. Wildlife Federation emailed this photo of rotting sockeye salmon to news outlets on Thursday, Sept. 8. (Submitted photo)

Illegal sockeye salmon sales are 㽶Ƶֱrampant㽶Ƶֱ on the Fraser River, especially in the Lower Mainland, according to .

The Surrey-based organization says thousands of sockeye salmon cleaned and apparently prepared for sale are being dumped along riverbanks.

㽶ƵֱWe are seeing evidence of illegal fish sales all over social media and Craigslist,㽶Ƶֱ said Jesse Zeman, the federation㽶Ƶֱs executive director, in a news release sent Thursday (Sept. 8).

Zeman said images of dead fish showing up on social media appear to depict rotting Fraser River sockeye salmon, including hundreds of fish abandoned in the harbour at Steveston.

㽶ƵֱThe BCWF is seeing reports of dumping involving thousands, possibly tens of thousands of fish, which is a symptom of illegal sales on a massive scale,㽶Ƶֱ Zeman stated.

㽶ƵֱThe fish have spoiled suggesting that there are far more fish on the black market than there are buyers.㽶Ƶֱ

B.C. Wildlife Federation works 㽶Ƶֱto protect and conserve British Columbia㽶Ƶֱs fish, wildlife and habitat.㽶Ƶֱ

The organziation says the number of spawning sockeye salmon returning to spawn in the Fraser River system is a fraction of the number forecast earlier this year 㽶Ƶֱ just 5.5 million fish rather than the 9.8 million forecast.

Fish sold on the black market have not been inspected and may not be properly stored, which can lead to food-borne illness for those who buy and eat the fish, and possibly a trip to prison.

㽶ƵֱWhen you eat fish that haven㽶Ƶֱt been properly cooled and cared for there㽶Ƶֱs a very good chance you could get sick,㽶Ƶֱ Zeman cautioned.

㽶ƵֱIf you are caught with fresh sockeye salmon and you don㽶Ƶֱt have a sales slip from a licensed purveyor, you will be charged as a poacher.㽶Ƶֱ

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (aka the DFO) shut down its special investigations unit nine years ago, and that concerns people like Randy Nelson, a retired DFO director of conservation and protection.

㽶ƵֱI was concerned when the special investigations unit was disbanded because it limited the department㽶Ƶֱs ability to prosecute major poaching operations,㽶Ƶֱ Nelson says in the BCWF news release.

㽶ƵֱSome are very complex and organized, and it requires more than just a casual operation to control. This is major crime and it requires investigation and sometimes undercover work to get to the bottom of it. Addressing poaching requires significant resources.㽶Ƶֱ



tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com

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Tom Zillich

About the Author: Tom Zillich

I cover entertainment, sports and news for Surrey Now-Leader and Black Press Media
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