FISHERIES

NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

FISHERIES

Adams Lake Fisheries Communication and Management

 This program allows for consultation with the general membership on fisheries policy and planning issues.

This also includes reviewing local conservation concerns, facilitating development of fishing plans, issuing permits, organizing communal fishing events and arranging enforcement protocol discussions with Department Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). Coordinate annual Salmon Ceremony. Organize the canning of salmon.

Adams Lake Catch Surveying:

 Catch Survey is the bands community fisheries program. We use the boat to set nets and catch salmon to bring to the fish cleaning station for processing. Once processing is complete a portion goes to the community freezers and the rest is split amongst those community members there assisting. 2018 was the dominant year for sockeye but our catch numbers were low.  For 2019 we provided donations of salmon to

ALIB Headstart programs, ALIB community workshops, community meetings, funerals, Chief

Atahm Winter celebration, Salmon Caravan and traded about 250 sockeyes for a buffalo with the

Tsuu T’ina Nation. The following bands arranged days where their communities came and took the days catch; Neskonlith Indian Band,

Splatsin, Little Shuswap Lake Indian Band and the Shuswap Indian Band.

Adams Lake Watershed Coho Surveys:  The purpose of the project is to conduct Coho assessments on the tributaries of Adams Lake.

The enumeration method consists of stream walk surveys at set intervals and within set stream sections during the period of adult Coho presence within the tributaries. Data collection standards have been set by local DFO Stock Assessment Division. Data collected from these surveys will be used by SFC, the Secwepemc communities and DFO Stock Assessment to estimate Coho escapements.  NR employees conduct Coho Stream assessments on the following creeks (tributaries): Sinmax, Huihill, Nikwikwaia, Harbour, Cayenne and Momich River.

Adams Lake Creel Survey:  NR Employees conduct patrols of the South

Thompson River, Adams Lake Bridge, Hoffman’s Bluff, Pritchard Bridge and interview sport fisherman for the purpose of collecting harvest information such as type of gear used, length of time spent fishing, species caught and released, hourly levels of gear type (fishing activity), biological sampling, relay of fishing opening or closure information and reporting of illegal fishing activities.

Other Fisheries

 As a result of having a dependable boat we are able to utilize it for contracts: boom log replacement at Pritchard Bridge, Whatshan Guardian program with BC Hydro, Arrow Debris Management (Arrow Lakes).