In reading the very informative article this week on sockeye escapement and how it’s determined, I was enlightened and confused. I am very happy for our commercial fishermen who are getting a second shot at making the bills. I am very pleased that the quotas are being reached for sustainable reproduction. Both are good news for Haines. However, as a local campground owner I have a vested interest in the unaddressed matter of sport fishermen. Haines is struggling for economic development and sport fishing should be the low hanging fruit. Our Canadians bring in a cash infusion when they come for the runs. I’ve been on both sides of this equation, having first come to Haines decades ago as a Canadian sport fisherman who did well in the river. This is where I get confused. How can we be happy with the escapement numbers that don’t consider the sport fishermen? I’ve spent countless hours fishing the Chilkoot and have yet to catch a sockeye in the last two years. The numbers are great for netting, but terrible for river fishing and that’s going to hurt Haines. Decades ago, we could make the drive and expect to catch sockeye, but I’d never make that drive today. I heard from Whitehorse visitors that they’re growing dismayed with the quality of the fishing experience here. Perhaps I’m naive, but it seems to me that if the sockeye were sustainable and fishable decades ago then they should be sustainable and fishable now.
Chuck Duncan