The Tsilhqot’in National Government is initiating an emergency salmon task force.
This in response to the Chilcotin River landslide that the TNG says increased sediment, debris, and flow to the Fraser River have and will continue to have dramatic impacts to this year’s sockeye and chinook run.
The Nation is also calling on all levels of Government, downstream First Nations, Pacific Salmon Commission, other Nations and States, especially Alaskan fisheries, to take all precautionary measures possible to conserve Tsilhqot’in territory-bound salmon, and to immediately cease from fisheries that may impact these stocks until the impacts from the landslide and breach are fully understood.
Tsilhqot’in National Government Chief Joe Alphonse stated in a release that they call on the Province and Canada to support the Nation in this work and that all levels of government will be invited to ensure that all expertise is heard.
“This emergency task force will bring together experts with traditional and science-based knowledge for informed decisions to be made on the Tsilhqox salmon stocks.” Alphonse said, We need long term alternative solutions to the salmon stocks, we also need full rehabilitation of our fishing sites and must look at stabilizing the upstream and downstream areas. There will be a lot of work ahead of us.”
The task force will be led by the Tsilhqot’in as the Nation determines the proper Indigenous and science-based path forward.
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