By Grant Warkentin
In recent years, despite providing almost no funding, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has asked the Oyster River hatchery to do more work, and release fewer fish.
“There’s a challenge now from DFO to control the numbers of hatchery-produced fish in the river, because they feel if there’s too many hatchery fish, they will displace wild fish, so they’re cutting our numbers back,” Oyster River Enhancement Society president Terry Lawrence told the Strathcona Regional District board on Wednesday.
Hatchery volunteers are now doing smaller egg takes for coho salmon, 60,000 versus the 80,000 collected in previous years to raise over winter and release in spring. As well, they are now expected to clip the adipose fins for all coho fry and smolts, so they can be identified as hatchery fish when caught by anglers.
DFO provides the society approximately $6,000 annually.
The society is also dealing with change from the province. Lawrence said the provincial environment ministry will no longer support the cutthroat trout program, which is being retired.
Founded in 1983, the society helped bring the Oyster River back from an almost dead state. In 2001, it received the “Excellence in Stewardship” award from the environment ministry. Today, more than 42,000 salmon of all species return to the river annually.
Leaky roof needs replacement
For the work to continue, the society needs a new roof for the main office, a cabin in the woods near the stock ponds and raceways. It’s 40 years old and leaks every winter, Lawrence said.
The society is looking for up to $50,000 to replace the roof, and since it sits right on the border between regions, was hoping for $25,000 from the Strathcona Regional District and the same amount from the Comox Valley Regional District.
Area D Director John Rice suggested contributing $5,000 from his region’s funds, and $20,000 from the district overall.
Silent opposition from rural directors
During discussion, no one spoke against funding the society, but when the vote was called, Area A Director Gerald Whalley, Area B (Cortes Island) Director Mark Vonesch, Area C (Quadra Island) Director Robin Mawhinney, Gold River Director Michael Lott, and Zeballos alternate director Ron Deck all voted against it. They didn’t give any reasons for their opposition.
Despite their opposition, the vote passed.
In addition to a new roof, this year the society will also be looking to install new fencing, upgrade the plumbing, and revitalize the spawning area for salmon in one of the main channels.
Featured image: Screenshot of Terry Lawrence’s presentation to the Strathcona Regional District board on April 29. Image from SRD / YouTube
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