Submitter: Richard Holmes

Community: Likely

Date Submitted: January 12, 2024

Summary:

The commission should consider advising Canada to implement a levy for all adult sockeye caught in the fisheries. The funds could be utilized for research, monitoring, restoration, enhancement, and education, which would complement the limited work presently undertaken in the freshwater environment.

Submission:

A a fisheries biologist who works with sockeye on an ongoing basis in the very productive Quesnel and Chilko River systems I recognize the value of this sustainable resource and the lack of returning funds to these watersheds. I am recommending that the Cohen Commission consider advising the Canadian government to implement a landing fee or levy for all adult sockeye caught in all fisheries. For example a minimum landing fee of $0.25 on Chilko River adult sockeye could provide approximately $250,000 annually based on historical landings since 1952. Twenty-five cents from each landed sockeye is certainly not too much to ask in return from those who benefit most from this resource. The funding could be utilized within the watersheds for research, monitoring, restoration, enhancement, and education and complement the limited work presently undertaken in the freshwater environment. The resource has been very generous to society, it is time to show our appreciation by putting something back.