OTTAWA--"A reckless and cowardly act designed to make a political point," said John Cummins, M.P. (Delta-South Richmond) in describing the protest fishery mounted by the Sto:lo this week in the Fraser canyon.

Reckless because their actions put fragile stocks at risk. Cowardly because the protesters lacked the courage to stand and face the consequences of their acts. Instead they set their nets and ran. Responsible fishermen do not fish fragile stocks nor do they leave their nets unattended.

The Sto:lo entered into a protest fishery and then abandoned their nets. As long as nets are in the water they will kill all fish coming in contact with them. Many of the fish caught and killed in the Sto:lo nets will have been washed away by the currents.

The Fraser canyon is an area where salmon returning to the spawning grounds are particularly vulnerable. Nets hung in strategic locations in the canyon can become a wall of death totally blocking the only migration route.

Conservation is everyone's business. Natives do not have a constitutional right to catch the last fish. The summer runs are in a critical state and the Fraser River is closed to fishing as a conservation measure.