OTTAWA--John Cummins, M.P. (Delta-South Richmond) today challenged the Minister of Fisheries in Parliament on the killing of 30,000 coho in no-kill zones on British Columbia's North Coast in 1998:

On December 2nd, I asked the Minister of Fisheries why he authorized a fishery for his friend and campaign contributor which resulted in a kill of 30,000 coho in a no-kill zone.

I was outraged by the kill and DFO bureaucrats were alarmed. Ottawa warned North Coast managers in Prince Rupert that the more that becomes known of the coho kill the bigger the issue will become. I couldn't agree more Mr. Speaker.

On May 21st last the Minister announced that coho stocks were in crisis, some bordering on extinction. There were to be no fisheries directed at coho anywhere on the coast by any fisherman and a zero retention of coho caught in other fisheries.

On June 19th the coast was divided into Red and Yellow Zones. In Red Zones there was to be zero mortality of coho. Nevertheless, in Red Zones there were to be "a small number of highly restricted, experimental [recreational fisheries]". Such a fishery was authorized in the Dixon Entrance on the North Coast of the Queen Charlottes.

Problems become apparent immediately. In a weekly coho report, dated June 24th officials issued a warning to the Minister: "Concern for Dundas Island red zone sport fishery growing. Encounter rates of coho climbing."

Nevertheless, a promised observer program to monitor the fishery was not put in place until half way through the season and when they were hired there were only 4 for 6 fishing areas.

The July 29th Report indicated that for Area 1 "coho abundance is high throughout Dixon Entrance...it did not matter where one went or what they did, coho were being caught." The coho encounter rate was estimated to be 11 to 1 at Langara Island, although they acknowledged many believed it to be much higher.

The August 5th Report indicated that in Area 3, at Dundas Island East, monitors were reporting an encounter rate of 20 coho caught for every chinook taken.

The August 12th Report indicated that Area 1 lodges continued to be fully operational with about 320 anglers per day. It reported coho encounters were a "continual occurrence", noting that "unguided vessels are remaining in areas where coho abundance is high." It noted that "there continued to be reports that some [fishermen] are not treating the coho well when releasing which could be increasing mortality". Area 1 coho encounters were then estimated at 80,000. The report goes on to estimate that Area 3 coho encounters are 142 coho for every chinook caught.

The Minister had promised that the fishery would be closed if there were coho mortality. There was a continuous coho kill that reached alarming proportions yet he took no action. On the north coast of the Charlottes, the Minister was not interested in conservation. He was only interested in providing a special opening for the lodge-based fishery operated by his friends.

Last summer DFO scientists undertook a special mortality study on recreational catch and release for coho. Scientists found a mortality rate of slightly more than 25% for coho caught in recreational fisheries.

In estimating a 30,000 coho kill in the waters of the North Coast and the Queen Charlottes, I used a coho/chinook encounter rate of 10 to 1, not 142 to 1 documented in Area 3 or even the 11 to 1 documented at Langara Island. I used a mortality rate of 10% not the 25 % rate DFO scientists found in their study.