Thursday January 22, 2026
The Tyee —
A federal government effort to update a decades-old policy that governs how salmon are allocated among fisheries on the West Coast is creating waves with recreational fishers who fear they’ll face reduced access.
Canada’s existing salmon allocation policy was created in 1999 and guides decisions about how many fish First Nations, commercial and recreational fisheries are allowed to catch. While the policy addresses food, social and ceremonial First Nations fisheries, it does not specify the conditions in which First Nations commercial fisheries are allowed to operate. The policy also gives priority to the recreational fishery ahead of commercial operators once conservation and First Nations’ requirements are met.