New salmon plan for B.C.

Officials are taking action to have a clearer idea on the health of salmon populations in Canada on a year-to-year basis, with a focus on the Pacific region.

It’s why a new plan has been drafted by Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

The DFO is hosting open houses all over B.C. and in the Yukon in October and November to consult the public on the plans that they have come up with.

On Wednesday night, they were in Penticton showing their plans at the Penticton Lakeside Resort.

"It's an opportunity for our partners, community groups that we work with, First Nations and others who have an interest in salmon stocks across the province to work with us," Angela Bate said, DFO area director in the Fraser Valley and Interior.

One scientist said the new five-year plan is more attainable than those that have been drafted in the past.

He expects this plan, once it is finalized early in 2018, will be “evergreen” and renewed every five years.

"The general aims and objectives are to maintain the rich biodiversity of the five species of pacific salmon that (the DFO) manages in this region," Kim Hyatt said, research scientist with the DFO. 

Hyatt added that with the new plan, the DFO will hope to continue doing useful work with their partners in maintaining the integrity of salmon habitats.

The DFO is meeting with First Nations groups as well after conducting these open houses.

They will spend Thursday with the Okanagan Nation Alliance.

Hyatt said the ONA has been a key partner in preserving salmon populations in Okanagan waterways.

The public can view the implementation plan online and give feedback to the DFO until mid-December.