Illegal sockeye salmon sales are sa国际传媒渞ampantsa国际传媒� on the Fraser River, especially in the Lower Mainland, according to .

The Surrey-based organization says thousands of sockeye salmon cleaned and apparently prepared for sale are being dumped along riverbanks.

sa国际传媒淲e are seeing evidence of illegal fish sales all over social media and Craigslist,sa国际传媒� said Jesse Zeman, the federationsa国际传媒檚 executive director, in a news release sent Thursday (Sept. 8).

Zeman said images of dead fish showing up on social media appear to depict rotting Fraser River sockeye salmon, including hundreds of fish abandoned in the harbour at Steveston.

sa国际传媒淭he BCWF is seeing reports of dumping involving thousands, possibly tens of thousands of fish, which is a symptom of illegal sales on a massive scale,sa国际传媒� Zeman stated.

sa国际传媒淭he fish have spoiled suggesting that there are far more fish on the black market than there are buyers.sa国际传媒�

B.C. Wildlife Federation works sa国际传媒渢o protect and conserve British Columbiasa国际传媒檚 fish, wildlife and habitat.sa国际传媒�

The organziation says the number of spawning sockeye salmon returning to spawn in the Fraser River system is a fraction of the number forecast earlier this year sa国际传媒� just 5.5 million fish rather than the 9.8 million forecast.

Fish sold on the black market have not been inspected and may not be properly stored, which can lead to food-borne illness for those who buy and eat the fish, and possibly a trip to prison.

sa国际传媒淲hen you eat fish that havensa国际传媒檛 been properly cooled and cared for theresa国际传媒檚 a very good chance you could get sick,sa国际传媒� Zeman cautioned.

sa国际传媒淚f you are caught with fresh sockeye salmon and you donsa国际传媒檛 have a sales slip from a licensed purveyor, you will be charged as a poacher.sa国际传媒�

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (aka the DFO) shut down its special investigations unit nine years ago, and that concerns people like Randy Nelson, a retired DFO director of conservation and protection.

sa国际传媒淚 was concerned when the special investigations unit was disbanded because it limited the departmentsa国际传媒檚 ability to prosecute major poaching operations,sa国际传媒� Nelson says in the BCWF news release.

sa国际传媒淪ome are very complex and organized, and it requires more than just a casual operation to control. This is major crime and it requires investigation and sometimes undercover work to get to the bottom of it. Addressing poaching requires significant resources.sa国际传媒�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Follow us on and follow Tom on