Fishing

The Gitanyow are active in fishing, and the Gitanyow Fisheries Authority (GFA) plays a key role in those efforts.  GFA biologists and fisheries managers are active in negotiating and planning with Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) on sustainable quotas, and in determining if and when fisheries can occur.  GFA projects such as the Kitwanga River Salmon Enumeration Facility are vital in determining if certain runs can be fished, and when those fisheries can occur.  The GFA fisheries coordinator and other staff play a key role in monitoring any fisheries on Gitanyow Territory, and have established excellent relationships with DFO Fisheries Enforcement personnel.

GFA administers and operates both Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) fisheries and more recently, an economic fishery on Meziadin sockeye.

Food, Social and Ceremonial Fishing


Economic Fisheries

PHOTO GALLERIES

click photo to see full gallery
Snapshots of GFA Projects

In 2008, GFA modified a fishwheel for use in the Cranberry River canyon. Goal: capture coho and chinook salmon to obtain a recapture rate from fish marked at downstream Nisga'a fishwheels.

Kitwanga River Salmon Enumeration Facility

Silver sockeye salmon.

Kitwanga Smolt Enumeration Facility

Connecting the transoms are aluminum panels, with fine enough perforations to prevent movement of the smallest sockeye smolts.