Derek Neary
Northern News Services
Kakisa (Jun 08/01) - There will no commercial fishing on Tathlina Lake this year for the first time in decades.
Ka'a'gee Tu band members in Kakisa have decided to follow advice from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and halt the Tathlina Lake pickerel fishery for at least a year while scientists study on low stocks. DFO biologist George Low said the move may sound drastic, but last year's catch from Tathlina Lake fell far below the 20,000-kilogram quota.
"It does need some time to recover. We think that would be the best measure," Low said.
Lloyd Chicot, chief of the Ka'a'gee Tu First Nation, said he's arranging to meet with Deh Cho MLA Michael McLeod and NWT Resources Minister Joe Handley in an effort to secure compensation for the community's five fishing outfits, which also employ a few residents from Fort Providence and West Point.
He said the fishermen are prepared to keep Tathlina Lake closed for five to 15 years -- as long as it takes to restore the stocks.
The fishermen will still fish for their 20,000-kilogram catch from Kakisa Lake despite a potentially troubling stock assessment carried out on that lake last year.
The assessment indicated that there has been a moderate drop in the number of pickerel, also known as walleye. Fisheries scientists had recommended that the annual catch be reduced to 15,000 kilograms on Kakisa Lake for at least this season, until all the data have been closely analyzed.
Chicot said the community will wait until data analysis is complete before cutting the Kakisa Lake quota, as some fishermen have already begun their season.
"It's not at a critical stage but before it gets there, the community, along with DFO, want to address it so it doesn't happen," said Chicot.
Low speculated that a year or two of poor spawning or low water could have had detrimental affects on the pickerel stocks.
"What we really want to do is get things back on track," he said.
Chicot said a survey will also be done to determine how much sport fishing is done and how much Kakisa residents are catching for their own use.
