After a number of years of good returns, it is bad news for the Okanagan sockeye run this year.

91裸聊视频淭he run is almost done for sockeye coming in. At the last dam, Wells, where all the Okanagan fish go through and nothing else, we have about 38,000 fish,91裸聊视频� said Richard Bussanich, a senior fisheries biologist with the Okanagan Nation Alliance fisheries department.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 tracking about 30 per cent of the 10-year average right now. Typically, we would see about 150 to 250,000 fish at Wells. This year, we are seeking a fraction of that.91裸聊视频�

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Bussanich said the same problem is occurring with runs all along the west coast.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 not just Okanagan, it91裸聊视频檚 coast-wide, right from California to the Nass river,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淪tocks through are a fraction of their historic strength.91裸聊视频�

With the problem showing up universally, Bussanich said it indicates a problem in the marine portion of the salmon lifecycle.

91裸聊视频淚f it was a freshwater issue, you would see some stocks doing well and other stocks not doing so well,91裸聊视频� said Bussanich. 91裸聊视频淭his run, unfortunately, the small fish going out and the adults that made their way out to sea, ended up migrating though what we would call poor salmon conditions in the fresh water and marine. They91裸聊视频檙e getting a double whammy.

91裸聊视频淭he little guys probably got hit pretty good, and when they went out to sea, they got hit with what is now confirmed as an El Ni帽o.91裸聊视频�

Bussanich said there has been concern over the past few years, but ocean scientists are now coming to a consensus there has been a 91裸聊视频渞egime change91裸聊视频� in the marine environment.

91裸聊视频淭here is enough weight of evidence out there, from lack of catching juveniles to poor adults catches that something is going on in the marine environment,91裸聊视频� he said.

The ONA is predicting just shy of 25,000 salmon will make it through to Osoyoos and Skaha this year.

91裸聊视频淭hat will meet our minimum escapements,91裸聊视频� said Bussanich. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a weaker run and we are going to continue with our hatchery program. This is one of the reasons for the hatchery program to help mitigate in years like this.91裸聊视频�

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Low returns also mean recreational fisheries are unlikely this year. Bussanich said they haven91裸聊视频檛 been calling for any, and there is only minor food fishing going on by Okanagan Nation communities.

The question, Bussanich said, is whether the sockeye will rebound as they did in the late 90s, or is the salmon run on a new course? Being optimistic, he said if the sockeye are given a chance, the stock will rebound again.

91裸聊视频淏ecause we have seen this stock come back so vigorously, there91裸聊视频檚 hope this stock will come back again,91裸聊视频� said Bussanich.

In the meantime, the ONA Fisheries Department, one of the largest in B.C., will continue its restoration, conservation and protection mandate, noting that the ONA administers $3.5 million for a variety of environmental programs to enhance quality of life and well being in the valley.

91裸聊视频淲e are not lessening the effort. We continue to work with all the agencies, a variety of NGOs and good volunteers throughout the valley. There is a lot of grassroots stuff that is happening here,91裸聊视频� said Bussanich. 91裸聊视频淲e are not going anywhere. The Okanagan is rich in stewardship and we should be very proud of that.91裸聊视频�