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

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Kitwanga River Salmon Enumeration Facility

Each year after installation GFA biologist will also snorkel along the entire fence looking for possible openings where salmon could move through undetected.

Snapshots of GFA Projects

In addition to using a fishwheel to capture coho, beach seining was utilized. With the low flow conditions that season, beach seining proved the most effective method.

Kitwanga Smolt Enumeration Facility

From GFA's experience in 2008, most sockeye moved through the trap on the left side of the fence (bottom section of fence in photo), so trap boxes were redesigned and moved in 2009 to adapt to this.