About Stellat’en Fisheries

Stellat’en First Nation Fisheries practices both modern and traditional fisheries throughout Stellat’en territory, including the Endako, Stellako, Nautley, and Nechako Rivers and Fraser Lake.

The lakes and rivers within Stellat’en territory support important resident fish populations as well as returning Chinook and sockeye salmon. During years of strong salmon returns, these populations can support Stellat’en food, social, ceremonial, and commercial fisheries while also contributing to recreational and other fisheries throughout the Fraser River watershed.

Stellat’en First Nation has a long history of selectively harvesting salmon using traditional fishing methods, including dip nets, gaffs, fish fences, and traps. Traditional fish fences remain an important symbol of Stellat’en Fisheries. These highly selective fishing methods allowed Stellat’en people to harvest salmon while allowing sufficient numbers of fish to continue upstream to their spawning grounds.

Traditional fish fences were once prohibited because they were believed to contribute to declining salmon populations. Today, there is a greater understanding of the many factors affecting salmon throughout their migration, including fisheries, habitat loss, climate change, warming water temperatures, and the nearly 900-kilometre migration Stellako sockeye make from the Pacific Ocean back to Stellat’en territory.

Today, Stellat’en First Nation continues to combine traditional knowledge with modern fisheries science. River fences and traps are used primarily for stock assessment, scientific research, selective harvesting, and community food fisheries. During years of strong sockeye returns and available surplus, Stellat’en may also conduct selective commercial harvests in Fraser Lake using purse seine fishing methods.

Location and Significance

The Stellako River is approximately 11.3 kilometres long and flows between François Lake and Fraser Lake within the traditional territory of Stellat’en First Nation in the Central Interior of British Columbia.

Near the centre of Stellat’en territory, the Stellako River joins the Endako River before entering Fraser Lake. Fraser Lake drains through the Nautley River into the Nechako River, which eventually joins the Fraser River near Prince George.

The Stellako River is one of the most important salmon-producing systems within Stellat’en territory. Stellako sockeye travel nearly 900 kilometres from the Pacific Ocean through the Fraser River watershed to return to their spawning grounds. They are among the farthest-migrating sockeye salmon populations in British Columbia.

During strong cycle years, hundreds of thousands of sockeye may return to the Stellako system. These salmon rely on the river’s clean water, productive gravel beds, and connected tributary habitat for successful spawning and rearing.

For generations, Stellat’en people have depended on these salmon for food, culture, trade, and community well-being. Stellat’en First Nation continues its responsibility as the traditional steward of these fish and their habitats through active fisheries management, monitoring, research, restoration, enhancement, and selective harvesting.

Current Fisheries and Stewardship Work

Stellat’en First Nation Fisheries is actively involved in collaborative fisheries research, monitoring, enhancement, and habitat restoration projects throughout Stellat’en territory.

Current work includes:

  • Climate change and Stellako River Rainbow Trout research: Stellat’en Fisheries is working with the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) to study the effects of climate change and warming water temperatures on Stellako River Rainbow Trout. Water-temperature monitoring stations and fish telemetry technology are being used to track changes in river temperatures, fish movement, and habitat use throughout the year.
  • Sockeye salmon population monitoring: Stellat’en Fisheries works with Nation members to monitor returning Stellako and Nadina sockeye salmon. Sonar, counting fences, and other monitoring technologies are used to estimate population sizes and help determine whether salmon returns can safely support Stellat’en fisheries without putting spawning populations at risk.
  • Stellako and Nadina sockeye counting fences: Stellat’en continues to help manage and support the Stellako River and Nadina River sockeye counting fence programs. These programs provide essential information for understanding annual sockeye returns and making informed fisheries management decisions.
  • Endako Chinook monitoring: Stellat’en Fisheries continues to support the Endako River Chinook brood fence, enumeration work, and Chinook spawner surveys. This work is critical for tracking the condition of the Endako Chinook population and supporting future recovery and enhancement efforts.
  • River and riparian restoration: Stellat’en Fisheries is mapping areas along the Stellako and Endako Rivers to identify opportunities to restore eroding riverbanks, improve riparian areas, and protect important fish habitat. Additional Endako River restoration projects are being developed to improve the ecological condition of the river.
  • Community food fisheries: Stellat’en Fisheries continues to manage and support community food-fish programs. Fisheries are based on available salmon abundance and monitoring information, with conservation of Stellat’en salmon populations remaining the priority.

Stellat’en Fisheries Mission

The mission of Stellat’en First Nation Fisheries is to protect, restore, and sustainably manage fish populations and aquatic ecosystems throughout Stellat’en territory by combining Stellat’en traditional knowledge, community stewardship, and modern fisheries science.

Stellat’en First Nation recognizes that healthy fish populations depend on healthy rivers, lakes, wetlands, riparian areas, and watersheds. Our fisheries work therefore extends beyond harvesting fish and includes population monitoring, habitat restoration, scientific research, climate-change monitoring, salmon enhancement, community food fisheries, training, and long-term stewardship.

Our objectives are to:

  • Protect and rebuild Stellat’en salmon and resident fish populations for future generations.
  • Ensure Stellat’en First Nation has a strong role in the management and stewardship of fisheries within its traditional territory.
  • Support sustainable food, social, ceremonial, and economic fishing opportunities for Stellat’en members.
  • Monitor Stellako, Nadina, Endako, and other important fish populations to support informed and conservation-based fisheries decisions.
  • Restore fish habitat, riverbanks, riparian areas, and aquatic ecosystems within Stellat’en territory.
  • Better understand and respond to the effects of climate change, warming water temperatures, and changing river conditions on fish populations.
  • Support salmon enhancement and recovery initiatives for depleted and at-risk populations.
  • Combine traditional Stellat’en knowledge and fishing practices with modern fisheries science and technology.
  • Increase community participation and responsibility in watershed and fisheries management.
  • Increase local watershed surveillance, monitoring, and protection.
  • Train and employ qualified Stellat’en fisheries technicians and provide opportunities for Nation members to build careers in fisheries and natural resource management.
  • Encourage Stellat’en youth to pursue education, training, and careers in fisheries, environmental science, and natural resource stewardship.
  • Increase public and stakeholder awareness of the importance of fish, fish habitat, and Stellat’en First Nation’s stewardship responsibilities.
  • Develop and deliver fisheries, research, enhancement, and restoration projects throughout Stellat’en traditional territory.

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