Nass River, BC
One of the healthiest river systems in the world, K’alii Aksim Lisims (the Nass) is the spawning grounds of five species of wild salmon, steelhead, and oolichan.
Protecting the Nass River
There is no single resource as closely tied to Nisga’a life and culture as salmon. For thousands of years, the rich salmon runs of the Nass River allowed our people to sustain our villages and to develop trading relationships that extended into the interior of British Columbia and up and down the coast of the Pacific Northwest.
Stock Assessment
The focus of stock assessment is on sockeye, Chinook, coho and steelhead, pink and chum as well as non-salmon species. The fish wheels have provided the bulk of the assessment data for the salmon species. Radio-telemetry was used to develop and evaluate the mark-recapture system. Coho Key Streams Prior to 1992, there was no reliable information on Nass River coho. Now, Zolzap creek is providing data on Alaskan harvest, escapement, and harvest rates, and fish wheels are providing a minimum escapement of coho to the upper Nass River Sockeye Lake Studies in an effort to understand the limits to production of the extremely valuable sockeye stocks of the Nass River, a number of studies have occurred.
Studies
These include studies of limnology, zooplankton, nutrients, and juvenile abundance. Habitat Assessment The Kwinageese studies provided critical information on coho and sockeye. In addition, a test of an aerial video survey system was completed on Ishkheenickh (Hlginx River). Enhancement The Kincolith Hatchery represents the best opportunity for maintaining a Chinook key stream in the Nass Area. Currently, Chinook stocks are enhanced at this facility. Enhancement and stock assessment occur simultaneously at the Hatchery.