Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of British Columbian fishers and anglers, calling on the Minister of Fisheries to implement 100% clipping and coded wire tagging programs for hatchery chinook and coho salmon.
Coastal communities in B.C. are being hit hard by salmon retention closures, even as tens of millions of hatchery chinook are released each year. The problem is straightforward. Too few hatchery fish are being marked and tagged, making it difficult for managers to implement marked selective fisheries where hatchery fish can be retained and wild fish released. B.C.'s low marking rate remains a key barrier to retention opportunities.
This would protect wild fish stocks while allowing selective retention hatchery fish, supporting coastal communities, a way of life, over 9,000 jobs and a $1.2-billion industry. I am pleased to present the petition and I urge the minister to act with urgency.