Questions About Salmon Fishing From a Couple of 10 Year Olds.

by Ken answering Caleb and Alex
(Vancouver BC)

These are the types of questions I receive from children all the time for school projects and one of the reasons why I've chosen to start this forum.

Type your message here: Hi my name is Alex. Me and my partner Caleb are 10 years old. We would like to ask you some questions. Because we have a project about salmon and we thought it would be convenient to email you.

Hi Alex...I've answered your questions below. Good luck to you and Caleb on your project. Let me know if I can help you any further.

Ken Bryski

Here are some of our questions

What is the biggest challenge to commercial fishing?


The biggest challenge to commercial salmon fishing is the depletion of stocks and the redistribution of existing stocks to other user groups such as the growing sports sector and First Nations.

As people and other industry encroach on salmon spawning grounds, less young salmon return to the ocean each year.

Once the young salmon reach the ocean their paths are blocked by toxic wastelands created by floating salmon farms. Parasites attack the young salmon smolts before they have a chance to grow. For those that make it past the salmon farms the journey doesn't get a whole lot easier.

Each year the human race pours more pollutants and plastics into our oceans creating a environment that hampers ocean survival and the ability to thrive. As a result less salmon return to the rivers and streams to spawn and provide less opportunities to be caught.


What Salmon do you see the most fishing?


In British Columbia we have 5 natural salmon species Chinook, Coho, Sockeye, Chum and Pink. Occasionally Atlantic salmon that have escaped from salmon farms are caught as well, but these are an invasive species not native to British Columbia.

The most abundant species would normally be Pink salmon. They are also the lowest quality fish and cheapest fish. They are generally canned. The most valuable catch would be Sockeye salmon and some might argue is the highest quality fish. The largest salmon is the Chinook and they also bring the most money per pound, but is one of the smallest catches by industry.


How do you guys get the salmon to the grocery store?


When our boats are full or after each opening, we deliver our fish to a custom unloading facility. Most harbors will have at least one facility. Our fish are removed from the boat by large buckets and cranes. They are then repackaged in boxes or totes made of plastic or cardboard weighing between 1000 and 1500 lbs. They are then loaded onto refrigerated trucks and shipped to storage plants where fish brokers will offer them to various markets around the world.


What is you're favorite thing about fishing?


It has to be catching fish. Who doesn't love fishing? It's one of the first things I can remember doing with my dad when I was a very little boy. I can't ever remember a time when fishing wasn't the most exciting and fun thing I could do. I started fishing for fun and a hobby. Once I learned that I could make money from fishing, the next step wasn't difficult to figure out.


What is the type of boat that catches the most salmon?


In BC we have trollers which catch fish by hook and line. These boats have the ability to directly target certain species of fish and are extremely efficient. They produce the highest quality of fish but lower quantities. They also earn the most money per pound for their fish.

Gillnetters set a long shallow net in the path of salmon returning to spawn. They can be somewhat selective by using larger or smaller mesh sizes in the net, but generally will catch everything that swims into the net. Poor quality fish but very efficient at catching as long as the fish swims by and doesn't go around or under the net.

Seiners look for large schools of fish with sonars and other high tech equipment. Once a school is spotted a large net is payed out in a circle around the school of fish. It's called a purse seine. The bottom of the net is closed holding the school of fish inside. The fish are then scooped into the boat. These boats are the most efficient at catching large quantities of salmon very quickly and are the work horses of the fleet. Because of their efficiency they get the least amount of opportunity to fish.



Is fishing a hobby?


It can be a hobby or it can be a way of life much like farming.


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Best regards,
Ken Bryski
kenbryski.com