Fisheries Management

One of the healthiest river systems in the world, K’alii-Aksim Lisims (the Nass River) is the spawning ground of five species of wild salmon, steelhead, and oolichan. NLG, Canada, and British Columbia manage the Nass River salmon and steelhead stocks to preserve these valuable fisheries resources; support food, social, and ceremonial fisheries for Nisg̱a’a people; and, when abundant, support opportunities for commercial fisheries that are beneficial to all Canadians.

The Nisg̱a’a Fisheries Management Program is facilitated through the Joint Fisheries Management Committee (JFMC), which is comprised of representatives from Canada, British Columbia, and the Nisg̱a’a Nation. The fisheries program utilizes fish wheels and other technologies developed over a 30-year period on the Nass River for salmon monitoring, tagging, and data collection, and conducts stock assessments on a variety of fish species throughout the Nass Area. NLG works with British Columbia to manage the steelhead and trout freshwater and lake sport fisheries.

The Nass salmon and summer-run steelhead stock status is monitored annually by NLG’s Nisg̱a’a Fisheries and Wildlife Department (NFWD). The fisheries program employs Nisg̱a’a citizens. On average, since 1992, 46 Nisg̱a’a community members have been employed seasonally or fulltime.