Retired engineer Peter Krahn dreams of the day when iconic B.C. salmon swim upstream to their spawning beds in peak physical condition 含羞草研究社� free of any net marks or bruising.

That含羞草研究社檚 the goal of the selective fishing technology he含羞草研究社檚 developing.

Krahn set out three years ago to design a fish trap platform that would permit the release of non-targeted fish, helping them to reach their spawning grounds at the 含羞草研究社渉ighest level of fitness.含羞草研究社�

Now he含羞草研究社檚 in the process of filing for a worldwide patent for the selective fishing systems he named 含羞草研究社淩iverTraps.含羞草研究社�

Krahn transported two of the prototypes to Chilliwack Tuesday for a demonstration.

Several elected officials, DFO reps, and fishing groups joined Krahn at Island 22 Regional Park in Chilliwack on Tuesday, including MPs Ed Fast, Bob Zimmer, and Rich Perkins, who is the Conservative shadow minister for Fisheries.

Krahn showed how the prototypes work at the boat launch, as well as conducting a live demonstration with a fish trap anchored in a back eddy of the Fraser.

The technology provides 含羞草研究社渁n alternate technique含羞草研究社� to gillnetting and beach-seining, which are used in First Nations economic opportunity fisheries.

So far the federal government has invested $1 million in Krahn含羞草研究社檚 research project through a First Nations partnership, while Krahn contributed $1.6 million himself to get the project up and running. The total investment will be about $4.5 million, Krahn estimated, including the research and testing.

The RiverTraps selective fishing systems include a fish selection platform, containment net, removable wing nets, and a release gate.

含羞草研究社淚n most encounters with other fishing gear, particularly gillnetting and beach seining, the fish are so injured that even if they do make it to the spawning ground they don含羞草研究社檛 have a level of fitness to actually spawn.

含羞草研究社淭hey become just bait after that,含羞草研究社� Krahn explained.

He含羞草研究社檚 been conducting tests with his two prototypes and has forged several partnerships, including ones on the lower Fraser, mid Fraser, Stewart Lake, as well as on the Nass River Valley on the Meziadin River.

Krahn described a scenario where the trap had six chinook swim into in the containment net, guided by wing nets, half of which were hatchery marked fish.

含羞草研究社淲e dip-net out the hatchery fish, and harvest them. Once we含羞草研究社檝e got them out, there is a curtain that goes down in front of that opening. We manually lift that curtain and out they go.

含羞草研究社淲e have not physically touched the fish. We have not taken them out of the water, which is the biggest stressor. They haven含羞草研究社檛 been marked by gillnets.含羞草研究社�

That yields higher value fish.

含羞草研究社淪o you can harvest less fish, get a higher price, and have the same economic revenue,含羞草研究社� he said

Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer asked Krahn to explain his reason for the project, adding that he knew the overarching aim of it wasn含羞草研究社檛 just money, but rather a true concern for the fish.

Krahn explained as one of six children, fishing was always a very important part of the family diet and relaxation. His father, who fabricated sheet metal, taught him the importance of seeing a project through.

Growing up with tackle store owner Fred Helmer of the Fraser River Sportfishing Alliance, Krahn said he spent ample time on the river system.

含羞草研究社淏ut we含羞草研究社檙e getting on. We need to bring hope, and training and passion to the young people because they含羞草研究社檙e the ones going to be taking over. That含羞草研究社檚 why I am heavily invested in the schools with this.含羞草研究社�

High school students and students from UNBC will be involved in ongoing research and fabrication, and the technology has also been tested on the Harrison River.

含羞草研究社淎s fisheries are moving to selective fishing to reduce the harm, it will be up to the regulators who issue the permits to decide which technique will be allowed for the fishery,含羞草研究社� Krahn noted.

含羞草研究社淎ll I am doing is providing another option.含羞草研究社�

RELATED:

RELATED:

Do you have a story idea to share? Email:
jfeinberg@theprogress.com

Like us on and follow us on .