Illegal sockeye salmon sales are 含羞草研究社渞ampant含羞草研究社� on the Fraser River, especially in the Lower Mainland, according to .

The Surrey-based organization says thousands of sockeye salmon cleaned and apparently prepared for sale are being dumped along riverbanks.

含羞草研究社淲e are seeing evidence of illegal fish sales all over social media and Craigslist,含羞草研究社� said Jesse Zeman, the federation含羞草研究社檚 executive director, in a news release sent Thursday (Sept. 8).

Zeman said images of dead fish showing up on social media appear to depict rotting Fraser River sockeye salmon, including hundreds of fish abandoned in the harbour at Steveston.

含羞草研究社淭he BCWF is seeing reports of dumping involving thousands, possibly tens of thousands of fish, which is a symptom of illegal sales on a massive scale,含羞草研究社� Zeman stated.

含羞草研究社淭he fish have spoiled suggesting that there are far more fish on the black market than there are buyers.含羞草研究社�

B.C. Wildlife Federation works 含羞草研究社渢o protect and conserve British Columbia含羞草研究社檚 fish, wildlife and habitat.含羞草研究社�

The organziation says the number of spawning sockeye salmon returning to spawn in the Fraser River system is a fraction of the number forecast earlier this year 含羞草研究社� just 5.5 million fish rather than the 9.8 million forecast.

Fish sold on the black market have not been inspected and may not be properly stored, which can lead to food-borne illness for those who buy and eat the fish, and possibly a trip to prison.

含羞草研究社淲hen you eat fish that haven含羞草研究社檛 been properly cooled and cared for there含羞草研究社檚 a very good chance you could get sick,含羞草研究社� Zeman cautioned.

含羞草研究社淚f you are caught with fresh sockeye salmon and you don含羞草研究社檛 have a sales slip from a licensed purveyor, you will be charged as a poacher.含羞草研究社�

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (aka the DFO) shut down its special investigations unit nine years ago, and that concerns people like Randy Nelson, a retired DFO director of conservation and protection.

含羞草研究社淚 was concerned when the special investigations unit was disbanded because it limited the department含羞草研究社檚 ability to prosecute major poaching operations,含羞草研究社� Nelson says in the BCWF news release.

含羞草研究社淪ome are very complex and organized, and it requires more than just a casual operation to control. This is major crime and it requires investigation and sometimes undercover work to get to the bottom of it. Addressing poaching requires significant resources.含羞草研究社�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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