A complaint came into Ha-Shilth-Sa June 29 about fish heads and guts being dumped along the Ash Main logging road near Faber Road.
The email stated that about 200 fish heads were dumped, though Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD) Chief Administrative Officer Russell Dyson estimates the number at closer to 100.
Tseshaht Fisheries were onsite within 15 minutes of hearing of the dump on June 30. Darwin Webber noted that there were heads and guts, but no spines or tails and that the mess also contained fish eggs.
ACRD is now responsible for the clean-up at a cost of about $300- to $400, which includes the use of a vacuum truck that was employed to suck the liquefied guts up off of the road and remove it to the landfill site. He said it was a waste of a valuable resource, adding that it would have made a great compost if the material would have been disposed of properly.
Dyson said the area is a popular hiking trail, and because the material would be an attractant to wildlife, such as bears, the site had to be cleaned up.
While the federal department of fisheries will be notified, Dyson said the dump does not warrant any further investigation, though he would like the public to be made aware that such fish dumping causes issues.
Dyson also said there were no assumptions being made as to who would be responsible for the dump, however the email that came from a private citizen that notified Ha-Shilth-Sa of the situation was sent to Dyson, the Mayor of Port Alberni, three employees of Hupacasath First Nation, two employees of Tseshaht First Nation and the Fisheries Manager at Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council only.
Tseshaht Chief Councillor Les Sam said there is no way to determine who the dumpers would be. He said there is so much fishing activity on the Somass and Stamp Rivers that it could have been done by anyone, native or non-native, and people should not just look to the Hupacasath and Tseshaht members who conduct road-side sales to blame.
Webber said the fact that there were fish eggs also dumped is curious, as that is something that might ordinarily be kept by First Nation harvesters. Heads are also usually retained, as they are considered good eating by First Nations, and according to one Tseshaht member the fish sold roadside would be sold with heads on.
Tseshaht works to ensure that fish waste is disposed of carefully and properly, said Sam, who added that dumping of fish guts is not condoned by the nation. It’s an issue that the nations are faced with every year, with finger pointing usually directed at the First Nations fishery. And that is quite damaging to the reputation of their management plan.
