There is good news and bad news about returning salmon in the Colquitz and Craigflower streams this year. First the good. Volunteers counting salmon returns at the Colquitz and Craigflower streams are seeing increased numbers of fish returning. A counting fence has been set up temporarily to allow fish to be trapped for time, counted, and then safely released.
Volunteers have counted 330 salmon, well over the 12 year average of 280 fish, which is surprising as the forecast had been for low returns.
Now the bad. Dampening the good news is a disturbing event last weekend. Colquitz-stewardship volunteer Chris Bos says on Saturday volunteers arrived to find people fishing with gaff hooks and fishing lines at the fence.The people fled, but several fish in the trap had been harmed. The next morning Bos says someone broke the padlocks on the fish trap and stole salmon.
"This is a federally operated project under the control fo the department of Fisaheries and Oceans. And it is an illegal act to fish from, or break into, that fish counting fence."
Bos says it's heartbreaking for volunteers. Police are investigating.