Illegal sockeye salmon sales are 91裸聊视频渞ampant91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淲e are seeing evidence of illegal fish sales all over social media and Craigslist,91裸聊视频� said Jesse Zeman, the federation91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淭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,91裸聊视频� Zeman stated.

91裸聊视频淭he fish have spoiled suggesting that there are far more fish on the black market than there are buyers.91裸聊视频�

B.C. Wildlife Federation works 91裸聊视频渢o protect and conserve British Columbia91裸聊视频檚 fish, wildlife and habitat.91裸聊视频�

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 91裸聊视频� 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.

91裸聊视频淲hen you eat fish that haven91裸聊视频檛 been properly cooled and cared for there91裸聊视频檚 a very good chance you could get sick,91裸聊视频� Zeman cautioned.

91裸聊视频淚f you are caught with fresh sockeye salmon and you don91裸聊视频檛 have a sales slip from a licensed purveyor, you will be charged as a poacher.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淚 was concerned when the special investigations unit was disbanded because it limited the department91裸聊视频檚 ability to prosecute major poaching operations,91裸聊视频� Nelson says in the BCWF news release.

91裸聊视频淪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.91裸聊视频�

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.com
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