Fraser-sockeye-DFO-fshrvrWatershed Watch Salmon Society executive director Aaron Hill says about a million and a half fewer sockeye than expected reached their spawning grounds because of overfishing last year.

Hill says the problem is that the panel that manages how much fishing is allowed is dominated by fishermen.

“And they constantly ignore the recommendations of the scientists and went with run sizes that were higher than what they recommended over and over again throughout the fishing season, which led to higher fishing rates.”

Hill says people were expecting a huge run last year because the fish were the offspring of the massive 2010 population, but says the actual numbers fell short of predictions.

He says fishing rates need to be more conservative this year.