Re: “Tseshaht First Nation fight herring fishery off Barkley Sound,” March 8.
I read the recent herring story with great interest. This is important. I am also thrilled to see the Squamish Streamkeepers working on herring recovery in Howe Sound and False Creek, on the other side of the Salish Sea. This is very refreshing.
We also need to bring herring back to Greater Victoria, known by the Songhees and Esquimalt as Lekwungen: the land of smoked herring. This could be the “mother of all re-wilding efforts” which could result in a serious ecological upgrade and bring back a lot of wildlife, not to mention traditional cultural practices and fishing opportunities, to our beautiful region.
Greater Victoria still has what is arguably the best marine and coastal environment in urban Canada. With herring, like we had in the past, it could be downright spectacular. The waters of the Gorge used to be black with herring until the 1980s. Time has come to bring back this “super foundation” species which feeds the entire food chain.
Jacques Sirois, chairman
Friends of Victoria Harbour Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Oak Bay
