http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/090911/national/fisheries_meeting

VANCOUVER, B.C. - A First Nations leader says he's concerned federal Fisheries Minister Gail Shea doesn't grasp the crisis situation facing Fraser River sockeye salmon.

Grand Chief Doug Kelly, who co-chairs the First Nations Fisheries Council, attended a meeting Friday with Shea and the disappearance of millions of sockeye from this year's run was discussed.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans estimated about 10.5 million sockeye would return to the Fraser River this year but so far, only a tenth that number has shown up.

The huge shortfall has forced the closure of commercial sockeye fisheries and hamstrung aboriginal fisheries among Fraser River-based First Nations that depend on sockeye to supplement their diet over the winter, said Kelly.

"We need that food and so I'm afraid that people are going to go hungry this winter," he said.

Friday's meeting included B.C. Tories Gary Lunn, the federal sports minister, and Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge MP Randy Kamp, environmentalists, fishing groups and First Nations such as Kelly.

Shea and the other government representatives listened to the briefings and asked a few questions, Kelly said, but gave no indication they were prepared to act.

"There wasn't any real commentary coming forth from the ministers or Randy Kamp," said Kelly.

"It struck me that we were fiddling while Rome was burning."

Brian Riddell, chief executive officer of the Pacific Salmon Foundation, said the meeting was called to give Shea and the government feedback on what needs to be done.

"I think she got a very clear message about the importance of Fraser sockeye and the extent of the impact," he said in an interview.

"Maybe they don't really have a plan in mind. That really never was discussed in terms of what they were proposing. It was really a matter of many people presenting their ideas to the minister's office."

Riddell said the urgency of the crisis was made clear, noting Parliament resumes on Monday. Shea made no commitment on when she would reply.

"But I think you'll hear something in the very near future, I would hope," he said.

Kelly said he and others were vocal that this was a crisis that needed action now.

"There were elements in the room that acknowledged that we have a problem but if we work together that we might get around to fixing it."

A spokesman for Shea said the minister was not available for an interview Friday.

Kelly said if the Fraser sockeye are to be saved, Shea's department needs to revise its scientific models for forecasting salmon runs and change the fisheries management regime and decision-making process.

He also called for multi-level government co-operation to deal with climate change, habitat depletion, water quality and the need for more research into declining stocks.

Commercial salmon-farming remains a big question mark, said Kelly. He said Fisheries officials seem quick to dismiss concerns that open-water fish farms on the West Coast are having an adverse impact on some wild salmon runs.

"There were several of us that were troubled by how quickly the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, senior officials, defend aquaculture," said Kelly.

Environmentalists contend fish farms cause naturally occurring sea lice to flourish in areas where the parasites can attack passing young wild salmon, which are also open to diseases that breed with the captive fish.

Biologist Alexandra Morton noted sockeye runs that don't pass close to fish farms, as well as other salmon species such as pinks, have done well this year.

"It is not climate change, it is not a problem in the ocean, because sockeye all around the Fraser did fine," said Morton, who was not at the meeting.

Chief Bob Chamberlain, the First Nations' point man on aquaculture, was not invited to the meeting. When he showed up anyway, he said he was physically barred.

Chamberlain said he was told by an official that aboriginal views on the fishery would be voiced by other First Nations representatives and, anyway, "the room's too small."

Kelly said he was disappointed Chamberlain wasn't allowed in.

"It would have been easy enough to squeeze one more chair in," he said.

Morton said she's among those who worry the federal government is writing off the Fraser River fishery in favour of farm salmon and hydro projects on salmon-spawning streams.

"The Fraser sockeye is the biggest sockeye run in the world," she said. "If this isn't a priority for our minister of fisheries, she needs to step down."

"I don't blame her at all; this has been going on for a long time. But now we're critical."

Kelly said he and others at the meeting renewed calls for an international summit on West Coast salmon, which would include U.S. representatives.