B.C. First Nation bans sport fishing, says access "will be defended"
Conservative Party of British Columbia leadership candidate Caroline Elliott spoke out against the move by Gitxsan Nation in northwestern B.C.
A northwestern B.C. First Nation has warned non-Indigenous fishers against accessing rivers in its territory. On Sunday, the Gitxsan Nation clarified that “trespass by sport fishers” was prohibited and that access to rivers “will be defended.”
In a statement, Gitxsan Nation warned of strict enforcement during the 2026 fishing season due to low water levels, exposed spawning beds, and food security concerns. “Fish are the Gitxsan people’s sacred staple and a high priority for food security,” it said.
The ban covers the entirety of the Babine, Bulkley, Nass, Kispiox, and Skeena Rivers, spanning 35,000 square kilometres in northwest B.C. from Terrace to Smithers to Hazelton.
While the province remains silent, at least one B.C. Conservative leadership hopeful is speaking out.
“For seven years, unelected hereditary chiefs have been telling licensed British Columbians their provincial fishing permits mean nothing across a huge area in Northwest BC,” said Caroline Elliott, a B.C. Conservative leadership hopeful.
