Early sockeye salmon counts in Johnstone Strait are raising hopes for a strong run this season. On July 31, the test fishery recorded a staggering 14,550 sockeye—the highest single-day total for July since monitoring began.

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) has tallied over 700,000 early sockeye so far, far surpassing the pre-season forecast of 160,000. While the exact cause remains unclear, DFO spokesperson Leri Davies credited collaborative conservation efforts by First Nations and government agencies.

This resurgence comes six years after a devastating landslide blocked access to key spawning grounds. Davies said commercial and recreational fisheries may reopen later this season, but for now, First Nations fisheries remain the priority under conservation protocols.

On August 1, ʼNa̱mǥis Nation fishers joined others for a four-day food, social, and ceremonial (FSC) fishery. A second FSC window opened August 6 and runs through August 9. The ʼNa̱mǥis have been allocated a 5,000-sockeye quota, which hereditary chief and retired fisherman Don Svanvik said could mean about a dozen fish per household if the full quota is caught.

Svanvik reflected on the scarcity of sockeye in recent years, noting that the ʼNa̱mǥis have only fished for sockeye in four of the past 15 years—2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022. “It’s gotten to the point where some people think sockeye only return every four years,” he said. But this year’s run feels different.

He recalled a time when his family would catch 100 to 150 sockeye annually. Known locally as “sliders” for their signature half-circle leaps, sockeye are once again a familiar sight. “Right now, everybody on Johnstone Strait is seeing those fins flash across the water,” he said.

Both Svanvik and Morton believe the closure of Atlantic salmon farms in 2021 off Vancouver Island’s east coast may be playing a role. “This is the first year and last year where we’re starting to see returns of fish that weren’t exposed to salmon farms as juveniles,” Morton explained. “People are wondering—could that be why the numbers are so high?”

Kwakiutl hereditary chief and elected councillor David Knox echoed that the rebound likely has multiple causes. He also warned that salmon face ongoing threats beyond fish farms, including logging, mining, and deep-sea trawling. Knox, who spent five years on trawl boats, emphasized the need for broader protections.

He also voiced frustration over restrictions that prevent Indigenous communities from fishing for economic gain. Knox plans to launch a “pre-confederation” fishery outside DFO regulations, citing rights under the 1851 Fort Rupert Douglas treaties.

Meanwhile, commercial salmon fishing remains closed in Johnstone Strait-area waters on both sides of the Canada–U.S. border.

Due to a temporary equipment issue, the Emergency Department (ED) at Port Hardy Hospital is currently closed. It is expected to reopen at 7 a.m. on Sunday, August 4.

All other inpatient services at Port Hardy Hospital remain open and operating as usual.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency during this time, please call 911 or, if possible, go directly to the nearest open emergency department at Port McNeill Hospital. Do not go to the Port Hardy Hospital ED while it is closed, as this may delay access to urgent care. Island Health and BC Emergency Health Services have procedures in place to ensure 911 callers are transported to the appropriate facility.

For non-emergency health concerns, you can speak with a registered nurse at any time by calling HealthLink BC at 811—available 24/7 and toll-free.

First Nations individuals and communities can also access the First Nations Virtual Doctor of the Day service, available daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To book an appointment, call 1-855-344-3800.

Island Health recognizes the inconvenience this temporary closure may cause and sincerely apologizes for the disruption. We appreciate the community’s understanding as we work to restore full services.

A scheduled emergency power outage on Thursday, July 3, temporarily cut electricity to the entire Woss-to-north region—except for Port Alice, which remained powered by a generator. The outage, which lasted from 12 to 5 p.m., was prompted by the discovery of a broken cross arm on a transmission structure just south of Woss. BC Hydro deemed the issue critical and moved quickly to address it.

“We understand the timing was difficult, especially during a busy season for businesses and tourism,” said BC Hydro spokesperson Ted Olynyk. “We’re grateful for everyone’s patience and understanding.”

The defect was discovered just a day before the outage. Given the risk of structural failure and potential fire, BC Hydro acted swiftly, notifying the public through social media and the North Island Gazette.

Thanks to fast coordination and response, crews completed repairs ahead of schedule, restoring power by 3:30 p.m.

“Everything went smoothly,” Olynyk said. “Outstanding planning, strong teamwork, and the dedication of our crews—some of whom returned from holidays—made it possible to get the job done early.”

Olynyk also emphasized that many BC Hydro team members live in the island communities they serve and take outages personally.

“They care deeply about their work and their neighbours,” he added. “Hats off to the team for stepping up and helping minimize the disruption.”