Chief Joe Alphonse of the Tsilhqot'in First Nation emphasizes that the Chilcotin and Kleena Kleene rivers have been vital for chinook salmon for millennia, according to Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
A British Columbia cattle company and its contractor face significant fines totaling $545,000 for damaging habitat along the Chilcotin and Kleena Kleene rivers, announced Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
The penalties come after a six-year investigation and three legal battles revealed that Altherr & Schellenberg Cattle Co. of Williams Lake, B.C., in collaboration with Bayliff Enterprises, altered the landscape to expand their farming operations without proper approvals.
Chief Joe Alphonse of the Tsilhqot'in First Nation emphasized the importance of respecting natural habitats. He stated, "If you want to coexist, you must respect your surroundings and the habitats."
Operating on private ranch lands near Redstone and Kleena Kleene, each about 430 kilometers northwest of Kelowna, the cattle company undertook activities from 2017 to 2020 that included removing river habitat, filling water channels, diverting streams, and blocking fish passages.
DFO clarified that these actions were undertaken without necessary provincial approvals or compliance with the Fisheries Act, which mandates protecting fish and their habitats during any land use.
The company's activities first drew attention in 2020 when a complaint arose concerning a newly constructed fence on one of their properties. Subsequent investigations revealed widespread environmental disturbance, including tree clearance along rivers on both private and Crown lands.
Chief Alphonse highlighted the devastating impact of these actions on Tsilhqot'in land, stressing the critical role of rivers and spawning pools for chinook salmon and the interconnected wildlife, such as orcas and bears, that rely on them.
Salmon have been vital to the livelihoods of coastal First Nations for millennia, making the protection of these habitats paramount.
In separate legal proceedings in 2022 and 2023, Altherr & Schellenberg Cattle Co. pleaded guilty to Fisheries Act violations and received fines totaling $455,000.
Bayliff Enterprises, engaged by the cattle company for land clearing, also pled guilty last month to violating both the Fisheries Act and B.C.'s Forest and Range Practices Act, resulting in a $90,000 fine.
Chief Alphonse described these fines as a landmark step toward safeguarding salmon within Tsilhqot'in territory, underscoring the need for greater environmental accountability.
"It's been a free-for-all up here for many years," he remarked. "I hope this serves as a wake-up call for everyone."
