Stronger Together: How The Somass River Fisheries Became BC's Most Reliable Salmon Fishery

In an industry where conflict and uncertainty often dominate the headlines—as the chaos in the lobster and elver fisheries on Canada’s East Coast is doing right now—the Area 23 Barkley Sound/ Somass River salmon fisheries based out of  Port Alberni on the west coast of Vancouver Island stand out as an ongoing example of what’s possible when people work together. Of all the fisheries in Canada, this one is the most collaborative, relationship-driven, and—quite simply—functional. And it’s been the single most reliable salmon fishery in BC for over a decade. It’s inspiring proof that when local communities take the lead, when everyone sits down at the same table, listens deeply, and co-manages their fishery—not just for today, but for future generations—the result is something extraordinary.

How It Came Together

At a recent Local Catch Canada retreat, one phrase stood out to me: We’re stronger together. And nowhere is that more evident than at the Area 23 Fisheries roundtable. That spirit of collaboration—of building something better by bringing everyone to the table—runs right through the heart of this fishery.

Over the past few years, I’ve taken time to develop a deeper understanding of what makes the Somass River Fisheries work and what lessons they offer others. For me, this has meant listening—especially to people like Les Sam, a c̓išaaʔatḥ (Tseshaht) Council member and longtime Skipper Otto fisherman, and Andy Olson, a former fisheries manager who helped build the roundtable model that’s behind the fisheries’ success. The Area 23 Harvest roundtable is made up of a diverse group of representatives from the Maa-nulth, Tseshaht, and Hupačasath First Nations, alongside representatives from the commercial and recreational sectors, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO). A remarkable spirit of collaboration permeates the heart of the roundtable. It isn’t just a committee; it’s a community. One built slowly and steadily, through years of deep listening, shared purpose, and showing up for one another.

Trust takes time. Andy and Les often reflect on how long it took to build this collaborative model. 

”It wasn’t always like this,” Les explained to me one afternoon. “In the beginning, there were people who would just argue for their own interests. But over time, those people just phased out, and other people stepped up who really wanted to work together for everyone’s best interest.”

And those people who stuck it out worked through the challenges and have built something truly remarkable. Today, the trust around that table allows for moments of generosity that would have seemed impossible a few decades ago. Gillnetters sometimes offer up a portion of their allocation to ensure Indigenous community fish days are fully stocked. The Nations might return the gesture in a future week. It’s not transactional—it’s relational. 

What Co-Management Looks Like in Practice

Co-management isn’t a one-season strategy. It’s a year-round cycle of planning, monitoring, and adapting.

From January to March, the roundtable meets to set escapement targets—how many fish need to reach their spawning grounds—and determine how catch will be shared among all sectors. These targets are often set higher than what DFO requires. As Andy put it to me, it’s like putting fish in the bank: “The more we protect now, the more abundance we’ll have in the future, which means everyone gets to go fishing. It’s a very collaborative process.”

Then, once the season begins in late May or early June, the group meets weekly to review real-time data from test boats, environmental updates, and electronic fish counts monitored by the Nations. Decisions are based on the best available information, and everyone has a voice. 

That’s what makes this model unique: it’s grounded in shared decision-making, not hierarchy.

Why Less Can Mean More

Even as the Somass River Fisheries intentionally catch less than what DFO allows, they consistently deliver more benefit, both to the community and the ecosystem– proof that sometimes less is more. And the community impact is massive. Every dollar earned by harvesters is circulated in the local economy, supporting shoreside businesses, and improving community infrastructure.

As Andy explained: "We’ve done some economic analysis, and what we found is that about 80% of the revenue generated by local fishers is spent right in Port Alberni—on employees, supplies, inventory, all of it. And because that money keeps getting re-spent in the community, it creates a multiplier effect. A $1 million night of fishing can ultimately drive about $8 million in local economic activity. That’s what happens when the benefits stay close to home."

That multiplier effect is also what’s allowed Port Alberni fishers to reinvest in the system and themselves: better boats that can fish in a broader area and greater capacity equals a fishery that’s more efficient and profitable.

A Blueprint Other Communities Are Watching

The Somass River Fisheries roundtable model isn’t widespread, but it could be.

Other regions, like the Lower Fraser Fisheries roundtable, are beginning to follow in Somass’s footsteps. They’re still in the early stages, and it’s a reminder that building something lasting takes time. It took nearly a decade for the Somass River Fisheries to become the trusted, effective system it is today, and the Lower Fraser Fisheries have only started to adopt this model over the last three years. I’m excited to see where they go with it.

Stronger Together

Week after week, people sit down together at the Area 23 Roundtable to listen, plan, and adjust. To make a better world for all of us. It’s not always easy, but it works. It’s proof that when we take the time to build trust, share knowledge, and truly collaborate, we can create something stronger than any one voice on its own. 

When you buy salmon from Skipper Otto, you’re not just supporting fish harvesters, you’re investing in a way of doing things that puts people and ecosystems first. Since the largest share of Skipper Otto salmon comes from commercial and Indigenous Economic Opportunity Somass River fisheries, the Area 23 Fisheries roundtable model directly improves the livelihoods of Skipper Otto fishers, and your ability to enjoy local, sustainably-caught wild salmon. And that means a brighter future for BC’s fisheries, communities, and food systems.

The Somass River Fisheries show us what’s possible. Let’s keep learning from them—and building a future that’s stronger together.