The First Nation in Becher Bay, the Scia’new First Nation, has identified and confirmed an invasive European Green (EG) crab outbreak. There are multiple nesting sites and these EG crabs are extremely harmful to the resident Red Rock and Dungeness crab population.

The Scia’new First Nation understands and supports the public recreational fishery. They wish to protect access for First Nations and public fishery opportunity for Red Rock and Dungeness Crab. The band has invested in the tourism, marine and land based developments and operations within their community, and supports the public recreational fishery as a way to helping their own coastal community thrive.

The EG crab problem has been identified; no remedial action by DFO has been taken. The band in concert with the local Sport Fishing Advisory Board (SFAB) initiated a commercial crab closure in the bay in 2017. This closure was not recognized or enforced by DFO.

The Becher Bay (Scia’new) Band has now initiated a complete Becher Bay commercial crab closure through their lawyers and the treaty process.

This October, at a meeting in Metchosin, the Sports Fishery Advisory Board declared support for the Becher Bay (Scia’new) First Nation’s commercial crab closure in Becher Bay. The closure is that part of Becher Bay within a line from Aldridge Point, then due east to the mark behind Bedford Island situated on Reserve #2 adjacent to Rocky Point ammunition depot in Metchosin.