A decline in the return of sockeye salmon to British Columbia's Fraser River has prompted federal fisheries officials to shut down recreational sockeye salmon fishing on the lower tidal sections of the river, which is already closed to the commercial salmon fishery.

The decision averted a possible showdown between anglers and local First Nations, who said they were angry that sport fishermen were on the water when the number of sockeye salmon returning to the river in the early run is so low.

"The sport fishery does not enjoy any special status or legal protection," Chief Clarence Pennier of the Sto:lo First Nation wrote in a letter to the regional director general of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).

"The aboriginal fishery … enjoys a constitutionally protected status that comes second only to conservation but ahead of the industrial and sport fisheries," said the letter, released publicly Tuesday.

Aboriginal bands on the river said anglers should be barred, along with commercial fishermen, in order to preserve precious stocks for conservation and the native food fishery.

Pennier demanded the sockeye sport fishery on the river, which opened for the season on Saturday, be shut down immediately.

"All remaining Fraser River sockeye [are] required to both replenish the spawning beds and to meet the food, social and ceremonial needs of the 94 First Nations of the Fraser River watershed," he said in the letter.

He said that while the number of fish taken by sport fishermen seems low — with a limit of two per day — "it adds up" and threatens future returns.

Recreational fishing was still allowed for chinook, pink and hatchery coho salmon along with other fish species on the lower tidal sections of the river, but anglers were advised to check with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans for the specific catch limits and restrictions. If a fisherman does catch a sockeye salmon it must be released.

Commercial fishery already closed

Commercial sockeye fishing on the river has already been shut down due to the poor returns. Pennier said estimates for the early sockeye run have dropped from 500,000 to 400,000, and the forecast for the mid-summer run has gone from 1.8 million to 1.1 million.

Fisheries officials are meeting twice a week to monitor the situation and re-evaluate fishery plans, said Paul Ryall, leader of the DFO's salmon resource management team and chairman of the Fraser River panel in charge of fisheries management of the river.

Ryall said that although the returns could not be considered a drastic decline, the decision was made earlier this week to close the sockeye salmon recreational fishery earlier than planned.

"Given that things were not tracking as expected, we made a change [Monday] to close the recreational fishery, expected Wednesday," he said.

He said this was already the lowest year in the four-year cycle for sockeye returns on the river.

"So, going into this season, we were not expecting a large return, and it's now less than what we thought could occur," Ryall said.

He said the sockeye fishery on the river would now only be opened to the native food fishery.