Officials say the occupation of a DFO building by a First Nations man will impact this year's sockeye salmon count. (CBC)

A First Nations man is occupying a Department of Fisheries and Oceans building in northern B.C., hindering staff from getting an accurate annual sockeye salmon count.

The building is in the Stuart Lake area northwest of Prince George — a hotspot for sockeye salmon production.

DFO staff members normally work out of the building, counting the number of spawning salmon as the fish make their annual migration up the Fraser River.

However, DFO spokesman Barry Rosenberger said researchers will not be monitoring the salmon as closely during their run this year because a First Nations man is occupying the building, which he says is on his traditional land.

"We've had some confrontations with the individual up there, so we didn't put staff in this year," said Rosenberger.

He said staff will carry out parts of the salmon count through aerial footage, but it will not give them accurate statistics on fish mortality or reproduction in the area.

"We're still going to carry out some of the work. A number of the streams will be assessed as in the past," Rosenberger said.

"Some of the streams are larger and we carry them out by aerial numeration. So we won't be able to carry out the whole program, but we will carry out a portion of it."

Chief defends man's occupation

David Luggi, the Carrier-Sekani tribal chief, said the man is one of his band members.

"Well it's his land, his property," he said.

"He has every right to do so [occupy the building] and he's exercising that right."

Luggi said the DFO was leasing the land from the province, but the base is on traditional Carrier-Sekani land.

He said the occupation is not stopping the government from doing the salmon count.

In the meantime, the DFO is trying to reach a settlement with the man and his family before next year's count.

Rosenberger would not discuss the details of the settlement.

The man's name has not been released.