The 49th Annual Port Alberni Salmon Derby is back on, according to a new group of organizers.
Salmon Festival Society President Dan Washington announced the cancellation two months ago due to coronavirus concerns, but according to Al Ehrenberg, while the salmon festival remains cancelled the derby will still go ahead.
Ehrenberg who owns Gone Fishing, says they don’t want to lose concessions they’ve developed over many years working with the DFO Harvest Committee, to prevent commercial salmon fishing openings in the days prior to derby weekend.
He said while the on-shore salmon festival remains cancelled due to COVID concerns, there is no problem with derby participants adhering to social distancing rules and pandemic protocols.
“It’s never been a derby for people from south of the border or that far away, it’s mostly been a Vancouver Island derby so it doesn’t involve a lot of travel so I don’t think there’s much in the way of social danger,” he said.
Ehrenberg said he met with members of the Tyee Club on Wednesday, and they are committed to keeping the same $32,000 prize structure plus hidden weight prizes.
He said organizers won’t keep the biggest fish, but will post pictures of the leaders on social media.
This year will also be the 10th anniversary of Port Alberni being named Canada’s Ultimate Fishing Town.
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