Sockeye salmon are everywhere right now and there are more than likely a few illegal sales going on.

But there is some confusion as to whether or not salmon sales by local First Nations bands are legal.

There have been accusations that some Sto:lo band members are illegally selling fish, including those on the Skowkale reserve on Chilliwack River Road.

Bob Buhler--who owns The Docks seafood in Sardis--takes no issue with Sto:lo and the right they have to sell fish, but he thinks at least some of the sales on Skowkale aren't legal.

"I think they should have the right to sell their fish," he told the Times. "I just believe, first off, they should be counted and accounted for and should be handled like a food item needs to be handled."

Mike Fraser, a fishery officer for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), confirmed the sales by local Sto:lo band members, including those on the Skowkale reserve, are in fact legal.

"If they were put on ice and kept in clean containers and handled well [that's legal]," he said.

A First Nation who has a commercial licence or who participates in an economic opportunity fishery can sell fish. However, if buyers have concerns about the legality, those selling the fish should be able to provide proof the salmon were commercially caught by showing that the fish were verified at a landing station. Those selling should also have a provincially issued vending licence and should provide a receipt if asked.

"If someone doesn't want to provide a receipt chances are it is not a legal sale," said Leri Davies, a spokesperson for DFO. "Other key indicators are the condition of the fish, although many illegal fishers now clean and ice their fish fairly well. If they are sold from trunks of cars or out of garbage bags they are also likely illegal, not to mention a potential health risk."

Fraser said those bands that have vending permits and landing slips and have agreements in place are allowed to sell whole fish. If fish are gutted and cleaned that has to be done at a licensed processing facility.

Murray Ned is a Sumas band councillor and has been catching and selling fish at a roadside stand near the Yellow Barn Country Produce store on No. 3 Road. According to reports, he is selling sockeye for $15 a fish, or $17 completely cleaned and gutted, which may not be legal if this was not done at a processing plant.

Buhler suggested fish at his shop are better because they are troll-caught in salt water and cleaned within two hours. He said the fish sold whole on reserve have sometimes been around for five or six hours and this isn't good for the fish.

But Fraser said this is legally fine as long as the fish are on ice.

"Fish should be from that day or the previous day," Fraser said. "Those fish have to be sold whole."

All in all, Buhler said he didn't want to make a fuss and is happy there is so much attention on fish.

"There is so much fish I'm hoping people can have a good experience eating," he said.

Fraser said buyers need to beware at all times when it comes to fish when they are so abundant.

Fraser said he could not confirm how long the sockeye bonanza would last, but that it would likely continue into the start of next week.