Fraser River Chinook salmon
are an important part of the ecology of the Fraser River watershed.
They are the largest of the seven species of Pacific salmon (including
steelhead and anadromous cutthroat) returning to the Fraser and have the widest
distribution, with some stocks migrating distances over 900 km from the mouth
to systems near the headwaters of the Fraser. They have sustained First
Nations for thousands of years, provide important recreational harvesting
opportunities, and were an important part of the colonization of British Columbia and commercialization of
the British Columbia fishing
industry.
This information document
is intended to compliment the Southern BC Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for salmon. This document is
necessary as Chinook fisheries in the Lower Fraser area generally start in
March, the estimate of aggregate abundance used to determine allowable harvest
levels for Chinook is also available in March but the Integrated Fishery
Management Plans are usually not finalized until June or July of a given year.
Fisheries and Oceans
Canada will continue to consult with First Nations, recreational and commercial
fishers to further co-ordinate Chinook fishing plans for 2008. Further consultation will occur as sector specific plans are finalized.
Chinook salmon spawn
in numerous tributary systems throughout the Fraser River watershed
from just above the tidal limits to the upper tributaries of the Stuart
drainage and Tete Jaune Cache near Mount Robson. Fry
emerge from the gravel in the spring following spawning and rear as juveniles
in fresh water for varying periods of time. The time the juveniles spend in
freshwater is an important characteristic of the life history exhibited by the
population. In the Fraser River, there are several distinctly
different life histories exhibited by Chinook salmon.
Chinook life
history can be categorized into two distinct behavioural forms: stream-type and
ocean-type.
Stream-type
Chinook spend one or more years as juveniles in fresh water before migrating to
sea. Another way of saying this is that, as juveniles they over-winter in
freshwater and then enter the ocean in the second spring of their life. Stream-type Chinook generally
exhibit an extensive off-shore ocean migration and return to the Fraser River in the spring or summer, several months before spawning. Juveniles
of this type are sometimes referred to as “yearlings” or “1+ smolts”.
Ocean-type
Chinook migrate to sea during their first year of life, generally after
spending two to five months in fresh water.
Ocean-type Chinook spend most of their ocean life in coastal waters and
generally return to the Fraser River in the fall, a few days or weeks
before spawning. Juveniles of this type are sometimes referred to as “underyearlings”
or “0+ fry”.
Of importance to
Fraser River Chinook is a
variation of the ocean-type life history. Harrison River Chinook (and their
transplants) exhibit an immediate fry migration pattern. That is, upon
emergence from the gravel, they migrate immediately downstream to the estuary. They
rear in the estuary for three to six weeks before moving off-shore. This unique ocean-type life history
is sometimes referred to as an “immediate-type” or “immediate fry migrant” life
history.
Chinook smolts
adapt to salt water in the Fraser River estuary
before migrating into marine waters. While the majority of lower Fraser stocks
rear off the south-west coast of Vancouver Island (Harrison and Chilliwack fall stocks), coded wire tag
(CWT) information has shown that other stocks may be found over a wide
geographic area with many spring and summer run populations utilizing offshore marine
waters. Other populations migrate and reside at least as far north as Southeast Alaska. During their ocean residence and depending on
their ocean rearing location and return migrations, Chinook may be subject to
numerous fisheries. Offshore migrants such as the Interior spring and summer
yearlings are less vulnerable to coastal fisheries than Lower Fraser fall
stocks and South Thompson summer stocks.
After one to three
years spent feeding at sea, Chinook return to the Fraser River from
February to November, primarily as three, four and five year old fish. They
migrate back to their natal streams where spawning activity commences from
early August until mid-November depending on the system. The following spring,
the fry of these returning fish emerge from the gravel and the lifecycle begins
anew.
In many documents, age and life history type are expressed as a group
of numbers such as 42 (Gilbert and Rich format) or 1.2 (European format). These notations can be confusing
and an attempt is made here to shed some light on what they represent.
In the Gilbert-Rich (G-R) format the large number “4” represents the
age of the fish on it’s next “birthday” or the number of winters from its
deposition in the gravel as an egg to the time of sampling. The subscript number “2”
represents the year in which the fish migrated to the ocean (i.e. it migrated
as a one year-old in its second year of life). The subscript number can also
be interpreted as the number of winters spent in freshwater from the egg
stage. The 42 age
format can also be expressed as 4sub2. To obtain the parental brood-year,
simple subtract the first number from the sample year.
A 1.2 fish in the
European format is the same as a 42 fish in the G-R format. Here, the number “1” represents the total
number of complete years the fish spent in freshwater (or the number of winters
from hatching the fish spent in fresh water), and the number “2” represents the
total number of complete years spent in the ocean (or the number of winters the
fish spent in the ocean). To obtain the parental brood-year, add 1 to the sum
of the 2 numbers and subtract from the sample year.
Salmon management programs in 2008 will continue to be guided by
policy and operational initiatives adopted over the past several years. These
include; Canada’s Policy for Conservation of Wild Pacific Salmon (WSP), An
Allocation Policy
for Pacific Salmon, Pacific Fisheries Reform, A
Policy for Selective Fishing, A Framework for Improved Decision Making
in the Pacific Salmon Fishery, and Fishery, the Integrated Harvest
Planning Committee and the Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Reform
package.
Canada’s Policy for Conservation of
Wild Pacific Salmon (also called the Wild Salmon
Policy) sets out the vision regarding the importance and role of Pacific Wild
Salmon as well as a strategy for their protection. More information on this
can be found on the internet at http://www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/publications/wsp/default_e.htm
An Allocation
Policy for Pacific Salmon, announced in 1999, is a
significant step towards providing certainty and fairness by establishing clear
priorities for allocation between First Nations, commercial and recreational harvesters
and forms the basis for general decision guidelines used for planning fisheries.
Pacific Fisheries Reform, announced by the Department in April 2005,
provides a vision of a sustainable fishery where the full potential of the
resource is realized, Aboriginal rights and title are respected, there is
certainty and stability for all, and fishery participants share in the
responsibility of management. Future treaties with First Nations are
contemplated, as is the need to be adaptive and responsive to change. This
policy direction provides a framework for improving the economic viability of
commercial fisheries, and to addressing First Nations aspirations with respect
of FSC and commercial access and involvement in management. Work has also been
initiated in developing a vision for recreational fisheries to better
understand their place in future fisheries. Pacific Fisheries Reform is
consistent with existing fisheries management policies and is central to
ensuring well integrated, sustainable fisheries for salmon.
In January 2001, the Department released A Policy for
Selective Fishing in Canada’s Pacific Fisheries. Under the Department’s
selective fishing initiative, harvester groups have experimented with a variety
of methods to reduce the impact of fisheries on non-target species, with a
number of measures reaching implementation in fisheries.
Consultative elements of an Improved Decision Making discussion
paper have been implemented through establishment of the Consultation
Secretariat, which works to improve the flow of information between
stakeholders and the Department. Up-to-date information pertaining to on-going
consultations can be found on the Secretariat’s website at: http://www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pages/consultations/consult_e.htm
The Integrated Harvest Planning Committee (IHPC) for salmon is
comprised of First Nations, recreational and commercial interests (as
represented by the Sport Fishing Advisory Board and the Commercial Salmon
Advisory Board) and the Marine Conservation Caucus (representing a coalition of
environmental organizations. This committee is recognized as the primary
source of stakeholder input into Integrated Fisheries Management Plans for
Salmon.
Further information on salmon
consultations, including terms of reference, membership, meeting dates and
records of consultation can be found on the Salmon Consultation website at: http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/consultations/salmon/sapdefault_e.htm
In March 1985, the United States and Canada agreed
to co-operate in the management, research and enhancement of Pacific salmon
stocks of mutual concern by ratifying the Pacific Salmon Treaty (PST). Under
the Treaty, Canada and the United States agreed on a Chinook
conservation program (based on fixed catch ceilings in certain major
mixed-stock ocean fisheries) to rebuild stocks from both countries by 1998.
This strategy has met with mixed success; some populations are slowly
rebuilding, while others remain depressed.
Starting in 1985, Canada based its Chinook fisheries management on a rebuilding strategy.
Total exploitation rates on a brood year were reduced from past high levels in
the range of 75% - 85%. The minimum requirement of the Pacific Salmon Treaty
(1985) was a 15% reduction in total exploitation of the four indicator stocks
identified at that time. This was in addition to domestic measures already in
place, such as the closure of the terminal Fraser River commercial
gillnet fishery, and measures required in pass-through fisheries to protect
specific stocks.
The PST was revised in 1999 through amendments to the "fishing
chapters" contained in Annex IV of the Treaty. Chinook management changed
so that fishing levels would vary in response to the annual production of
Chinook salmon (aggregate abundance-based management or AABM). If the ocean
abundance of Chinook was poor, then the allowable harvest rates and catches
would be reduced so that spawning escapements were protected. However, if the
ocean abundance of Chinook was very good, then harvest rates and catches could
increase, but only to a level that still protected spawning escapements.
The 1999 PST Annexes specifies allowable landed catches under the
AABM management regime for three ocean fishing areas at various levels of
Chinook abundance. These areas are:
1. SE Alaskan troll, net, and sport fisheries;
2. Northern BC troll and the Queen Charlotte Island sport fishery; and
3. the west coast of Vancouver
Island troll and outside sport fisheries.
All other fisheries are referred to as Individual Stock Based
Management (ISBM) and will be managed to an overall bilaterally-agreed harvest
rate (catch will vary with the abundance of Chinook). Harvest rates are
assessed for individual Canadian and US stocks using coded wire tag (CWT) data and the PSC Chinook
Technical Committee (CTC) coast wide model to estimate exploitation rates.
For Canadian and US fisheries, the 1999 agreement established a
general obligation to reduce exploitation rates in the ISBM fisheries to 63.5%
and 60.0% of the respective average exploitation rates during the 1979-1982
base period. If returns were less than the biologically-based escapement goal
then the ISBM fisheries can be required to further reduce their exploitation
rates to improve escapements. If returns were greater than the goal, then the harvest
rates (and catch) in ISBM fisheries could be increased so long as the goal was
still achieved. Only one Fraser River Chinook stock has a biologically-based
escapement goal (Harrison River) accepted by the PSC Chinook
Technical Committee.
The major difference between the 1999 agreement and the 1985 PST is
the necessity for a pre-season estimation of Chinook abundance in the ocean,
and the need for agreed escapement goals for each Chinook stock identified in
Attachments I to V of the 1999 agreement. Chinook forecasts are usually
available in March. The establishment of escapement goals is the
responsibility of each management agency but the technical basis for
establishing a goal will be reviewed by the PSC Chinook Technical Committee.
Five of the chapters contained in Annex IV of the PST are set to
expire at the end of the 2008 fishing season: Chapter 1 (Transboundary Rivers);
Chapter 2 (Northern Boundary); Chapter 3 (Chinook, coastwide); Chapter 5
(Coho); and Chapter 6 (Chum). Chapter 4 covering Fraser River sockeye and
pink will expire in 2010. These chapters are currently being renegotiated with
the United States. In 2006,
the Parties agreed to renew the expiring chapters using the existing Pacific
Salmon Commission (PSC) structure. The renewal process was initiated in
January 2007 whereby the bilateral PSC panels, under direction of the
Commission, would review and make recommendations to revise the treaty language
for Chapters 1, 2, 5 and 6. The one exception is Chapter 3 (Chinook), which is
being led by the Commission.
Both Parties have identified Chinook negotiating teams of five PSC
Commissioners who, with the support of the bilateral Chinook Technical
Committee, are reviewing and recommending changes to the Chinook chapter. The
negotiating teams met several times in 2007 with a view to concluding
negotiations on all expiring chapters at the PSC Annual Meeting, February 11 to 15, 2008, in Vancouver, BC. With respect to Chinook, the key issue for both Parties remains
the conservation and long-term sustainability of Chinook stocks. Building on
changes made in 1999, the Parties have looked at potential adjustments to the
Chinook regime which will help address conservation concerns in both countries
while maintaining the abundance-based management approach established under the
1999 agreement. Once the PSC has agreed to revisions to the chapters the
agreement will be referred to the governments of Canada and the United States for domestic consultation and approval.
Many Pacific salmon stocks in southern British
Columbia experienced extremely poor production for
brood years that entered the ocean in 2005. The widespread pattern of poor production levels amongst Pacific salmon species and
stocks is rare and perhaps unprecedented among DFO observations. Pink salmon
entering the sea in 2005 returned to spawn in 2006. Their observed returns in
2006 were far below expectations with the pattern of poor returns extended from
southern BC through Southeast Alaska.
Coho salmon had
very low returns compared to expectations in 2006. Coho have a predominantly
3-year life cycle, and smolts that went to the ocean in 2005 (brood year 2003)
returned in 2006. The 2006 spawning escapement to the Interior Fraser was the
lowest recorded since 1975. The pattern of extremely low marine survival and
spawning escapements extended to other southern B.C. stocks, with the Strait of
Georgia hatchery and wild stocks experiencing record low marine survival (since
1985).
Sockeye salmon
return mainly at ages 3 to 5 in southern BC with most at age-4. Smolts from
brood year 2003 entered the ocean in 2005. Fraser sockeye
returns in 2007 were extremely low compared to pre-season expectations, with
the estimated survival rate for Chilko Lake sockeye being
the lowest recorded in over 50 years (1.2% compared with long term average of
8.7%). In Barkley Sound, age-3 jack returns in 2006 were 10% of the
long term average, indicating poor marine survival. In-season run size
estimates were two-thirds of expectations and the 2007 spawning escapement was
the lowest among all years since 1992.
Chinook returns associated with the poor 2005 ocean entry year are
expected to be compounded by apparent poor survival for the 2003 and 2004 brood
years for many stocks. In the Fraser River, Age-4
returns from the 2004 brood year and age-5 returns from the 2003 brood year
will account for most of the female spawners in 2008. The poor returns in 2007
and the over-whelming evidence of a 2005 at-sea impact suggests that returns in
2008 will be poor, particularly for interior Fraser River Spring and Summer
stream-type Chinook.
Stream-type
Chinook spend at least one year in freshwater before migrating to the sea and
return to spawn between ages 3 and 6. In the Fraser River, detailed
age-structure data are collected at the Nicola River (hatchery and wild) and Nechako
River, and spawning returns are monitored for three groups (spring run age 42,
spring run age 52 and summer run age 52 stocks). The
groups differ in maturation schedules, about 90% of the spring run age 42
group spawn at age-4, and about 70-80% of the spring and summer run age 52
groups spawn at age-5. Spawning escapements observed in 2007 were poor for
each of these groups, returning only 11% (spring run age 42), 25%
(spring run age 52), and 29% (summer run age 52)
respectively of their parental brood year levels. Age structure information
sampled from the 2007 returns will not be available until early 2008.
The 2008 Outlook for early timed Fraser Chinook stock components
suggests returns in 2008 will continue to be poor due to very
poor brood year escapements and over-whelming evidence of 2005 at-sea
impact. Abundance of Fraser Chinook returning in the spring
is estimated to be at 20 year lows and exploitation rates may have increased in
a number of recent years.
The earliest timed Chinook populations are the first to return in the spring
period and have peak migration into the Fraser in the March to May period.
Earliest timed Chinook populations include: Coldwater
River, Louis Creek, Spius
Creek, Cottonwood River, Chilako River, Upper Chilcotin River and Birkenhead River. Poor returns are expected to continue recent spawner declines
observed in these populations, with the notable exception of Birkenhead. Birkenhead has had good spawning escapements possibly related to very early
migration timing and far north marine distribution. However, in the other earliest
timed Chinook populations brood year escapements are at a small fraction of the
estimated habitat capacity (e.g. <10%) that would maximize the harvestable
surplus (see Appendix B: 1993-2007 Chinook escapement
estimates to tributaries in the BC Interior and Lower Fraser).
As of January 1, 2008, the near normal or above normal snow
accumulation in many areas provides a favorable outlook for spring and summer
stream flow and water-supply. Further
updates on this topic can be found at the following web address: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/rfc/
Conservation of Chinook is the primary
objective and will take precedence in managing the resource.
The Department manages fisheries with the
objective of ensuring that stocks are returning at sustainable levels. When escapements
decline below sustainable levels, management actions are taken which may include
reducing the impact of fisheries on specific stocks, strategic enhancement and
habitat restoration.
The objective is to manage fisheries to
ensure that, subject to conservation needs, first priority is accorded to First
Nations for opportunities to harvest fish for FSC purposes and any treaty
obligations.
Consultations are on-going between Resource
Management staff and First Nations, both within the Fraser River Watershed and
outside the Watershed. Feedback from consultation sessions will be relied upon
to provide priority access to First Nations to fish for FSC purposes and any First
Nations treaty obligations that may exist.
The objective is to manage Canadian treaty
fisheries to ensure that obligations within the PST are achieved.
Details can be found on the Pacific Salmon
Commission (PSC) website at: http://www.psc.org
Pre-season fishing plans are formally discussed in
bilateral meetings with the United States
within the framework of the Pacific Salmon Commission. Scientists from both
countries determine catch ceilings in mixed stock fishing areas (AABM fishing
areas off the Queen
Charlotte Islands and off
the West Coast of Vancouver Island). Each country is responsible for managing
their respective fisheries to ensure these catch ceilings are not exceeded.
The objective is to manage fisheries in
a manner that is consistent with the Allocation Policy for Pacific Salmon.
The Allocation Policy for Pacific Salmon
can be found online at:
www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/publications/allocation/AllocationPolicyoct201.htm
For earliest timed Chinook the 2007 IFMP
objective was: to limit harvest levels in Fraser River fisheries to levels similar,
or less than in previous years. Further assessments are being undertaken and increased
management measures in the spring of 2008 are possible.
Given the poor outlook for earliest timed
Chinook, the Department is seeking feedback on increased management measures to
reduce exploitation rates from previous years to reverse or slow declines in
escapement until marine conditions improve.
Department staff
have proposed a revised management objective for the 2008 IFMP and to guide fishery
planning in the Spring of 2008 as follows:
The
objective for earliest timed Chinook is to reduce the exploitation rate to less
than in previous years. Increased management measures for all fisheries that
impact these populations will be developed.
Historically, Chinook salmon in the Fraser River have been
divided into management units based on geography and run timing. Following a
review of Chinook stock structure in 2002, they have been grouped based on life
history (i.e. ocean-type vs. stream-type) and run timing in the lower Fraser River. Until WSP Conservation Units are confirmed, the five interim
management units are:
·
Fraser spring-run age 42
·
Fraser spring-run age 52
·
Fraser summer-run age 52
·
Fraser summer-run age 41
·
Fraser fall-run age 41
Run timing is indicated by the words, spring, summer and fall and
refers to the time where the majority of the population has entered the lower Fraser River. Spring-run populations enter the Fraser before July 15th,
summer-run populations enter the Fraser from July 15th to August 31st,
and fall-run populations enter the Fraser after August 31st.
Interim management units are outlined in Table 1.
Watersheds may
have more than one population with different life history characteristics
(e.g., run timing, time spent in freshwater, etc.).
Table 1: Interim Management Units for Fraser River Chinook salmon
|
Management Unit
|
Sample Streams
|
Indicator Stock
|
|
Fraser spring-run
age 42
|
Bonaparte River, Bessette Creek, Coldwater River, Deadman River , Nicola River, and Spius Creek
|
Nicola River
|
|
Fraser spring-run
age 52
|
Birkenhead River, Chilcotin River, upper
Chilcotin River, Chilako River, Westroad River, Cottonwood River, Elkin
Creek, Horsefly River, upper Cariboo River, upper Pitt River, Fraser River
mainstem tributaries above Prince George (Bowron, Willow, Slim, McGregor
etc.), spring runs of North Thompson and Salmon River in South Thompson
|
Willow River (proposed)
|
|
Fraser summer-run age 52
|
Chilko River, Quesnel River, Stuart River, Taseko, Lower Cariboo River, and the Clearwater River
|
Chilko River (proposed)
|
|
Fraser summer-run age 41
|
Lower Shuswap River, Mid Shuswap River,
Lower Adams River, Little River, South Thompson River, Lower Thompson River
(below Kamloops Lake), and Maria Slough
|
Lower Shuswap River
|
|
Fraser fall-run
age 41
|
predominantly fish of Harrison River origin (those natural spawners returning to the Harrison River, and transplanted populations to the Chilliwack, Chehalis, and Stave Rivers)
|
Chilliwack River
|
5.2.
Lower Fraser River Stocks
5.3.
Interior Fraser River Stocks
Chinook salmon in the interior Fraser River (above Hope)
comprise a large and complex group of spawning populations. Interior Fraser
Chinook have historically been divided into three major geographical regions:
·
the upper Fraser (those returning upstream of Prince George and including Nechako),
·
middle Fraser (downstream of Prince George but excluding the Thompson),
and
·
Thompson (which are divided into lower
Thompson/Nicola, North Thompson, and South Thompson/Shuswap).
Within these regions, two migration times are recognized: early or
spring-run, and summer-run. Recent work by Chuck Parken (DFO Science Branch)
has identified further temporal segregation and Parken has suggested dividing
the spring run into spring and early summer components, depending on peak
passage times past Albion.
Currently, Interior Fraser stocks are assessed in the four spring
and summer aggregates listed previously. No fall-run Chinook populations have
been identified to date in the Interior Fraser.
5.5.
Forecasts
|
Stock
|
Outlook Status
|
Comments
|
|
Early spring – upper & mid-Fraser, North
Thompson
|
1
|
Populations of concern are upper and lower
Chilcotin, Westroad, Cottonwood, and Chilako rivers. Very poor
escapements observed in 2007 with escapements averaging ~22% of brood
escapements. Very poor survivals have been observed for of Fraser salmon
that went to sea in 2005. These fish will form the bulk of returns in 2008.
No indicator stock.
|
|
Late summer – South Thompson
|
3
|
Indicator is Lower Shuswap. Returns in 2007 were generally above brood year
escapements, although mid and lower Shuswap were below brood. South Thompson
and Lower Adams were both strong. Outlook may be
tempered if 3-yr old returns to Lower Shuswap
indicator predict poor 4-yr old returns in 2008
|
|
Spring – upper
& mid-Fraser, North Thompson
|
1
|
Returns
throughout range in 2007 were poor, averaging only 25% of brood year
escapements. Very poor survivals have been observed for of Fraser salmon
that went to sea in 2005. These fish will form the bulk of returns in 2008.
No indicator stock.
|
|
Summer – upper
& mid-Fraser, North Thompson
|
1
|
No indicator.
Returns throughout range in 2007 were poor. Escapements averaged only 29% of
brood escapements. Very poor survivals have been observed for of Fraser
salmon that went to sea in 2005. These fish will form the bulk of returns in
2008.
|
|
Spring – lower
Thompson
|
1/2
|
Indicator is
Nicola. Extremely poor returns in 2005 to 2007 Continued major decline in
escapements from brood year. Returns averaged 10% of brood. Returns in 2008
will be from fish that went to sea in 2006, when marine conditions are
reported to have improved. This may indicate a change in trend.
|
|
Fall – lower
Fraser natural
|
2/3
|
2007 adult
spawning estimates are not available yet, although preliminary indications
are that it will meet or exceed goal. Age specific escapement estimates are
needed to evaluate 3 yr-old run strength, to predict 4 yr-old returns in
2008.
|
|
Fall – lower
Fraser hatchery
|
2/3
|
Although there
are significant hatchery releases of Harrison fall-run Chinook stock into the Harrison & Stave Rivers, lower Fraser River fall-run hatchery Chinook consists
mainly of Chilliwack Hatchery releases. 2007 adult spawning escapement
estimates for Chilliwack and Stave (will not be available until
mid December).
|
|
Early spring –
lower Fraser
|
2
|
Birkenhead River escapement (~1,000 adults) is significantly greater than brood year
2002 (512 adults) and greater than the previous 10-year average. Previous to
past three years, the trend in escapement was down. Returns in 2008 will be
predominately from the 2003 escapement of about 427 adults. Very poor
survivals have been observed for of Fraser salmon that went to sea in 2005
(2003 brood). These fish will form the bulk of returns in 2008. No
indicator stock.
|
|
Summer – lower
Fraser
|
2
|
Maria Creek escapements in 2007 (650 adults) were slightly lower than the brood
year (823). Big Silver escapement was only 70.
Expectations are for near target abundance levels, however, returns in 2008
will have mostly gone to sea in 2005, and may have experienced poor survival.
|
With the Harrison River fall-run population being the
exception (escapement goal range: 75,100 to 98,500), the escapement goals
currently being used were set in 1986 following negotiation of the original
Pacific Salmon Treaty in 1985. While there were a variety of methodologies
that could have been used to determine escapement goals, it was agreed to
establish the goals at twice the average escapement observed during the period
1979 to 1982. This strategy was to be used until 1998 at which time the goals
were to be reviewed. Scientists are now evaluating current information and
with the implementation of the Wild Salmon Policy, discussions have commenced
regarding identification of Conservation Units. Following this, lower
(conservation) and upper (target) benchmarks will be set based on input from a
broad spectrum of interests.
More information on setting future escapement goals for Fraser River Chinook populations can be found in Appendix I.
5.7.
Albion Test Fishery
Since 1981, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has conducted a
Chinook test fishery at Albion,
British Columbia (near Fort Langley) from early April to late-October. The test fishery is conducted
each year with a drifted gillnet at a specific site near the Albion ferry crossing in the lower Fraser River.
For each sampling event, two 30-minute sets are made daily - just
prior to and after daylight high tide. The original “standard” Chinook net was
constructed using eight-inch mesh and was used exclusively until 1997 when an
experimental multi-panel net was alternated daily with the standard net.
Originally, the multi-panel net consisted of panels of five, six, seven, eight,
and nine inch mesh sizes, and was fished identically to the standard net
(eight-inch mesh). The purpose of the multi-panel net was to to address questions regarding the representation of Chinook stocks
captured at Albion.
Intuitively, it was expected the catch in the multi-panel net would more fully
represent the wide range of body sizes of Fraser River Chinook
stocks. As a result of the analysis from the 1997-2000
multi-panel net study, a modified multi-panel net has been fished on
alternating days with the standard 8” mesh net every year since. This protocol
continued in 2007.
The 2007 Chinook information document suggested that recent legal
decisions from cases involving the use of fish to fund departmental activities,
may affect the operation of the Albion test fishery. This turned out to be the case for the 2007 season.
In response to the courts decisions, a Joint Project Agreement (JPA)
was developed between the DFO and: the Pacific Salmon Commission (PSC) and the
BC Wild-Harvest Salmon Producers Association (BCWHSPA). Appropriate approval
of the JPA delayed the start of the Albion test fishery. In 2007, the Albion test fishery ran from June 18th to October 20th.
Chinook catch in 2007 was 1067 for the standard 8-inch mesh net and
567 for the multi-panel nets for a combined total of 1634 Chinook. The cumulative catch per unit effort (CPUE) for
the standard 8-inch mesh net from June 18th to October 20th
was 194.13 (adjusted for days the multi-panel net was fished). This value is
approximately 86% of the long term average for the same time period. Catch information from the Albion Test Fishery can be found in
Appendix A or at:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fraserriver/commercial.htm.
6.1.
Chilliwack River Hatchery
6.3.
Birkenhead Hatchery
Since the early 1980’s, the main hatcheries enhancing upper Fraser
River Chinook have been the Eagle, Shuswap, Clearwater, and Spius (all
Thompson); the Quesnel (mid-Fraser); and Stuart (upper Fraser). Dome Creek
Chinook were enhanced through the Penny Enhancement Society facility at Penny.
Since the early 1990’s, the Clearwater, Eagle, Quesnel, Penny and Stuart facilities have been closed. The
Penny facility is being relocated and it is anticipated that it will be rebuilt
on or near the Willow River (see below). Some enhancement still
occurs throughout the watershed, mostly linked to stock assessment and the
production of coded-wire tag mark groups. Overall, enhancement is thought to
have a relatively small effect on the total number of Chinook returning to the
interior Fraser although the effects on certain watersheds may be significant
(e.g., Nicola watershed enhanced by Spius hatchery and Shuswap stocks from the
Shuswap hatchery).
Spius Creek hatchery enhances
yearling Chinook from Spius Creek, the Coldwater River, Nicola River and Salmon
River (near Salmon Arm). Coded wire tagged releases into the Nicola support
an indicator stock program for spring-run age 42 Chinook
of the Lower Thompson and Louis Creek. The indicator program provides information
on harvest rates and smolt to adult survival rates. This information is
required as part of Canada’s commitment under the Pacific Salmon Treaty. Indicator
programs for Chinook salmon typically require hatchery production because
capturing and tagging enough naturally-produced Chinook smolts is very
difficult. These hatchery smolts must be same size and have the same release
timing as natural smolts in the system..
Early timed Spius Creek and
Coldwater River Chinook are enhanced by Spius Creek hatchery, although the
annual smolt releases are relatively small (~50K per system) compared to the
Nicola release of 140K CWT smolts annually. No CWT application is done on Spius
or Coldwater smolts.
An indicator stock is required in
the Upper Fraser for Fraser spring-run age 52 Chinook
salmon to provide information on harvest rates and smolt to adult survival
rates. Like the Nicola River, this information is required as part of Canada’s
commitment under the Pacific Salmon Treaty.
The Willow River is being examined
as a potential new hatchery site to provide an indicator stock for the
following reasons:
•
System has Fraser spring-run age 52 Chinook;
•
Chinook life history provides representative timing for other upper
river spring Chinook (offshore resident, migrating into lower Fraser on the
freshet)
•
System is accessible and “workable”
•
Availability of potential sites
•
Proximity to Prince George and nearby interpretive trails
•
Partnership opportunity with the Lheidli T’enneh Band
For the Upper Fraser spring run age
52 Chinook salmon, 200,000 coded wire tagged
smolts will be required to ensure sufficient recoveries of adult Chinook salmon.
200 000 coded wire tagged smolts will likely result in the annual return of 800
to 1000 extra adult Chinook salmon to the mouth of the Fraser River. This
would mean approximately 500 to 700 enhanced and tagged salmon returning to
Willow Creek. This is the minimum desired sample size required to accurately
estimate returning coded wire tags. As a comparison, releases at production
hatcheries are often in excess of 1 million smolts.
First Nations both in and outside the Fraser River are provided with an opportunity to harvest Fraser River Chinook.
The number of fishing days is dependent upon the conservation needs of Chinook
stocks and other species, such as sockeye, wild steelhead and Interior Fraser
coho salmon. Alterations to fishing patterns, reached via consensus, are
subject to ensuring escapement requirements are met.
Once sockeye enter the Fraser River, management
actions are driven by considerations for those stocks and Chinook are generally
harvested as by-catch. Conservation concerns for wild steelhead and coho
salmon have resulted in net fisheries being curtailed from early September to
mid October in recent years. There is no information available that would
suggest this pattern will change in the near future.
Stock identification information
indicates that those Chinook stocks entering the river from February to July 15
are bound for tributary systems in the lower Thompson basin, the middle and
upper Fraser basins, as well as the Birkenhead River in the Harrison River system. These stocks are understood to have a
low productivity and individual stocks range in size from 100 to > 10,000
spawners.
Pre-season consultations with Lower
Fraser First Nations in 2007 resulted in a fishing regime that was designed to
reduce the impacts on the earliest timed Chinook stocks.
In 2007, selective Chinook fisheries took place in
those times and places when sockeye were migrating through the river. There
were much fewer targeted sockeye fisheries in 2007 than anticipated due to the
low sockeye returns. In the Lower River (downstream of Sawmill Creek), selective Chinook
fisheries utilized 8 inch mesh drifted gill nets and additional monitoring to
ensure that impacts on sockeye were minimal. In the areas upstream of Sawmill
Creek, selective Chinook fisheries were largely promulgated using dip nets or
rod and reel. An experimental selective fishery was undertaken in the Siska Canyon using an 8
inch mesh set net. Sockeye encounter limits were set and catch monitoring
occurred during the entire time of the fishery. The fishery showed that with
certain site specific flow characteristics and with constant monitoring it may
be possible to have a directed Chinook fishery with minimal sockeye impacts.
A table of First Nations fishery openings and catch
for 2007 can be found in Appendix D.
All First Nation’s fisheries are authorized by
communal licence. The majority of areas have catch monitoring systems in place
to estimate catches. In areas where there is not a specific catch monitoring
program, the fisher is required by licence to report his/her catch to the band
and the band to report to DFO.
Areas
where specific catch reporting programs have been implemented include:
a)
Below the Port Mann Bridge
During
fisheries for food, social, and ceremonial purposes, catch monitoring is
undertaken by Aboriginal Fishery Officers and First Nations fishery monitors
who collect hail information from the fishers. This information is compiled by
each band and forwarded to DFO following the close of the fishery.
b)
Port Mann Bridge to Sawmill Creek
i) Set net and drift net fishery between Port
Mann Bridge and Mission:
First Nations monitors collect hails at Katzie Reserve
Dock, Barnston Island and the Kwantlen Reserve Dock at Fort
Langley. Set net fishers hail in their data by phone to band
fisheries offices. In addition, Charter Patrolmen count effort and take
on-the-water hails during the Katzie, Kwantlen and Matsqui communal fisheries.
ii) Set net and drift net fishery between Mission and Sawmill Creek:
Monitors are stationed at main access points on the river
during openings to collect catch per unit effort (CPUE) and 24-hour effort
surveys. Sites include: Leq’a:mel, Island 22/Kilby, Skway, Scowlitz, Seabird,
Agassiz Bridge, Hunter Creek, Chawathil Reserve, Coquihalla, and Yale Beach.
Helicopter over flights are used to conduct instantaneous
gear counts between Mission and Sawmill Creek. These over flights are
conducted once during the fishery and require one flight technician on each
flight.
Data
collection forms are gathered from each of the monitors at the various
monitoring sites and provided to DFO. DFO then produces catch estimates for
each opening by expanding the catch rates by effort counts to generate weekly
catch estimates.
c) Sawmill Creek to Kelly Creek and
the Thompson River downstream of the Bonaparte River, Kelly Creek upstream to Deadman Creek and Deadman Creek to Naver Creek
A sample survey program during FN directed Chinook fisheries
is conducted by FNs /DFO staff along the Fraser River between
Sawmill Creek and Kelly Creek and in the Thompson
River downstream of the Bonaparte River confluence.
Fishery Technicians interview all fishers encountered during random roving
vehicle patrols to obtain catch and effort information (CPUE). Fishing effort
is obtained by averaging the count of each type of active gear observed during
a given week.
No catch monitoring program was
undertaken in the mainstem Fraser River from Kelly Creek upstream to Deadman Creek during directed First
Nation Chinook fisheries. Catch and effort in directed Chinook fisheries in
this area is extremely small. Catch monitoring is undertaken by members of the
High Bar Indian Band when sockeye fisheries occur in this area. Chinook caught
incidentally in fisheries directed on sockeye salmon are enumerated.
Very limited First Nation fisheries
directed on Chinook salmon occur in the mainstem Fraser River from Deadman Creek to Naver Creek. Accordingly, no monitoring program
is in place to monitor catch in directed Chinook fisheries. Monitoring occurs
during directed sockeye fisheries in this area and Chinook harvested
incidentally to directed sockeye fisheries are enumerated.
d) Naver Creek upstream and the Nechako River to Isle Pierre
Lheidli T’enneh Nation monitor each of the
fisheries via collecting hail
information from the fishers.
e) Nechako River upstream of Isle Pierre and the Stuart System
Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, Tl’azt’en Nation,
Nadleh Whut’en Band and Stellat’en First Nation monitor each of the fisheries
via collecting hail information
from the fishers.
f) Thompson River upstream of the Bonaparte River
The Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation
Fisheries Commission monitor each of the fisheries on a census basis utilizing
staff from their individual member bands.
g) Shuswap River (Shuswap
Falls to Mabel Lake)
The Okanagan Nation Alliance monitor
their fisheries on a census basis utilizing staff from their individual member
bands.
The objective of the 2008 harvest strategy for early season First
Nations fisheries is to provide access to First Nations for food, social and
ceremonial needs while respecting the objective of reducing the exploitation rate
for earliest timed Chinook to lower levels than in previous years. Fisheries in
the latter part of the year are managed to protect other stocks of concern such
as wild steelhead and Interior Fraser coho stocks
The proposed
management approach is to meet the objective for earliest timed Chinook is
presented in Appendix H.
The Department also encourages discussion among all Fraser River
First Nation groups in the watershed in the development of fishing plans.
Improved discussion and coordination regarding the development of a Fraser River watershed Chinook fishing plan for First Nations will assist in
addressing conservation concerns for all early timed Fraser River Chinook
stocks.
Selective fisheries may be considered during
periods of increased Chinook abundance. Selective methods must ensure that
co-migrating stocks of concern are avoided or released unharmed. First Nations
are encouraged to submit their selective fishing proposals as soon as
possible. Compliance with 2007 licence conditions for selective fisheries will
be considered during the review of selective fishing proposals.
The marine waters off the Pacific coast of British
Columbia are generally open for harvest of Chinook
salmon year round. Recreational harvest is constrained using daily and annual
limits. The coast-wide daily limit for Chinook is two. The total Chinook annual
limit is 30 from any tidal waters, of which at most, 10 may be caught in the
tidal waters of the Fraser River; 15 may be caught in the waters of Areas 12 to
18, 28 and 29 and that portion of Area 19 north of Cadboro Point; 20 may be
caught in the waters of Area 20 and that portion of Area 19 south of Cadboro
Point.
Recreational harvest is further constrained using minimum size
limits (minimum size limit 45 cm coast wide with the exception of a 62 cm size
limit in Johnstone Strait, the Strait
of Georgia and the Fraser River mouth), maximum
size limits (in some areas), reduced daily quotas and closed areas. Closed
areas may be closed year-round or closed seasonally depending on local stocks.
In all non-tidal waters there is an annual limit of 10 Chinook.
Daily limits range from one to two adults per day. In the Lower Fraser River, an adult
Chinook is defined as a Chinook over 50 cm in length except during the fall
when the larger Harrison origin
fish predominate. From September 1 to December 31 in those waters of the Fraser River downstream of the Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge, in the Harrison River and in the Chilliwack River an adult
Chinook is defined as being over 62 cm.
Details on
recreational Chinook opportunities may be found online at:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish/default_e.htm
DFO obtains most of its catch information
through the Creel Survey Program which is carried out in recreational fisheries
that have displayed important catch and effort characteristics in past years. This program incorporates surveys by land (access point
and roving surveys) and air of active fishermen.
In 2007, the lower Fraser River was surveyed between Sumas and Hope from May 1st
to November 30th, with the following two exceptions:
(a)
Due to extremely high water conditions resulting
in very unfavorable angling and surveying conditions from June 7th
to 26th, the survey area was shifted to the area upstream of Hope to
the Alexandra Bridge (lower Fraser River Canyon).
(b)
Due to a salmon fishing closure from August 20th
to August 30th, the survey area was once again changed to upstream
of Hope to the Alexandra Bridge.
The Chilliwack River was surveyed from September 15th to November 15th.
Chinook salmon recreational openings in specific sections
of the Fraser River upstream of
Sawmill Creek, the Bridge River, the lower Shuswap River, Mabel Lake and the Thompson
River at Spences Bridge are also surveyed during their open times.
Preliminary catch numbers are available in Appendix E.
The Strait of Georgia (STG) creel operates from May to October and covers
Areas 13 to 18, 28 and 29. The STG creel also operates in the Victoria area,
which covers Areas 19 and that portion of Area 20 east of Sherringham Point
from January to December.
The Strait of Juan de Fuca (the portion of Area 20 west of Sherringham
Point) and the West Coast of Vancouver Island (Areas 23 to 26, 121 and 123 to
126) are covered by the West Coast (WC) creel program which operates from June
to September. Fishing effort drops markedly after Labour Day.
The WC creel program for Northern Vancouver Island covers Areas 27 and
127 on the West Coast of Vancouver and Johnstone Strait (Area 12) from July to
August. Fishing effort drops substantially in September.
The Johnstone Strait
(Area 12) creel program goes from July to August, the time period of most
effort.
The proposed
management actions to protect earliest timed Fraser River Chinook are
presented in Appendix H.
Tables outlining
the proposed tidal and non tidal recreational Chinook opportunities in the Strait of Georgia and Fraser River watershed for the remainder of the 2008 fishing season are provided
in Appendix F.
Fraser River Chinook migrating along northern (Johnstone Strait) and southern (Juan de Fuca Strait) approach
routes to the Fraser River are harvested in a number of
fisheries. These fish are taken as by-catch in sockeye net fisheries (seine
and gillnet) in Johnstone Strait, Juan de Fuca Strait, Fraser River and Alaska. In
addition, there are directed fisheries for Chinook by WCVI, North Coast and Alaskan troll fisheries. Only very limited directed commercial
net fisheries (i.e., 2004 Area E gillnet exploratory fishery) have occurred
within the Fraser River since 1980.
During the last eight
years, a mandatory non-retention requirement in all South and North Coast seine fisheries has significantly reduced Chinook mortalities.
Over the past few years the majority of the Fraser River commercial
Chinook catch has been taken in the Area F commercial troll fishery in northern
B.C. waters. Fall-run Chinook stocks are also harvested in the Area G
commercial troll fishery off the west coast of Vancouver
Island.
The principal U.S.
fisheries harvesting Fraser River Chinook are the net fisheries in Juan de Fuca
Strait, the San Juan Islands
area, and off Point Roberts. The Fraser Chinook catch taken in Southeast Alaska is unknown but thought to
be smaller.
Commercial catch data for the salmon
fishery is gathered primarily from fisher hail reports, fish slips, mandatory
phone catch reporting requirements, logbooks, on-board observers, offload
sampling and CWT catch sampling programs. Fish slips are required when fish
are sold, offloaded or taken home for personal consumption. The number and
weight of each salmon species landed and/or sold are required on the slip.
DFO obtains further information about
salmon average weight data through a Mark Recovery Program (MRP). This program
involves collecting salmon heads from adipose fin clipped fish from commercial,
recreational and aboriginal landings. When the samplers are at a plant, they
also collect individual salmon weights to contribute to the average weight
estimate. An average weight estimate is obtained by species, and gear, MRP
catch region and fishing period (week). The average weight is used to
calculate pieces from the total weight reported on the fish slips.
A table of all
Canadian commercial catches of Chinook can be found in Appendix G.
Directed gillnet fisheries for Chinook within the Fraser River have been closed since 1980 in order to rebuild stocks. Retention
of Chinook by-catch is permitted during the in-river commercial gillnet sockeye
fisheries that usually take place from late July to early September and chum
fisheries in October and November.
In 2004, Area E Gillnet Association (AEGA)
submitted a multi-year proposal to conduct a limited opportunity
"exploratory" Chinook-targeted fishery. The planned timing of this
fishery was late July to mid-August, within the peak abundance timing period of
the summer run Chinook aggregate. Fisheries were planned to occur during times
when a commercial sockeye TAC was available for harvest.
Plans to continue with year two of this proposal
have thus far been cancelled.
During pre-season discussions with AEGA advisors,
the possibility of continuing the Chinook exploratory program in 2008 will be
reviewed. DFO staff will continue evaluating the status of Chinook stocks and
reviewing the impacts of this fishery. In reviewing the viability and
direction of this proposal, the Department will be consulting with First
Nations and stakeholders in order to make a decision about the future direction
of this initiative.
Under the Pacific Salmon Treaty, West Coast of Vancouver Island Chinook fisheries are managed
through an Aggregate Abundance Based Management model. Fisheries are
prosecuted on an aggregate of different US and Canadian Chinook stocks.
Abundance forecasts provide estimates for 2 years in advance. The Fall 2006
stock information was used to forecast the aggregate abundance of all Chinook
stocks for Fall 2007 through to Fall 2008.
The 2006 forecast information provides for a domestic surplus of
approximately 143,000 Chinook
for the 2007-2008 Chinook year. (October 1, 2007 to September
30, 2008).
For planning purposes, the domestic harvest levels are estimated to
be:
·
First Nations FSC – 5,000 pieces
·
Recreational –50,000 pieces
·
Area G Commercial troll – 88,300 pieces
It is important to note that the aggregate abundance can, and
usually does change in April when stock information from the previous fall can
be entered in the model. It is likely that in April 2008, the aggregate
Chinook abundance will decrease; which in turn will reduce the number of
Chinook available for domestic harvest requirements.
There have been no directed Area H troll
fisheries for Chinook since
1994 due to conservation concerns. Retention of
Chinook by-catch was permitted during most sockeye, pink and chum fisheries
until 2005, since then all Area H troll fisheries have had non-retention
provisions for Chinook.
In 2004, the Gulf Trollers
Association (GTA) submitted a proposal for a Chinook sampling program designed to gather stock composition information
in order to determine
areas and times where stocks of concern could be avoided while targeting abundant stocks. See Appendix H for a summary of
results.
In 2005, a project
was proposed and ready to implement if the in-season stock indicators showed a
significant improvement from the weak early season stock test results at Albion. When the project was reduced in
size and co-management funding was not obtained during the sockeye season this
project was cancelled for 2005.
Similar smaller
scale proposals focusing on Area 29 and the assessment of more abundant stocks
(i.e. South Thompson and Harrison Chinook) in August and September were
submitted in 2006 and 2007, neither of which were implemented
During pre-season discussions with Area H
advisors, the possibility of continuing the Chinook sampling program in 2008
will be reviewed. DFO staff will continue evaluating the status of Chinook
stocks and reviewing the impacts of this fishery. In reviewing the viability
and direction of this proposal, the Department will be consulting with First
Nations and stakeholders in order to make a decision about the future direction
of this initiative.
From 2005 through to 2007, the Salmon Licence Area F (Northern
Troll) fishery was managed under a limited entry licensing system with the
total harvest controlled largely through fishery openings and closures. The
fishery itself was operated in a competitive "derby" style where all
licensed fishers are entitled to fish in order to maximize their harvest during
the open periods. The option to continue to operate within the competitive
“derby” style was maintained as well during these years.
Since 2005, a demonstration fishery has been conducted annually to
test the feasibility and the benefits of changing the management of the fishery
to an Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) system. The implementation of this
system directly controlled the total harvest by setting limits on the harvest
by individual fishers.
A Chinook allocation to the fleet is calculated based on the
Aggregate Abundance Based Management model. For 2007, that allowable catch of
Chinook for the combined North Coast Troll and Queen
Charlotte Islands recreational fishery was 178,000
pieces. The pre-season estimate of recreational catch was 60,000 pieces,
leaving 118,000 fish as the pre-season troll allocation. The North Coast trollers landed 83,235 Chinook in 2007 and the Queen Charlotte Island
recreational catch was 54,000 fish for a total Chinook catch of 137,235.
Chinook catches in the North Coast troll
fishery were sampled and DNA analyses were conducted. This fishery is
constrained by a management objective designed to limit the exploitation of
Chinook stocks originating from the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Due to these constraints the fishery
generally does not open until mid-May to early June and closes in September.
In 2007 the fishery opened on June 15th and closed on August 17 due to the
excessive WCVI prevalence (31.8%) and the fact that the WCVI Chinook mortality
TAC had been achieved.
Based on this analysis approximately 38% of the 2007 Area F Troll
Chinook catch originated from the Fraser River system.
With the majority of the Fraser Chinook (90%) originating from the South Thompson River.
Appendix A: Albion Test Fishery
The following figures summarize catches in
the Albion Chinook test fishery
for 2007 and compares these catches with data averaged from previous years.
Figure 1 gives the 2007 daily catch per unit effort (CPUE) index and compares
it to the average of the historical data from 1981-2006. Note that the daily
CPUE index in 2007 is zero until June 18th (the start date for the Albion in 2007).
Figure 1. The 2007 daily catch per
unit effort (CPUE) index compared to the 1981 to 2006 daily CPUE index average.
*** In 2007, the Albion Test Fishery did not begin
until June 18th, daily CPUE index was zero before this date.
Another more informative visual for
reporting Albion catch and
effort data is to compare the current years cumulative CPUE index to the
historical cumulative CPUE index average. Normally, the advantage of viewing
CPUE information cumulatively is it provides a clearer understanding of the
total success of the year’s fishery as compared to historical averages.
However, the late start date for the Albion test fishery in 2007 (June 18th compared to the normal
April 1st) made the this comparison to the entire historical
cumulative CPUE data misleading. Figure 2 attempts to show this complexity
using the entire historical CPUE data set and then attempts a more suitable
comparison by including a plot of only the historical cumulative CPUE data
occurring after June 17th.
Figure 2. The 2007 cumulative catch
per unit effort (CPUE) index compared to the 1981 to 2006 cumulative CPUE index
average.
* entire historical data set from April 01st to
October 20th.
** historical data set from June 18th to
October 20th only; cumulative CPUE index average was zero before
June 18th.
*** In 2007, the Albion Test Fishery did not begin
until June 18th, cumulative CPUE index was zero before this date.
Appendix C: CTC Indicator Stocks
In 1986, DFO established interim escapement
goals for British Columbia
Chinook stocks. The escapement goals were set at either double the averaged
escapement for the 1979-82 base period or, for key streams, double the 1984
escapement estimate. These escapement goals are not biologically-based and
consequently, they are not used for stock assessment and management of stock
impacts under the Pacific Salmon Treaty. The Lower Fraser fall run has a
biologically-based escapement goal range between 75,000 and 101,000 based on a
stock-recruitment analysis (Brown et al. 2001). Biologically-based escapement
goals based on habitat carrying capacity, are being developed and several
examples for Fraser River stocks are available (Parken et al.
2006; described in Appendix I).
The escapement information provided below
is specific to the indicator stock reported annually through the Chinook Technical Committee of the Pacific
Salmon Commission. These stocks are enumerated annually, in support of Canada’s commitments to the Pacific Salmon
Treaty.
Fraser Spring Run 52 (CTC
Indicator Stocks)
This aggregate includes
the Upper Pitt River and Birkenhead River stocks in the Lower Fraser, and the
spring-run Chinook of the Mid and Upper Fraser, North Thompson, and South
Thompson, but excluding those of the Lower Thompson (CTC 2002b). Escapements
declined sharply in 2007, continuing the trend that started in 2004.
Escapement to the aggregate was estimated at 11,737 in 2007; only 27% of the brood
year escapement in 2002, and similar to levels observed in the early 1980’s.
The Fraser Spring-Run
Age 42 aggregate includes six smaller body size
populations that spawn in the Lower
Thompson River tributaries, Louis Creek of the North Thompson and the spring-run fish
of Bessette Creek in the South Thompson (CTC 2002b).
Escapements declined sharply in 2007 to less than 10% of parental brood
escapements in 2003. The aggregate escapement was estimated to be 1407, and
three stocks escaped less than 100 adult Chinook (Spius Creek – 64 adults; Louis Creek – 18 adults; and in Bessette Creek only 5
adults were estimated to have returned and spawned). Escapements at Nicola
declined from the brood year escapement of 14,574 to just 941 spawners in 2007.
The Fraser Summer-Run Age
52 stock complex includes 10 populations, spawning
in large rivers, mostly below the outlets of large lakes. These include the Nechako River upstream of Prince George,
Chilko and Quesnel Rivers in the mid Fraser and the Clearwater River in the North Thompson watershed (CTC 2002b).
Escapement surveys of the Stuart River and North
Thompson River were discontinued
in 2004 due to unreliable counting conditions. Escapements in 2007 continued
to decline sharply. Aggregate escapement was estimated at 10,521, compared to
the 2002 parental brood of 27,897.
The Fraser Summer-Run
Age 41 aggregate includes six populations of Chinook
spawning in the South Thompson watershed upstream of Kamloops and
one in the lower Fraser. These include the Middle Shuswap, Lower Shuswap, Lower Adams, Little River and the South Thompson River mainstem, in the BC interior, and Maria Slough in the
lower Fraser (CTC 2002b). Escapements to the Summer Run Age 41 aggregate were again strong in 2007. An estimated 85,722
Chinook spawned, exceeding the aggregate escapement of 70,164 in the parental
brood year (2003). Middle and Lower
Shuswap rivers and Maria Slough
failed to reach parental escapement levels, while the Lower Adams,
Little River and South Thompson all exceeded brood escapements. Returns to the
South Thompson River were estimated to be 58,956 adults.
The lower Fraser stock
is dominated by fall returning Harrison-origin Chinook that includes natural
spawners in the Harrison River and Harrison-origin fish that were introduced
to the Chilliwack River. Since 1984, mark-recapture studies have been
conducted annually on the Harrison River to obtain reliable estimates of spawning
escapements. Estimates of fall Chinook escapement to the Chilliwack River are based on a procedure long established by
the Chilliwack Hatchery staff for expanding the number of carcasses counted in
standardized reaches of the river. Returns to the Harrison River in 2007 were estimated to be 78,862 adult Chinook, and
Appendix D: 2007 Fraser River First
Nations Fishing Times and Catch by Area
|
Area and Gear
|
Dates
|
Hours per Week
|
|
Mouth to Pt Mann Bridge-drift net
|
Mar.
24 - Apr. 8
|
24
hours per week
|
|
|
Apr.
14 - Apr. 22
|
36
hours per week
|
|
|
Apr.
27 - June 25
|
48
hours per week
|
|
8” mesh 3:1 hang ratio
|
June
29 - July 22
|
48
hours per week*
|
|
|
July
28 – Aug. 6
|
24
hours per week*
|
|
|
September
|
24
hours per week*
|
|
Pt Mann Bridge to Sawmill Creek-drift net
|
Mar.
16 - Apr. 21
|
10
hours per week
|
|
|
Apr.
28- June 24
|
12
hours per week
|
|
8” mesh 3:1 hang ratio
|
June
29- July 24
|
24
hours per week*
|
|
|
August
9-24
|
24
hours per week*
|
|
|
September
|
24
hours per week*
|
|
Pt Mann Bridge to Sawmill Creek- set net
|
Mar.
16 - Apr. 21
|
24
hours per week
|
|
|
Apr.
25 - June 24
|
48
hours per week
|
|
Sawmill Creek to Thompson River –set net
|
Mar.
28 - May 20
|
4
days per week
|
|
|
May
20 – July 1
|
7
days per week
|
|
|
July
1 - July 29
|
Closed**
|
|
8” mesh 2:1 hang ratio
|
July
23 – July 27
|
102
hrs (2 licences)
|
|
|
July
29 – Aug 5
|
4
days
|
|
|
Aug
5 – Aug 12
|
Closed**
|
|
|
Aug
12 – Aug 19
|
7
days per week
|
|
|
Aug
19 – Aug 26
|
5
days
|
|
|
Aug
26 – Sep 30
|
Closed**
|
|
Thompson River to Texas Creek – set net
|
Mar.
28 - May 20
|
4
days per week
|
|
|
May
20 – July 1
|
7
days per week
|
|
|
July
1 - July 29
|
Closed**
|
|
|
July
29 – Aug 5
|
7
days
|
|
|
Aug
5 – Aug 12
|
Closed**
|
|
|
Aug
12 – Aug 26
|
7
days per week
|
|
|
Aug
26 – Sep 2
|
4
days
|
|
|
Sep
2 – Sep 30
|
Closed**
|
|
Thompson River below Bonaparte – set net
|
Mar.
28 - May 20
|
4
days per week
|
|
|
May
20 – July 29
|
7
days per week
|
|
|
July
29 – Aug 5
|
4
days
|
|
|
Aug
5 – Aug 19
|
Closed**
|
|
|
Aug
19 – Aug 26
|
4
days
|
|
|
Aug
26 – Sep 30
|
Closed**
|
|
|
Sep
30 – Oct 7
|
Closed**
(selective 4 days)
|
|
Texas Creek to Deadman Creek – set net
|
Mar.
28 – Apr 1
|
4
days per week
|
|
|
Apr
1 - July 1
|
7
days per week
|
|
|
July
1 – July 29
|
Closed**
|
|
|
July
29 – Aug 26
|
7
days per week
|
|
|
Aug
26 – Sep 2
|
4
days below Kelly / 7 days above Kelly
|
|
|
Sep
2 – Sep 23
|
Closed
**
|
|
|
Sep
23 – Sep 30
|
Closed**
(selective 4 days)
|
|
Deadman Creek upstream – set net
|
Mar 28 – June 24
|
Closed ***
|
|
|
June 24 – July 8
|
7 days per week
|
|
|
July 8 – Aug 5
|
Closed** ( 3 weeks per area)
|
|
|
Aug 5 - Dec 31
|
7 days per week
|
A table of catches for 2007 can be found in Appendix E.
* Selective fisheries for Chinook used 8” mesh drifted gill nets.
** Selective fisheries for Chinook used dip nets or rod and reel.
*** Little interest
by FN’s to fish as few Chinook in this area until after June 24th.
2007 Annual Summary
of First Nations Fisheries Chinook Catch by Area in the Fraser River Mainstem and Tributaries
|
AREA
|
Chinook
(directed fisheries)
|
Total
Chinook
|
|
Mainstem Fraser
|
|
Below Port Mann Bridge
|
1577
|
1817
|
|
Port Mann Bridge to Mission
|
1222
|
1818
|
|
Mission to Hope
|
|
2411
|
7728
|
|
Hope to Sawmill Creek
|
3405
|
5465
|
|
Sawmill
Creek to Texas Creek
|
1125a
|
2234
|
|
Texas
Creek to Kelly Creek
|
383b
|
829
|
|
Kelly Creek to Deadman Creek
|
0b
|
2
|
|
Deadman
Creek to Marguerite Ferry
|
15c
|
74
|
|
Naver
Creek to Shelly & Nechako R to Isle Pierre
|
104d
|
187
|
|
Mainstem Subtotals
|
10242
|
20154
|
|
Tributaries
|
|
Harrison River
|
0
|
2
|
|
Lillooet River System
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
|
Thompson
River
downstream of Bonaparte River confluence
|
107e
|
120
|
|
Thompson
River
upstream of Bonaparte River confluence
|
12f
|
765
|
|
Chilcotin River System
|
0c
|
12
|
|
Nechako
River System upstream of Isle Pierre
|
n/md
|
1
|
|
Stuart River System
|
n/md
|
0
|
|
Tributary Subtotal
|
119
|
900
|
|
Totals
|
10361
|
21054
|
|
|
|
|
a This number represents the
catch to July 29th and between Aug 5th and Aug 12th,
and following Sep 9th until closure (Sep 30th) in First
Nations directed Chinook fisheries.
b This number represents the
catch to July 29th and between Sep 9th – Sep 30th
in First Nations directed Chinook fisheries.
c This number represents the
catch to July 29th in First Nations directed Chinook fisheries.
d This number represents the
catch to Aug 5th in First Nations directed Chinook fisheries.
e This number represents the
catch to July 29th and between Aug 5th and Aug 19th,
and following Sep 2nd until closure (Sep 30th) in First
Nations directed Chinook fisheries
f This number represents the
catch to July 29th and between Aug 5th and Aug 12th
in First Nations directed Chinook fisheries
n/m –
no monitoring conducted at that time.
Please note, the Fraser River is permanently closed from Williams Creek to Petch Creek. Kelly Creek to Barney Creek and The Lillooet River System was not
monitored. The Harrison River upstream of the Highway 7 Bridge was also
closed.
Appendix E: 2006 Recreational Catch Data
Figure 1: 2000 to 2007 South Coast Marine Creel Survey Chinook
Catch Estimates by Month
Figure 2: 2005 – 2007 Recreational Chinook
Catch by Month for Strait of Georgia and Johnstone Strait (Areas 12 to 19, 28
and 29 and a portion of Area 20)*
*east of Sherringham Point
Figure 3: 2005 - 2007 Recreational
Chinook Catch by Month for Juan de Fuca
(that portion of Area 20 west of Sherringham Point)
Figure 4: 2005 - 2007 Recreational
Chinook Catch by Month for West Coast of Vancouver
Island (23 to 27, 121 and 123 to 127)
Figure 5: 2003 – 2007 Recreational
Chinook Harvest by Month for the Fraser River from from the Confluence with the
Sumas River upstream to Hope, BC (see notes).
Figure
6 Notes:
All
years – Figure 6 reports estimated total Chinook catch (including adults and
jacks).
2007
– Due to extremely high water conditions, resulting in very unfavorable angling
and surveying conditions from June 7th to 26th, the
survey area was shifted from the above mentioned area and replaced by the area
of Hope up to the Alexandra Bridge. This area switch
occurred a second time when the Fraser mainstem (below Hope) was closed to all
angling during August 20th to 30th. These two survey
periods are not included in figure 6.
2006
– The recreational catch monitoring surveys ended on October 9th.
2005
– The recreational catch monitoring surveys ended on September 7th.
2004
– The recreational catch monitoring surveys ended on September 10th.
2003
– Angling below Hope was closed from September 1st to October 9th.
No recreational catch monitoring occurred at this time.
2007 Chinook Recreational Openings and
Catch - Lower Fraser River Area
Table 1 below describes where and when recreational
anglers were allowed to retain Chinook on the Lower Fraser River in 2007 (downstream of the Alexandra Bridge). Fishing was permitted during daylight hours only
(from one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise). The daily limit was
four Chinook per day of which only one could be an adult. In the Lower Fraser River, an adult Chinook is defined as a Chinook over 50 cm in length except
during the fall when the larger Harrison origin
fish predominate. From September 1 to December 31, in those waters downstream
of the Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge, an adult Chinook is defined as being over 62 cm.
The
lower Fraser River recreational
fishery was surveyed between the Sumas River and Hope from May 1st to November 30th
with the following exceptions. Due to extremely high water conditions on the
lower Fraser mainstem from June 7th to 26th, surveys were
conducted in the lower Fraser canyon from Hope up to the Alexandra bridge.
Also, the lower Fraser River mainstem, below Hope, was closed to all angling from
August 21st to 30th. The surveys were conducted in the
lower Fraser canyon during this time. The Chilliwack River was surveyed from September 15th to November 15th.
Nicomen Slough (including Norrish Creek) was surveyed from October 9th
to November 30th; however, no Chinook were retained on this system.
|
Table 1: 2007 Fraser River Chinook Recreational Openings.
|
|
Dates
|
Area
|
Daily
Limit
|
|
May
01-Aug 31
|
Tidal
waters of the Fraser River.
|
4
per day, only one of which may be greater than 50 cm.
|
|
Aug
21 - 30
|
Non-tidal
waters of the Fraser River Mission bridge to the confluence with Sawmill
Creek.
|
No
fishing for salmon.
|
|
May
01 to Aug 20 and Aug 31
|
Non-tidal
waters of the Fraser River Mission bridge to the confluence with Sawmill
Creek.
|
4
per day, only one of which may be greater than 50 cm.
|
|
Sep
01-Dec 31
|
Tidal
waters of the Fraser River and non-tidal waters
of the Fraser River downstream from the Alexandra Bridge, except Landstrom Bar
which is closed to all angling from May 1 to Oct 31.
|
4
per day, only one of which may be greater than 62 cm.
|
Recreational catch data from the Fraser
River Creel is provided in Table 2.
Recreational catch data from the Chilliwack River Creek is provided in Table 3.
Due to extremely high water conditions in
2007, resulting in very unfavorable angling and surveying conditions from June
7th to 26th, the survey area was shifted away from the Sumas River up to Hope, and replaced by the area of Hope up to the Alexandra Bridge (lower Fraser River Canyon). This area switch occurred a second time when the Fraser River mainstem (below Hope) was closed to all angling during August 20th
to 30th. Results from both areas are summarized in Tables 2 and 3.
Table 2. Fraser River recreational fishery assessment
(below Hope) from May 1st to November 30th, 2007. Total
harvest and release (weekend and weekday data combined). Time periods not
included are June 7th to 26th
and August 20th to 30th
|
|
Fraser Mainstem – Sumas
River to Hope (May 1st to Oct 8th) and New Westminster
up to Agassiz (Oct 9th to November 30th)
|
|
|
May
|
June
|
July
|
August
|
Sept
|
October
|
Nov
|
2007
|
|
|
TOTALS
|
|
Number
of Interviews
|
59
|
61
|
1,072
|
1,122
|
2,043
|
1,106
|
404
|
5,867
|
|
Interview
Hours
|
191
|
276
|
5,432
|
6,059
|
10,962
|
5,746
|
1,536
|
30,200
|
|
Number
of Overflights
|
8
|
4
|
7
|
7
|
9
|
7
|
6
|
48
|
|
Average
Overflight Count
|
11
|
39
|
125
|
329
|
415
|
76
|
40
|
148
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ANGLER EFFORT
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Effort (hours)
|
1,946
|
2,587
|
45,324
|
75,778
|
111,666
|
35,832
|
10,246
|
283,379
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ESTIMATED HARVEST
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chinook
Adult
|
18
|
81
|
1,218
|
3,626
|
2,953
|
41
|
0
|
7,937
|
|
Chinook
Jack
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
15
|
338
|
33
|
0
|
386
|
|
Coho
Adult
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
8
|
144
|
16
|
168
|
|
Coho
Jack
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
66
|
0
|
66
|
|
Sockeye
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
11
|
0
|
0
|
11
|
|
Pink
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
73
|
17,893
|
46
|
0
|
18,012
|
|
Chum
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
90
|
1,120
|
1,797
|
3,007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ESTIMATED RELEASE
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chinook
Adult
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
106
|
179
|
88
|
0
|
373
|
|
Chinook
Jack
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
83
|
58
|
0
|
141
|
|
Coho
Adult
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1,107
|
649
|
64
|
1,820
|
|
Coho
Jack
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
377
|
0
|
377
|
|
Sockeye
|
0
|
3
|
689
|
21,724
|
1,548
|
222
|
0
|
24,186
|
|
Pink
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
204
|
51,949
|
3,360
|
0
|
55,513
|
|
Chum
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
536
|
4,937
|
4,595
|
10,068
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Table 3 - Lower Fraser River recreational fishery
assessment (Hope to Alexandra Bridge) from June 7th to 26th,
and August 20th
to 30th, 2007. Total harvest and release (weekend and weekday data combined).
|
|
Fraser River Canyon -
Hope up to the Alexandra Bridge
|
|
|
June 7-26
|
August 21-31
|
Totals
|
|
|
|
Number
of Interviews
|
194
|
114
|
308
|
|
Interview
Hours
|
660
|
462
|
1,121
|
|
Number
of Overflights
|
4
|
4
|
8
|
|
Average
Overflight Count
|
4
|
5
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ANGLER EFFORT
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated
Effort (hours)
|
982
|
800
|
1,782
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ESTIMATED HARVEST
|
|
|
|
|
Chinook
Adult
|
8
|
40
|
48
|
|
Chinook
Jack
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Coho
Adult
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Coho
Jack
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Sockeye
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Pink
|
0
|
16
|
16
|
|
Chum
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ESTIMATED RELEASE
|
|
|
|
|
Chinook
Adult
|
0
|
4
|
4
|
|
Chinook
Jack
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
|
Coho
Adult
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Coho
Jack
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Sockeye
|
0
|
78
|
78
|
|
Pink
|
0
|
65
|
65
|
|
Chum
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In 2007, recreational anglers were
permitted to retain Chinook on the Chilliwack River from Slesse
Creek downstream to boundary signs near the confluence with the Fraser River from July 1 to December 31. Fishing was
permitted during daylight hours only (from one hour
after sunset to one hour before sunrise). The daily limit was four Chinook per
day of which only one could exceed 62 cm in length. A creel program was run
from September 15th to November 15th, 2007 on the Chilliwack River. Results
from this creel are presented in the tables below.
Table 3: Chilliwack River recreational fishery assessment from September
15th to November
15th, 2007.
Total catch and release (weekend and weekday combined).
|
|
Sept 16-30
|
October 1-31
|
November
|
Totals
|
|
|
1-15
|
|
|
Number of Interviews
|
1,375
|
3,135
|
725
|
5,235
|
|
Interview Hours
|
4,630
|
10,292
|
2,518
|
17,440
|
|
Number of Overflights
|
5
|
9
|
3
|
17
|
|
Average Overflight Count
|
355
|
489
|
116
|
320
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ANGLER EFFORT
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Effort (hours)
|
52,496
|
132,487
|
14,450
|
199,433
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ESTIMATED HARVEST
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chinook Adult
|
499
|
1,250
|
16
|
1,765
|
|
Chinook Jack
|
1,566
|
1,449
|
0
|
3,015
|
|
Coho Adult
|
1,004
|
6,147
|
406
|
7,557
|
|
Coho Jack
|
26
|
24
|
0
|
50
|
|
Sockeye
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Pink
|
4,178
|
1,189
|
0
|
5,367
|
|
Chum
|
110
|
1,166
|
277
|
1,553
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ESTIMATED RELEASE
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chinook Adult
|
787
|
2,127
|
48
|
2,962
|
|
Chinook Jack
|
1,680
|
2,553
|
31
|
4,264
|
|
Coho Adult
|
707
|
7,094
|
395
|
8,196
|
|
Coho Jack
|
35
|
33
|
0
|
68
|
|
Sockeye
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
|
Pink
|
16,826
|
11,502
|
0
|
28,328
|
|
Chum
|
111
|
5,124
|
1,538
|
6,773
|
Preliminary 2007 Chinook Recreational
Catches – Upper Fraser River (1)
|
System
|
Time/Duration
|
Hours Fished
|
Total Annual Catch
|
|
Bowron River
|
July 15 – Aug 15:
7days/week
|
N/A
|
No creel survey
|
|
Chilko River
|
July 25 - Aug 16:
7days/week
|
N/A
|
No creel survey
|
|
Fraser River at Prince George
|
Jul 10 – Jul 25:
7days/week
|
N/A
|
No creel survey
|
|
Fraser River (confluence of Seton / Fraser River downstream to Seton
powerhouse)
|
July 1 - Sept. 10:
7days/week
|
N/A
|
No creel survey
|
|
Cariboo River
|
Jul 27 – Aug 18:
7days/week
|
N/A
|
No creel survey
|
|
Quesnel River
|
Jul 15 - Sept 1:
7days/week
|
N/A
|
No creel survey
|
|
Bridge River
|
June 21 – Jul 16:
5 days/week
(0600 - 2100 hrs)
|
264
|
0
|
|
Mabel Lake
|
noon July 25 to noon Sept 12:
7days/week
|
9148
|
272
|
|
North Thompson River (Clearwater River)
|
Aug 1 – Aug 31:
7 days/week
|
N/A
|
No Creel
|
|
Shuswap River (lower)
|
noon July 25 - noon Sept 12:
7days/week (0500 to 2200 hrs.
daily)
|
14215
|
531
|
|
Shuswap River (middle)
|
noon July 25 - noon Aug 15:
7days/week
|
N/A
|
No Creel
|
|
South Thompson River
|
Aug 5 - Sept 22:
7days/week
|
N/A
|
No Creel
|
|
Thompson River (near Spences' Bridge)
|
Jul 27 - Aug 13:
Sat/Sun/Mon only
0600 - 2100 hrs.
|
1466
|
170
|
|
Thompson River (near Martel)
|
Aug 22 - Sept 3:
7 days/week
|
N/A
|
No Creel
|
(1) Note: Due to budget
constraints in 2007 creel surveys were not undertaken in some recreational
fisheries. Creel surveys were not undertaken in recreational fisheries where
past years information suggested that catch and effort, and associated harvest
rates, were very low.
Appendix F: Draft 2007 Chinook Recreational Fishing
Plans
Note: See also
Appendix H
Table 1: Freshwater Salmon Sport
Fishing Regulations: Region 2: Lower Mainland
1.
Unless otherwise stated
in the table, the daily limit in all waters of Region 2 is zero (0).
2.
The aggregate daily
limit for all species of Pacific salmon (other than kokanee) from tidal and
non-tidal waters combined is four (4).
3.
All retained Chinook
must measure 30 cm or more from tip of nose to tail fork.
4.
A single, barbless hook
is in effect year round for all streams in Region 2.
5.
There is an annual
limit of 10 adult Chinook from all non-tidal waters. All retained adult Chinook
must be recorded immediately on the back of your Provincial Non-tidal Angling licence.
An "adult Chinook" in Region 2 is defined as being over 50 cm except
in the following areas where an “adult Chinook” is defined as being over 62
cm:
a)
the Fraser River between the CPR bridge at Mission to the powerline crossing approximately 1 km above the
Aggasiz/Rosedale bridge from Sep 01 - Dec 31,
b)
the Chilliwack/Vedder
River (including the Sumas River), the Capilano River and the Harrison River.
|
WATERS
|
SPECIFIC AREA
|
SPECIES
|
DATES
|
LIMITS / GEAR
|
|
Chehalis River
|
From the logging bridge 2.4 km below Chehalis Lake
to the confluence of the Harrison/Chehalis Rivers, including tributaries to
that part
|
All
|
Sep 01-Dec 31
|
Daylight hours
only.
|
|
Chinook
|
Jan 01-May 31
|
No fishing
for Chinook.
|
|
Jun 01-Aug 10
|
4 per day, only
1 over 50 cm.
|
|
Aug 11-Sep 15
|
No fishing
for Chinook.
|
|
Sep 16-Dec 31
|
4 per day, only
1 over 62 cm.
|
|
Chilliwack/Vedder
River (including Sumas River)
|
Downstream from Slesse
Creek including that portion of the Sumas River from the Barrow Town Pump
Station downstream to boundary signs near the confluence with the Fraser
River
|
All
|
Sep 01-Dec 31
|
Daylight hours
only.
|
|
Chinook
|
Jul 01-Dec 31
|
4 per day, only
1 over 62 cm.
|
|
Dewdney Slough -
See Nicomen Slough
|
|
Fraser River
|
Salmon closures
are being considered from early September to mid-October to protect
co-migrating Upper Fraser and Thompson
River coho. Please contact
your local DFO office for details.
|
|
From the
downstream side of the CPR Bridge at Mission upstream to the Alexandria bridge, except Landstrom Bar (described below)
which is closed to all angling from May 1 to Oct. 31.
|
All
|
Jul 01-Dec 31
|
Daylight hours
only.
|
|
Chinook
|
May 1-Aug 31
|
4 per day, only
1 over 50 cm.
|
|
Chinook
|
Sep 01 – Dec 31
|
4 per day, only
1 over 62 cm.
|
|
Landstrom Bar is
those waters of the Fraser River inside a line beginning at a fishing
boundary sign on the eastern end of Landstrom Bar, then to a fishing boundary
sign on the opposite bank, then to a fishing boundary sign at the southern
end of Croft Island, then westerly to a fishing boundary sign on the nearest
bank of the river, then following the river bank to the beginning point.
|
|
Harrison River
|
From the Highway
7 bridge to the confluence with the Fraser River
|
All
|
Jul 01-Dec 31
|
Daylight hours
only.
|
|
Chinook
|
Sep 01-Dec 31
|
4 per day, only 1
over 62 cm
|
|
Pitt River
|
Upper and Lower,
including tributaries
|
Chinook
|
Jan 01-Dec 31
|
No fishing
for Chinook.
|
|
Stave River
|
Downstream of
B.C. Hydro Dam to the CPR Railway Bridge
|
Chinook
|
Jan 01-Dec 31
|
1 per day.
|
|
Sumas River - See Chilliwack River
|
|
Vedder River - See Chilliwack River
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Table 2: Freshwater Salmon Sport
Fishing Opportunities: Region 3: Thompson-Nicola
1.
Unless otherwise stated
in the table, the daily limit in all waters of Region 3 is zero (0).
2.
The aggregate daily
limit for all species of Pacific salmon (other than kokanee) from tidal and
non-tidal waters combined is four (4).
3.
All retained Chinook
must measure 30 cm or more from tip of nose to tail fork.
4.
A single, barbless hook
is in effect year round for all streams in Region 3.
5.
There is an annual
limit of 10 adult Chinook from all non-tidal waters. All retained Chinook must
be recorded immediately on the back of your Provincial Non-tidal Angling licence.
An "adult Chinook" in Region 3 is defined as being over 50 cm.
|
WATERS
|
SPECIFIC AREA
|
SPECIES
|
DATES
|
LIMITS/GEAR
|
|
Bridge River
|
Downstream from
Road 40 bridge to the confluence of the Fraser River (see also Fraser River opportunity).
|
Chinook
|
Jun 22- Jul 15
Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur only 06:00
to 21:00 hours daily.
|
4 per day, only
1 over 50 cm.
|
|
Clearwater River
|
From Clearwater
Lake downstream to the confluence of the North Thompson River (except CLOSED
from Murtle River downstream to 35km post from Aug 16 - 31 to protect Mahood
R. Chinook).
|
Chinook
|
Aug 1-Aug 31
|
4 per day, only
2 over 50 cm. Monthly quota is 4 over 50cm (includes adult Chinook caught
and retained from North
Thompson River).
|
|
Fraser River
|
Mainstem of the
Fraser R. in Region 3 except for that portion of the Fraser R. described
below
|
Chinook
|
April 1-Sep 17
|
4 per day, none
over 50 cm.
|
|
From the
confluence of the Seton River and the Fraser River, downstream to the BC
Hydro turbine generator tailrace located approximately 1 km downstream of the
town of Lillooet.
|
Chinook
|
Jul 1-Sep 10
|
4 per day, only
1 over 50 cm.
|
|
From the
confluence with the Bridge River downstream to the BC Railway bridge, 2 km north of Lillooet (see
also Bridge River opportunity).
|
Chinook
|
Jun 22-Jul 15
Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur only 0:600 to 21:00
hours daily.
|
4 per day, only
1 over 50 cm.
|
|
Little Shuswap Lake - See South Thompson River
|
|
North Thompson
River
|
Downstream of Station Road Bridge in Clearwater to the Ferry crossing at Little Fort.
|
Chinook
|
Aug 1-Aug 31
|
4 per day, only
2 over 50 cm. Monthly quota is 4 over 50cm (includes adult Chinook caught
and retained from Clearwater
River)
|
|
Mainstem river.
|
Chinook
|
Sep 1-Sep 22
|
4 per day none
over 50 cm .
|
|
South Thompson
River
|
From the green
can buoy near outlet of Little River to 100m downstream of Campbell Creek.
|
Chinook
|
Aug 5-Sep 22
|
4 per day, only
2 over 50 cm. Monthly quotas are 6 over 50cm.
|
|
Thompson River
|
From Kamloops Lake downstream to the confluence with the Fraser River.
|
Chinook
|
Jun 1-Sep 21
|
4 per day, none
over 50 cm (retention of jack Chinook only) See exceptions below
|
|
From the
upstream side of the mouth of the Nicola River downstream to the Hwy 8 bridge at Spences Bridge.
|
Chinook
|
July 19 to
August 11. Sat, Sun, Mon only, 06:00 to 21:00
hours only.
|
4 per day, only
1 over 50 cm. Environmental conditions in Nicola River may result in closure. Check with your
local DFO office for updates.
|
|
From confluence
with Bonaparte River to boundary sign approximately 1 km downstream. North Bank of the
river only.
|
Chinook
|
To be determined
in-season.
|
Opening
dependent on number of Chinook returning to Bonaparte fish way by July 25.
Check with your local DFO office for updates.
|
|
From Hwy 8
bridge at Spences Bridge upstream to a fishing boundary sign located
approximately 1 km downstream of Martel (west side of river only). These
waters open to fishing are subject to change.
|
Chinook
|
Aug 22-Sep 03
|
4 per day, only
1 over 50 cm. Check with your local DFO office for updates.
|
Table 3: Freshwater Salmon Sport
Fishing Opportunities: Region 5a: Cariboo
(Part A, Fraser River Watershed, Management Units 5-1 to 5-5 and 5-12 to 5-16)
1.
Unless otherwise stated
in the table, the daily limit in all waters of Region 5 is zero (0).
2.
The aggregate daily
limit for all species of Pacific salmon (other than kokanee) from tidal and
non-tidal waters combined is four (4).
3.
All retained Chinook
must measure 30 cm or more from tip of nose to fork in tail (fork length).
4.
A single, barbless hook
is in effect year round for all streams in Region 5.
5.
There is an annual
limit of 10 adult Chinook from all non-tidal waters. All retained Chinook must
be recorded immediately on the back of your Provincial Non-tidal Angling licence.
An "adult Chinook" in Region 5 is defined as being over 50 cm (fork
length).
|
WATERS
|
SPECIFIC AREA
|
SPECIES
|
DATES
|
LIMITS / GEAR
|
|
Cariboo River
|
From confluence
of the Quesnel River to the confluence of Seller Creek.
|
Chinook
|
Jul 27-Aug 18
|
4 per day, only
2 over 50 cm.
|
|
Chilko River
|
From Chilko Lake downstream to boundary signs 1.5km
upstream of Siwash bridge (12 km upstream from Chilcotin R. junction).
|
Chinook
|
Jul 25-Aug 16
|
4 per day, only
2 over 50 cm. Monthly limit of 4 over 50 cm.
|
|
Quesnel River
|
downstream of Poquette
Creek
|
Chinook
|
Jul 15-Sep 01
|
4 per day, only
2 over 50 cm.
|
Table 4: Freshwater Salmon Sport
Fishing Opportunities: Region 7: Omineca-Peace
1.
Unless otherwise stated
in the table, the daily limit in all waters of Region 7 is zero (0).
2.
The aggregate daily
limit for all species of Pacific salmon (other than kokanee) from tidal and
non-tidal waters combined is four (4).
3.
All retained Chinook
must measure 30 cm or more from tip of nose to fork in tail (fork length).
4.
A single, barbless hook
is in effect year round for all streams in Region 7.
5.
There is an annual
limit of 10 adult Chinook from all non-tidal waters. All retained Chinook must
be recorded immediately on the back of your Provincial Non-tidal Angling licence.
An "adult Chinook" in Region 7 is defined as being over 50 cm (fork
length).
|
WATERS
|
SPECIFIC AREA
|
SPECIES
|
DATES
|
LIMITS / GEAR
|
|
Bowron River
|
From Forestry Road bridge nearest to the Fraser River, upstream to the Bowron Forest Road bridge crossing near Haggen Creek.
|
Chinook
|
Jul 15-Aug 15
|
4 per day, only
2 over 50 cm.
|
|
Fraser River
|
From power lines
crossing the Fraser River near College Heights, upstream to the Northwood Bridge crossing the Fraser River
|
Chinook
|
Jul 10-Jul 25
|
4 per day, only
1 over 50 cm.
|
Table 5: Freshwater Salmon Sport
Fishing Opportunities: Region 8: Okanagan
1.
Unless otherwise stated
in the table, the daily limit in all waters of Region 8 is zero (0).
2.
The aggregate daily
limit for all species of Pacific salmon (other than kokanee) from tidal and
non-tidal waters combined is four (4).
3.
All retained Chinook
must measure 30 cm or more from tip of nose to fork in tail (fork length).
4.
A single, barbless hook
is in effect year round for all streams in Region 8.
5.
There is an annual
limit of 10 adult Chinook from all non-tidal waters. All retained Chinook must
be recorded immediately on the back of your Provincial Non-tidal Angling licence.
An "adult Chinook" in Region 8 is defined as being over 50 cm (fork
length).
|
WATERS
|
SPECIFIC AREA
|
SPECIES
|
DATES
|
LIMITS / GEAR
|
|
Mabel Lake
|
South of fishing
boundary signs located on opposite shores approximately 1 km from Wap Creek.
|
Chinook
|
12:00 Jul 25-12:00 Sep 12
|
4 per day, only
2 over 50 cm. Monthly quota is 4 over 50cm, including
all Shuswap River and Mabel Lake Chinook.
|
|
Shuswap River
|
Between Shuswap Falls and Mabel Lake.
|
Chinook
|
12:00 Jul 25 - 12:00 Aug 15
|
4 per day, only
2 over 50 cm. Monthly quota is 4 over 50cm, including all Shuswap River and Mabel Lake Chinook.
|
|
Upstream from
signs above Mara Bridge to Mabel Lake.
|
Chinook
|
12:00 Jul 25 - 12:00 Sep 12 05:00-22:00 hours
only
|
4 per day, only
2 over 50 cm. Monthly quota is 4 over 50cm, including all Shuswap River and Mabel Lake Chinook.
|
Tidal Waters
·
The coast-wide daily limit for Chinook is two.
·
The total Chinook annual limit is 30 from any
tidal waters, of which at most,
o
10 may be caught in the tidal waters of the Fraser River;
o
15 may be caught in the waters of Areas 12 to
18, 28 and 29 and that portion of Area 19 north of Cadboro Point; and
o
20 may be caught in the waters of Area 20 and
that portion of Area 19 south of Cadboro Point.
·
Barbless hooks are required for all salmon
fishing.
·
The aggregate daily limit (total daily limit)
for all species of Pacific salmon from tidal or non-tidal waters combined is
four.
·
The minimum size limit for Chinook in Areas 13
to 18, 28 and 29 and in that portion of Area 19 north of Cadboro Point is 62
cm. The minimum size limit in all other waters is 45 cm.
·
Substantial management measures are taken on
Chinook fisheries on the West Coast of Vancouver Island and in the Strait of Georgia. Maps showing details of
these measures can be found online at:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish
Appendix G: 2007 Commercial Catches and Summary of
2004 Area H Sampling Program
Figure 1: Preliminary Estimates of Canadian
Commercial Catch of Chinook Salmon by Gear Type and Salmon Licencing Area
October 1, 2006 to September 30, 2007 (from FOS*)
|
Areas
|
Purse
Seine
|
Gill
Net
|
Troll
|
Total
|
|
Area A
|
0
|
|
|
0
|
|
Area B
|
4
041
|
|
|
4
041
|
|
Area C
|
|
14
589
|
14
589
|
14
589
|
|
Area D
|
|
22
884
|
22
884
|
22
884
|
|
Area E
|
|
32
|
32
|
32
|
|
Area F
|
|
|
83
235
|
83
235
|
|
Area G
|
|
|
87
|
941
|
|
Total
|
4041
|
37
505
|
171
176
|
212
722
|
*Fishery Operations System – a database in
which DFO maintains catch information for various fisheries.
Figure 2: Summary
of 2004 Area H Chinook Sampling Program
|
Date
|
Feb. 16-29/04
|
Feb. 16-29/04
|
Apr. 27- /May 9/04
|
Sept. 17-27/04
|
|
Location
|
Upper Strait of Georgia
|
Lower Strait of Georgia
|
Lower Knight Inlet
|
Lower Fraser
|
|
Area
|
Area 14
|
Area 17,18 and 29-5
|
Area 12
|
Area 29-3, 4 and 6
|
|
Vessel days
|
18
|
25
|
11
|
13 (3 vessels)
|
|
Chinook (kept)
|
64
|
18
|
0
|
17
|
|
Chinook (rel)
|
73
|
23
|
0
|
6
|
|
Total Chinook
|
137
|
41
|
0
|
21
|
|
Sample Size*
|
113
|
41
|
0
|
21
|
|
DNA Results
|
82% ECVI; 17% Puget Snd; 1% other
|
60% ECVI; 35.5% Puget Snd; 2.5% Upper
Fraser; 2% other
|
n/a
|
94.8% Lower Fraser; 2.5% Puget Snd; 1.8%
S. Mainland 0.8% other
|
*Note: approximately 70 samples from a DFO
science project (sea lice) are included in the Upper
Strait of Georgia results. The samples were collected
from Area 14 on Feb. 10-12/04
Figure 3: WCVI Chinook Troll Fishery
Preliminary Catch and Releases Estimates – Generated from the Department
Fishery Operations System (FOS) October 2006 to September 2007
|
THE FOLLOWING CATCH ESTIMATES ARE
PRELIMINARY ONLY AND SUBJECT TO CHANGE
|
|
AREA G OCT 2006 TO JUNE 2007
PRELIMINARY CHINOOK CATCH ESTIMATES
|
|
Date
|
Areas
|
Chinook Kept
|
Chinook Released
|
Coho Released
|
Marked Coho
Retained
|
|
Oct 1 TO
3, 2006
|
123 to
127
|
16,026
|
1,752
|
740
|
260
|
|
Nov 8 to
30, 2006
|
23 to 27,
123 to 127
|
1,190
|
203
|
72
|
0
|
|
Dec 1 to 31,
2006
|
23 to 27,
123 to 127
|
770
|
162
|
8
|
0
|
|
Jan 1 to
31, 2007
|
23 to 27,
123 to 127
|
5,440
|
771
|
209
|
0
|
|
Feb 1 to
28, 2007
|
23 to 27,
123 to 127
|
2,587
|
449
|
12
|
0
|
|
March 1
to 6, 2007
|
123 to
127, 23 to 27
|
528
|
3
|
0
|
0
|
|
March 17
to 31, 2007
|
125 to
127, 23 to 27
|
1,728
|
319
|
2
|
0
|
|
April 7
to 15, 2007
|
125 to
127, 23 to 27
|
440
|
65
|
0
|
0
|
|
April 16
to 30, 2007
|
23 to 27,
123 to 127
|
4,783
|
214
|
70
|
0
|
|
May 1 to
31, 2007
|
23 to 27,
123 to 127
|
23,464
|
1,567
|
2749
|
0
|
|
June 1 to
10, 2007
|
23 to
27,123 to 127
|
13,503
|
530
|
2,416
|
|
|
June 18
to 22, 2007
|
23 to
27,123 to 127
|
11,500
|
712
|
2,768
|
|
|
Sept 18
to 20 , 2007
|
123 to
127
|
5,450
|
1,876
|
2,300
|
1,432
|
|
Sept 21
to 28, 2007
|
125 to
127
|
532
|
69
|
39
|
16
|
|
TOTAL
|
|
87,941
|
8,692
|
11,385
|
1,708
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marked
coho were allowed to be kept in the Oct 06 and Sept 07 Fishery
|
|
|
Appendix I: Salmon Endowment Fund
Chinook related projects approved in 2007:
Enhancement
·
Campbell River Mainstem
Chinook Enhancement
·
Salmon River Chinook Recovery
Habitat Restoration
WCVI
·
Kauwinch River Side Channel
·
Harris Creek Side Channel
·
Charters Creek Salmon Habitat Restoration Project
·
Nahmint River Side-Channel Construction
Feasibility Study
·
Somass Estuary Salt Water Marsh Restoration
·
Water Use Planning Forum for Stamp-Somass-Sproat
Rivers, Port Alberni
Georgia Basin
·
Cowichan River – Stoltz Bluff Remediation.
·
Habitat Assessment and Rehabilitation Designs for Koksilah River
Watershed
·
Water Storage Feasibility on East Coast Vancouver Island
·
Georgia Basin Eelgrass Habitat Restoration Project.
·
Squamish River Estuary Restoration.
Fraser Basin
·
South Thompson River Chinook Spawning Area Remediation.
·
Coldwater River Habitat Restoration.
·
Fish Passage Improvements in the BC Interior.
·
Nicola Basin Stream Flow Recovery and Development of In-stream Flow Requirements.
Improved Information Projects
Chinook
·
Sampling of Chinook Double Index Tag Recoveries in Southern BC
commercial fisheries.
·
Improvements to the Harrison River Chinook key stream program: an
alternative release strategy for hatchery-reared Harrison Chinook to improve
CWT recoveries
·
Estimate spawning escapement, juvenile production, and
contribution to fisheries of Coweeman River fall Chinook salmon
·
Validation of Aerial Redd Counts for Estimating Fall Chinook
Salmon Abundance in the Deschutes River, Oregon
·
Lower Granite Fall Chinook Run Reconstruction Assistance
·
Feasibility investigation and development of an indicator stock
program at the Chilko River for Fraser River 1.3 Summer Chinook.
·
Nanaimo River Chinook Indicator Stream Surrogate.
·
Determine origin of out of basin stray fall Chinook salmon in the
Deschutes River, Oregon
·
Habitat-Based Chinook Escapement Goal Calibration: large, clear
rivers and small, low visibility rivers in the interior Fraser River Watershed,
BC.
·
West Coast of Vancouver Island Chinook Area Under the Curve Index
and Habitat-Based Escapement Goal Calibrations.
·
Estimates of the abundance of hatchery Chinook in wild spawning
populations.
·
Collection and Analysis of DNA Based Stock Composition Data –
WCVI Chinook Troll Fishery.
·
Genetic Stock Identification – Collection of Baseline data for
WCVI Chinook Stocks
·
Mixed Stock Analysis of Selective and Sport Chinook Fisheries in
the Strait of Juan de Fuca using Molecular Markers.
·
Chinook Baseline Expansion with Additional Genetic Markers.
Multi-species
·
Using environmental data to improve wild and hatchery estimates
of Chinook and coho salmon return rates
·
Assessing growth and survival of juvenile Chinook and coho salmon
off the West coast of Vancouver Island.
·
Multi-species Migration and Improved Escapement Enumeration using
a DIDSON on the Cowichan River, BC.
·
Coldwater River Resistivity Counter Calibration.
Appendix J: Additional Technical Information
1.
Harrison
Chinook:
The run size of Harrison fall returning Chinook is
calculated using the results of the Harrison River escapement program. An
exploitation rate is calculated using the run size estimate. However, the tag
rate from Chinook produced at the Chehalis River hatchery is very low compared
to the total Harrison return. This makes finding enough tags to develop an
exploitation rate during the Harrison escapement program difficult. To get a
better estimate, the Chilliwack River exploitation rate has been used in place
of Harrison run size calculations. Unfortunately, several problematic issues
with the Chilliwack escapement program have contributed to high uncertainty
with the estimated exploitation rates. Discussions are underway to decide
whether to improve the Harrison program (Chehalis hatchery fish survival), or
to improve the Chilliwack escapement and creel programs.
The Chehalis hatchery enhances Harrison River fall returning Chinook through the collection of broodstock from
the Harrison River and a small number of
"swim-ins" to the hatchery. Production from both facilities is
monitored through application and recovery of coded-wire tags (CWT’s). The
contribution from the Chehalis hatchery to the in-river escapement in the Harrison River is less well known than the Chilliwack hatchery's contribution to the in-river escapement of fall-run fish
returning to the Chilliwack River system. This is due in part to the
relatively small Chehalis hatchery contribution within the large natural
spawning Harrison population,
making the recovery of CWT's during annual assessment programs difficult, and
the absence of CWT recovery sampling and escapement estimation for the Chehalis River. The estimate of fall-run Chinook hatchery contribution to the
escapement in the Chilliwack River is better known due to a smaller
natural spawning population and a greater proportion of CWT’s present.
2.
Stock Assessment:
·
estimating the exploitation rate by age from the
CWT program;
·
estimating the spawning escapement by age based
on the mark-recapture program;
·
estimating the return of Chehalis Chinook and
subtracting them from the total escapement by age;
·
expanding the terminal run (terminal catch plus
spawners) by the ocean exploitation rate by age;
·
summing over ages (ages 3 to 5).
In order to properly
account for the full impact of fishing on Chinook stocks, the PST specifies
that all parties develop programs to monitor all sources of fishing related
mortality on Chinook. Catch monitoring programs are being modified to include
estimates of encounters of all legal and sub-legal Chinook, as well as other
salmon species, in all fisheries.
To develop forecasts (other than just
recent average values, etc.), annual sampling for age structure in the catch
and escapement, and a quantitative estimate of spawning escapements is needed.
As noted above, upper Fraser escapements are visual estimates of trends, whose
bias is largely unassessed except for a few locations. Further, it would be
desirable to have in-river catch by stock and age. The real deficiency in our inability to develop
forecasts for upper Fraser Chinook is the fact we cannot reconstruct cohort
abundance because some in-river fisheries have not been directly sampled for CWTs.
As mentioned above, several alternate approaches are under consideration and
the best available ones will be used to address this deficiency in order to
estimate fishery impacts and reconstruct cohort abundances. Currently, Nicola River, Dome
Creek, and Lower Shuswap River have CWTs
and reliable escapement estimation programs; however, the utility of these
programs to produce forecasts is limited by the lack of a reliable estimate of
CWT removals from in-river fisheries.
To accurately
estimate the number of CWT’s removed during in-river fisheries, required
information includes:
· accurate catch estimates in all the
time/area strata; catch must be estimated for all fisheries in order to
produce accurate estimates of cohort size and fishing impacts;
· reliable and representative sampling
of CWT’s from those strata (sampling rates of about 20%, preferably all CWT’s
encountered by surveyors); indirect CWT recovery rate information can be used
from suitable alternate fisheries when direct
information is unavailable; and,
DFO assessment
capabilities and resources are acknowledged as a serious limitation to catch
estimation and sampling of all fisheries. An approach to address these data
gaps may involve greater participation by stakeholders in catch estimation and
sampling programs in addition to a greater role in decision making. To
summarize, we currently do not have an empirical basis to forecast upper Fraser River Chinook returns.
4.
Other Stock Assessment Information:
Over successive generations, distinct fish populations have adapted
to fit and prosper in particular niches in their ecosystems. These specialized
characteristics are frequently expressed as unique patterns in their genetic
code. The Molecular Genetics Lab at the Pacific Biological Station utilizes microsatellite
DNA and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genetic variation to examine
differences in fish populations for ecological and conservation reasons as well
as to assist in fisheries management.
DFO is
looking at new methodologies for setting escapement goals including a
stock-recruitment based assessment and a habitat based escapement assessment.
The information needs for the stock recruitment method include; number of
spawners, fishing mortalities by stock and age, definitions of spawning stocks,
and assumptions must be made about natural mortality rates and patterns, time
sequence of environmental patterns, and consistency of data series.
The
information needs for a habitat based assessment are more readily available in
large spatial databases such as the Provincial Watershed Atlas and Terrain
Resource Information Maps. Two biologically-based methods appear useful to
establish escapement goals and both focus on estimating carrying capacity.
Escapement goals will be based on each aggregate’s management objectives. One
method estimates spawner capacity from spawner density-habitat relationships
developed from Fraser River populations (Parken et al. 20021).
Presently, the method is being ground-truthed with fish production and
stock-recruitment data for the Nicola River. The second
method relies on relationships between carrying capacity, estimated from
stock-recruitment analyses, and habitat parameters such as watershed area
(Parken et al. 20062). The habitat and stock-recruitment data are
from 25 populations ranging from Northwestern Alaska to [9]coastal Oregon. The model predicts the spawning
abundance producing maximum sustained yield and the spawning abundance at the
stable equilibrium, called capacity, in units of total spawners. Since most of
the Fraser River stocks only have spawner abundance
indices, which tend to underestimate the total number of spawners (Bailey et
al. 20003; Parken et al. 20034), further calibration of
the current visual escapement estimates is needed in order to use similar units
for comparisons. Calibration work will be undertaken at the Lower and Mid
Shuswap rivers, Coldwater River,
and possibly Chilcotin River in 2007.
Appendix K: DFO Contacts
|
Fisheries Management -
Lower Fraser Area
|
A/Area Chief
|
Bilal Cheema
|
(604) 666-6512
|
|
|
|
|
|
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A/Resource
Manager – Aboriginal Fisheries
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Bev Carpenter
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(604) 666-8426
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Resource Manager
– Aboriginal Fisheries
|
Brian Matts
|
(604) 666-2096
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Resource Manager
- Recreational Fisheries
|
Debra Sneddon
|
(604) 666-6509
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Resource Manager
- Commercial Fisheries
|
Barbara Mueller
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(604) 666-2370
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A/Management
Biologist (Chinook, coho, chum)
|
Joe Tadey
|
(604) 666-7273
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A/Management Biologist
(FN catch monitoring)
|
Mark Fetterly
|
(604) 666-6608
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Fisheries Management -
B.C. Interior
|
Area Chief
|
Les Jantz
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(250) 851-4878
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Resource Manager
- Fraser River watershed upstream of Deadman Creek
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Linda Stevens
|
(250) 305-4004
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Asst. Resource
Manager - Fraser River watershed upstream of Deadman Creek
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Al Charbonneau
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(250) 992-8157
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Resource Manager
– Thompson/Columbia/Okanagan Rivers and Fraser River from Sawmill Creek to Deadman Creek.
|
Dean Allan
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(250) 851-4821
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Asst. Resource
Manager - – Thompson/Columbia/Okanagan Rivers and Fraser River from Sawmill Creek to Deadman Creek.
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Merv Mochizuki
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(250) 851-4952
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A/Senior
Management Biologist
|
Jamie Scroggie
|
(250) 851- 4948
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Management
Biologist
|
Cindy Samaha
|
(250) 851- 4852
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Stock Assessment
Division
|
Head – Fraser River Stock Assessment
|
Timber
Whitehouse
|
(250) 851-4833
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Biologist,
Chinook/Coho Program
|
?
|
(604) 666-7273
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Biologist,
Chinook/Coho Program
|
Mike Chamberlain
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(250) 851-4947
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Program Head, Chinook/Coho
|
Richard Bailey
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(250) 851-4814
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Conservation
& Protection
|
Area Chief - Lower Fraser River Area
|
Herb Redekopp
|
(604) 607-4156
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A/Area Chief –
B.C. Interior Area
|
Stu Cartwright
|
(250) 851-4922
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