Fishery Notice

The Fraser River Panel met on Tuesday, August 26, 2014 to receive an update on 
the migration of the Fraser sockeye runs and review the status of migration 
conditions in the Fraser River watershed.	

The migration of sockeye through marine and lower Fraser River assessment areas 
and past the Mission hydroacoustic site has increased over the past week. 
Catches in the Area 12 and 13 seine test fisheries saw reduced catches 
following the last report but have increased in the most recent days. Area 20 
seine test fisheries continue to be well below average.  In river test 
fisheries catches have remained strong. 

Recent stock identification analyses from the Area 12 purse seine test fishery 
indicated Fraser sockeye contributions of approximately 27% Summer run sockeye, 
and 73% Late run. In the Fraser River, the proportions of each stock in the 
most recent samples are 18% Early Summer run, 59% Summer run and 23% Late run.

The estimated upriver migration of sockeye past Mission through August 25th is 
3,950,100 fish in total of which 227,900 are estimated to be Early Stuart 
sockeye, 1,102,600 Early Summer run, 2,171,300 Summer run and 448,300 Late Run. 

River discharge levels have decreased over the past week to a level of 2,511 
cms on August 25th, which is 17 percent below the historical average discharge 
for this date (3,012 cms).  Water temperature on August 25th at Qualark was 
18.4 degrees Celsius, which is 1.2 degrees Celsius above the average 
temperature for this date.  Water temperatures are forecast to decrease in the 
coming days and discharge levels are expected to remain slightly below average. 

At today's meeting, the Fraser River Panel adopted in-season run size estimates 
of 2.0 million Early Summer run sockeye with a 50% timing date in Juan de Fuca 
of August 8 and 6.0 million Summer run sockeye with a 50% timing date in Juan 
de Fuca of August 15.  These changes are decreases from the previously adopted 
run sizes of 2.3 million for Early Summer run and 7.0 million Summer Run 
sockeye and two day earlier timing than previously adopted for both runs.  The 
Panel made no changes to the management adjustment for Early Summer or Summer 
run sockeye.  Fish condition has been good to date in the Fraser River 
fisheries. Management adjustments are additional fish that are allowed to 
escape upstream to help achieve spawning escapement targets for Fraser River 
sockeye. 

First Nations FSC fisheries targeting Fraser sockeye are ongoing or being 
planned.  Fishers are requested to check updated times and restrictions for 
their local area. 

The Area B seine and Area H troll commercial sockeye ITQ fisheries remain open 
until further notice subject to available quota. 

The next Area D gillnet fishery is planned for Wednesday, August 27. Details 
will be announced in a separate fishery notice. 

The next Area E gillnet is planned for Wednesday August 27. Details will be 
announced in a separate fishery notice. 

First Nation economic opportunity fisheries in the Lower Fraser River are under 
consideration with fisheries possible this week and over the weekend .
 
Retention of sockeye in Marine and Lower Fraser River recreational fisheries 
continue.  Refer to fishery notices FN0720 and FN0721 for details.

The next in-season meeting of the Panel is scheduled to occur on Friday, August 
29, 2014.



FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jennifer Nener 604-666-6478

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0893
Sent August 26, 2014 at 1523

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