Fishery Notice

The Fraser River Panel met on Tuesday, August 8 to receive an update on the 
migration of the Fraser sockeye and pink runs to date and review the status of 
migration conditions in the Fraser River watershed.	

Gill net test fishing catches of sockeye improved in both marine and in-river 
test areas in recent days. Purse seine test catches in Areas 12 and 13 
increased substantially in the most recent days, while Area 20 catches remained 
very low. The combination of the gill net and purse seine test catches in the 
two approach areas has resulted in a slight increase in the projected diversion 
rate through Johnstone Strait to 60% compared to the pre-season forecast of 
51%. 

The most recent DNA samples taken in the marine purse seine test fisheries show 
sockeye stock compositions in Area 20 of approximately 9% Early Summer, 89% 
Summer and 2% Late run stocks. In Area 12, the purse seine stock composition 
was 12% Early Summer, 80% Summer and 9% Late run stocks. In-river stock 
identification information remains highly uncertain ranging between 3% and 30% 
for Early Summers and 97% and 70% Summers for Whonnock and Cottonwood test 
fisheries respectively.

Daily Mission hydroacoustics escapement estimates have increased in recent days 
with the largest daily escapement estimate to date being 19,300 on August 4.  
The total estimated sockeye escapement as of August 7 is 252,000. Hell's Gate 
observations have increased in recent days. 

During the call today, the Fraser Panel reduced the run size for Early Stuart 
sockeye to 46,000 with a 50% peak date in Area 20 of July 4 as the run is now 
considered to be complete. The Panel also reduced the run size for Early 
Summers to 125,000 with an Area 20 peak date of July 31 as abundances continue 
to be much lower than expected. No changes were made to the Summer run size at 
this time although it is tracking at or below the p10 forecast level of 
1,065,000 fish. At the current run size for Early Summer and Summer run 
sockeye, there is no TAC available and as such no sockeye directed fisheries 
are being considered at this time. The estimated escapement past Mission of 
Early Stuart, Early Summer and Summer run sockeye as of August 7 is 46,000, 
67,600 and 137,200 fish, respectively. 

On August 7, the Fraser River water discharge at Hope was 2,811 cubic metres 
per second, which is approximately 27% lower than average for this date. The 
water temperature of the Fraser River at Qualark Creek on August 7 increased to 
19.2° Celsius which is 1.1° Celsius higher than average for this date. The 
forecast is for water temperatures to increase to 20.5° Celsius by August 13. 
Due to the very low discharge levels, water temperatures are highly influenced 
by air temperatures.

For pre-season planning purposes the Fraser Panel had adopted management 
adjustments for Early Summer, Summer and Late run sockeye that reflect the 
forecast water temperature and discharge conditions based on the May and June 
information for Early Summer and Summer run sockeye, and anticipated river 
entry dates for Late run fish. Due to the very poor return of Early Summer run 
stocks they are now being managed based on a Low Abundance Exploitation Rate 
(LAER) limit and as such there will be no modifications to the in-season 
management adjustments for this group. If the Summer run continues to track 
current levels it will also be in a LAER management approach which would result 
in no changes to the management adjustment for this group as well. Management 
adjustments are additional fish that are set aside from identified harvest 
levels and allowed to migrate upstream in an attempt to assist in achievement 
of identified spawner objectives for the different run timing groups. In-season 
information in the coming weeks will help to inform future decisions on 
management adjustments for the Summer management group while the Early Stuart, 
Early Summer and Late run management groups will be managed based on the 
respective LAER for each group (10% for Early Stuart and Early Summers and 20% 
for Lates). There will be no in-season estimates of management adjustment for 
Early Stuart, Early Summer and Late run groups and possibly Summer run fish as 
well in 2017.

At this time, it is too early to assess the return of Fraser pink salmon. 
Recent test fishery catches in the marine approach areas have shown increasing 
abundances of pink salmon. The first stock identification samples analyzed for 
Areas 12 and 20 purse seine test fisheries indicate Fraser origin pink salmon 
comprise 35% and 32%, respectively. Run size and timing updates for Fraser 
pinks will likely begin in mid to late August.

First Nations food, social and ceremonial sockeye fisheries have been 
restricted by a 4 week window closure protecting Early Stuart and the earliest 
timed Early Summer run stocks with limited fishing opportunities to date 
directed at chinook salmon. Due to the apparent later than average run timing 
and/or weakness in the returns of Early Summer and Summer run stocks, the start-
up of sockeye directed FSC fisheries will continue to be delayed until there is 
an identification of TAC for Early Summer and/or Summer run sockeye. 

Food, social and ceremonial fishers in marine approach areas as well as the 
Fraser River are requested to check for the opening times and any restrictions 
in their local area.

Given the low returns to date there are no fisheries directed upon Fraser River 
sockeye scheduled at this time, and updates will continue to be provided 
following meetings of the Fraser River Panel on Tuesdays and Fridays of each 
week.

The next in-season meeting of the Fraser River Panel is scheduled to occur on 
Friday, August 11, 2017.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jennifer Nener 604-666-0789

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0792
Sent August 8, 2017 at 1536

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