Fishery Notice

The Fraser River Panel met September 9, 2022, to receive an update on the migration of the Fraser Sockeye run to date and review the status of migration conditions in the Fraser River watershed. The marine area gulf troll test fishery in Area 29 completed the third round of surveys between September 4 and 6, with catches of 519, 646, and 194, respectively. Gill net test fishing catches in the Fraser River over the last 3 days have been low at Cottonwood, with catches of less than 20 Sockeye daily. During the same time period, Whonnock gill net test fishing catches have continued to fluctuate between 23 and 46. Qualark gill net test fishery catches have declined and were less than 20 for the past 3 days, however there were only 5 sets completed on September 6.
 
The Gulf Troll DNA samples from Quadrants 1, 2, 5 and 6 collected on September 5 and 6 indicated that between 0% and 3% are Early Summer run stocks, between 0% and 15% are Summer run stocks, and between 85% and 100% are Late run stocks. Recent DNA information from in-river test fisheries collected between September 4 through 7, indicated that between 0% and 3% are Early Summer run stocks, between 65% and 73% are Summer run stocks and between 27% and 35% are Late run stocks. The annual average diversion rate through Johnstone Strait is 34%.

The total escapement estimate to September 8, 2022, is estimated to be 4,577,500, of which 243,300 are estimated to be Early Stuart Sockeye, 564,300 are estimated to be Early Summer run stocks, 3,092,500 are estimated to be Summer run stocks, and 677,400 are estimated to be Late run stocks.  During the Panel call today, there were no changes to the run sizes and timings for any of the run timing groups. Early Stuart Sockeye remain at 244,000 and Area 20 peak timing of July 6, Early Summer run Sockeye remain at 600,000 and Area 20 peak timing of July 30, Summer run Sockeye remain at 3,700,000 and Area 20 peak timing of August 15, and Late run Sockeye remain at 1,850,000 and Area 20 peak timing of August 16. There still remains uncertainty in the assessment information and potential for an increased management adjustment for Late run Sockeye. Both Canada and the United States did not propose any new fisheries in Panel waters during the Panel meeting.

Sockeye salmon continue to migrate above the Big Bar Landslide, with fish at various stages of spawning in many areas of the upper Fraser watershed.  Robust assessment programs to evaluate passage success, as well as mitigation measures such as fish transport and brood stock collection for enhancement purposes will continue for the 2022 season. Additional information can be found at the following link: 
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html

The observed water temperature at Qualark on September 8 was 17.7° Celsius which is 1.5° Celsius above average for this date. Water temperatures are forecast to decrease to 16.4° Celsius by September 14. The Fraser River discharge at Hope on September 8 was 2,567 cubic meters per second which is 11% above the average discharge for this date. Discharge levels are forecast to drop to 2,437 cubic meters per second by September 14. Actual water temperatures and discharge levels will be monitored closely during the 2022 return to determine if migration issues develop. 

Management adjustments are additional fish that are removed from identified harvest levels and allowed to escape upstream in an attempt to assist in the achievement of identified escapement objectives for the different run timing groups. For pre-season planning purposes, the Fraser Panel adopted management adjustments for Early Stuart based on the median for all years since 1995, Early Summer based on the historical all years median, Summer run Sockeye based on the pre-season 31-day temperature and discharge model, and Late run based on the dominant/other years median. The in-season approach to determining management adjustments will remain similar to pre-season for all management groups except for the Early Stuart, which will shift to the in-season Supplemental Approach based on all years since 1977. The Panel will continue to be provided and review the results from the historical temperature and discharge models, as well as observations of fish health throughout the watershed when making in-season decisions.

The sixth spawning ground report of the season was provided by DFO Stock Assessment on September 1. Cyclic visual surveys began in the North/South Thompson system on August 17, with Sockeye in the Upper Barriere River at peak die-off, and other areas in the watershed approaching or in peak of spawn. Visual surveys in the lower Fraser River observed Sockeye in the upper Pitt River in peak of spawn. There was another survey of the upper Chilliwack River and another aerial survey of the Nahatlatch River, however the survey information was not reported at this time. The Scotch Creek counting fence was operational on August 10, and to date, 59,588 Sockeye have passed through the fence and Sockeye are reported as in the peak of spawn.  The Eagle River and Seymour River hydroacoustic sites were also operational August 10, and as of September 4 and 5, an estimated 49,717 and 27,787 Sockeye have migrated passed each hydroacoustic site, respectively. Sockeye in both the Eagle and Seymour Rivers are entering peak of spawn. The Nadina River hydroacoustic site was operational July 28 and as of September 3, an estimated 242,876 Sockeye have migrated passed the site, with 24,808 Sockeye being counted into the Nadina spawning channel as of September 6.  Pre-spawn mortalities reported for the Nadina River during the last update were reported as decreasing for the most recent update. Visual surveys of Gates Creek began August 20, and as of September 3 Sockeye are reported to be in peak of spawn. An aerial survey of the upper Bowron River was conducted on September 6 and Sockeye were observed to be entering peak of spawn. The Stellako River hydroacoustic site was operational on July 30 and as of September 6, an estimated 333,917 Sockeye have migrated past the site. With migration passed the Nadina site slowing, the majority of Sockeye passing the Stellako site are considered to be mainly Stellako-bound Sockeye. The Chilko River and Quesnel River hydroacoustic sites were operational on August 4 and 5, respectively. As of September 6, Sockeye passage estimates were 163,877 at Chilko and 492,543 at Quesnel.  Visual surveys in the Quesnel system observed Sockeye in the early stages of spawning, with reports of 461 female carcasses recovered to date from the Horsefly River with 71% of them being pre-spawn mortalities. Cyclic visual surveys of the Raft River began August 16, with a recent survey reporting Sockeye past peak of spawn. The first visual survey of Bridge River was conducted on September 6, with Sockeye reported to be approaching peak of spawn. The Birkenhead River hydroacoustic site was operational on August 18 and as of September 6, an estimated 33,194 Sockeye have passed the site, with Sockeye reported to be in the early stages of spawning. Cyclic visual surveys in the Harrison-Lillooet began August 22, with surveys of Green River, and Cogburn and Big Silver Creeks being conducted to date. The Cultus Lake fence was installed on July 25 and as of September 5, 22 Sockeye have been manually counted through the fence or passively recorded on video. Broodstock collection began on August 31 and a total of 3 Sockeye have been retained for broodstock through September 5. The water temperature in Sweltzer Creek is 22°Celsius.  

There still remains a lot of uncertainty about the run size for Late run Sockeye, so fisheries continue to be planned in a precautionary manner. First Nations food, social and ceremonial (FSC) and Treaty domestic fisheries in marine areas have re-opened to Sockeye retention. First Nations FSC and Treaty domestic fisheries in the Fraser River will continue at this time, subject to the Interior Fraser River Coho window closure and use of selective gear where the window closure is in effect.  Limited First Nations economic opportunity fisheries are being planned in the lower Fraser River over the next week.  FSC 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. 

There are limited First Nations commercial demonstration fisheries and recreational fisheries being planned or underway in areas of the mid to upper Fraser River watershed above the Thompson River confluence, where Summer run Sockeye total allowable catch is available and there are little to no impacts on returning Late run Sockeye. There are Late run Sockeye harvest opportunities underway for commercial seine and troll fisheries in Area 29, along with a gill net fishery in Area 13 harvesting Summer run and Late run Sockeye.  Recreational fisheries in the tidal and non-tidal portions of the Fraser River mainstem as well as in the Thompson River system are being planned and announced by separate fishery notices.  There are no marine recreational fisheries targeting Fraser Sockeye being planned at this time. 

The next in-season meeting of the Fraser River Panel is scheduled to occur on September 13, 2022.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Regional Salmon Team - DFO Pacific
DFO.PacificSalmonRMT-EGRSaumonduPacifique.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1040
Sent September 9, 2022 at 1415

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