Fishery Notice

The Fraser River Panel met Tuesday, July 31, to receive an update on the 
migration of the Fraser sockeye runs to date and review the status of migration 
conditions in the Fraser River watershed.	

Gill net test fishery catches in the Fraser River have fluctuated in recent 
days but remain strong in both the Whonnock and Cottonwood test fisheries. 
Mission escapement estimates have ranged between 30,500 and 76,800 for the past 
5 days with the total sockeye escapement estimate up to July 30 being 587,000. 
Stock identification analyses from samples taken in the lower Fraser River 
indicate that Early Stuart sockeye migration is nearing completion. Early 
Summers and Summers make up the majority of the stock composition at this time. 
Within the Early Summer run group the later timed South Thompson Early Summer 
stocks are now the dominant stock with Nadina declining. The Summer run timing 
group are primarily Chilko/Quesnel with lower proportions of Late 
Stuart/Stellako and Raft. Some Late Run fish are continuing to showing up in 
the river samples. 

Marine gill net test fishery catches have been consistent in the Area 20 test 
fishery while the Area 12 catches have declined. The Seine test fishery in Area 
12 has had increased catches in the last 3 days while Area 13 has had low 
catches and Area 20 has been fluctuating. Both Areas 20 and 12 are showing 
Early Summers and Summers dominating the samples with low but increasing 
proportions of Late Run fish. In the Early Summer Run group the later timed 
South Thompson stocks are making up the largest component of the aggregate with 
Nadina on the decline. The current estimate for the diversion rate through 
Johnstone Strait has increased to 41% based on the most recent 5 days of catch 
in the Area 20 and 12 gill net test fisheries.

For pre-season planning purposes the Fraser Panel adopted management adjustments
(MA) for Early Stuart based on the historical median for all years, Early 
Summer based on the historical median for dominant years only (2018 cycle) and 
Summer run sockeye based on the historical median for all years. Model 
predicted management adjustments based on the water discharge and temperature 
predictions were not adopted largely due to the high degree of uncertainty in 
the forecasts. Management adjustments are additional fish that are removed from 
identified harvest levels and allowed to escape upstream in an attempt to 
assist in achievement of identified escapement objectives for the different run 
timing groups. In-season information over the coming weeks will help to inform 
future decisions on management adjustments for the Early Summer, Summer and 
Late run management groups while the Early Stuart management group will be 
managed based on the respective Low Abundance Exploitation Rate (LAER) of 10%. 
It is anticipated the Early Stuart sockeye return will result in a spawning 
escapement being below goal.

The observed water temperature at Qualark on July 30 dropped to 19.8° Celsius 
which is 1.8° Celsius above average for this date. Water temperatures are 
forecast to be 19.6° Celsius by August 5. The Fraser River discharge at Hope on 
July 30 was 3,391 cubic meters per second which is 23% below the average 
discharge for this date.

During the Panel meeting today there were no changes made to the run size for 
any of the run timing groups. In-season assessment of all run timing groups 
generally occurs shortly after identification of their peak migration through 
marine areas. 

The first spawning ground report was released on July 26. Early Stuart sockeye 
were first observed in the terminal area on July 21 with most of the fish 
observed holding off the mouths of the spawning tributaries to Takla Lake and 
the Middle River. Fish condition is reported as being good.

Currently, First Nations food, social and ceremonial (FSC) sockeye fisheries 
have begun in Marine areas and the Fraser River. 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. 

Retention of sockeye in marine recreational fisheries is scheduled to begin on 
August 1 and an Area D commercial gill net fishery is being planned for August 
1 to August 3. The details for these fisheries will be identified in separate 
Fisheries Notices. Commercial fisheries for Areas B, G and H and in-river 
recreational fisheries are likely to begin next week with dates and times to be 
determined following the next Panel meeting. 

During the call today the Panel approved an extension to the US commercial 
fishery in Areas 4b, 5 and 6c to Saturday, August 4 as well as fisheries in 
Areas 6, 7 and 7a beginning on Thursday, August 2. 

The next in-season meeting of the Fraser River Panel is scheduled to occur on 
Friday, August 3, 2018.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Regional Salmon Team - DFO Pacific
DFO.PacificSalmonRMT-EGRSaumonduPacifique.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0682
Sent July 31, 2018 at 1639

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 11, 2024 at 0909