Fishery Notice

The Fraser River Panel met Tuesday, August 14, 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 increased significantly 
in recent days with Cottonwood having daily catches of 433, 438 and 580 on 
August 11, 12 and 13 respectively. Mission escapement estimates have also 
increased in recent days going from 8,000 on August 9 to 195,300 on August 12. 
The estimated total Sockeye escapement to August 13 is 1,888,800. Stock 
identification analyses from samples taken in the lower Fraser River indicate 
that Early Summers are making up 25 to 40% of the run while Summers make up 50 
to 70% of the stock composition. Within the Early Summer run group the later 
timed South Thompson Early Summer stocks are the dominant stock with Nadina 
fluctuating at lower levels. The Summer run timing group are primarily 
Chilko/Quesnel with lower proportions of Late Stuart/Stellako and Raft. Late 
Run stocks are now showing up in the river samples at very low proportions 
indicating that Late Run fish are now holding in the Gulf. 

Marine gill net test fishery catches have continued to decline in Area 12 as 
the brown algae bloom continues to hamper operations. This test fishery is 
scheduled to be terminated on August 14.  Area 20 gill net test catches have 
been on an increasing trend over the past several days reaching a high of 487 
on August 12. The Purse Seine test fishery catches in both Areas 12 and 20 have 
been consistent in recent days with Area 12 catches being in the 1,700 to 2,800 
range and Area 20 in the 2,000 to 6,000 range.  Both Areas 20 and 12 are 
showing Summers dominating the stock composition with increasing proportions of 
Late Run fish and stable proportions of Early Summers. In the Early Summer Run 
group the later timed South Thompson stocks are making up the largest component 
of the aggregate with Nadina still present. The current estimate for the 
diversion rate through Johnstone Strait has decreased to 24% based on the 
average of the estimates derived from most recent 5 days of catch in the Areas 
20 and 12 gill net and purse seine test fisheries.

Pre-season 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 continues to be 
managed based on the 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 August 13 has decreased to 19.5° 
Celsius which is 1.5° Celsius above average for this date. Water temperatures 
are forecast to decrease to 18.9° Celsius by August 19. At higher water 
temperatures sockeye have increased migration difficulties which may result in 
future changes to the Management Adjustments for fish migrating upstream. The 
Fraser River discharge at Hope on August 13 was 2,801 cubic meters per second 
which is 20% below the average discharge for this date.

During the Panel meeting today there were no changes made to the run size or 
management adjustments for any of the run timing groups. It is anticipated that 
there may be a modification to the run size for Early Summers made at the next 
Panel meeting on August 17. Currently the Early Summer group is tracking below 
the p50 forecast of 2,155,000 but has been on an increasing trend in recent 
days. In-season assessment of all run timing groups generally occurs shortly 
after identification of their peak migration through marine areas. 

The third spawning ground report was released on August 9. Early Stuart Sockeye 
are continuing to arrive in the terminal area and are at or near peak spawning. 
Fish condition is reported as being good with low levels of pre-spawn 
mortality. The Scotch Creek counting fence was operational on August 9 with 
sockeye being observed below the fence. The Nadina Spawning Channel is 
currently not operational due to forest fires in the immediate area. Fish have 
been observed holding in the river below the channel outlet. The Stellako River 
hydroacoustics site was operational on August 1 with 40,650 sockeye counted to 
date. The majority of these fish would be Nadina sockeye at this time. The 
Chilko River hydroacoustics site was operational on August 3 with a total of 
297 sockeye estimated to date. In the Quesnel River the hydroacoustics site was 
operational on August 7 with 2,085 sockeye estimated to date. The counting 
fence at Sweltzer Creek was installed on July 31 and 7 Sockeye have been 
counted into Cultus Lake to date. Water temperatures are high and fish were 
observed in good condition. 

Currently, First Nations food, social and ceremonial (FSC) Sockeye fisheries 
are underway in Marine areas and the Fraser River. In addition several First 
Nation Economic Opportunity fisheries are being planned in the lower Fraser 
River. 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 and in-river recreational fisheries began on 
August 1 and 7 respectively. Commercial fisheries are either underway or being 
considered for Areas B, D, E, G and H. The details for these fisheries will be 
identified in separate Fisheries Notices.  

During the call today the Panel approved an extension to the US commercial 
fishery in Areas 4b, 5 and 6c as well as additional openings for Treaty Indian 
in 6, 7 and 7a and a shorter All Citizens fishery in Areas 6 and 7. 
The next in-season meeting of the Fraser River Panel is scheduled to occur on 
Friday, August 17, 2018.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0787
Sent August 14, 2018 at 1601

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