Fishery Notice

The Fraser River Panel met Thursday and Friday, August 23 and 24, 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.


Purse Seine test fishery catches in both Areas 12 and 20 declined significantly 
in recent days ranging between 467 and 2,604 fish. High winds have hampered 
fishing activity in Areas 12 and 13 in the last two days. Stock identification 
samples from both Areas are now showing higher proportions of Late Run stocks 
with declining proportions of Summers and very low levels of Early Summers 
continuing to show in both approaches. The current estimate for the diversion 
rate through Johnstone Strait is 29% based on the average of the estimates 
derived from the most recent 5 days of catch in the Areas 20 and 12 purse seine 
test fisheries. The actual diversion rate is probably higher as the removals 
from fisheries occurring in Johnstone Strait are not factored into the 
calculations and potential result in reduced test fishery catches by the Area 
12 test fishery. 

Gill net test fishery catches in the Fraser River have increased the last 2 
days with daily catches being around 180 for Cottonwood and 170 for Whonnock. 
Daily Mission escapement estimates have declined from 164,200 on August 20 to 
70,700 on August 22 followed by an increase to 125,500 on August 23. The 
estimated total Sockeye escapement past Mission to August 23 is 3,072,100. This 
is comprised of 121,400 Early Stuarts, 1,002,000 Early Summers, 1,646,800 
Summers and 301,900 Late run fish. Stock identification analyses from recent 
samples taken in the lower Fraser River indicate that Early Summers are making 
up from 11% to 15% of the stock composition while Summers make up about 80% and 
Lates are ranging between 6 and 11%. Within the Early Summer run group, the 
later timed South Thompson Early Summer stocks continue to be the dominant 
stock with very low levels of Nadina continuing to be present. The Summer Run 
run timing group are primarily Chilko/Quesnel with lower proportions of Late 
Stuart/Stellako and Raft/North Thompson. The current estimate for holding Late 
Run fish is approximately 770,000.

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 temperature 
forecasts and run timing. 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 23 increased to 18.0 
degrees Celsius which is 0.3 degrees Celsius above average for this date. Water 
temperatures are forecast to decrease to 17.2 degrees Celsius by August 29, 
2018. The Fraser River discharge at Hope on August 23 was 2,187 cubic meters 
per second which is 24% 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. Recent information 
indicated Early Summer run and Late run stocks are tracking just below the p50 
forecast return while the Summer run is tracking close to their respective p50 
forecast. In-season assessment of all run timing groups generally occurs 
shortly after identification of their peak migration through marine areas.

The fifth spawning ground report was released on August 23. Early Stuart 
Sockeye migration is now over with the final survey occurring on August 19, 
2018. The Scotch Creek counting fence was operational on August 9, 2018 with 
13,855 sockeye enumerated to date, the majority of which being in good 
condition. Some fish had net marks and wounds. The Eagle River Hydroacoustic 
site was operational on August 10, 2018 with 20,123 fish having been estimated 
to have passed the site to date. The Nadina Spawning Channel operations 
continue to be influenced by forest fire in the immediate area. Water has been 
turned on in the channel and several thousand fish have entered the spawning 
channel at this time. The Stellako River hydroacoustic site was operational on 
August 1, 2018 with a total of 117,058 Sockeye estimated to have passed to 
date. The majority of these fish would be Nadina Sockeye at this time. Sockeye 
have recently been observed in Gates Creek however none have been permitted to 
enter the spawning channel at this time. The Chilko River hydroacoustics site 
was operational on August 3, 2018 with a total of 71,149 Sockeye estimated to 
date. In the Quesnel River, the hydroacoustics site was operational on August 
7, 2018 with 187,843 Sockeye estimated to date. The counting fence at Sweltzer 
Creek was installed on July 31, 2018 and 12 Sockeye have been counted into 
Cultus Lake to date.

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, 2018, 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 last two Panel calls over an extension to the US commercial fishery 
in Areas 4b, 5 and 6c to August 24 at 23:59 was approved. In addition the short 
duration Treaty Indian fishery in 6, 7 and 7a that was approved on August 21, 
2018 for August 24, 2018 from 05:00 to 13:00 was also extended to 23:59. 

The next Panel meeting will be on August 27, 2018 at 15:00.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0862
Sent August 24, 2018 at 1611

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