Fishery Notice
Category(s):
ABORIGINAL - General Information
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Seine
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Troll
RECREATIONAL - Salmon
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Seine
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Troll
RECREATIONAL - Salmon
Subject:
FN0973-Salmon - Fraser River Sockeye Update - Areas 11 to 29 - September 7, 2018
The Fraser River Panel met Friday, September 7, 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 Area 12 have remained at low levels for the past several days ranging between 614 and 120 on September 2 and 6 respectively. The last day for the Area 20 purse seine test fishery was September 4. At this time the diversion rate through Johnstone Strait is estimated to be 95% based on the last 5 day average calculated while the Area 20 test fishery was operating. The current estimate for the entire year is only 33% compared to the pre-season forecast of 63%. This estimate may be biased low as it does not account for the removals from Johnstone Strait by the commercial and First Nations fisheries that occurred over the course of the season. Stock identification samples from the most recent Area 12 purse seine test fishery was comprised of 4% Early Summers, 23% Summer run and 73% Late Run stocks. Gill net test fishery catches in the Fraser River have been steady for the past several days with Whonnock catches fluctuating between 28 on September 3 and 40 on September 6. Cottonwood catches have also fluctuated but at slightly higher levels from 96 on September 3 to 74 on September 6. Daily Mission escapement estimates have gradually increased from 24,300 on September 3 to 38,600 on September 6. The estimated total Sockeye escapement past Mission to September 6 is 3,778,700. This is comprised of 121,400 Early Stuarts, 1,099,500 Early Summers, 2,006,600 Summers and 551,200 Late run fish. Stock identification analyses from recent samples taken in the lower Fraser River indicate that Early Summers have increased to 12% of the stock composition while Summers decreased to 27% and Lates increased to 61% in the most recent below Bridge sample. The most recent samples taken at the Whonnock test fishery are comprised of 9% Early Summers, 19% Summers and 72% Late run fish. Within the Early Summer run group the later timed South Thompson Early Summer stocks continue to be the dominant stock while the Summer run timing group are primarily Chilko/Quesnel with lower but persistent proportions of Late Stuart/Stellako and Raft/North Thompson. The current estimate for holding Late Run fish is between 1.8 and 5.0 million fish. 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 September 6 was 15.7° Celsius which is 0.5° Celsius below average for this date. The Fraser River discharge at Hope on September 6 was 1,695 cubic meters per second which is 30% below the average discharge for this date. During the Panel meeting today there were no changes made to run size or Management Adjustment for any of the run timing groups. The seventh spawning ground report was released on September 6. The Scotch Creek counting fence was operational on August 9 with 75,487 sockeye enumerated to date, the majority of which being in good condition and are at or near to peak spawning. The Eagle River Hydroacoustic site was operational on August 10 with 202,452 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. About 19,000 fish have entered the spawning channel at this time. The Stellako River hydroacoustic site was operational on August 1 with a total of 178,085 sockeye estimated to have passed as of August 28. The majority of these fish would be Nadina sockeye at this time. Sockeye have recently been observed in Gates Creek with 846 counted into the spawning channel to date. The Chilko River hydroacoustics site was operational on August 3 with a total of 396,525 sockeye estimated to date. In the Quesnel River the hydroacoustics site was operational on August 7 with 664,311 sockeye estimated to date. The Stellako River hydroacoustics site was operational on August 1 with 65,775 Stellako sockeye estimated since August 28. The counting fence at Sweltzer Creek was installed on July 31 and 14 Sockeye have been counted into Cultus Lake to date. Currently, First Nations food, social and ceremonial (FSC) and Economic Opportunity Sockeye fisheries are winding down in Marine areas and the lower Fraser River. First Nation 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. All commercial fishing areas are currently closed. US commercial fisheries are now complete unless run size increases above the current adopted levels. The next Panel meeting will be on Tuesday, September 11 at 11am. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Regional Salmon Team - DFO Pacific DFO.PacificSalmonRMT-EGRSaumonduPacifique.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0973
Sent September 7, 2018 at 1520
Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on March 29, 2024 at 0407
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