Fishery Notice

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

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on March 7, 2026 at 0653