Fishery Notice

The Fraser River Panel met Friday, September 28, to receive an update on the 
migration of the Fraser Sockeye runs to date.	

Gill net test fishery catches in the Fraser River decreased in recent days with 
Whonnock catches dropping to 20 on September 27, while Cottonwood dropped to 60 
on September 26 which was the last day for Cottonwood. Daily Mission escapement 
estimates also decreased substantially from 164,200 on September 25 to 20,700 
on September 27. A sixth survey of the Gulf troll test fishery began on 
September 26 with catches in quadrants 5 and 6 totalling 188 compared to the 
previous catch of 343 in the same quadrants. These catches indicate there is 
still a substantial number of Late Run fish holding in the Gulf. The estimated 
total Sockeye escapement past Mission to September 27 is 5,302,500. The current 
estimate for holding Late Run fish is quite uncertain at this time and is 
likely between 0.5 and 1.0 million fish.

During the Panel meeting today there were no changes made to the run size or 
management adjustments for Summer or Late Run stocks.  

The tenth spawning ground report was released on September 27.  The Scotch 
Creek counting fence was removed on September 22 with 79,448 sockeye enumerated 
to date. Fish are now past the peak of spawning in Scotch Creek and the program 
has concluded. The Eagle River Hydroacoustic site was operational on August 10 
with 233,325 fish having been estimated to have passed the site to September 16 
which is the end of the Early summer program in the Eagle River. Fish are past 
the peak of die off. The Nadina Spawning Channel operations are now back to 
normal with 25,187 fish currently in the spawning channel.  Recent observations 
suggest that the previously reported elevated levels or pre-spawn mortality and 
prevalence of parasites has subsided. A total of 178,085 Nadina River sockeye 
were estimated past the Stellako River hydroacoustic site through August 28. 
The Chilko River hydroacoustics site was operational on August 3 with a total 
of 606,335 sockeye estimated to date. Fish are at the peak of spawning. In the 
Quesnel River the hydroacoustics site was operational on August 7 with 823,073 
sockeye estimated to date. Fish are past the peak of spawning. Since August 
29th, a total of 163,826 Stellako sockeye are estimated to have migrated past 
the Stellako River hydroacoustics site. Fish are near the peak of spawning. 

The hydroacoustics program in the Birkenhead River was operational on August 23 
with 14,021 fish enumerated past the site to date. Fish are reported to be near 
the peak of spawning. The counting fence at Sweltzer Creek was installed on 
July 31 and 48 Sockeye have been counted into Cultus Lake to date and an 
additional 43 fish have been captured for hatchery broodstock. The Shuswap 
River hydroacoustics program was operational on September 12 with 22,809 
sockeye enumerated past the sonar site to date.

Currently, First Nations food, social and ceremonial (FSC) and Economic 
Opportunity Sockeye fisheries are nearing completion in Marine areas and the 
lower Fraser River while FSC and commercial demonstration fisheries in the 
interior are ongoing.  First Nation fishers are requested to check for the 
opening times and any restrictions in their local area.

Commercial fisheries in the marine area directed on Fraser sockeye were 
terminated on September 27 and recreational fisheries in Areas 29-6, 29-7, 29-9 
and 29-10 were closed to salmon fishing on September 28.  Please refer to 
fisheries notices for the individual fisheries for further details. 

The next Panel meeting will be in January at the post-season meeting of the 
Pacific Salmon Commission.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1090
Sent September 28, 2018 at 1538

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on March 8, 2026 at 1016