Fishery Notice

The Fraser River Panel met Thursday September 12 and Friday September 13, to 
receive an update on the migration of the Fraser Sockeye and Pink runs to date 
and review the status of migration conditions in the Fraser River watershed.

Sockeye catches in the Fraser River gill net test fisheries have fluctuated at 
low levels in recent days, while Pink catches have remained above average but 
have been declining. Due to the high abundance of Pink salmon in-river the 
daily Sockeye escapement estimates have been generated from the Whonnock test 
fishery catch information rather than the normal hydroacoustic estimates since 
August 20. 

In-river stock identification samples are indicating a Sockeye stock 
composition comprised of 0% Early Summers, 61% to 68% Summers and 32% to 40% 
Late run stocks. 

During the Panel call on Thursday the following Sockeye run size modifications 
were made. Early Stuart run size was reduced from 27,000 to 26,000 with July 8 
Area 20 timing. Early Summer run size was increased from 90,000 to 94,000 with 
July 29 Area 20 timing. Summer Run run size was decreased from 400,000 to 
360,000 with an associated Area 20 timing of August 19. Late Run run size was 
reduced from 40,000 to 20,000 with an Area 20 timing of August 19. At current 
Sockeye run sizes all run timing groups would normally be managed based on 
their respective Low Abundance Exploitation Rates (LAERs) of 10% (Early 
Stuarts) and 20% (other run timing groups). However, due to the very low run 
sizes at this time combined with the potential impacts from the Big Bar Slide 
for numerous stocks, the Department intends to manage fisheries to LAERs of 
less than 10% for all run timing groups. Additional changes to Sockeye run size 
will continue to be evaluated through the duration of the return.

The estimated escapement of Early Stuart, Early Summer, Summer and Late Run 
Sockeye past Mission as of September 12 is 25,900, 92,400, 335,400 and 20,300 
respectively. Four year old Sockeye make up approximately 12% to 21% of the age 
composition from recent river test fishery samples. The estimated escapement of 
Pink salmon as of September 12 is 7,726,900 with recent daily escapements 
estimates at Mission ranging from 616,830 to 1,402,040 in the last 4 days. 

A significant rock slide in the Big Bar area of the Fraser River just upstream 
from the community of Lillooet has created a 5 meter high waterfall/cascade in 
this section of the river.  This created a migration passage challenge for all 
salmon destined for rivers and streams upstream of this slide. Recent 
information suggests there has been a significant increase in levels of Chinook 
and Sockeye passage since late August, as well as confirmation of Pink salmon 
now migrating above the slide. Recent information from applied radio tags 
indicates successful passage of 75% for Sockeye and 63% for Pink salmon. 
Airlifting fish above the slide has been postponed. A Unified Command Incident 
Management Team has been developed which includes participation of the Federal 
and Provincial governments as well as a number of Fraser First Nations. 
Information and updates regarding the slide and work being done to address it 
is located at the link below.  

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-
recovery/emergency-response-and-recovery/incident-summaries/big-bar-landslide-
incident

The observed water temperature at Qualark on September 12 was 17.6° Celsius 
which is 2.4° Celsius above average for this date. Water temperatures are 
forecast to decrease to 16.0° Celsius by September 18. The Fraser River 
discharge at Hope on September 12 was 2,163 cubic meters per second which is 8% 
below the average discharge for this date and is predicted to decrease to 1,968 
cubic meters per second by September 18.

During the Panel meeting on Thursday the run size for Pink salmon was increased 
from 5.0 million to 8.9 million with Area 20 timing of August 17. Recent daily 
escapement estimates at Mission peaked at 1.4 million on September 10 and 
decreased to 848,390 on September 12. At this run size international TAC 
increased substantially resulting in the scheduling of additional US fisheries 
that began today. During today's Panel meeting Canada announced the scheduling 
of ITQ fisheries for Areas B and H in Area 29. See the PSC Regulatory 
Announcement for details on the US fisheries and the individual DFO Fisheries 
Notices for Areas B and H in Canada. First Nations fisheries for FSC purposes 
will continue to be considered for Pink salmon. First Nations economic 
opportunity and recreational opportunities for Pink salmon are also being 
considered. Information on any recreational opportunities will be communicated 
in separate DFO Fisheries Notices. 

The seventh spawning ground report of the season was provided by DFO Stock 
Assessment on September 12. The Scotch Creek fence was installed on August 6 
with 1,476 Sockeye enumerated to date with fish at the peak of spawning. The 
Stellako River hydroacoustics site was operational on August 1 and 1,078 
Sockeye have been observed to August 31 with the majority likely to be Nadina 
stocks. Since August 31, 9,178 Sockeye have been enumerated through the 
Stellako hydroacoustics site which are thought to be Stellako stocks. To date 
400 Sockeye have been observed in the Nadina spawning channel. The Gates Creek 
spawning channel is now operational with 2,277 Sockeye counted into the channel 
at this time. The Chilko and Quesnel hydroacoustics sites were operational on 
August 9 and 12 respectively and 34,746 and 9,417 Sockeye have been observed to 
date. The Cultus Lake fence was installed on July 30 with 6 Sockeye observed to 
date. Water temperature in Sweltzer Creek is 21.5° Celsius. The Birkenhead 
River hydroacoustics site was operational on August 27 with 248 Sockeye 
estimated to have passed the site to date. Visual surveys have begun in a 
number of other tributaries with Sockeye observations in several systems at 
this time. The next spawning ground update will be provided on Thursday, 
September 19.
 
First Nations food, social and ceremonial (FSC) Sockeye directed fisheries in 
all areas remain closed. Due to the very low abundance of Fraser Sockeye it is 
unlikely there will be any directed Sockeye fisheries for the remainder of the 
year. FSC 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 as additional restrictions are being considered as a result of the slide. 
Commercial and recreational fisheries for Fraser Sockeye are not being 
considered at this time and will likely not occur in 2019. 

The next in-season meeting of the Fraser River Panel is scheduled to occur on 
Tuesday, September 17, 2019.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0935
Sent September 13, 2019 at 1533

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