Fishery Notice

Mid Vancouver Island Chum Update (Areas 14 to 19)

Area 14 

Escapement estimates to date are as follows:  

Puntledge River, October 22 - 3,000 chum seen in the lower river (poor 
visibility) - Target Escapement 60,000.  
Big Qualicum River, October 23 - 267 chum above the fence and very small 
numbers observed below the fence - Target Escapement 85,000.
Little Qualicum River, October 23 - 900 chum, no swim this week due to high 
water. The hatchery staff began counting chum into the channel on October 23; 
total count into the channel is less than 100 - Target Escapement 85,000. 
The area D demonstration fishery has been cancelled for the Oct 26-28 time 
period. No further Area D demonstration fisheries are planned - see FN 1098 for 
more details.

At this time no commercial fishing opportunities are anticipated in the 
upcoming week as the observed escapement needs to improve substantially.

Areas 15 and 16 

There is limited assessment information available for this area. To date 
Tla'amin staff have reported 1,408 chum in Sliammon Creek counted at the fence 
up to October 23, resulting in an average run timing projection of 4,000 (50% 
uncertainty range 3,000-7,000). Reports from Lang Creek indicated 200 chum in 
the river as of October 16. Surveyors on Theodosia River estimated 836 chum on 
October 15, with 70% new fish; no swim this week due to high water levels. 

Commercial fishing opportunities are not expected in 2019 due to low pre-season 
forecast levels of abundance.

Areas 17, 18, and 19

Escapement estimates to date are as follows: 

Nanaimo River, October 23 - 8,000 - Target Escapement 40,000. 
Cowichan River, October 21 - 7,700 - Target Escapement 160,000.
Goldstream River, October 23 - 1,700 - Target Escapement 15,000.

It is still early in the chum run timing in the South East Vancouver Island 
area. DIDSON counters were installed in the Nanaimo River on October 1 and in 
the Cowichan River on October 11. Stream surveys of the Goldstream River began 
October 14. Both the Nanaimo and Cowichan River's escapement estimates are low 
for this time period.

There will not be a commercial fishery in Areas 17, 18 and 19 this week. The 
next Mid Vancouver Island Chum Update will be Thursday, October 31.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Terry Palfrey 250-756-7158
Kent Spencer 250-286-5885

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1104
Sent October 24, 2019 at 1502

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