Fishery Notice

First Nations food, social and ceremonial fisheries for sockeye are underway in 
all areas.  Fisheries may be restricted due to constraints on Late-run stocks. 
Fishers are requested to check for opening times and any restrictions in their 
local areas. There are no planned commercial or recreational sockeye fisheries 
at this time. 

An update from the August 17th Fraser River Panel meeting follows:

The Fraser River Panel met today to review assessment data on Fraser River 
sockeye salmon, plan fisheries and discuss sockeye migration conditions in the 
Fraser River watershed.  The marine migration of Fraser sockeye has continued 
to decline over the past several days.  DNA analyses indicate that the stock 
composition of Fraser River sockeye in the marine approach routes is currently 
approximately 2 per cent Early Summer-run, 70 per cent Summer-run, and 28 per 
cent Late-run sockeye. The recent 3 day average diversion rate of Fraser River 
sockeye through Johnstone Strait is estimated at 21 per cent. Estimates of 
sockeye passage in the Fraser River past the Mission hydroacoustic site 
continue in the 40-50,000 range the last several days. 

The run size estimate for Early Stuart sockeye was increased today from 180,000 
to 185,000 fish with a 50 per cent marine timing date through Area 20 of July 
4th. 

The run size estimate for Early Summer-run sockeye was unchanged at the meeting 
today and remains at 550,000 fish. The estimated escapement of Early Summer-run 
sockeye past Mission through August 16th is 496,000 fish. 

The Summer-run sockeye run size estimate was unchanged at 1,300,000. The 50 per 
cent run timing date is estimated at August 2nd which is one day later than the 
preseason forecast. DNA analyses indicate that Chilko sockeye are continuing to 
contribute a large portion of the Summer-run sockeye abundance migrating 
through marine assessment areas. The estimated escapement of Summer-run sockeye 
past Mission through August 16th is 878,000 fish. 

At the meeting today the Late-run sockeye run size was increased from 200,000 
to 250,000.  The estimated 50 per cent marine migration date through Area 20 is 
August 5th, which is six days earlier than expected. The estimated escapement 
of Late-run sockeye past Mission through August 16th is 167,000 fish.

On August 16th the discharge of the Fraser River at Hope was approximately 
3,900 cms, which is approximately 11 per cent above average for this date. The 
temperature of the Fraser River at Qualark Creek on August 16th was 18.2 
degrees C, which is 0.6 degrees C higher than average for this date. The Panel 
manages fisheries to provide additional Fraser sockeye above the spawning 
escapement targets through application of management adjustments. The 
management adjustments help ensure that the escapement targets are met, which 
off-sets en route mortality and other factors that could affect meeting 
spawning escapement targets. No changes to management adjustments were made at 
today's meeting.

Total catch to date in all fisheries is approximately 470,000. Total escapement 
into the river to date is approximately 1,522,000 sockeye. Total in-season run 
size is approximately 2,285,000. 

The next in-season meeting of the Fraser Panel is scheduled for Tuesday August 
21st, 2012.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:            

Barry Rosenberger 250-851-4892

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0746
Sent August 17, 2012 at 1446

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