Fishery Notice
Category(s):
ABORIGINAL - General Information
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Seine
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Troll
RECREATIONAL - Salmon
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Seine
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Troll
RECREATIONAL - Salmon
Subject:
FN0806-Salmon - Fraser River Sockeye and Pink Update - Areas 11 to 29 - August 11, 2017
The Fraser River Panel met on Friday, August 11 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. Gill net test fishing catches of sockeye declined for the past several days in Area 20 with August 10 being the last day of operation for this test fishery in 2017. The Area 12 gill net test fishery was also having lower catches for a number of days with a slight improvement yesterday. During the panel call today the decision was made to end this test fishery on Sunday, August 13 and the Area 13 purse seine test fishery on Monday, August 14 as scheduled. In-river gill net test catches have been improving in both testing areas but are still much lower than expected. Purse seine test catches of sockeye in Areas 12 and 13 have fluctuated considerably in the recent days, while Area 20 catches continue to decline. The combination of the gill net and purse seine test catches in the two approach areas has resulted in an increase in the projected sockeye diversion rate through Johnstone Strait to 75% compared to the pre-season forecast of 51%. The. The most recent DNA samples taken in the marine purse seine test fisheries show sockeye stock compositions in Area 20 of approximately 6% Early Summer, 78% Summer and 16% Late run stocks. In Area 12, the purse seine stock composition was 9% Early Summer, 77% Summer and 14% Late run stocks. The decrease in proportion of Early Summer run stocks combined with the increase in the proportion of Late run stocks is suggesting that the total return of Fraser sockeye may be similar to normal run timing for this cycle. In-river stock identification samples have been increasing recently with the most current sample suggesting stock proportions of 6% Early Summer, 94% Summer and 0% Late run stocks. Daily Mission hydroacoustics escapement estimates have continued to increase in recent days with the largest daily escapement estimate to date being 47,100 on August 9. The total estimated sockeye escapement as of August 10 is 386,500. Hell's Gate observations have also increased considerably in recent days. During the call today, the Fraser Panel made no additional changes to the run size for Early Stuart and Early Summer run sockeye. Due to the continued poor showing of Summer run stocks the Fraser Panel adopted a provisional run size of 1,250,000 with a median timing of August 14 in Area 20. At the current run size for Early Summer and Summer run sockeye, there is no TAC available and as such only fisheries with minimal impact on sockeye are being considered at this time. The estimated escapement past Mission of Early Stuart, Early Summer, Summer and Late run sockeye as of August 10 is 46,800, 88,200 and 245,400 and 6,100 fish, respectively. On August 10, the Fraser River water discharge at Hope was 2,740 cubic metres per second, which is approximately 26% lower than average for this date. The water temperature of the Fraser River at Qualark Creek on August 10 increased to 19.5° Celsius which is 1.3° Celsius higher than average for this date. The forecast is for water temperatures to decrease to 19.3° Celsius by August 16 as cooler air temperatures combined with precipitation is forecast in the coming days. Due to the very low discharge levels, water temperatures are highly influenced by air temperatures. For pre-season planning purposes the Fraser Panel had adopted management adjustments for Early Summer, Summer and Late run sockeye that reflect the forecast water temperature and discharge conditions based on the May and June information for Early Summer and Summer run sockeye, and anticipated river entry dates for Late run fish. Due to the very poor return of Early Summer and Summer run stocks they are now being managed based on a Low Abundance Exploitation Rate (LAER) limit and as such there will be no modifications to the in-season management adjustments for this group. Management adjustments are additional fish that are set aside from identified harvest levels and allowed to migrate upstream in an attempt to assist in achievement of identified spawner objectives for the different run timing groups. No in-season changes to the management adjustment are expected for Early Stuart, Early Summer, Summer and Late run groups in 2017. At this time, it continues to be too early to assess the return of Fraser pink salmon. Recent test fishery catches in the marine approach areas have shown increasing abundances of pink salmon primarily in the Johnstone Strait area. The most recent stock identification samples analyzed for Areas 12 and 20 purse seine test fisheries indicate Fraser origin pink salmon comprise 35% and 32%, respectively. Based on the most recent purse seine test catches the estimated diversion rate through Johnstone Strait for Fraser pink salmon is estimated to be 86% compared to the historical median of 50%. Run size and timing updates for Fraser pinks will likely begin in mid to late August. First Nations food, social and ceremonial sockeye fisheries have been restricted by a 4 week window closure protecting Early Stuart and the earliest timed Early Summer run stocks with limited fishing opportunities in-river to date directed at Chinook salmon. Sockeye encountered in these fisheries are accounted for as part of the Low Abundance Exploitation Rate. Food, social and ceremonial 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. The next in-season meeting of the Fraser River Panel is scheduled to occur on Tuesday, August 15, 2017. FOR MORE INFORMATION: Jennifer Nener 604-666-0789
Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0806
Sent August 11, 2017 at 1548
Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on March 29, 2024 at 0257
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