Fishery Notice

The Fraser River Panel met Tuesday, July 28, to receive an update on the migration of the Fraser Sockeye runs to date and review the status of migration conditions in 
the Fraser River watershed.	

In November 2018 a rock landslide occurred at Big Bar in the Fraser River upstream of Lillooet. In 2019 this slide was a significant impediment to upstream migration 
for Sockeye, Chinook, Coho and Steelhead destined for spawning habitats upstream of the slide. Significant work has occurred over the past several months to improve 
passage for fish combined with assessment programs to evaluate passage success as well as brood stock collection for enhancement purposes. Additional information and 
regular updates on passage can be found at the following link. 
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html.

Gill net test fishing Sockeye catches in the Fraser River at Whonnock, Cottonwood and at Qualark Creek continue to be low with a recent increase to 27 at Whonnock on 
July 27. The Round Island and Area 20 gill net test fishery Sockeye catches have also been low with Area 20 continuing to have larger catches than Round Island. DNA 
samples from the Whonnock test fishery on July 24 to 25 indicate that 0% are Early Stuart Sockeye, 54% are Early Summer stocks and 46% are Summer run stocks. DNA 
samples from the Area 20 gill net test fishery on July 24 indicated 0% were Early Stuart, 13% Early Summer, 85% Summer run stocks and 2% Late run stocks. The current 
diversion rate through Johnstone Strait has increased to 35% based on the Area 12 and 20 combined gill net and purse seine test catches during the last 5 days.

Purse seine test fisheries catches in Areas 12 and 20 continue to be below expected levels in recent days. DNA samples from Area 12 taken on July 25 indicated the 
stock composition was 0% Early Stuart, 25% Early Summer, 70% Summer run stocks and 3% Late run stocks. In Area 20 DNA samples from July 24 and 25 indicated the stock 
composition was 0% Early Stuart, 19% Early Summer, 79% Summer and 2% Late run stocks.

The total Sockeye escapement to July 25 is estimated to be 79,200 of which 13,600 are Early Stuart Sockeye, 45,000 are Early Summer run stocks, 20,400 are Summer run 
stocks and 200 Late Run stocks. During the Fraser Panel call today the Early Stuart run size of 14,000 (p50 median forecast was 13,000) was approved with an Area 20 
peak timing of July 7 which is 3 days later than the pre-season predicted timing. In-season assessment of all run timing groups generally occurs shortly after 
identification of their peak migration through marine areas.

The observed water temperature at Qualark on July 27 was 16.4° Celsius which is 1.5° Celsius below average for this date. Water temperatures are forecast to increase 
to 18.3° Celsius by August 2. The Fraser River discharge at Hope on July 27 was 7,214 cubic meters per second which is 58% above the average discharge for this date. 
Discharge levels are forecast to decrease to 6,899 cubic meters per second by August 2.

For pre-season planning purposes the Fraser Panel has adopted management adjustments for Early Stuart based on the historical median for all years, Early Summer based 
on the historical weighted all years median excluding Pitt and Chilliwack, and Summer run Sockeye based on the historical median for all years excluding Harrison. The 
Late run management adjustment is based on the weighted 2020 cycle line median excluding Birkenhead. 

Model predicted management adjustments based on the water discharge and temperature predictions were not adopted largely due to the high degree of uncertainty in the 
forecasts. Management adjustments are additional fish that are removed from identified harvest levels and allowed to escape upstream in an attempt to assist in 
achievement of identified escapement objectives for the different run timing groups. Returns at the p50 forecast level for all management groups in 2020 are below 
levels that generate allowable harvest and as such will be managed based on the respective Low Abundance Exploitation Rate (LAER) of 10% which will not require 
modifications to the management adjustments. If in-season run sizes increase to p75 levels or higher, modifications to the Late Run LAER and management adjustment may 
occur as required.

Currently, most Fraser River First Nations food, social and ceremonial (FSC) Sockeye fisheries are closed due a 4 week window closure to protect Early Stuart and the 
earlier timed Early Summer run stocks. The same window closure has recently ended in marine areas however there is no available TAC at this time for any run timing 
group for fisheries to harvest. The start-up of Sockeye directed FSC fisheries is not anticipated in 2020 unless run sizes increase to the p75 level or higher which 
has not occurred to date. Very limited fishing opportunities directed at Chinook salmon continue to occur with sockeye non-retention regulations in place. 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. Commercial and recreational 
fisheries are not anticipated on Fraser River Sockeye in 2020. 

The next in-season meeting of the Fraser River Panel is scheduled to occur on Friday, July 31, 2020.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0740
Sent July 28, 2020 at 1605

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Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on April 10, 2026 at 0523