Fishery Notice

The Fraser River Panel met Friday, July 31, 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 and Cottonwood continue to be low with a recent catches of 8 and 2, respectively. The Qualark 
test fishery has had higher catches in recent days of 29 and 32.  The Round Island and Area 20 gill net test fisheries ended on July 28 and 30, respectively. DNA 
samples from the Whonnock test fishery on July 26 to 28 indicate that 0% are Early Stuart Sockeye, 25% are Early Summer stocks and 75% are Summer run stocks. The 
current diversion rate through Johnstone Strait has decreased to 31% based on the Areas 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 29 indicated the 
stock composition was 0% Early Stuart, 26% Early Summer, 66% Summer run stocks and 8% Late run stocks. In Area 20 DNA samples from July 28 indicated the stock 
composition was 0% Early Stuart, 8% Early Summer, 90% Summer and 2% Late run stocks.

The total Sockeye escapement to July 25 is estimated to be 98,100 of which 13,300 are Early Stuart Sockeye, 47,700 are Early Summer run stocks, 36,800 are Summer run 
stocks and 300 Late run stocks. Run size models are currently indicating that the Early Summer and Summer run stock groups are tracking at or below the p25 run size 
for both groups. Timing of these groups would have to be one week or more later than the pre-season predictions in order for both of these management groups to reach 
run sizes similar to forecast. 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 30 was 17.1° Celsius which is 0.9° Celsius below average for this date. Water temperatures are forecast to increase 
to 18.6° Celsius by August 5. The Fraser River discharge at Hope on July 30 was 6,412 cubic meters per second which is 46% above the average discharge for this date. 
Discharge levels are forecast to decrease to 5,730 cubic meters per second by August 5.

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, Fraser River First Nations food, social and ceremonial (FSC) Sockeye fisheries above Sawmill Creek remain 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 and the Lower Fraser River,  however there is no 
available TAC at this time for any directed harvest of Fraser River Sockeye. The start-up of Sockeye directed FSC fisheries is not anticipated in 2020 unless run sizes 
increase to the p75 level or higher which is unlikely at this time. 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 first in-season update on Fraser Sockeye spawning escapement was released by DFO stock assessment on July 30. No Sockeye have been observed in Early Stuart 
spawning tributaries to date. The hydro-acoustics program in the upper Chilliwack River estimates that 926 Sockeye have entered the river as of July 28. In addition 
the counting fence on Swelzter Creek (Cultus) was installed on July 27.

The next in-season meeting of the Fraser River Panel is scheduled to occur on Tuesday, August 4, 2020.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0760
Sent July 31, 2020 at 1603

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on December 16, 2025 at 1229