Fishery Notice

The Fraser River Panel met Tuesday, August 11, 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 and Coho 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. During recent days as water levels have dropped observations of natural passage have occurred. 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 continue to be low declining to a catch of 1 on August 10. Catches in the Qualark test fishery continue to be higher but have also declined recently to a catch of 16 on August 9. A limited number of DNA samples from the Whonnock test fishery from August 5-9 indicate that approximately 10% are Early Summer run stocks, 82% are Summer run stocks and 8% are Late run stocks.

Purse seine test fisheries in Areas 12 and 20 were terminated on August 5 and 6, respectively. The current diversion rate through Johnstone Strait was decreased to 45%.

The total Sockeye escapement to August 10 is estimated to be 166,500 of which 13,300 are Early Stuart Sockeye, 56,900 are Early Summer run stocks, 91,500 are Summer run stocks and 4,800 Late run stocks. During the Panel call today no changes were made to the current run sizes for the four management groups. Currently the total return of Fraser Sockeye in 2020 is estimated to be approximately 283,000 fish or fewer, which would be a record low return for all cycles.

The observed water temperature at Qualark on August 10 was 17.3° Celsius which is 0.9° Celsius below average for this date. Water temperatures are forecast to decrease to 17.2° Celsius by August 16. The Fraser River discharge at Hope on August 10 was 4,632 cubic meters per second which is 26% above the average discharge for this date. Discharge levels are forecast to decrease to 4,124 cubic meters per second by August 16.

Currently, all First Nations food, social and ceremonial (FSC) Sockeye fisheries are closed and will likely remain that way for the duration of the 2020 season as there is no available TAC. Very limited fishing opportunities directed at Chinook salmon continue to occur with Sockeye non-retention regulations in place as well as the requirement to attend nets at all times so sockeye can be released alive and unharmed. 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 second in-season update on Fraser Sockeye spawning escapement was released by DFO stock assessment on August 6. No Sockeye have been observed in Early Stuart spawning tributaries to date. The hydro-acoustics program in the upper Chilliwack River estimates that 6,004 Sockeye have entered the river as of July 28. In addition the counting fence on Swelzter Creek (Cultus) was installed on July 27 and to date 1 Sockeye has been enumerated into Cultus Lake.

The next in-season meeting of the Fraser River Panel is scheduled to occur on Friday, August 14, 2020.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0810
Sent August 11, 2020 at 1234

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on December 16, 2025 at 1226