Fishery Notice

The Fraser River Panel met Tuesday, August 18, 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. Over the last two weeks natural passage has improved and there have been approximately 19 thousand Sockeye observed 40km upstream from the slide. 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.

In the Fraser River, Sockeye catches in the Whonnock gill net test fishery have decreased over the last few days with daily catches of 6 and 0 on August 16 and 17, respectively. Catches in the Qualark test fishery continue to be higher than Whonnock with recent daily catches of 18 and 34 on August 15 and 16, respectively. A limited number of scale samples from the Whonnock test fishery from August 12-17 indicate that 0% are Early Summer run stocks, 90 to 100% are Summer run stocks and 0 to 10% are Late run stocks depending on the sample that was analyzed. The in-season annual average diversion rate through Johnstone Strait is estimated to be 24%.

The total Sockeye escapement to August 17 is estimated to be 210,200 of which 13,300 are Early Stuart Sockeye, 58,100 are Early Summer run stocks, 130,800 are Summer run stocks and 8,000 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 17 was 17.7° Celsius which is 0.4° Celsius below average for this date. Water temperatures are forecast to increase to 18.7° Celsius by August 23. The Fraser River discharge at Hope on August 17 was 3,538 cubic meters per second which is 10% above the average discharge for this date. Discharge levels are forecast to decrease to 3,443 cubic meters per second by August 23.

Currently, all First Nations food, social and ceremonial (FSC) Sockeye fisheries are closed and will 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 on Fraser River Sockeye will not be authorized in 2020. 

The third in season update on Fraser Sockeye spawning escapement was released by DFO stock assessment on August 13. No Sockeye have been observed in Early Stuart spawning tributaries or in the Stellako, Nadina or Chilko Rivers to date. The hydro-acoustics program in the upper Chilliwack River estimates that 17,756 Sockeye have entered the river as of August 11. The Scotch Creek counting fence has been operational since August 7 with no Sockeye enumerated to date. Two Sockeye have been observed in the creek downstream from the fence. In addition the counting fence on Swelzter Creek (Cultus) was installed on July 27 and to date 3 Sockeye has been enumerated into Cultus Lake.

The next in-season meeting of the Fraser River Panel is scheduled to occur on Tuesday, August 25, 2020.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0839
Sent August 18, 2020 at 1314

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on April 30, 2024 at 0536