Fishery Notice

The Fraser River Panel met for the last in-season meeting on Tuesday, September 1, 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. To date a combined total of approximately 125,576 Chinook and Sockeye salmon have been observed 40km upstream from the slide at the Churn Creek hydroacoustics site. 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 remained low with daily catches of 1 and 2 on August 30 and 31 respectively, while catches in the Qualark test fishery continue to be higher with recent daily catches of 3 and 5 on August 29 and 30, respectively. A limited number of DNA samples from the Whonnock test fishery from August 24 to 30 ranged from 50% to 83% Summer Run stocks and 17% to 50% Late Run stocks. DNA samples from Qualark Creek from August 26 to 30 were comprised of 100% Summer run stocks, the majority of which were Chilko/Quesnel. The in-season annual average diversion rate through Johnstone Strait is estimated to be 25%.

The total Sockeye escapement to August 31 is now estimated to be 281,400 of which 15,900 are Early Stuart Sockeye, 68,200 are Early Summer run stocks, 183,900 are Summer run stocks and 13,400 Late run stocks. Currently the total accounted for return of Fraser Sockeye is estimated to be 285,200 fish with very few Sockeye still to come. This is a record low return for all cycles of Fraser River Sockeye.

The observed water temperature at Qualark on August 31 was 16.4° Celsius which is 0.5° Celsius below average for this date. Water temperatures are forecast to increase to 16.9° Celsius by September 6. The Fraser River discharge at Hope on August 31 was 2,757 cubic meters per second which is 9% above the average discharge for this date. Discharge levels are forecast to decrease to 2,437 cubic meters per second by September 6.

During the Panel call today the run sizes for the following run timing groups were adjusted based on the most recent available information. The Early Stuart run size was increased from 14,000 to 16,000 with July 6 Area 20 timing, while the Early Summer run size remained unchanged at 72,000 with updated timing of July 15. For Summer Run Sockeye the run size was increased from 169,000 to 191,000 with an Area 20 timing of July 28, and the Late Run Sockeye run size was reduced from 28,000 to 14,000 with Area 20 timing of August 7. This brings the total adopted run size to 293,000 Sockeye with an Area 20 timing of July 25.

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 fifth in-season update on Fraser Sockeye spawning escapement was released by DFO stock assessment on August 27. High water levels in Early Stuart spawning tributaries due to rainfall has made observations difficult however Sockeye are continuing to be observed arriving in spawning areas. As a result of the latter conditions and the expected lateness in the return due to Big Bar passage issues, the survey period for Early Stuart Sockeye has been extended. To date there have been no Sockeye observed in the Nadina River or the spawning channel however 15,371 Sockeye have been enumerated at the hydroacoustic program in the Stellako River which began on August 7. The majority of these fish are likely Nadina River Sockeye with some Stellako fish. Confirmation of the stock composition will occur post-season. The Scotch Creek counting fence has been operational since August 7 with 883 Sockeye enumerated to date. In the upper Chilliwack River the hydro-acoustics program estimates that 27,580 Sockeye have entered the river as of August 25.  Surveys in Gates Creek have enumerated 946 Sockeye to date. The Chilko hydroacoustics program began on  August 7 with 2,264 Sockeye enumerated to August 25. No reports of Sockeye in the Quesnel or Nechako Summer run systems have been provided to date while Sockeye have been observed in North Thompson Summer run tributaries and the Bridge River. The hydroacoustice program in the Birkenhead River was operational on August 25 and to date 97 Sockeye have been enumerated. The counting fence on Swelzter Creek (Cultus) was installed on July 27 and to date 34 Sockeye has been enumerated into Cultus Lake.

The next meeting of the Fraser River Panel is scheduled to occur on Wednesday, September 23, 2020.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0914
Sent September 1, 2020 at 1537

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