Fishery Notice

The Fraser River Panel met Tuesday, September 21, to receive an update on the migration of the Fraser Sockeye and Pink salmon runs to date and review the status of migration conditions in the Fraser River watershed.

Catches of Sockeye and Pinks at Whonnock have fluctuated recently, with Sockeye catches ranging between 5 and 17 and Pink catches ranging from 16 to 38 over the last 4 days. The most recent DNA sample from Whonnock gill net test fishery with a sample size of 31 indicated that 30% are Summer run stocks and 70% are Late run stocks. 
  
The total Sockeye escapement at Mission to September 20 is estimated to be 2,172,700 of which 69,200 are Early Stuart Sockeye, 113,700 are Early Summer run stocks, 1,566,900 are Summer run stocks and 422,900 are Late run stocks. The total Pink escapement at Mission to September 20 is estimated to be 7,526,200.

During the Panel call today, no changes were made to the run size or management adjustments for any of the Sockeye run timing groups. The run size for Early Stuart Sockeye remained at 69,000 with an Area 20 peak timing of July 5, the run size of Early Summer run Sockeye remained at 115,000 with an Area 20 peak timing of August 4, the run size of Summer run Sockeye remained at 1,550,000 with an Area 20 peak timing of August 14 and the run size of Late run Sockeye remained at 320,000 with an Area 20 peak timing of August 18. The pMAs for Summer run and Late run Sockeye remained at 0.11 and 1.04, respectively. There remains a small amount of TAC for Summer run Sockeye at the current run size and pMA. There is no TAC available for Early Stuart, Early Summer and Late run Sockeye.  

During the Panel call today, the run size of Fraser River Pink salmon was increased to 8,000,000 with no change to the Area 20 peak timing of August 19. There were no US fisheries planned during the Panel call today. In Canada, Pink salmon First Nations FSC, demonstration and economic opportunity fisheries have been planned and conducted, and limited fisheries are being conducted in areas where Summer run Sockeye stocks are available to harvest. The Area H troll Fraser Pink individual transferable quota fishery is still ongoing until 11:59 hours September 22, and the Area B seine fishery closed on September 18. The Fraser Pink salmon run size will be re-evaluated at the post-season Panel meeting. 

Declining numbers of Sockeye, Pink and Chinook salmon continue to migrate above the landslide at Big Bar in the Fraser River upstream of Lillooet. Fish passage has slowed over the last week as some stocks are nearing the end of the migration period. Significant work has occurred over the winter and spring months to further improve passage for fish, combined with robust assessment programs to evaluate passage success, as well as mitigation measures including fish transport and brood stock collection for enhancement purposes. Additional information can be found at the following link:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/pacific-smon-pacifique/big-bar-landslide-eboulement/index-eng.html.

The observed water temperature at Hope on September 20 was 13.8°Celsius which is 0.7°Celsius below the average for this date. Water temperatures are forecast to increase to 14.6°Celsius by September 26. The Fraser River discharge at Hope on September 20 was 1,865 cubic meters per second which is 4% below the average discharge for this date. Discharge levels are forecast to increase to 1,949 cubic meters per second by September 26.

The eighth spawning ground report of the season was provided by DFO Stock Assessment on September 16. The counting fence at Scotch Creek that was fish-tight and operational as of August 4 was removed on September 13, with a total of 14,276 Sockeye counted into the creek. Cyclic visual surveys of Early Summer run populations in the North and South Thompson Rivers began August 16 with Sockeye primarily past the peak of spawning. Visual surveys have been conducted in the Lower Fraser watershed with Sockeye in the upper Pitt system reported to be at the peak of spawning, in the upper Chilliwack River reported to be past peak of spawning and in the Nahatlatch River nearing the end of the peak of spawning. The Nadina River and Stellako River hydroacoustic sites were operational on July 24 and July 25, respectively. To September 11, 11,145 Sockeye have been enumerated at the Nadina site and 64,936 Sockeye have been recorded at the Stellako site to September 14. The fourth visual survey of Gates Creek and tributaries was conducted during September 11 to 13 with Sockeye reported as past peak of spawning. On September 13, the second aerial survey was conducted on the upper Bowron River and Sockeye were observed nearing the end of the peak of spawning. The Quesnel and Chilko hyrdroacoustic sites have been operational since August 5 and 6, respectively. To September 14 a total of 86,357 Sockeye have been recorded at the Quesnel site and 715,709 at the Chilko site. Sockeye in the Chilko River and North Chilko Lake are reported to be in the early stages of spawning.  Visual surveys of the Raft and Bridge River systems observed Sockeye as past the peak of spawning, with the Bridge River project now complete. Tagging of Late Stuart Sockeye in the Tachie River for a mark-recapture program began on September 3 with 2,316 tags applied and no carcasses have been recovered to date.  The majority of the Sockeye are reported to be healthy and vigorous at tag application. The Birkenhead River hydroacoustic site was operational on August 20 and 14,622 Sockeye have been estimated past the sonar site through September 9, but the crew did note technical issues with power to the hydroacoustic system during the current reporting period. The Cultus Lake fence was installed on July 26 and 19 Sockeye has been manually counted through the fence or passively recorded on video to September 15. A total of 13 Sockeye have been retained for brood stock to date. The water temperature in Sweltzer Creek is 20°Celsius.  

At the current run size and MA for Summer run Sockeye, a small amount of Summer run TAC still remains. Directed Sockeye harvest opportunities are occurring in the upper portions of the Fraser River watershed where Summer run Sockeye are the dominant management group. In areas of the mainstem where Chinook and Pink salmon directed fisheries have been proposed and conducted, limited retention of Sockeye salmon by-catch has occurred where Summer run Sockeye are the dominant management group. Fisheries are being planned in accordance the remaining TAC available for Summer run Sockeye after accounting for updated catch information.

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 2021. 

The next meeting of the Fraser River Panel is the post-season meeting scheduled to occur on Tuesday, September 28, 2021.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0991
Sent September 21, 2021 at 1552

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 2, 2024 at 1149