Fraser River Sockeye Update from PSC

High Time

Crew Member
The Fraser River Panel met Friday, July 21 to receive an update on the
migration of the Fraser sockeye and pink runs to date and review the status of
migration conditions in the Fraser River watershed.

Gill net test fishing catches continue to be very poor in both the marine and
in-river testing areas. Stock identification information continues to show a
higher than expected proportions of Early Stuart sockeye largely due to the
lower numbers of Early Summer and Summer run stocks showing to date. No late
run stocks have been observed at this time.

Sample sizes from both in-river and marine test fisheries have remained low
which results in a higher level of uncertainty in stock composition estimates.
Hell's Gate observations have continued to decline. During today's Panel call
the start-up of the Purse seine test fisheries in Areas 12 and 20 was confirmed
for July 24 and 25 respectively. In addition, Reef net test fishery
observations will be conducted for the next 3 days to determine if Fraser
sockeye are present in US waters. The diversion rate through Johnstone Strait
is currently estimated to be 16% which is well below the pre-season predicted
rate of 51% for the entire season.

DNA analysis of samples taken in the marine test fisheries show sockeye stock
compositions in Area 20 of approximately 21% Early Stuart, 52% Early Summers
and 26% Summer run stocks. During the call today, the Fraser Panel made no
changes to the recently reduced Early Stuart run size of 50,000 with an Area 20
peak run timing of July 3. The estimated escapement past Mission of Early
Stuart sockeye as of July 20 is 40,000 fish.

Early Summer run stocks are also tracking well below the p25 forecast of
166,000 but it is too early to tell if the returns are as weak as they appear
or just later than expected. Although there was no formal change to the run
size today at the p25 run size there is no TAC available and as such no sockeye
directed fisheries are being considered at this time. It is anticipated that a
formal run size will be adopted at the next Panel meeting on Tuesday, July 25.

In-season assessment of all run timing groups generally occurs shortly after
identification of their peak migration through marine areas. Early Summer run
stocks are starting to build in marine and in-river test fishery samples. Run-
size estimates of Early Summer returns should be available in late July after
their expected peak migration through marine areas. The estimated escapement
of Early Summer-run and Summer-run sockeye past Mission through July 20th is
only 15,400 and 3,200 respectively.

On July 20, the Fraser River water discharge at Hope was 3,784 m3/s, which is
approximately 24% lower than average for this date. The temperature of the
Fraser River at Qualark Creek on July 20 was 17.3°C, which is 0.4°C higher than
average for this date and is forecast to increase to 18.4°C by July 26. Due to
the very low discharge levels water temperatures are impacted more by the air
temperatures they are exposed to.

For pre-season planning purposes the Fraser Panel has adopted management
adjustments for Early Summer, Summer and Late run sockeye that reflect the
forecast water temperature and discharge conditions based on the May and June
information for Early Summer and Summers and anticipated river entry dates for
Late run fish. Management adjustments are additional fish that are removed from
identified harvest levels and allowed to migrate upstream in an attempt to
assist in achievement of identified spawner objectives for the different run
timing groups. In-season information in the coming weeks will help to inform
future decisions on management adjustments for the Early Summer and Summer
management groups while the Early Stuart and Late run management groups will be
managed based on the respective Low Abundance Exploitation Rate (LAER) for each
group (10% for Early Stuart and 20% for Lates). There will be no in-season
estimates of management adjustment for Early Stuart in 2017 as the forecast
returns are very low across most of the forecast range and it is anticipated
they will be managed to the LAER, with the expected outcome of a spawning
escapement well below target.

First Nations food, social and ceremonial (FSC) sockeye fisheries have been
restricted by the 4 week window closure protecting Early Stuart and the
earliest timed Early Summer run stocks with limited fishing opportunities to
date directed at chinook salmon. Due to the appearance of lateness and/or
weakness in the returns of Early Summer and Summer run stocks, the start-up of
sockeye directed FSC fisheries will continue to be delayed until the
identification of TAC for Early Summer and/or Summer run sockeye.

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.

Given the low returns to date there are no fisheries directed upon Fraser River
sockeye scheduled at this time, and updates will continue to be provided
following meetings of the Fraser River Panel on Tuesdays and Fridays of each
week.

The next in-season meeting of the Fraser River Panel is scheduled to occur on
Tuesday, July 25, 2017.
 
Wont help......

I wish the Pitt river fishery would be opened for 1-2 weeks there still tons on that system.
If you want a few would give sport anglers an opportunity for 1 or 2.
Was amazed last year when we visited mount baker lake from our trailer camping spot. They trap 10,000 socks and transport them by truck. From the Skagit river past two dams and drop them in mount baker lake. Then your aloud to fish 2 aday. Its amazing......
 
And yet you can buy fresh Sockeye in Chilliwack along a certain road through a certain place. Makes me sick.
Just drove by that on the weekend! I couldn't believe it! I don't understand that they are allowed commercial sales when the Fraser is so devoid of fish! Also heard advertising on the local radio station about the big BBQ with Chilliwack corn and fresh caught Sockeye from the Cheam Band!
 
And yet you can buy fresh Sockeye in Chilliwack along a certain road through a certain place. Makes me sick.
So I drove by that certain place in Chilliwack last night and my curiosity got the best of me! I stopped and asked how much they were selling the Sockeye for. The guy said $35 per fish. He said the reason they were so expensive was that they were flying them down from Alaska! Now I'm not sure if any of that is true but it would explain why they aren't trying to hide anything.
 
I was fishing the fraser canyon below hells gate this week and called in 2 nets in the river both were put out as soon as fishery patrols were done, plus there were nets found right at the cheam fishing area on Saturday, now they are using black pvc caped on both ends so it doesn't look like net corks, its time we take it into our own hands and report everything we see.
 
In yet ....... A well known Lower Mainland butcher who deals in black market fish, smoked sox his most popular last week ordered 75 Sox from some Boston Bar FN, they arrived in a large tote, no ice. Butcher told them, unexceptable so they were garbage, he ordered another 75, they arrived, also trash no ice .......... You have to really wonder how much of this crap is going on, while the DFO officers sit on their hands and watch, knowing full well it gets thrown out in court.
What a bunch of spineless politicians we have running this country. Old and new, manage to zero. Mean while the many not so proud FN that do this and the trash that orders and purchases these fish are willing to continue ........ Until there will be no more. No more for future, no more for the FN, no more for our grand children to see the once iconic runs of Salmon. Will it ever stop, it appears not.
If you know of any one buying fish off the FN that is not a commercial sale, report it, light a fire under DFOs backside to follow through.
When is enough enough. Wow.
Manage to ZERO
 
This is the reason why the Fraser has collapsed.

Its a small part of it. Commissions worth millions. Studies in millions. The DFO themselves alone could have jumped in years ago. That river was in trouble a long time ago. Have a look. Do you see a federal plan to enhance river?

Do see JT and the liberals repealing BILL38 to protect that habitat? Nope. Its because honestly to be blunt they don't give a shXX. The Fraser is done sorry to say. It will be wiped out in next 5 years at this rate if policies dont change.
 
Some group needs to fly a drone over the river with a video camera and document any illegal fishing and then post it online...as the media won't touch it...it will have to spread the same way Trump gets out his rants...but at least the public would start to see what is going on.
 
Some group needs to fly a drone over the river with a video camera and document any illegal fishing and then post it online...as the media won't touch it...it will have to spread the same way Trump gets out his rants...but at least the public would start to see what is going on.

And document those buying it, especially commercial entities.
 
Since sporties are the only user group who seem to give a ****, it's due time we took more responsibility in documenting everything. I have spent a lot of time fishing the Fraser over the last decade and I have seen countless abandoned nets (set for days), fishing during closures, excessive waste, and overall contempt by FN fishermen. Not trying to generalize, as I hope the majority take their conservation role seriously, but with no recourse for illegal fishing there's no incentive for them to self-regulate and police their less scrupulous band members. If even temporarily, they all lost fishing privileges due to abusing their "rights", I can guarantee the effort to self regulate would be better than non existant.
 
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