fishingbc
Active Member
CONVENIENTLY DELETED FROM THESE MINUTES ARE ANY MENTION OF THE DISCUSSION REGARDING MOVING THESE MEETING TO THE EVENINGS OR WEEKENDS SO THAT THE ANGLING PUBLIC CAN ATTEND. APPARENTLY THE AREA 14 SFAB (OR A SELECT GROUP WITHIN THE BOARD) DOESN'T CONSIDER THE WORKING MAN AS PART OF THE ANGLING PUBLIC AND WILL NOT HOLD IT'S REGULAR MEETINGS IN THE EVENING OR ON THE WEEKENDS LIKE EVERY OTHER SFAB BOARD IN THE ENTIRE PROVINCE OF BC....ALMOST EVERY SINGLE PERSON ATTENDING THIS MEETING AGREED, BY A SHOW OF HANDS, THAT THIS SHOULD BE THE PATH TO GO DOWN.....I GUESS BY HAVING SO MANY PEOPLE SHOW UP FOR THE FIRST EVENING MEETING DIDN'T GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS AND THE CHAIR WOULD HAVE US BELIEVE THAT BY SUBMITTING E-MAILS TO A SMALL SELECT GROUP WHO CAN MEET DURING THE DAYTIME HOURS THAT THAT VOICES OF AREA 14 REC ANGLERS ARE BEEN HEARD.....THE SFAB WAS NOT SET UP TO OPERATE LIKE THIS AND IS SUPPOSED TO BE AN OPEN FORUM CONCEPT, WITH ALL MEETINGS OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.....
Area 14 SFAC Meeting January 28, 2009
Location: Courtenay Fish and Game Protection Association - Club House
7:00pm
Recreational Sector Representation:
Gerry Scott -Independent Angler
Bryan Allen -BC Wildlife Federation
Ralph Shaw -Media
-Comox Valley Fly Fishing Club
Chuck Ashcroft -Independent Angler
-Ground fish-Shellfish working Group for Main Board SFAB
Nick Strussi -Puntledge River Restoration Committee
Larry Peterson -Steelhead Society
Wayne Irving -Little River Salmon Enhancement Society
George Bowron -Alternate for Charlie Vaughn (ORSES)
Mike Harris -Alternate for Wayne Irving (LRSES)
Ron Watanabe -Courtenay and District Fish and Game
Protective Association
Shaun Flanagan -BC Federation of Drift Fishers
DFO Representation:
Dave Fogtmann -Conservation and Protection
Darcy Miller - Manager Puntledge River Hatchery
Brian Munro -Assistant Manager Puntledge River Hatchery
Bryce Gillard -Conservation and Protection
Kent Spencer -Coastal B.C. South Coordinator Recreational Advisor
Observers: 23
1. SFAB Process: Bryan Allen
a. TOR:
Gave a brief description on the SFAB process; including the layering including Local SFAC, Regional SFAB and Main Board of the SFAB
-Members of the local SFAC in many cases represent a constituency; in this case they are responsible to bring those constituencies concerns to the table and report back, thus enabling their constituency to stay current on the issues.
-
2. Hatchery Updates:
a. Puntledge River: Darcy Miller and Brian Munro
-Puntledge River Escapement and brood:
Species Eggs Eggs Release eggs Target escapement Target escapement* Target escapement* Escapement
Collected target on hand Hatchery River Total 2008
S. Ck 2.4 m .508K 1.6 m 443 K 1.5 K 3 - 5 K 5 K 510 adult
200 K 92 jacks
F. Ck 1.5 m 1.5 m 1.2 m 1.51 m 1.0 K 4.5 K 5.5 K 4211 adult
471 jacks
Pink 3.5 3.3 m 2.25 m 2.1 m from Quinsam 30 - 50 K 3,000
1 m
.25 m
Coho 1.3 m 1.3 m 600 K smolt 1.18 m 2.8 9 K 11 - 13 K 1728 adult
300 K fed fry 1862 jacks
Chum 3.0 m 3.4 m 2.7 m fed fry 1.83 m 3.0 K 60 K 63 K 72,390
Coho; expecting poor however returns were over 1700 adults and 1800 + jacks
Summer Chinook; looking for 4,500 adults; returns were 510 adults and 92 jacks -Generally the prognosis is not good.
Fall Chinook; was virtually extinct 12 years ago but managed build up to an average of 10,000 over the last years, however, this years escapements were down to 4,211 adults + 471 jacks.
Question; with announcement of $250,000,000 in the budget on laboratories to be used for many areas such as SEP; how much would be expected to the Puntledge Hatchery?
(No answers yet, as the announcement was just made.)
Question asked re private funding to offset the declining budget for hatcheries; Brian suggests that this is very difficult to access.
-Darcy suggests if a private group does invest there can be no ties between the funding and rights over harvesting these stocks.
-Brian Munro also advised that likely the possible funding will be used for infrastructure only. Speaking on this topic he added that this week the Puntledge hatchery is starting to resurface the ponds.
Question re; does the hatchery have a volunteer program which could help keep the egg takes up. Brian Munro advised there is but cannot run the hatchery with just volunteers requires full time staff; however, with the past cuts it makes it difficult to keep staffing at historic levels.
Question re holding back Chinook smolts before releasing them to ensure better survival
-Brian advised they still need to keep the Chinook release times separated in order to keep the summer run a separate genetic make up than the fall Chinook.
Report on BC Hydro communications; Nick Strussi (handed in during meeting)
-Basically this was a communication from BC Hydro re steelhead study and possible shifting of shifting or adding a swim in late April.
-Reasoning-detect steelhead bound for the Browns River (possibly being missed with current schedule)
-Answer from BC Hydro was that the timing of the swims have historically been Feb 1, March 1, and April 1, and to be used as an index for historical base
-There is no money budgeted for a fourth swim and changes to the 15th of each month would skew the data from the study for the last 4 years.
-Late April also is a safety concern re high water.
b. Qualicum River Systems: Les Clint
Big Qualicum; (Not Final)
Chinook 5778 Adults 783 Jacks
Coho 4021 Adults 327 Jacks
Chum 23745 Adults 19345 Channel 4149 River
Pinks 248
Little Qualicum; (not Final)
Chinook 4121 Adults 315 Jacks
Chum 31237 Adults 28037 Channel 3200 River
Egg Takes;
All targets achieved except for
(Green egg numbers)
Big Qualicum Chinook 3,600,000
Big Qualicum Coho 1,264,000
Little Qualicum Chinook 2,740,000 Includes 220K. For Englishman
Note - Leroy Hop Wo is organizing a meeting to discuss the low Chum survivals to the Qualicum facilities
c. Nile Creek Enhancement Society;
-1.25M pink eggs transplanted from Quinsam hatchery - Approx 400 adults observed in the stream.
-Coho numbers unknown
-Slow beach fishery this year
d. Trent River: (Courtenay Fish and Game Protection Society)
-Target 100,000 Trent River Coho eggs-- Achieved--80,000
High water late in the season prevented further brood capture.
-25% of examined fish were adipose clipped (same ratio as released)
e. Little River Enhancement Society; Wayne Irving
Pinks; 0
Chums were introduced 6 years ago; 12 returns
Chinook; 4 returns
Sea Run Cutthroat; 300
Coho; 24 females (this might be 34)
-Clipped 10,600 Coho last fall and will clip another 10,000 this spring.
-Last year only 4 clipped fish returned from previous years
-Outtakes last year were 14,000 Coho/ ½ were clipped fish
-Physically counted 250 fish in the fence so are guessing about 500 in total
-Seems to be consistent with the average in the last 28 years.
-Little River Enhancement Society is generally against clipping, however, still do clip to provide an opportunity for retention.
f. Oyster River: George Bowron -Oyster River Enhancement Society (ORES)
Returns; Egg Takes
Pinks; 9800 213,700
Chinook; 700 77,000
Coho; 11,000 176,000
Chum; 3,500 20,000
-Coho have been coming in later and later; in fact 31 have come in January including 1 today.
-Estimation is that there are 11,000 Coho returns, however, none were clipped.
-It was suggested that if funding was an issue there will be no problem having qualified technicians volunteer to clip.
Question re why is there no clipping on the Oyster: ORES advised that Coho are not only being raised for recreational fishing. They are augmenting the river for enhancement of the ecology of the whole system. ORES do not want clipping until it is proven there is no harm done to the fry and prefer to have the stocks be enhanced until such a time we do not need a clipped fish retention mandate in the management plans.
-Question; how are these fish counted? Answer; works on assumptions by extrapolating figures from observations.
-Brian Munro advised he would be hesitant on accepting the count figures without seeing the figures.
-Bryan Allen advised the attendees at this meeting of the Oyster River Proposal to suggest and implement a beach fishery in a small area for one marked and one hatchery. -Problem is the Black Creek indicator stream. DFO is unwilling to accept incidental catch of any possible Black Creek stocks that might be in the mix. Added to this one concerns is the issue of the Thompson River Coho as well.
-Question by Shaun; at what level of returns would the oyster accept an opening in the River. No real answer.
-George Bowron advised that even at 11,000 the stocks are still building.
g. Fanny Bay Enhancement Society;
-Cook Creek escapement 4000 Chum and 34 Coho
-Rosewall Creek escapement 3000 Chum and 150 Coho
-Transplanted 500,000 Quinsam pink eggs into Wilfred Creek and 500,000 into Chef Creek.
-Very disappointing Coho run in Baynes Sound Creeks this past season.
3. Seals:
-Discussion started again on the likely main problem for our Summer Run Chinook; seals in the river;
-Puntledge Restoration committee has taken the lead re educating politicians and management (both Provincial and Federal) re the necessity of a cull to protect both the Puntledge River Summer run Chinook as well as our Steelhead.
-Larry Peterson and Nick Strussi have advised that the Puntledge River restoration Committee will be requesting COSEWIC to list these fish through SARA if there is no seal cull this year and the cull needs to be river wide. Current regulations do allow for a cull at the hatchery pool at the counting fence which alone has taken 5 years to enact.
-Although discussed in the Enforcement report below; it is more germane to add to this section that some persons are taking it upon themselves to solve this issue by culling seals on their own. This is happening outside the estuary in many marine waters in area 14.
-Bryce Gillard advises there are ongoing issues re this matter and will be treated very seriously.
-Bryce went on to say that the public are sensitive to marine mammal deaths in general and would take very little to completely reverse progress to date; that being the cull of habituated animals in the hatchery pool.
-Bryce also advised the cull requires a discreet action with no mistakes. They are looking at using a bolt with a sedative then dispatch the animal humanely. There cannot be indiscriminate firing of rifles, crossbows or other such means that can endanger the public and or leave seals swimming around wounded with arrows sticking out of them. If not done correctly, then it will likely be the last cull.
-No decision yet for the lower river and valley.
-Comox has license for 15 seals, however, not for food purposes but mostly for the hides.
4. Crab Reform:
-The SFAB have for years prompted DFO to start managing the Commercial Sector to allow better access for recreational fishers; this may be termed “reallocation” by the commercial sector to the recreational sector and have until this time persuaded DFO that this is not to occur without full accountability in the recreational sector. It must be understood that to us this would be reallocating the resource back to what was before; for the recreational sector; In the 90s there was a reasonable expectation to be able to catch a reasonable number of crabs; far less so now however the commercial have ramped up their fishery, squeezing out the other users.
-A committee has been struck to reform the Crab fishery for all users; recognizing 1st Nations priority access to FSC be met, with a more equitable means of sharing the resource for all sectors. (Original implementation was for 2009 – now extended until 2010)
a. This could mean curtailing commercial effort, through some, none, or all of the following;
1. More and extended seasonal closures Jan 1 –Sept 15;
2. More Permanent Closures
3. CPUE Index for legal males
4. Increasing the escape Ring sizes in Commercial traps
5. Managing by sub legal discards/trap
6. Reduction in number of commercial boats/licenses working in crab fishery;
7. Trap reductions; (have already moved from 500/license in area H down to 300 over two years – this year there will be 286 traps per license since 3 extra boats
8. Hanging bait has been banned for most if not all of the commercial fishery already
9. We have just added a new scenario for discussions – that of increasing the number of Recreational traps to 4 from 2 since we are managing to a set number/day/possession.
Up until the Jan 23 (last meeting date) the commercial sector has not provided any scenarios but has taken the approach of criticizing all the proposals put in by DFO, Province, Recreation, and 1st Nations rather than add constructive input.
b. This means better accountability in 1st Nations and recreational harvests through – some, or none of the following;
1. Buoy Counts; (may require regulation change to one float per trap)
2. Extensive Creel Surveys;
3. Recreational Logbooks;
4. Annual Limits;
5. Open and transparent accountability in 1st Nations fisheries.
At this time, DFO wants all of our closure requests on the table with the idea of receiving no further requests for a period of time (5years). It is not want us as reps want as we would prefer a fluid process where closures would be added after we see how the commercial fleet moves around impacting other communities in their quest for product.
-Area 14 request for Permanent 1st Nations FSC - Recreation Harvest Reserve:
Motion will be going forth to the GFSFWG Meeting Friday Jan 30, 2008 then forwarded if passed to the Main Board SFAB. This motion is to close access to the commercial fishery for commercial crabbing in the entire Baynes sound. (larger than the current seasonal closure)
-K’omoks 1st Nation has supported a closure to commercial sector but has also indicated they wish it for exclusive 1st Nations use.
-Letter has been sent back from DFO to K’omoks 1st Nation requesting more information and clarity.
-First Nations generally seem to be starting to object to these reserves, since now they are attempting to utilize some PICFI money to gain access to commercial licenses.
5. Intertidal Shellfish: Dave Fogtmann
-Introduced a new issue arising where Intertidal shellfish along the beach will be affected by new legislation around water treatment plant outflows.
-US food and drug administration has concerns and expectations to close all shoreline within 7km of any outflow in the case of a Water Treatment failure.
Additionally this new initiative will create impose three areas for different restrictions; one permanent (minimum 300 metres from any outflow), one conditional (split into two degrees of closures) and one generally open.
-Not only will commercial harvesters be affected but recreational as well.
First area being studied is Ladysmith Harbour.
The treatment plant cannot handle the water in high water flow periods and will end up being closed at certain times re waste water treatment over flow. Crofton, will be next addressed and down the line Powell River.
-Even, our water treatment plant is not immune to the problems and we can expect increased announcement for closures.
6. Prawn; Dave Fogtmann
-Advised of the likelihood that due to frequency of berried prawns encountered early in the season, the commercial sector will likely open later than the usual May 1 start date; possibly May 7 or May 15.
-This would allow area 14 fishers an extra time to harvest in advance of the commercial sector start.
-It was also brought up the problem with the management plan in the high use areas re recreational sector standing down for the first week. This stand-down period would be in the long weekend of May so will not be agreed to by the recreational sector. Hopefully Shellfish Management will consider this problem in their decision.
-Also there is a possibility that the commercial sector will bring back to the table a means to increase the length of their fishery to extend the length of time that a live market can be possible and to generally increase the price of their product. The approach now is to open hard for 60 days then shut down; market is mainly Japan frozen market. Prices are down and a new approach is necessary. This will be watched.
7. Halibut Update: Kent Spencer and Chuck
IPHC
-Annual meeting results were as expected but not as desired; Canada took a beating along with Washington, Oregon, and California. Canadian TAC has been reduced to 7,630,000 which means the recreational TAC has been lowered to 918,360 lbs (providing the allocation between commercial and recreational sectors remains the same). Alaska basically went with IPHC recommendations since the current apportionment methodology being used is favouring the Northern and western areas. We accept at this time that these stocks of halibut are migrating past the age of 8 (originally thought) thus what IPHC considered were part of the “Canadian biomass” are actually fish immigrating from areas North and west.
This apportionment relies on setline survey CPUE X bottom area to work out a percentage of the exploitable biomass we are allowed to fish. This means of apportioning is still being fought by Canada and others.
-Area 2c is in the same boat as Canada with a declining exploitable biomass; however, with added domestic issues;
Management Options:
-Until the Minister of fisheries decides what the recreational allocation will look be we are not yet in a position to determine how the recreational fishery can proceed.
-We are not in position to attempt to determine; when the fishery will open or how the fishery will look like. The commercial fishery will open March 21 and if the recreational fishery is not open very soon the optics will be very poor.
8. Lingcod Update: Strait of Georgia
Lingcod:
-Part of the agenda of the GFSFWG meeting;
2008: Lingcod harvested: 2,292 kept with 11,753 released; 4% mortality on released has not yet been added into the figures.
-TAC is 5,000 pieces with 7,000 mortalities.
-Intention is to continue with the pilot program for SOG to keep the 60cm size limit instead of reverting back to the 65 cm limit through other areas (except areas 1-10)
-Season; hopefully still June 1 – Sept 30
Rockfish:
-Since total mortalities were below that we are allowed; we hope to have a shoulder season at least added on to the season rather than just operate concurrent with the Lingcod season; thus allowing for retention of rockfish bycatch while salmon fishing.
2008: 4,813 kept and 5,322 released for a total of 10,135 rockfish mortalities. There will still need to be adjustments in this but hopefully not changing this much.
-Max Target mortalities is approximately 18,929 (25% of 2001 harvest figures)
9. 2009 Salmon Season Forecast: Kent Spencer
-Too early for concrete numbers, there has been no meetings yet of the Coho/ Chinook working group.
-It appears likely we will have the same management strategy as for 2008;
-Inside waters will probably have conservation corridors.
-Question; where were the DFO concerns on the west coast? Answer Nootka and Clayoquot among others. One person suggests that most rivers had an increase in returns. This, however, was countered by DFO as there are definite concerns in areas on WCVI.
-Suggests that the bad news advertised has caused decrease in bookings as perception that BC is a bad news scenario. The DFO 2009 Salmon Stock Outlook WCVI wild Chinook populations are categorized as a 1 (stock of concern) and WCVI hatchery Chinook populations are categorized as a 2/3 (low/near target) depending on location. These are the same rankings as last year. Subject to future discussions, what this indicates is that the recreational regulatory package for Chinook along WCVI in 2009 will be very similar to 2008
-PST Chinook; Advised of the signing of this treaty appendix
-Coho expecting same regs as last year
-Sockeye fishery should be better than last year.
10. 2008 Enforcement Update: Bryce Gillard (Field supervisor)
-13% reduction in patrol times out of Comox due to staffing deployments and acting assignments.
-Surveillance plane inadvertently skewed data as entered Comox area into the offshore west coast- this was not sorted out by the time of the meeting.
-Increased activity in Intertidal shellfish areas
-Joint work with military aircraft and personnel.
-9% of time spent on salmon tidal.
-Change in management fishery for herring has reduced enforcement presence.
-Prawn fishery commercial sector first two weeks intense enforcement including double hauling.
-Over-limiting of daily quota on shellfish is a problem in this area.
- Bryce has started to attempt to divert enforcement fines to salmon enhancement and local hatcheries. Although the funds would be welcome for enforcement budget, Bryce advised these fines cannot be diverted to enforcement unless considered coming from organized crime violations.
-Contaminated beach enforcement increased from 4% to 11% of field time on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program
-Significant issues;
-Foreshore development and rip rap; Jurisdictional problems; These are mostly trespass issues with Lands Branch of the Province-Minor Fish Habitat Impacts
-Removal of trees is causing erosion thus rip rap being put in place thus cutting off public access to these foreshore areas.
-Rip rap is cheaper than digging out the land owners land and building up the foreshore
-River poaching has been a real problem this year.
-Snagging out of season is the main problem.
-Bryce advises that C & P are holding public auctions locally on impounded product.
Goals;
-need a storage location for their zodiac;
-With the vessel lacking dedicated funding it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep the patrol boat in this area, which would be a big loss for C & P.
-South Coast is over their limit for warehouse space so Comox will not get any funds for this storage problem. Hopefully this is something the community at large can help with.
-Trying to get some enforcement and protection for the remaining Abalone beds von Hornby and Denman Islands.
-At this point there has been little interaction with the public on the two islands regarding knowledge of who is poaching the Abalone; and advised that 95% of the charges are due to tips received from the public. The objective of C&P is to engage the locals in this issue and begin developing a program similar to the old abalone watch program from 10 years ago. -Snagging on the rivers is also main concern, along with illegal sales of shellfish.
147 recorded incidents from last year – 116 violations (recreational, commercial, Aboriginal, Non fisher related {habitat, other legislation-vandalism, Sea lion Shootings}.
11. Boundary Change Request area between Area 14-11 and 14-9:
-Request by Ray Schaeffer to move a portion of the boundary; starting at the Bell Buoy marking the entrance to Comox Harbour, to either of two locations inside of the current line from the Bell Buoy to Cape Lazo. (suggested point is Point Holmes ramp area)
-This request was originally brought to the SFAC March 13, 2008.
-Suggestion by Ray is that this would give a fishing opportunity for youth in safe waters during the summer.
Darcy Miller was tasked to give his advice and recommendations to the committee re this issue brought forward at an earlier meeting in 2008
Ray suggests the summer run Chinook are not proven as being a genetically distinct strain.
Darcy advised that the Puntledge Summer Run Chinook are genetically different and tested each year.
-Ray admits there was some genetic crossing before with fall run Chinook but now this has been genetically managed and kept separate.
-Protection of the Summer Run Chinook is the main issue from our committee for not moving the boundaries due to pooling of these Chinook.
-With the potential listing on SARA of this stock there is little chance for this holding area to be opened up until September.
-John Sheppard suggests that maybe this could be looked at as is such a small area.
-Bryce Gillard advised it is not closed to fishing - just no retention. Suggest that the youth should be advised why there is no retention and thus educating the youth on the needs for conservation.
12. Questions from Observers: (additional to topics above)
a. Salmon Management in general; re fishing opportunities around the island
b. Aquaculture;
-General dissatisfaction with continuing use of open net pens in any salmon aquaculture operation-Sea Lice and associated effects on migrating juveniles
-Consider Atlantic salmon escapements as invasive species
-C&P advised escapements are a problem and investigations are held when this happens.
c. Herring fishery;
-This year the fishery 80% 3 year fish hence small fish.
-It was suggested there is 2 year supply n freezers but Dave Boyce (commercial fisher in attendance) advised there is very little left now.
-Question asked; what is the sfab position on herring fishery? We answered that the SFAB has not taken a firm position although various SFACs are not in favour.
It’s a difficult position and herring stocks have wild swings in biomass although we all are concerned with the downward trend and small fish.
Lyle Pierce (commercial fisher) advised that gill netters are size selective where as seine are less selective.
-Many suggestions that this fishery management should be changed, along with more considerations to removals of all of the other base level species such as pilchards and Krill
-All in attendance considered that Herring is vital to our attempts to revive our salmon stocks in Georgia Strait.
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Area 14 SFAC Meeting January 28, 2009
Location: Courtenay Fish and Game Protection Association - Club House
7:00pm
Recreational Sector Representation:
Gerry Scott -Independent Angler
Bryan Allen -BC Wildlife Federation
Ralph Shaw -Media
-Comox Valley Fly Fishing Club
Chuck Ashcroft -Independent Angler
-Ground fish-Shellfish working Group for Main Board SFAB
Nick Strussi -Puntledge River Restoration Committee
Larry Peterson -Steelhead Society
Wayne Irving -Little River Salmon Enhancement Society
George Bowron -Alternate for Charlie Vaughn (ORSES)
Mike Harris -Alternate for Wayne Irving (LRSES)
Ron Watanabe -Courtenay and District Fish and Game
Protective Association
Shaun Flanagan -BC Federation of Drift Fishers
DFO Representation:
Dave Fogtmann -Conservation and Protection
Darcy Miller - Manager Puntledge River Hatchery
Brian Munro -Assistant Manager Puntledge River Hatchery
Bryce Gillard -Conservation and Protection
Kent Spencer -Coastal B.C. South Coordinator Recreational Advisor
Observers: 23
1. SFAB Process: Bryan Allen
a. TOR:
Gave a brief description on the SFAB process; including the layering including Local SFAC, Regional SFAB and Main Board of the SFAB
-Members of the local SFAC in many cases represent a constituency; in this case they are responsible to bring those constituencies concerns to the table and report back, thus enabling their constituency to stay current on the issues.
-
2. Hatchery Updates:
a. Puntledge River: Darcy Miller and Brian Munro
-Puntledge River Escapement and brood:
Species Eggs Eggs Release eggs Target escapement Target escapement* Target escapement* Escapement
Collected target on hand Hatchery River Total 2008
S. Ck 2.4 m .508K 1.6 m 443 K 1.5 K 3 - 5 K 5 K 510 adult
200 K 92 jacks
F. Ck 1.5 m 1.5 m 1.2 m 1.51 m 1.0 K 4.5 K 5.5 K 4211 adult
471 jacks
Pink 3.5 3.3 m 2.25 m 2.1 m from Quinsam 30 - 50 K 3,000
1 m
.25 m
Coho 1.3 m 1.3 m 600 K smolt 1.18 m 2.8 9 K 11 - 13 K 1728 adult
300 K fed fry 1862 jacks
Chum 3.0 m 3.4 m 2.7 m fed fry 1.83 m 3.0 K 60 K 63 K 72,390
Coho; expecting poor however returns were over 1700 adults and 1800 + jacks
Summer Chinook; looking for 4,500 adults; returns were 510 adults and 92 jacks -Generally the prognosis is not good.
Fall Chinook; was virtually extinct 12 years ago but managed build up to an average of 10,000 over the last years, however, this years escapements were down to 4,211 adults + 471 jacks.
Question; with announcement of $250,000,000 in the budget on laboratories to be used for many areas such as SEP; how much would be expected to the Puntledge Hatchery?
(No answers yet, as the announcement was just made.)
Question asked re private funding to offset the declining budget for hatcheries; Brian suggests that this is very difficult to access.
-Darcy suggests if a private group does invest there can be no ties between the funding and rights over harvesting these stocks.
-Brian Munro also advised that likely the possible funding will be used for infrastructure only. Speaking on this topic he added that this week the Puntledge hatchery is starting to resurface the ponds.
Question re; does the hatchery have a volunteer program which could help keep the egg takes up. Brian Munro advised there is but cannot run the hatchery with just volunteers requires full time staff; however, with the past cuts it makes it difficult to keep staffing at historic levels.
Question re holding back Chinook smolts before releasing them to ensure better survival
-Brian advised they still need to keep the Chinook release times separated in order to keep the summer run a separate genetic make up than the fall Chinook.
Report on BC Hydro communications; Nick Strussi (handed in during meeting)
-Basically this was a communication from BC Hydro re steelhead study and possible shifting of shifting or adding a swim in late April.
-Reasoning-detect steelhead bound for the Browns River (possibly being missed with current schedule)
-Answer from BC Hydro was that the timing of the swims have historically been Feb 1, March 1, and April 1, and to be used as an index for historical base
-There is no money budgeted for a fourth swim and changes to the 15th of each month would skew the data from the study for the last 4 years.
-Late April also is a safety concern re high water.
b. Qualicum River Systems: Les Clint
Big Qualicum; (Not Final)
Chinook 5778 Adults 783 Jacks
Coho 4021 Adults 327 Jacks
Chum 23745 Adults 19345 Channel 4149 River
Pinks 248
Little Qualicum; (not Final)
Chinook 4121 Adults 315 Jacks
Chum 31237 Adults 28037 Channel 3200 River
Egg Takes;
All targets achieved except for
(Green egg numbers)
Big Qualicum Chinook 3,600,000
Big Qualicum Coho 1,264,000
Little Qualicum Chinook 2,740,000 Includes 220K. For Englishman
Note - Leroy Hop Wo is organizing a meeting to discuss the low Chum survivals to the Qualicum facilities
c. Nile Creek Enhancement Society;
-1.25M pink eggs transplanted from Quinsam hatchery - Approx 400 adults observed in the stream.
-Coho numbers unknown
-Slow beach fishery this year
d. Trent River: (Courtenay Fish and Game Protection Society)
-Target 100,000 Trent River Coho eggs-- Achieved--80,000
High water late in the season prevented further brood capture.
-25% of examined fish were adipose clipped (same ratio as released)
e. Little River Enhancement Society; Wayne Irving
Pinks; 0
Chums were introduced 6 years ago; 12 returns
Chinook; 4 returns
Sea Run Cutthroat; 300
Coho; 24 females (this might be 34)
-Clipped 10,600 Coho last fall and will clip another 10,000 this spring.
-Last year only 4 clipped fish returned from previous years
-Outtakes last year were 14,000 Coho/ ½ were clipped fish
-Physically counted 250 fish in the fence so are guessing about 500 in total
-Seems to be consistent with the average in the last 28 years.
-Little River Enhancement Society is generally against clipping, however, still do clip to provide an opportunity for retention.
f. Oyster River: George Bowron -Oyster River Enhancement Society (ORES)
Returns; Egg Takes
Pinks; 9800 213,700
Chinook; 700 77,000
Coho; 11,000 176,000
Chum; 3,500 20,000
-Coho have been coming in later and later; in fact 31 have come in January including 1 today.
-Estimation is that there are 11,000 Coho returns, however, none were clipped.
-It was suggested that if funding was an issue there will be no problem having qualified technicians volunteer to clip.
Question re why is there no clipping on the Oyster: ORES advised that Coho are not only being raised for recreational fishing. They are augmenting the river for enhancement of the ecology of the whole system. ORES do not want clipping until it is proven there is no harm done to the fry and prefer to have the stocks be enhanced until such a time we do not need a clipped fish retention mandate in the management plans.
-Question; how are these fish counted? Answer; works on assumptions by extrapolating figures from observations.
-Brian Munro advised he would be hesitant on accepting the count figures without seeing the figures.
-Bryan Allen advised the attendees at this meeting of the Oyster River Proposal to suggest and implement a beach fishery in a small area for one marked and one hatchery. -Problem is the Black Creek indicator stream. DFO is unwilling to accept incidental catch of any possible Black Creek stocks that might be in the mix. Added to this one concerns is the issue of the Thompson River Coho as well.
-Question by Shaun; at what level of returns would the oyster accept an opening in the River. No real answer.
-George Bowron advised that even at 11,000 the stocks are still building.
g. Fanny Bay Enhancement Society;
-Cook Creek escapement 4000 Chum and 34 Coho
-Rosewall Creek escapement 3000 Chum and 150 Coho
-Transplanted 500,000 Quinsam pink eggs into Wilfred Creek and 500,000 into Chef Creek.
-Very disappointing Coho run in Baynes Sound Creeks this past season.
3. Seals:
-Discussion started again on the likely main problem for our Summer Run Chinook; seals in the river;
-Puntledge Restoration committee has taken the lead re educating politicians and management (both Provincial and Federal) re the necessity of a cull to protect both the Puntledge River Summer run Chinook as well as our Steelhead.
-Larry Peterson and Nick Strussi have advised that the Puntledge River restoration Committee will be requesting COSEWIC to list these fish through SARA if there is no seal cull this year and the cull needs to be river wide. Current regulations do allow for a cull at the hatchery pool at the counting fence which alone has taken 5 years to enact.
-Although discussed in the Enforcement report below; it is more germane to add to this section that some persons are taking it upon themselves to solve this issue by culling seals on their own. This is happening outside the estuary in many marine waters in area 14.
-Bryce Gillard advises there are ongoing issues re this matter and will be treated very seriously.
-Bryce went on to say that the public are sensitive to marine mammal deaths in general and would take very little to completely reverse progress to date; that being the cull of habituated animals in the hatchery pool.
-Bryce also advised the cull requires a discreet action with no mistakes. They are looking at using a bolt with a sedative then dispatch the animal humanely. There cannot be indiscriminate firing of rifles, crossbows or other such means that can endanger the public and or leave seals swimming around wounded with arrows sticking out of them. If not done correctly, then it will likely be the last cull.
-No decision yet for the lower river and valley.
-Comox has license for 15 seals, however, not for food purposes but mostly for the hides.
4. Crab Reform:
-The SFAB have for years prompted DFO to start managing the Commercial Sector to allow better access for recreational fishers; this may be termed “reallocation” by the commercial sector to the recreational sector and have until this time persuaded DFO that this is not to occur without full accountability in the recreational sector. It must be understood that to us this would be reallocating the resource back to what was before; for the recreational sector; In the 90s there was a reasonable expectation to be able to catch a reasonable number of crabs; far less so now however the commercial have ramped up their fishery, squeezing out the other users.
-A committee has been struck to reform the Crab fishery for all users; recognizing 1st Nations priority access to FSC be met, with a more equitable means of sharing the resource for all sectors. (Original implementation was for 2009 – now extended until 2010)
a. This could mean curtailing commercial effort, through some, none, or all of the following;
1. More and extended seasonal closures Jan 1 –Sept 15;
2. More Permanent Closures
3. CPUE Index for legal males
4. Increasing the escape Ring sizes in Commercial traps
5. Managing by sub legal discards/trap
6. Reduction in number of commercial boats/licenses working in crab fishery;
7. Trap reductions; (have already moved from 500/license in area H down to 300 over two years – this year there will be 286 traps per license since 3 extra boats
8. Hanging bait has been banned for most if not all of the commercial fishery already
9. We have just added a new scenario for discussions – that of increasing the number of Recreational traps to 4 from 2 since we are managing to a set number/day/possession.
Up until the Jan 23 (last meeting date) the commercial sector has not provided any scenarios but has taken the approach of criticizing all the proposals put in by DFO, Province, Recreation, and 1st Nations rather than add constructive input.
b. This means better accountability in 1st Nations and recreational harvests through – some, or none of the following;
1. Buoy Counts; (may require regulation change to one float per trap)
2. Extensive Creel Surveys;
3. Recreational Logbooks;
4. Annual Limits;
5. Open and transparent accountability in 1st Nations fisheries.
At this time, DFO wants all of our closure requests on the table with the idea of receiving no further requests for a period of time (5years). It is not want us as reps want as we would prefer a fluid process where closures would be added after we see how the commercial fleet moves around impacting other communities in their quest for product.
-Area 14 request for Permanent 1st Nations FSC - Recreation Harvest Reserve:
Motion will be going forth to the GFSFWG Meeting Friday Jan 30, 2008 then forwarded if passed to the Main Board SFAB. This motion is to close access to the commercial fishery for commercial crabbing in the entire Baynes sound. (larger than the current seasonal closure)
-K’omoks 1st Nation has supported a closure to commercial sector but has also indicated they wish it for exclusive 1st Nations use.
-Letter has been sent back from DFO to K’omoks 1st Nation requesting more information and clarity.
-First Nations generally seem to be starting to object to these reserves, since now they are attempting to utilize some PICFI money to gain access to commercial licenses.
5. Intertidal Shellfish: Dave Fogtmann
-Introduced a new issue arising where Intertidal shellfish along the beach will be affected by new legislation around water treatment plant outflows.
-US food and drug administration has concerns and expectations to close all shoreline within 7km of any outflow in the case of a Water Treatment failure.
Additionally this new initiative will create impose three areas for different restrictions; one permanent (minimum 300 metres from any outflow), one conditional (split into two degrees of closures) and one generally open.
-Not only will commercial harvesters be affected but recreational as well.
First area being studied is Ladysmith Harbour.
The treatment plant cannot handle the water in high water flow periods and will end up being closed at certain times re waste water treatment over flow. Crofton, will be next addressed and down the line Powell River.
-Even, our water treatment plant is not immune to the problems and we can expect increased announcement for closures.
6. Prawn; Dave Fogtmann
-Advised of the likelihood that due to frequency of berried prawns encountered early in the season, the commercial sector will likely open later than the usual May 1 start date; possibly May 7 or May 15.
-This would allow area 14 fishers an extra time to harvest in advance of the commercial sector start.
-It was also brought up the problem with the management plan in the high use areas re recreational sector standing down for the first week. This stand-down period would be in the long weekend of May so will not be agreed to by the recreational sector. Hopefully Shellfish Management will consider this problem in their decision.
-Also there is a possibility that the commercial sector will bring back to the table a means to increase the length of their fishery to extend the length of time that a live market can be possible and to generally increase the price of their product. The approach now is to open hard for 60 days then shut down; market is mainly Japan frozen market. Prices are down and a new approach is necessary. This will be watched.
7. Halibut Update: Kent Spencer and Chuck
IPHC
-Annual meeting results were as expected but not as desired; Canada took a beating along with Washington, Oregon, and California. Canadian TAC has been reduced to 7,630,000 which means the recreational TAC has been lowered to 918,360 lbs (providing the allocation between commercial and recreational sectors remains the same). Alaska basically went with IPHC recommendations since the current apportionment methodology being used is favouring the Northern and western areas. We accept at this time that these stocks of halibut are migrating past the age of 8 (originally thought) thus what IPHC considered were part of the “Canadian biomass” are actually fish immigrating from areas North and west.
This apportionment relies on setline survey CPUE X bottom area to work out a percentage of the exploitable biomass we are allowed to fish. This means of apportioning is still being fought by Canada and others.
-Area 2c is in the same boat as Canada with a declining exploitable biomass; however, with added domestic issues;
Management Options:
-Until the Minister of fisheries decides what the recreational allocation will look be we are not yet in a position to determine how the recreational fishery can proceed.
-We are not in position to attempt to determine; when the fishery will open or how the fishery will look like. The commercial fishery will open March 21 and if the recreational fishery is not open very soon the optics will be very poor.
8. Lingcod Update: Strait of Georgia
Lingcod:
-Part of the agenda of the GFSFWG meeting;
2008: Lingcod harvested: 2,292 kept with 11,753 released; 4% mortality on released has not yet been added into the figures.
-TAC is 5,000 pieces with 7,000 mortalities.
-Intention is to continue with the pilot program for SOG to keep the 60cm size limit instead of reverting back to the 65 cm limit through other areas (except areas 1-10)
-Season; hopefully still June 1 – Sept 30
Rockfish:
-Since total mortalities were below that we are allowed; we hope to have a shoulder season at least added on to the season rather than just operate concurrent with the Lingcod season; thus allowing for retention of rockfish bycatch while salmon fishing.
2008: 4,813 kept and 5,322 released for a total of 10,135 rockfish mortalities. There will still need to be adjustments in this but hopefully not changing this much.
-Max Target mortalities is approximately 18,929 (25% of 2001 harvest figures)
9. 2009 Salmon Season Forecast: Kent Spencer
-Too early for concrete numbers, there has been no meetings yet of the Coho/ Chinook working group.
-It appears likely we will have the same management strategy as for 2008;
-Inside waters will probably have conservation corridors.
-Question; where were the DFO concerns on the west coast? Answer Nootka and Clayoquot among others. One person suggests that most rivers had an increase in returns. This, however, was countered by DFO as there are definite concerns in areas on WCVI.
-Suggests that the bad news advertised has caused decrease in bookings as perception that BC is a bad news scenario. The DFO 2009 Salmon Stock Outlook WCVI wild Chinook populations are categorized as a 1 (stock of concern) and WCVI hatchery Chinook populations are categorized as a 2/3 (low/near target) depending on location. These are the same rankings as last year. Subject to future discussions, what this indicates is that the recreational regulatory package for Chinook along WCVI in 2009 will be very similar to 2008
-PST Chinook; Advised of the signing of this treaty appendix
-Coho expecting same regs as last year
-Sockeye fishery should be better than last year.
10. 2008 Enforcement Update: Bryce Gillard (Field supervisor)
-13% reduction in patrol times out of Comox due to staffing deployments and acting assignments.
-Surveillance plane inadvertently skewed data as entered Comox area into the offshore west coast- this was not sorted out by the time of the meeting.
-Increased activity in Intertidal shellfish areas
-Joint work with military aircraft and personnel.
-9% of time spent on salmon tidal.
-Change in management fishery for herring has reduced enforcement presence.
-Prawn fishery commercial sector first two weeks intense enforcement including double hauling.
-Over-limiting of daily quota on shellfish is a problem in this area.
- Bryce has started to attempt to divert enforcement fines to salmon enhancement and local hatcheries. Although the funds would be welcome for enforcement budget, Bryce advised these fines cannot be diverted to enforcement unless considered coming from organized crime violations.
-Contaminated beach enforcement increased from 4% to 11% of field time on the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program
-Significant issues;
-Foreshore development and rip rap; Jurisdictional problems; These are mostly trespass issues with Lands Branch of the Province-Minor Fish Habitat Impacts
-Removal of trees is causing erosion thus rip rap being put in place thus cutting off public access to these foreshore areas.
-Rip rap is cheaper than digging out the land owners land and building up the foreshore
-River poaching has been a real problem this year.
-Snagging out of season is the main problem.
-Bryce advises that C & P are holding public auctions locally on impounded product.
Goals;
-need a storage location for their zodiac;
-With the vessel lacking dedicated funding it is becoming increasingly difficult to keep the patrol boat in this area, which would be a big loss for C & P.
-South Coast is over their limit for warehouse space so Comox will not get any funds for this storage problem. Hopefully this is something the community at large can help with.
-Trying to get some enforcement and protection for the remaining Abalone beds von Hornby and Denman Islands.
-At this point there has been little interaction with the public on the two islands regarding knowledge of who is poaching the Abalone; and advised that 95% of the charges are due to tips received from the public. The objective of C&P is to engage the locals in this issue and begin developing a program similar to the old abalone watch program from 10 years ago. -Snagging on the rivers is also main concern, along with illegal sales of shellfish.
147 recorded incidents from last year – 116 violations (recreational, commercial, Aboriginal, Non fisher related {habitat, other legislation-vandalism, Sea lion Shootings}.
11. Boundary Change Request area between Area 14-11 and 14-9:
-Request by Ray Schaeffer to move a portion of the boundary; starting at the Bell Buoy marking the entrance to Comox Harbour, to either of two locations inside of the current line from the Bell Buoy to Cape Lazo. (suggested point is Point Holmes ramp area)
-This request was originally brought to the SFAC March 13, 2008.
-Suggestion by Ray is that this would give a fishing opportunity for youth in safe waters during the summer.
Darcy Miller was tasked to give his advice and recommendations to the committee re this issue brought forward at an earlier meeting in 2008
Ray suggests the summer run Chinook are not proven as being a genetically distinct strain.
Darcy advised that the Puntledge Summer Run Chinook are genetically different and tested each year.
-Ray admits there was some genetic crossing before with fall run Chinook but now this has been genetically managed and kept separate.
-Protection of the Summer Run Chinook is the main issue from our committee for not moving the boundaries due to pooling of these Chinook.
-With the potential listing on SARA of this stock there is little chance for this holding area to be opened up until September.
-John Sheppard suggests that maybe this could be looked at as is such a small area.
-Bryce Gillard advised it is not closed to fishing - just no retention. Suggest that the youth should be advised why there is no retention and thus educating the youth on the needs for conservation.
12. Questions from Observers: (additional to topics above)
a. Salmon Management in general; re fishing opportunities around the island
b. Aquaculture;
-General dissatisfaction with continuing use of open net pens in any salmon aquaculture operation-Sea Lice and associated effects on migrating juveniles
-Consider Atlantic salmon escapements as invasive species
-C&P advised escapements are a problem and investigations are held when this happens.
c. Herring fishery;
-This year the fishery 80% 3 year fish hence small fish.
-It was suggested there is 2 year supply n freezers but Dave Boyce (commercial fisher in attendance) advised there is very little left now.
-Question asked; what is the sfab position on herring fishery? We answered that the SFAB has not taken a firm position although various SFACs are not in favour.
It’s a difficult position and herring stocks have wild swings in biomass although we all are concerned with the downward trend and small fish.
Lyle Pierce (commercial fisher) advised that gill netters are size selective where as seine are less selective.
-Many suggestions that this fishery management should be changed, along with more considerations to removals of all of the other base level species such as pilchards and Krill
-All in attendance considered that Herring is vital to our attempts to revive our salmon stocks in Georgia Strait.
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