OldBlackDog
Well-Known Member
Subject: FN0860-Salmon - Fraser River Sockeye and Pink Update - Areas 11 to 29 - August 14, 2015
The Fraser River Panel met Friday, August 14th, to receive an update on the
migration of the Fraser sockeye and pink runs to date and review the status of
migration conditions within the Fraser River watershed.
The migration of sockeye through the marine approach areas as well as into the
Fraser River continues to be well below expected levels for the time of year
and forecast run size. The majority of the return continues to be Summer run
stocks with small contributions from Early Summer and Late run stocks. Test
fishery catches of sockeye in both marine assessment areas and in the Fraser
River are fluctuating but at much lower levels than expected at this time of
year. Estimates of Mission passage have been in the range of 25,000-50,000
sockeye per day while observations at Hells Gate indicate an increase in the
movement of sockeye in recent days.
The most recent DNA samples taken in the marine seine test fisheries show
sockeye stock compositions of 8 to 11% Early Summers, 81 to 83% Summer runs and
8 to 13% Late run stocks depending upon the approach area. At this time, the 5
day average diversion rate through Johnstone Strait is estimated to be 78%.
During the Panel call on Tuesday, the run size for Early Summer sockeye was
reduced to 350,000 fish with an associated run timing of July 29th in Area 20.
There were no further changes made today to the Early Summer run size. The
number of Early Summer run sockeye estimated to have passed Mission through
August 13th is 261,800 fish of which less than 40,000 are estimated to be Early
Thompson populations.
Due to the continuing low abundance of Summer run stocks, the Fraser Panel
further reduced the run size of Summer run stocks today to 1.15 million which
is considerably lower than the p50 forecast of 4.675 million fish. All Summer
run stocks are returning well below their respective p50 forecasts suggesting
they suffered below average survival in marine and/or freshwater environments.
The number of Summer run sockeye estimated to have passed Mission through
August 13th is 491,800 fish.
The return of Late run sockeye has also been tracking well below expected
levels for the time of year and forecast run size. At the meeting today the
Panel reduced the run size for this aggregate to the p10 run size of 419,000
fish. The number of Late run sockeye estimated to have passed Mission through
August 10th is less than 5,900.
On August 13th, the Fraser River water discharge at Hope was 2,440 cms, which
is approximately 30% below average for this date. The temperature of the Fraser
River at Qualark Creek on August 13th was 19.8°C, which is 1.8°C above average
for this date. The river discharge level is forecast to drop to 2,269 cms by
August 19th while water temperatures are forecast to increase to 19.4°C for the
same date. It should be noted that there is considerable uncertainty in the
temperature forecasts as weather predictions are highly uncertain. After
reviewing environmental and stock assessment information, there were no further
changes to the management adjustment factors for any of the run timing groups
today. Management adjustments are additional fish that are removed from
identified harvest levels and allowed to escape upstream in an attempt to
assist in achievement of escapement objectives for the different run timing
groups.
At this time it is too early to assess the return of Fraser pink salmon. Recent
test fishery catches in the marine approach areas have had lower abundances of
pink salmon than a week ago, although the proportion of Fraser pinks has
increased to 55% in Area 20. Run size and timing updates for Fraser pinks will
likely begin in mid to late August.
First Nations food, social and ceremonial (FSC) sockeye-directed fisheries in
marine areas closed to sockeye retention on Wednesday, August 12th at 23:59hrs.
First Nations FSC sockeye-directed fisheries in the lower Fraser River area
closed as scheduled on Thursday, August 13 while First Nations FSC sockeye-
directed fisheries in the BC Interior area from Sawmill Creek to Kelly Creek
also closed to sockeye retention on Thursday, August 13th due to conservation
concerns for Summer run sockeye. FSC fisheries upstream of Kelly Creek remain
open at this time to sockeye retention as these areas have only been open for
sockeye fishing for one week with minimal catches to date.
Fishers are requested to check for the opening times and any restrictions in
their local area. There are no planned commercial or recreational fisheries on
sockeye at this time. Additional management actions in the recreational
fisheries will be announced under a separate fishery notice.
The third upstream escapement report was released by DFO this week.
Observations of Early Stuart sockeye in the spawning areas indicate that
sockeye are present in a number of spawning areas and in good condition. Water
levels and temperatures are normal for this time of year. Enumeration programs
are underway in a number of Early Summer and Summer run systems with very few
fish observed to date. In addition, the counting fence at Sweltzer Creek
(Cultus) has been in place since July 20th with 6 fish observed to date.
The next in-season meeting of the Fraser River Panel is scheduled to occur on
The Fraser River Panel met Friday, August 14th, to receive an update on the
migration of the Fraser sockeye and pink runs to date and review the status of
migration conditions within the Fraser River watershed.
The migration of sockeye through the marine approach areas as well as into the
Fraser River continues to be well below expected levels for the time of year
and forecast run size. The majority of the return continues to be Summer run
stocks with small contributions from Early Summer and Late run stocks. Test
fishery catches of sockeye in both marine assessment areas and in the Fraser
River are fluctuating but at much lower levels than expected at this time of
year. Estimates of Mission passage have been in the range of 25,000-50,000
sockeye per day while observations at Hells Gate indicate an increase in the
movement of sockeye in recent days.
The most recent DNA samples taken in the marine seine test fisheries show
sockeye stock compositions of 8 to 11% Early Summers, 81 to 83% Summer runs and
8 to 13% Late run stocks depending upon the approach area. At this time, the 5
day average diversion rate through Johnstone Strait is estimated to be 78%.
During the Panel call on Tuesday, the run size for Early Summer sockeye was
reduced to 350,000 fish with an associated run timing of July 29th in Area 20.
There were no further changes made today to the Early Summer run size. The
number of Early Summer run sockeye estimated to have passed Mission through
August 13th is 261,800 fish of which less than 40,000 are estimated to be Early
Thompson populations.
Due to the continuing low abundance of Summer run stocks, the Fraser Panel
further reduced the run size of Summer run stocks today to 1.15 million which
is considerably lower than the p50 forecast of 4.675 million fish. All Summer
run stocks are returning well below their respective p50 forecasts suggesting
they suffered below average survival in marine and/or freshwater environments.
The number of Summer run sockeye estimated to have passed Mission through
August 13th is 491,800 fish.
The return of Late run sockeye has also been tracking well below expected
levels for the time of year and forecast run size. At the meeting today the
Panel reduced the run size for this aggregate to the p10 run size of 419,000
fish. The number of Late run sockeye estimated to have passed Mission through
August 10th is less than 5,900.
On August 13th, the Fraser River water discharge at Hope was 2,440 cms, which
is approximately 30% below average for this date. The temperature of the Fraser
River at Qualark Creek on August 13th was 19.8°C, which is 1.8°C above average
for this date. The river discharge level is forecast to drop to 2,269 cms by
August 19th while water temperatures are forecast to increase to 19.4°C for the
same date. It should be noted that there is considerable uncertainty in the
temperature forecasts as weather predictions are highly uncertain. After
reviewing environmental and stock assessment information, there were no further
changes to the management adjustment factors for any of the run timing groups
today. Management adjustments are additional fish that are removed from
identified harvest levels and allowed to escape upstream in an attempt to
assist in achievement of escapement objectives for the different run timing
groups.
At this time it is too early to assess the return of Fraser pink salmon. Recent
test fishery catches in the marine approach areas have had lower abundances of
pink salmon than a week ago, although the proportion of Fraser pinks has
increased to 55% in Area 20. Run size and timing updates for Fraser pinks will
likely begin in mid to late August.
First Nations food, social and ceremonial (FSC) sockeye-directed fisheries in
marine areas closed to sockeye retention on Wednesday, August 12th at 23:59hrs.
First Nations FSC sockeye-directed fisheries in the lower Fraser River area
closed as scheduled on Thursday, August 13 while First Nations FSC sockeye-
directed fisheries in the BC Interior area from Sawmill Creek to Kelly Creek
also closed to sockeye retention on Thursday, August 13th due to conservation
concerns for Summer run sockeye. FSC fisheries upstream of Kelly Creek remain
open at this time to sockeye retention as these areas have only been open for
sockeye fishing for one week with minimal catches to date.
Fishers are requested to check for the opening times and any restrictions in
their local area. There are no planned commercial or recreational fisheries on
sockeye at this time. Additional management actions in the recreational
fisheries will be announced under a separate fishery notice.
The third upstream escapement report was released by DFO this week.
Observations of Early Stuart sockeye in the spawning areas indicate that
sockeye are present in a number of spawning areas and in good condition. Water
levels and temperatures are normal for this time of year. Enumeration programs
are underway in a number of Early Summer and Summer run systems with very few
fish observed to date. In addition, the counting fence at Sweltzer Creek
(Cultus) has been in place since July 20th with 6 fish observed to date.
The next in-season meeting of the Fraser River Panel is scheduled to occur on
