ChinookExerciser
Active Member
In April 2019, the Minister announced a broad suite of fisheries management actions to respond to the serious conservation issues facing Fraser Chinook Populations in 2019. The Minister also committed to engaging with First Nations, Province of BC, and stakeholders to provide advice and recommendations on approaches to address a broad range of issues facing Chinook stocks including: 1) conservation issues, including land and water use issues, 2) fish habitat issues, 3) the role of hatcheries to support rebuilding and the potential for marked fisheries, and 4) how seals and sea lions maybe affecting Chinook salmon, and other relevant topics.
The committee outlined above has since been formed with the scope of work focused on Southern BC Chinook conservation units, their ecosystems and habitats in British Columbia. Participants in the process will be asked to provide advice and recommendations on concrete management actions or proposals for the 2020 Chinook season and well as longer term actions to support recovery of these Chinook populations. DFO intends to consult broadly with First Nations and stakeholders on any management action recommendations or proposals through the IFMP consultation process before decisions are made.
In 2019, DFO implemented fisheries management measures to support the recovery of at risk Fraser River Chinook populations (see details here: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/mapscartes/salmon-saumon/2019-chinook-quinnat-eng.html). These measures were developed following consultation with First Nations communities, recreational and commercial fishing organizations and environmental organizations. DFO implemented highly precautionary fishery restrictions intended to provide a high degree of protection to at risk Fraser Spring 42, Spring 52 and Summer 52 Chinook returning in 2019. The management target was to reduce overall Canadian fishery mortalities on these populations to near 5% (note, the actual outcomes may vary around this target given uncertainties in the data). A review of whether the 2019 fishery management measures achieved these management targets will require an assessment of coded-wire tag data, stock composition information, and an evaluation of impacts of the Big Bar rockslide; information to support this assessment is usually available beginning in March 2020.
For 2020, planning will need to account for potential unfavorable marine/freshwater survival conditions and low productivity and potential negative impacts of the Big Bar rockslide on Fraser Chinook stocks. Ongoing precautionary fishery management actions to support conservation and promote rebuilding of these stocks will be needed. This will require continued restrictions and/or closures to fisheries in times and areas where these stocks are encountered in Northern and Southern BC including First Nations, recreational and commercial fisheries in marine areas and the Fraser River. Management measures identified in the current Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plans (effective June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020) will need to be reviewed to consider potential measures for implementation beginning in late winter/early spring 2020, as well as, measures that will be included in the new IFMPs covering the period from June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021.
The committee outlined above has since been formed with the scope of work focused on Southern BC Chinook conservation units, their ecosystems and habitats in British Columbia. Participants in the process will be asked to provide advice and recommendations on concrete management actions or proposals for the 2020 Chinook season and well as longer term actions to support recovery of these Chinook populations. DFO intends to consult broadly with First Nations and stakeholders on any management action recommendations or proposals through the IFMP consultation process before decisions are made.
In 2019, DFO implemented fisheries management measures to support the recovery of at risk Fraser River Chinook populations (see details here: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/mapscartes/salmon-saumon/2019-chinook-quinnat-eng.html). These measures were developed following consultation with First Nations communities, recreational and commercial fishing organizations and environmental organizations. DFO implemented highly precautionary fishery restrictions intended to provide a high degree of protection to at risk Fraser Spring 42, Spring 52 and Summer 52 Chinook returning in 2019. The management target was to reduce overall Canadian fishery mortalities on these populations to near 5% (note, the actual outcomes may vary around this target given uncertainties in the data). A review of whether the 2019 fishery management measures achieved these management targets will require an assessment of coded-wire tag data, stock composition information, and an evaluation of impacts of the Big Bar rockslide; information to support this assessment is usually available beginning in March 2020.
For 2020, planning will need to account for potential unfavorable marine/freshwater survival conditions and low productivity and potential negative impacts of the Big Bar rockslide on Fraser Chinook stocks. Ongoing precautionary fishery management actions to support conservation and promote rebuilding of these stocks will be needed. This will require continued restrictions and/or closures to fisheries in times and areas where these stocks are encountered in Northern and Southern BC including First Nations, recreational and commercial fisheries in marine areas and the Fraser River. Management measures identified in the current Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plans (effective June 1, 2019 to May 31, 2020) will need to be reviewed to consider potential measures for implementation beginning in late winter/early spring 2020, as well as, measures that will be included in the new IFMPs covering the period from June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021.
