Conservation Measures for Northern and Southern BC Chinook Salmon and Southern Resident Killer Whale

[wildmanyeah]

Circa 2008 but I don't think its changed much

7.2.Catch Monitoring
All First Nation’s fisheries are authorized by communal licence. The majority of areas have catch monitoring systems in place to estimate catches. In areas where there is not a specific catch monitoring program, the fisher is required by licence to report his/her catch to the band and the band to report to DFO.

Areas where specific catch reporting programs have been implemented include:

a)Below the PortMannBridge

During fisheries for food, social, and ceremonial purposes, catch monitoring is undertaken by Aboriginal Fishery Officers and First Nations fishery monitors who collect hail information from the fishers. This information is compiled by each band and forwarded to DFO following the close of the fishery.

b)PortMannBridge to Sawmill Creek

i) Set net and drift net fishery between PortMannBridge and Mission:

First Nations monitors collect hails at Katzie Reserve Dock, BarnstonIsland and the Kwantlen Reserve Dock at FortLangley. Set net fishers hail in their data by phone to band fisheries offices. In addition, Charter Patrolmen count effort and take on-the-water hails during the Katzie, Kwantlen and Matsqui communal fisheries.

ii) Set net and drift net fishery between Mission and Sawmill Creek:

Monitors are stationed at main access points on the river during openings to collect catch per unit effort (CPUE) and 24-hour effort surveys. Sites include: Leq’a:mel, Island 22/Kilby, Skway, Scowlitz, Seabird, Agassiz Bridge, Hunter Creek, Chawathil Reserve, Coquihalla, and Yale Beach.

Helicopter over flights are used to conduct instantaneous gear counts between Mission and Sawmill Creek. These over flights are conducted once during the fishery and require one flight technician on each flight.

Data collection forms are gathered from each of the monitors at the various monitoring sites and provided to DFO. DFO then produces catch estimates for each opening by expanding the catch rates by effort counts to generate weekly catch estimates.

c)Sawmill Creek to KellyCreekand the Thompson River downstream of the BonaparteRiver, KellyCreek upstream to Deadman Creek and Deadman Creek to Naver Creek

A sample survey program during FN directed Chinook fisheries is conducted by FNs /DFO staff along the FraserRiver between Sawmill Creek and KellyCreek and in the Thompson River downstream of the BonaparteRiverconfluence. Fishery Technicians interview all fishers encountered during random roving vehicle patrols to obtain catch and effort information (CPUE). Fishing effort is obtained by averaging the count of each type of active gear observed during a given week.

No catch monitoring program was undertaken in the mainstem FraserRiver from KellyCreek upstream to Deadman Creek during directed First Nation Chinook fisheries. Catch and effort in directed Chinook fisheries in this area is extremely small. Catch monitoring is undertaken by members of the High Bar Indian Band when sockeye fisheries occur in this area. Chinook caught incidentally in fisheries directed on sockeye salmon are enumerated.

Very limited First Nation fisheries directed on Chinook salmon occur in the mainstem FraserRiver from Deadman Creek to Naver Creek. Accordingly, no monitoring program is in place to monitor catch in directed Chinook fisheries. Monitoring occurs during directed sockeye fisheries in this area and Chinook harvested incidentally to directed sockeye fisheries are enumerated.

d)Naver Creek upstream and the NechakoRiver to IslePierre

Lheidli T’enneh Nation monitor each of the fisheries via collecting hail information from the fishers.

e)NechakoRiver upstream of IslePierre and the Stuart System

Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, Tl’azt’en Nation, Nadleh Whut’en Band and Stellat’en First Nation monitor each of the fisheries via collecting hail information from the fishers.

f)Thompson River upstream of the BonaparteRiver

The Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation Fisheries Commission monitor each of the fisheries on a census basis utilizing staff from their individual member bands.

g)ShuswapRiver (ShuswapFalls to MabelLake)

The Okanagan Nation Alliance monitor their fisheries on a census basis utilizing staff from their individual member bands.

 

[high tide]

There's an old story about a WW2 bomber design team. They looked at the planes coming back, shot full of holes and decided to add armor to those locations on the airplane. Then one guy said, well where are they not shot full of holes. Because the planes shot in those spots aren't coming back at all. The designers armored those locations on the airplanes and more bombers (and their crews) came back.

So here you are worried about the few thousand fish coming back, and not worried at all about the millions of juveniles going out. That somehow, Aboriginal fishing is responsible for the lowered ocean suitability rates. If more juveniles survive, more adults come back. That's pretty straight forward to me, but so many people are just jealously fixated on Aboriginal fishing.

No where did I say that that non surviving juveniles wasn't part of the problem. Matter fact if you look through some of my posts I'm all in for a CULL of Seal and Sea lions. Plus better habitat.
But that won't happen with all the NDGreen type people around here. The only CHANCE a CULL will take place is if the FN are on it ......... But personally I won't believe that they will go public on it.

Our Fisheries Management is A JOKE.
No different then our Wildlife Management in BC.
Until FN are ACCOUNTABLE and TRUTHFUL About all harvests of fish and Wildlife, Things will continue to spiral down out of control.

Manage to ZERO. OUR OFFICIALS, THOSE MAKING THESE DECISIONS should hang their head in shame fir NOT addressing the REAL ISSUES ......... that Include FN harvests period.

Been fishing for dam near 60 years on this coast and can tell you FN Harvest and Unaccountability Is an Issue.

 

[halimark]

Sorry Che, I have seen to much with my own eyes to believe what you state. Now if Canadian FN were anything like the US Jicarilla Apache Nation I would not say this. They are STEWARDS OF THE LAND, proven, documented and visible, look what they have done, are doing and continue to lead the way for fish and wildlife management on their lands.

PS We are worried about all salmon going in and coming from the sea, but the recent Gov rules only closed us to the fish coming back so there are more for the river netters. Not good for the salmon conservation, increase's or survival.

HM

 

[ryanb]

Che,

You seem to be missing the point. We can address every issue like ocean survival, rec and commercial harvest, habitat enhancement, but if returning salmon aren't allowed to spawn because every one of them ends up in a net the salmon are going to be in big trouble! Jealousy has nothing to do with it!

There's an old story about a WW2 bomber design team. They looked at the planes coming back, shot full of holes and decided to add armor to those locations on the airplane. Then one guy said, well where are they not shot full of holes. Because the planes shot in those spots aren't coming back at all. The designers armored those locations on the airplanes and more bombers (and their crews) came back.

So here you are worried about the few thousand fish coming back, and not worried at all about the millions of juveniles going out. That somehow, Aboriginal fishing is responsible for the lowered ocean suitability rates. If more juveniles survive, more adults come back. That's pretty straight forward to me, but so many people are just jealously fixated on Aboriginal fishing.

 

[Clint r]

On a good note, they don’t all end up in nets. I live at the spawning grounds at the end of the Shuswap river run and there’s been salmon rolling in the river the last two mornings. It an awesome sign as last year the FN fish counters counted under a dozen on this stream. .

Earliest I’ve ever seen them arrive is June 15. Usually July but waters high this year and maybe why theyre early.

And they’re springs. We get coho too but not until October.

 

[california]

I dont gave a problem with the native Frazer river fisheries, they have won the right to do so in the courts and there are historical and cultural reasons to do so. The allocations they have received and continue to get are not a threat to the survival of the runs. However there are 2 significant problems.
1. Non reporting of allowable catch. There is no incentive for natives to report their catch. They keep fishing if they dont report. This isn't like commercial fishing where there are monitors on some boats and records from processors. Also creelsurveys for sport. The native fishery is almost completely unmonitored and the sales are all cash in small amounts so untraceable.
2. Even when the fishery is closed the fishing doesnt stop, as there is little enforcement.

Some native bands may end up being good stewards of the resource, such as the WCVI where there arent large numbers of bands competing for the fish. On the Frasier this has not and is not happenning. Each group wants to get as much as possible with the assumption of they dont the next band will. Tbe "tragedy of the commons" also effects the natives as it has non natives for decades now. If the assumptions that are resulting in no enforcement of the allocations continue, the runs will go extinct eventually. Although it is good to hear some have made it to the shuswap!

 

[high tide]

I live within 4 miles of the mighty Fraser near Ft. Langley.......

And I can tell you now and for the last 1 1/2 months our Meek Early Spring Return Chinook has been getting gill netted by FN on the Fraser Valley Portion the entire time. Even for sale and delivered to your door.......in Washington ......Fraser River Kings
Yet the runs are in trouble....... DFO and the Ministers words ........ We must Save the Whales, save the weak Chinook runs.
So FN continue fishing with the nets in the River ....... Fresh fish for Sale. Wow.

Makes a lot of sence doesn't it?

I'm all in for Cerimonial or tradition .......... But with ACCOUNTABILITY, which there is clearly NOT ENOUGH.

Pathetic.

 

[profisher]

I will share something that happened a few years ago when one of our SFAB reps asked for end of season Chinook catch data on the Fraser. He was emailed or faxed a document and he noticed in handwriting was a comment that the FN hammered Chinook beyond what was officially reported. Our SFAB rep got a quick phone call from the DFO staff who sent him that document telling him that that info was not suppos d to have been included and please don't share or go public with it. He never did. But it shows you DFO knows what is going on but buries it.

 

[ziggy]

I will share something that happened a few years ago when one of our SFAB reps asked for end of season Chinook catch data on the Fraser. He was emailed or faxed a document and he noticed in handwriting was a comment that the FN hammered Chinook beyond what was officially reported. Our SFAB rep got a quick phone call from the DFO staff who sent him that document telling him that that info was not suppos d to have been included and please don't share or go public with it. He never did. But it shows you DFO knows what is going on but buries it.

Sad that DFO is covering up!

 

[littlechucky]

Sad that DFO is covering up!

What is the rec take of early run Chinook?

My guess is it is negligible.

 

[profisher]

Before this years recent suite of new regs it was around 2% and now 35% reduction of that number

 

[Silver Streak]

The recent closures and reduced limits on chinook salmon have nothing to do with recovery of Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) or any other killer whales. Why else would only recreational anglers be targeted with restrictions? The ultimate goal of DFO is to re-allocate the salmonid resource to First Nations. They have quietly been doing this for several years now, but the SRKW issue has given them the leverage to ramp up the pressure on both sportfishermen and commercial trollers. First Nations have special rights entrenched in the Canadian Constitution thanks to Pierre Trudeau. Get prepared for more closures in 2019 as DFO steamrolls ahead with their plan. Recent DFO reports identify Swiftsure Bank, La Perouse Bank and Johnstone Strait as Critical Southern and Northern Resident Killer Whale habitat. The same report also states that fishing for chinook salmon causes destruction of critical killer whale habitat. Put two and two together and the writing is on the wall.

 

[california]

What is the rec take of early run Chinook?

My guess is it is negligible.

Rec anglers took 45 to 50% of the chinook coastwide in 2015 and 2016. Commercial takes a bit less, and FN about 10% (officially. Itis likely higher). Half the rec take is south coast area, so recreational anglers would take a substantial portion.

 

[profisher]

The numbers of 2% were for areas 19/20 which is Victoria out past Sooke and is on stocks of concern.

 

[california]

The numbers of 2% were for areas 19/20 which is Victoria out past Sooke and is on stocks of concern.

These stocks are hit by rec fishermen from HG down the WCVI. And in the SOG, areas 19 and 20 and in the vancouver area. No chinook stock is only utilized 2% by sportfisherman and 98% by commies/FN. Only pinks chums and sockeye have that kind of proportional utilization. We are the largest utilization group on chinook. Any conservation actions will have to include sport fisherman. This myth we have no impact on chinook utilization is just that. Will it help the whales. Who knows, probably not, but that wasnt his question.

 

[Whitebuck]

The % that the rec guys take is distributed by many different rivers and stocks other than the Fraser. When you have in river river fisheries hammering these early stocks there is nowatering down from other river systems.
So what is the % of actual early stock the rec guys take? Not even in the same ballpark of what the nets in the Fraser take!!
FYI....all the major backeddies and choke points are netted off in the Fraser canyon right now....another 18hr opening.

 

[Floater]

I’ll buy the ‘Ceremonial’ line when they fish with rod and reel.

I’d actually be happy to compromise with that change, but the net is a commercial tool. Utter ********.

 

[Clint r]

This.^^^^^. Ceremonial/food fisheries are one thing but, use traditional methods. I’d be down with that. But using “white mans” tools like nylon nets and gas motors on aluminum boats doesn’t strike me as very traditional.

 

[halimark]

The courts have recognized the existence of public environmental rights and have held the Crown responsible for holding in trust the resources necessary for those rights. In effect, the courts recognition in these cases of the Crown’s responsibility to protect vulnerable resources as public rights, is a finding that government must hold these vulnerable resources in a public trust for present and future generations of Canadians. The Public Right to Navigation and Fishing has been tested in the earliest Canadian decisions protecting public rights which arose in the 19 th and early 20th centuries in relation to navigation and fishing. During that time, access to water for transportation, commercial activity and as a source of food was crucial to human health and the functioning of economic and social structures. Certain natural resources are vested in the Crown as the guardian of public rights, and that the Crown has the power, and is in fact bound, to protect those resources. The Crown cannot grant away such public rights. Therefor RIGHTS and TRUST cannot be extinguished. However DFO has in fact over time broken Public TRUST.

Agree with your post, just not sure how it ties in with sport hunting and fishing for non FN, agree responsibility to ensure resources for public for present and future generations, I do not think that that specifically includes hunting and fishing, that's why last Conservatives added a bill to include, now JT is looking at rescinding. I would NOT want this question put to our courts for an answer. I agree that DFO has broken the Public Trust, they are fully aware of current problems and are only attacking one sector for reductions.

HM

 

[SpringVelocity]

Thread by thread were going in circle. Fingers pointed in every direction. Look at the entire BC coast not just one area. Lots of talk you take this and I want to take that. I need more. Look guys everyone can be angry, but its DFO that has been making and allowing these policies. These aren't our local people its the managers and their counterparts in Ottawa.

Now you can sit there and argue about native rights, but it is a court case we will never win. You may not like it and will have to get over it, but a future I would like to see is FN standing right next to us not against. Bottom line is we need the government to invest in the money for salmon habitat and inject money into our hatcheries.

This time though we need more projects to clean up our rivers and streams so our fish have chance to come back. We need to also realize the our ministry of environment that guards are streams/rivers and our water supplies they need to be more accountable. They have very horrible track record with last government.

We also need these FN fisheries more accountable and again that is DFO. That also goes for non-native poaching on the river.

Keep in mind as you comment all First nations are not the same. Many rely on our industry and even work in it. The Fraser river isn't all of BC.

Anyhow just my view.