So while this is very grim news if you remember pink salmon in 2017 suffered a big collapse. This year it was sockeye and chum. There was obviously some very poor ocean conditions in 2016 and 2017. The good news is pinks had a decent come back this year and they would of entered the ocean in 2018. Also coho and chinook have not seem to be as effected by it as much. So while this is very bad there is some hope that sockeye and chum stocks will improve in 4 years from now. Pending the Blobs return does not fishing them off.
Johnstone Strait Chum test fishing catches to date have been poor and are
tracking lowest on record since the 1980s. Based on the information to date
there is a low likelihood that the 1.0 million Chum critical threshold
identified in the IFMP and Chapter 6 of the Pacific Salmon Treaty will be met.
While abundance is uncertain, indications are that the return of Inner South
Coast Chum is tracking below the 1.0 million threshold and at this time
commercial fisheries planned preseason are suspended.
The Area H troll opening scheduled for October 12 to October 31, 2019, will be
suspended.
The Area B seine opening scheduled for October 21 and 22, 2019 will be
suspended.
The Area D gill net opening, scheduled from October 18 to 20 and October 24 to
26, 2019 will be suspended.
Area H troll, Area B seine, Area D gill net fishers are advised that the test
fishing catches and abundance estimates will continue to be monitored and if
required a revised fishing plan, based on updated in-season information, will
inform any future fishing opportunities.
The next scheduled update will be later this week.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Christine Bukta, Resource Manager (250) 286-5888 or
christine.bukta@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1035
Sent October 7, 2019 at 1312
