REVIEW OF 2000 SALMON SEASON The conservation-oriented approach for managing the 2000 salmon fishery resulted in fishing opportunities for all sectors and better than expected returns in most areas of British Columbia. The conservation measures on coho stocks of concern implemented by Fisheries and Oceans Canada during the last three years, combined with selective fishing techniques and habitat programs, have proven to be generally effective tools in rebuilding programs. When coho conservation measures were introduced in 1998, a six to eight-year rebuilding period was projected. Fisheries and Oceans Canada used a flexible approach to salmon management by adopting management measures that allowed fisheries to occur with no or minimal impact on stocks of concern. The 2000 salmon fishing plans for BC reflected conservation requirements for five key salmon stocks: West Coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI) chinook, Upper Skeena coho, Thompson coho and Rivers Inlet/Smith Inlet sockeye. New measures were implemented in 2000 to protect weak returns of WCVI chinook, while coho conservation measures similar to the previous two years were maintained. The introduction of selective fishing techniques and gear to all salmon fisheries has allowed harvesting opportunities for other salmon species while continuing to protect those stocks most at risk. The commercial fishery overall has progressively moved towards becoming more selective, and experiments are continuing in order to improve performance. First Nations and recreational fishing activities have also undergone changes to protect stocks of concern, including the introduction of selective fishing techniques. In all fisheries (First Nations, recreational and commercial), extensive time and area closures have been applied to avoid impacts on stocks of concern. As well, many activities to protect and restore fish habitat have been carried out to assist stocks with a conservation concern. The Habitat Restoration and Salmon Enhancement Program (HRSEP) provided $6.7 million in 2000/01 to support more than 100 community projects designed to conserve salmon and their habitat in B.C. and the Yukon. Many of these projects are designed to improve weak salmon stocks such as coho. The Strategic Stock Enhancement Program continues to address serious conservation concerns for endangered stocks, using fish culture and salmon hatcheries, with partners such as local First Nations, community groups and industry. The intent of strategic stock enhancement is to stop the decline of endangered stocks so they can rebuild when ocean conditions improve. The fish culture activities are short-term and designed specifically to maintain individual stock integrity and genetic diversity. Strategic enhancement is designed for conservation and is coupled with harvest management restrictions and habitat protection. To date, coho salmon from the Thompson and Upper Skeena rivers, summer chinook from the Puntledge River and sockeye from Rivers and Smith inlets have been targeted by the Department for strategic enhancement. Upper Skeena coho are no longer considered to be at risk of extirpation. Northern B.C. In 2000, there was an above average return of sockeye to the Skeena River and an average return of sockeye to the Nass River, which allowed for selective seine and gillnet full fleet fisheries. In-season estimates of upper Skeena coho indicated an above average marine survival rate, and the test fishery indicated the index of abundance was significantly higher this year than in 1997 (the brood year) and slightly above the 1990s. This is a positive sign, considering the brood year for this year’s returning fish (1997) was one of the lowest on record. As a consequence, the gillnet fleet was allowed two extra days of fishing for sockeye (without adversely impacting coho stocks) in Area 4 and saw the best sockeye catch levels in recent years. The total gillnet catch in Areas 3 to 5 was over 1.3 million sockeye. For the 2000 season, the gillnet fleet fished for 19 days in Area 4, as compared to two fishing days in 1999 and eight days in 1998. Seiners also had a good fishing season, with sockeye catches of more than 1.1 million fish in Areas 3 to 5. In the North Coast recreational fishery, improved stock information permitted openings on the Skeena River. Selective fishing techniques were introduced, thereby allowing the continuation of chinook, sockeye and pink salmon fisheries, with minimal impacts on Upper Skeena coho. Chinook returns to the Skeena River were very strong and, because sockeye returns were better than expected, the retention of sockeye was increased in some areas from two to four per day. Limited coho opportunities in tidal waters were also part of the recreational fishing experience this season. In most tidal areas anglers were permitted to retain one coho per day and in some areas this was increased to two per day based on in-season abundance indicators. First Nations in the North Coast generally met or were provided the opportunity to meet catch targets for food, social and ceremonial fisheries. Excess to Salmon Spawning Requirement (ESSR) fisheries were also conducted by selected First Nations on the Skeena River, and accounted for a total harvest of more than 750,000 sockeye. On the Upper Skeena, existing enhancement efforts have been continued on coho stocks for the Upper Bulkley, Kispiox and Babine rivers and Toboggan Creek. New strategic enhancement efforts were started on other coho stocks from the Upper Bulkley, Morice and Upper Owen Creek and the Morrison River, a tributary to Babine Lake. Central Coast Commercial fisheries in the Central Coast were significantly smaller in 2000 both in catch and number of vessels participating in the fishery, in part due to weak returns for some species and simultaneous commercial fishing opportunities for sockeye in North Coast areas. Preseason forecasts for Area 7 and 8 indicated moderate fishing opportunities for gillnets and seines for pink and chum, but only limited commercial fishing opportunities occurred due to stock abundance. In Area 8, chinook returns to the Bella Coola/Atnarko system were strong, resulting in a good gillnet fishery, while pink and chum were weaker than forecast resulting in below average fishing opportunities. As expected, returns of sockeye to Rivers Inlet and Smith Inlet were poor and resulted in closures to both First Nations and recreational fisheries, and continued closures for commercial fisheries. First Nations and recreational fishing opportunities for other species in these areas (Areas 9 and 10) were similar to recent years. There were no commercial fisheries expected and none were conducted on pink or chum in 2000 in the Rivers and Smith Inlet areas. In general, catch and fishing effort by First Nations in the Central Coast were similar to recent years. Exceptions to this were in Rivers and Smith inlets where sockeye returns were at critically low levels. Strong chinook and average sockeye returns to the Atnarko River and other small sockeye systems and improved coho returns to the Central Coast provided significant First Nations catches. In recreational fisheries in the Central Coast, there were fewer chinook opportunities, but local coho stocks were relatively strong and catches were comparable to 1999. Other species such a pink salmon resulted in average catches. Southern B.C. The returns of Thompson River and Strait of Georgia coho continued to be poor in 2000. Coho returns on the West Coast Vancouver Island and in Johnstone Strait were similar to 1999. Somass chinook and sockeye, and south coast coho returns were poor in most areas. However, Fraser River sockeye returned in numbers at the high end of the predicted range and Mainland pink salmon returns were better than anticipated. Fishing opportunities for all sectors were generally permitted when stocks of concerns were not present and surpluses of target species were identified. On the Thompson River, existing enhancement efforts have been continued on coho stocks for the Coldwater and Deadman rivers and Spius, Louis, Lemieux, and Dunn creeks. New strategic enhancement efforts were started on other coho stocks from the Bridge, Eagle and Middle Shuswap rivers and Duteau Creek. The commercial harvest of Somass River sockeye (Barkley Sound) was significantly lower than anticipated because the returns were less than expected (375,000 vs. 532,000). The Area D gillnet fleet harvested approximately 16,000 and the Area G troll fleet harvested about 5,000. First Nations food, social and ceremonial fisheries occurred in outer Barkley Sound and accounted for a harvest of about 14,000 sockeye, and the pilot sales in the Somass River fishery resulted in catches of 37,000. Fraser River sockeye returns were stronger than forecast and resulted in modest fishing opportunities for the Area B seine fleet, with a catch of 325,000; Area D gillnet, with a catch of 140,000; and Area G troll, with a catch of 20,000 and Area H troll fleet with a catch of 63,000 sockeye. The year 2000 was an off-cycle year for Fraser River pink salmon. However, the commercial fishery was provided two pink fishing opportunities for troll, gillnet and seine gear in the Mainland Inlets. Catches were strong in the Area B seine fishery (1.3 million pinks), but poor in the gillnet and troll fisheries. Only limited fisheries were possible for chum in Johnstone Strait, Strait of Georgia and Fraser River (Study Area), as returns were well below average. Nitinat chum returns were also well below average, and no fisheries were conducted. Like other stocks, Nootka chum returns were below average but provided a small harvest for the Area D gillnet fleet through September and October. The pre-season forecast for the West Coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI) indicated a low return of local chinook stocks, therefore maximum protection for these stocks was necessary. For example, a salmon conservation corridor for the recreational fishery was established during specific times when chinook would be migrating down the WCVI (August and September). Opportunities for other local salmon stocks were made available to recreational anglers prior to and after the time when stocks of concern would be returning to the area. As part of a three-year pilot program, the Area G troll fleet conducted assessment fisheries on passing stocks in April and May and in late September, harvesting about 7,500 chinook. In October, as part of the same pilot, the Area G fleet conducted a fishery on passing stocks with a total catch of about 25,000 chinook. During the winter months an additional assessment fishery is being conducted with a target catch of 6,000 chinook. The total Area G chinook catch to the end of October, 2000, was approximately 33,000. First Nations fishers were provided directed fishing opportunities from July through September on Fraser River sockeye in Johnstone Strait, on the WCVI, on the Sunshine Coast and off the mouth of the Fraser River. Total catch of Fraser River sockeye in the marine South Coast approach areas was about 91,000. Limited terminal coho fishing opportunities were provided to First Nations for coho where abundance permitted. On the Somass system, an ESSR fishery for coho was opened, with a catch of 56,000. In the Strait of Georgia, First Nations have been provided fishing opportunities for all species. Overall, catches have generally been low to moderate. Recreational anglers enjoyed a wide variety of fishing opportunities in southern B.C. in 2000. The replacement of red zones with special management zones provided greater flexibility in managing fisheries while maintaining conservation objectives for stocks of concern. Coho selective mark fisheries (hatchery coho) were provided on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, in lower Johnstone Strait/Upper Strait of Georgia (Area 13 and 14), in Juan de Fuca Strait and in the Fraser River as part of a continuing program to explore ways to provide opportunities to the recreational community from enhanced production without impacting stocks of concern. In addition, a number of terminal fishing opportunities for coho were provided to anglers. In particular, excellent fishing opportunities for coho have occurred in Alberni Inlet and the Stamp/Somass system. The recreational fishery for Fraser River sockeye and Study Area pink salmon was average in the approach areas. In the Strait of Georgia, some chinook spot closures were eliminated after consultations with the recreational fishing community. Overall, the South Coast marine area recreational catches were average in comparison to recent years. As far as enhancement projects are concerned, a captive breeding program was begun in 1998 for Puntledge River summer chinook. Three brood years (1997, 1998 and 1999) are now being reared to maturity at Rosewall Creek Hatchery. These fish started to yield eggs in the fall of 2000, with a target of one million eggs per year. Fraser River As noted above, the Fraser River sockeye return was at the high end of the predicted range, therefore fishing opportunities were available to First Nations, as well as the commercial and recreational fishing sectors in the Fraser River. The run size has been estimated at 5.2 million sockeye. The combined estimate for sockeye salmon catches in all Canadian commercial fisheries is nearly one million fish, with about 417,000 of these being taken by the Area E gillnet fleet in the Fraser River. The Area E gillnet fleet also fished for chum salmon in November with a total catch of about 6,000. There was also an experimental gear study conducted by this group that harvested an additional 8,100 chum salmon. The Musqueam/Tsawwassen First Nations conducted a small native pilot sales fishery for sockeye and chum salmon with catches of 10,400 sockeye and 17,000 chum. First Nations in the Fraser River enjoyed strong fishing opportunities for food, social and ceremonial purposes, with approximately 744,000 sockeye harvested. First Nations catches of other salmon species in the Fraser River included 2,000 coho, 22,000 chum and 25,200 chinook. Recreational opportunities for sockeye, coho and chinook were also provided on the Fraser River in 2000. Catches were approximately 26,500 sockeye, 10,500 coho, 2,000 chum and 11,700 chinook. -30- For more information: Greg Savard Backgounder: SELECTIVE
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