The outlook for the 2006 salmon fishing season in British Columbia and the Yukon is expected to provide a range of fishing opportunities for First Nations and the recreational and commercial fishing sectors. Overall, most salmon stocks in Pacific Region waters appear to be healthy, although some, especially in southern waters, have declined in recent years and action will be taken to protect those weaker stocks.

This outlook outlines some of the potential fishing opportunities for First Nations and the commercial and recreational fishing sectors, as well as the stocks of concern around which fisheries will be shaped. Conservation remains the first priority in managing the salmon resource. The Department seeks to ensure safe levels of spawning escapements for all stocks while also providing fishing opportunities. Achieving these goals is complex and challenging because the resource is unpredictable, is characterized by many diverse co-migrating populations and is susceptible to changing environmental conditions. Therefore, fisheries management requires flexibility on the part of both DFO and harvesters.

Water levels and water temperatures, based on persistent warm ocean temperatures, snow pack levels and in-season river temperatures, have the potential to affect the migration health of salmon. Snowpack is normal or above normal throughout Vancouver Island and the south coast, mid and lower Fraser River, as well as the Thompson and Okanagan. Snowpack conditions in the northern part of the province including the Skeena, the Peace and the Upper Fraser are below normal to well below normal. Close attention will be paid to long range temperature forecasts and precipitation patterns as summer approaches.

The salmon management plans for 2006 are currently at the preliminary stage of consultation with First Nations, other fishing interests and the Integrated Harvest Planning Committee (IHPC). The IHPC is an advisory body established by DFO to provide formal advice and make recommendations to the department on operational decisions related to salmon harvesting in the Pacific Region. The committee is comprised of representatives from First Nations, and commercial, recreational and environmental interests. Participants on the committees are nominated by their respective organizations/sectors based on scientific, technical, ecological or traditional expertise/knowledge. The goal of the committee is to ensure fishing plans are coordinated and integrated, to identify potential conflicts, and to recommend a means of resolving disputes. In the coming months, DFO will be finalizing the salmon Integrated Fishery Management Plans (IFMPs) based on the input received from consultations.

There are a number of initiatives on which the Department is conducting consultations. For instance, the Department is moving forward with reforms to the Pacific fisheries and is currently consulting with salmon fishermen in different area and gear groups to discuss flexible fishing and co-management arrangements for 2006. A new catch monitoring framework to improve catch data and cost sharing arrangements are also currently in development and the area re-selection process is underway.

DFO is committed to reform in the salmon fishery and, as appropriate over the next few years, will be working with all of the fleets to adopt new management approaches that ensure conservation objectives can be achieved while improving the economic viability of the fishery. Specifically for 2006, commercial harvesters are again being encouraged to develop proposals that are designed to reduce the biological risk to stocks, provide greater management control, and increase the value of the harvest. New approaches will be incorporated into finalized salmon IFMPs, and some initiatives will be phased in over the next few years.

A high return of Fraser River sockeye is expected in 2006 but these returns include significant numbers of Late-run sockeye. Fishing opportunities will be balanced with actions to protect weaker stocks, particularly during the Late-run period when Cultus Lake sockeye will be mixed with other more abundant populations. Continued good catches of pink and chum salmon are expected in B.C.’s Central Coast. Rebuilding efforts directed at Rivers and Smith Inlets sockeye stocks are starting to see results, and limited fisheries may be possible depending on in-season run size estimates.

Generally, run sizes of transboundary (Stikine, Taku, and Alsek) chinook, sockeye and coho salmon are expected to be good, while conservation concerns for Alsek sockeye and chinook salmon may lead to additional restrictions. Yukon River chinook and chum salmon run sizes are expected to support a range of fishing opportunities.

Measures to protect a number of salmon stocks of concern will again be incorporated into this year’s fishing plans. Fishing opportunities on co-migrating stocks will be restricted to protect the stocks of concern. Other stocks of concern include Cultus Lake and Sakinaw Lake sockeye, west coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI) chinook, and Interior Fraser River (Thompson) coho, as well as coho and chinook stocks throughout the Georgia Basin. DFO will be monitoring the health of these stocks and working with stakeholders to ensure a sustainable fishery.

DFO is committed to working with First Nations, the recreational and commercial fishing sectors and other interested parties to adopt innovative and flexible means to conduct sustainable fisheries that are consistent with conservation objectives.

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