British Columbia Sockeye Salmon Fishery Review Report 2014/15
Prepared for the Canadian Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Society
Certificate code: MML-F-066, MML-F-067, MMLF-068, MML-F-069
Authors:
Dr. Rob Blyth-Skyrme, Dr. Greg Ruggerone
Acoura Marine
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British Columbia Sockeye Salmon 14/15
Contents
1
General Information.................................................................................................... 3
1.1
2
Unit/s of assessment ........................................................................................... 3
Fishery Review for 2014 ............................................................................................. 4
2.1
Background to the fishery review.......................................................................... 4
2.2
Background on the BC sockeye salmon fishery .................................................... 6
2.3
Summary of the 2014 BC sockeye salmon fishery retained catch ........................ 11
2.4
North Coast – Salmon Fishing Areas 1 – 10 ....................................................... 13
2.4.1
Nass River – Area 3.................................................................................... 13
2.4.1.1
Alaskan Harvests of Nass River sockeye salmon .................................. 13
2.4.1.2
Area 3 Commercial Net Fishery Summary ............................................ 14
2.4.1.3
Area 3 escapement monitoring ............................................................. 15
2.4.2
Area 4 – Skeena River ................................................................................ 16
2.4.3
Area 5 ........................................................................................................ 17
2.5
Barkley Sound Salmon Fishing Area .................................................................. 17
2.5.1
2.6
Barkley Sound escapement monitoring ........................................................ 18
Fraser River Salmon Fishing Areas .................................................................... 19
3
Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) – Management ...................................... 23
4
Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 25
4.1
5
Summary of Findings ......................................................................................... 25
References .............................................................................................................. 26
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1
General Information
Name of Fishery
British Columbia Commercial Sockeye salmon Fisheries
Date certified
1: Nass
2: Skeena
3: Barkley Sound
4. Fraser
Date of surveillance audit
1.1
2nd July 2010
2nd July 2010
2nd July 2010
30th July 2010
Date of
expiry
Extended by
variation
N/A
Unit/s of assessment
Species
Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)
Stock Name
1: Nass
2: Skeena
3: Barkley Sound
4: Fraser
Geographical Area
British Columbia, Canadian Pacific
Fishing Method/s
Seine, gillnet, troll, beach seine, fish wheels, weirs, dip nets
Management System/s
Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)
Client Group
Canadian Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Society (CPSFS)
Other Eligible Fishers
Other licenced harvesters that are not members of CPSFS
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2
Fishery Review for 2014
Please note: information for this fishery update has been mainly provided by the client,
having been extracted from various sources including DFO (2013), DFO (2014), DFO
(2015a), DFO (2015b) and NLG (2015).
2.1
Background to the fishery review
The BC salmon (sockeye, pink and chum) MSC fisheries certifications are not synchronised,
such that their annual audits have taken place at different times of the year and their
reassessment schedules are different. This creates inefficiencies for the client, the
management organisation (Department of Fisheries & Oceans – DFO), stakeholders and the
CAB. It also means prohibitive costs for the client.
In early 2014, the client expressed their intent to have all the fisheries certifications
synchronised. Furthermore, with the implementation of the MSC Certification Requirements
(v2.0) in October 2014, which included a new default assessment tree for salmon fisheries,
the client proposed that all the fisheries be reassessed using this new tree, thus ensuring all
the BC salmon fisheries are assessed against the same version of the MSC Certification
Requirements and an assessment tree specifically designed for salmon fisheries.
In discussion with Intertek Fisheries Certification (IFC), the client requested that the
reassessment of all the fisheries commenced in the first quarter of 2015 with a site visit early
in the second quarter of 2015 and that, in order to fulfill MSC requirements, this would also
include the 3rd and 4th annual audits for the pink and sockeye salmon fisheries, respectively.
This meant:
· BC sockeye salmon – the 4th annual audit site visit would be approximately 18 months
after the last site visit and 6 months before the expiry of their certifications;
· BC pink salmon – the 3rd annual audit site visit would be approximately 18 months after
the last site visit and 14 months before the expiry of their certifications;
· BC chum salmon fisheries would commence reassessment approximately 5 months
before their 2nd annual audit was due and 3 years before the expiry of their
certifications.
· The North Coast and Central Coast chum fishery, which remain in assessment, would
also re-commence assessment at this time.
The above was discussed and agreed by MSC by submission of a variation to vary from the
normal audit cycle for BC sockeye and pink and to extend the BC sockeye certificate, on
condition that the CAB did not have any reason to believe that the fisheries were not in
compliance with the MSC Standard, and would re-confirm this at 12 months, in lieu of the
site visit.
However, there were a series of issues that resulted in a delay in the planned reassessment
process, these included:
1. A delay in the client being able to provide the CAB with information to adequately
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allow confirmation that the fisheries remained compliant with the MSC Standard in
accordance with the variation;
2. The need for pre-reassessment work to consider the appropriateness of different Units
of Assessment (UoA), how to deal with Inseparable or Practically Inseparable (IPI)
species and, how to address existing open conditions, all resulted in a further delay in
the planned reassessment process;
3. The difficulty in providing an accurate quote to a complex reassessment without some
clarification to the points identified in 1 and 2 above; and,
4. IFC needing to put in place adequate systems and processes in order to be able to
ensure that the reassessment could be conducted in accordance with MSC Fisheries
Certification Requirements and Guidance version 2.0 (FCR v 2.0).
During the period of delay, the 2015 BC salmon fisheries commenced and DFO were unable
to participate in the reassessment until the completion of the season. As a result, the
reassessment site visit has been scheduled for the latter part of November 2015. This
means the time period between the last surveillance audit and the reassessment of the
sockeye and pink salmon fisheries will be 2 years and 18 months for chum:
BC sockeye
salmon fishery
Barkley Sound
Nass Watershed
Skeena Watershed
Fraser River
BC pink salmon
fishery
North Central Coast
Inner South Coast
Fraser River
BC chum salmon
fishery
West Coast
Vancouver Island
Inner South Coast
Fraser River
North Central Coast
Certified
2nd July 2010
Last Audit (S3)
Site Visit
7-11 October 2013
Audit Report
Published
4th February 2014
Last Audit (S2)
Site Visit
7-11 October 2013
Audit Report
Published
4th February 2014
Last Audit (S1)
Site Visit
21-24 May 2014
Audit Report
Published
29th July 2014
30th July 2010
Certified
28th July 2011
Certified
8th January 2013
In assessment
Discussions took place between the CAB, the client representatives and MSC on the
extended period between the last audits and the commencement of the reassessment. MSC
agreed that a review by a CAB appointed team should take place for the 2013 and 2014
seasons for the pink salmon and sockeye salmon fisheries and the 2014 season for chum
salmon fishery to ensure that they were compliant with the MSC Standard, noting that they
would accept confirmation from DFO that management had not changed significantly since
the last audits. In accordance with this, this document represents the review of the 2014
sockeye salmon season.
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It should be noted that during the course of the reviews IFC withdrew from the MSC fisheries
certification business and the client transferred to a new CAB – Acoura Marine - hence this
review is presented in the Acoura livery.
Acoura Marine have also confirmed they will continue as the CAB for the reassessments.
2.2
Background on the BC sockeye salmon fishery
The units of certification for the British Columbia sockeye salmon fishery are the non-First
Nation commercial sockeye salmon fisheries and the First Nations Excess Salmon to
Spawning Requirement (ESSR) and FN Economic Opportunity (EO) fisheries targeting
sockeye salmon returning to the four following watershed systems:
1) Nass Watershed - Nass sockeye salmon are currently harvested in marine portions
of Statistical Areas 3,4 and 5 and freshwater areas within Area 3.
2) Skeena Watershed – Skeena sockeye salmon are currently harvested in marine
portions of Statistical Areas 3, 4 and 5 and freshwater areas within Area 4.
3) Barkley Sound – Barkley Sound sockeye salmon are only targeted in Area 23.
4) Fraser River Watershed – Fraser sockeye salmon are harvested in Areas 11, 12, 13,
20 and 29 and freshwater areas within Area 29.
These sockeye salmon fisheries are defined by geographic area and gear targeting sockeye
salmon, however management measures are in place to distribute the harvest on stocks that
can better withstand higher rates of harvest or distribute the harvest amongst different users
and different gear groups. These fisheries represent the majority of the fisheries in southern
British Columbia (BC) that harvested sockeye salmon in recent years.
Fishery openings and closings are managed and reported based on defined management
areas for the three main gear types; seine (Areas A and B - Figure 2), gillnet (Areas C, D
and E) and troll (Areas F, G and H) and are displayed below. Management summaries are
provided within the context of these management areas.
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Figure 1: BC sockeye salmon management area A – seine
Figure 2: BC sockeye salmon management area B – seine
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Figure 3: BC sockeye salmon management area C – gillnet
Figure 4: BC sockeye salmon management area D – gillnet
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Figure 5: BC sockeye salmon management area E – gillnet
Figure 6: BC sockeye salmon management area F – troll
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Figure 7: BC sockeye salmon management area G – troll
Figure 8: BC sockeye salmon management area H – troll
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2.3
Summary of the 2014 BC sockeye salmon fishery retained catch
Table 1, below, provides a summary of the total number of sockeye salmon retained by
commercial and First Nations (FN) fisheries in B.C. for the period April 1, 2014 to March 31,
2015.
Table 1: 2014 total commercial and First Nations sockeye salmon retained catch (pieces) for Northern
and Southern B.C., April 1 st, 2014 – March 31st, 2015.1
Area
Northern B.C.
Seine
Area A
Area B
172,640
Area C
Area D
Area E
478,240
Gill Net
Area F
Area G
Area H
41,354
Troll
Total Commercial Catch
Southern B.C.
5,055,502
1,352,968
1,626,127
35,169
311,129
692,234
8,380,895
Area 3 FN = 79,750 (Nisga’a) +
17,336 (Gitanyow)
(of which IS = 44,951, + IFD =
4,916 + 6,229)4
FN Catch
Area 4 marine + Skeena River =
106,755
Area 4 Gitksan + Babine lake EO
= 95,771
Area 4 Babine ESSR = 354,556
adults + 5,228 jacks
Fraser River (Marine + River) FN
FSC = 886,600
Fraser River FN EO and IDF =
660,227
Barkley Sound EO and Treaty
catch = 183,978
Area 5 – catches not reported as
<3 FNs participated
Total Certified Catch
692,234 +(44,951 + 4,916 + 6,229
+ 95,771 + 354,556)
8,380,895 + (660,227+183,978)
= 1,198,657
= 9,225,100
Notes:
1. Data by Area (A to H) do not include test fishing, recreational or First Nations data.
2. Data considered preliminary.
3. All catch estimates are reported in pieces and included both adults and jacks.
4. IS = individual sale, EO = economic opportunity, IDF = inland demonstration fishery
1
Catch information is from http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Fos2_Internet/pdfs/2014SalmonSummary.pdf
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Table 2, below, provides the number of sockeye salmon (in pieces) for the four units of
certification by the corresponding salmon fishery management areas.
Table 2: Total commercial catch of sockeye salmon (pieces) in B.C. by area, April 1, 2014 – March
31, 2015.
Area
Commercial Sockeye salmon Catch (Pieces)
Nass River
144,497
Skeena River
577,213
Barkley Sound
415,022
Fraser
8,627,500
Total
9,764,232
Notes:
All notes in Table 1 apply (Values exclude FN catch)
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North Coast – Salmon Fishing Areas 1 – 10
2.4
2.4.1 Nass River – Area 3
There are six First Nations groups that fish for Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) purposes
in Area 3 (the Nass River). These are:
a) Lax Kw’alaams (Port Simpson)
b) The Nisga’a Lisims Government – Kincolith, Greenville, Canyon City and Aiyansh.
c) Metlakatla First Nation
d) Gitxaala First Nation
e) Kitsumkalum First Nation
f)
The Gitanyow – Member band Kitwancool.
Preliminary harvest estimates of Nass sockeye salmon in Nisga’a fisheries in 2014 were
79,7502.
The domestic FSC salmon fishery was monitored from May 1st to August 31st as part of the
Nisga’a Fisheries salmon and steelhead catch monitoring program. Incidental salmon
catches after August were added from the non-salmon catch and recreational catch
monitoring programs. Eight marine Individual Sale (IS) fisheries and 7 in-river fisheries were
conducted with closures implemented (July 12 th – 24th marine and July 16th – 28th in-river) to
increase escapements of Kwinageese sockeye salmon stocks. Total sockeye salmon catch
in the IS fishery was 44,951. There were also sales of sockeye salmon (4,916) from the
Grease Harbour fishwheels as a result of a negotiated agreement between Nisga’a Lisims
Government and DFO involving First Nations participation in the Inland Demonstration
Fishery.
Harvest estimates of Nass sockeye salmon in Gitanyow fisheries in the Upper Nass River
were reported by the Gitanyow Fisheries Authority to week ending September 13 th as:
17,336 adult sockeye salmon (271 tags recovered). The total adult sockeye salmon
harvested includes a commercial harvest of sockeye salmon (6,229) by the Gitanyow below
the Meziadin Fishway as part of DFO’s Inland Demonstration Fishery in 2014.
2.4.1.1 Alaskan Harvests of Nass River sockeye salmon
Alaskan purse seine and gillnet fisheries commenced in mid June 2014 in southern areas of
Southeast Alaska. Catches were reported to be above average for sockeye salmon (except
in Districts 101 and 106 gillnet fisheries), Chinook salmon, coho salmon and pink salmon but
below average for chum salmon. Of the total in-season sockeye salmon catch (880,000),
approximately 158,000 (18%) are estimated to be Nass sockeye salmon based on historical
mean stock composition estimates3.
2
3
DFO (2015a), Page 52
DFO (2015), Page 48
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2.4.1.2 Area 3 Commercial Net Fishery Summary
Preliminary harvest estimates of Nass sockeye salmon in Areas 1-5 commercial fisheries for
2014 were approximately 144,497, based on commercial catch data from DFO Prince
Rupert and methods developed by the Nass Joint Technical Committee.
The preliminary total return to Canada (TRTC) estimates used by the Nisga’a Fisheries and
Wildlife Department for tracking Nisga’a salmon entitlements for 2014 were 464,000 sockeye
salmon. The preliminary TRTC salmon estimates were lower than the pre-season estimates
for sockeye salmon (464,000 vs. 542,000)4.
The Area 3 commercial net fishery was planned in anticipation of harvesting a surplus of
240,000 Nass sockeye salmon with an average pink salmon return while meeting a number
of preseason commitments. These commitments included managing in accordance to the
Nisga’a Treaty, the Pacific Salmon Treaty, Allocation Policy, chum salmon, Chinook salmon
rebuilding and limiting impacts on steelhead. Some of the restrictions put into place to deal
with these commitments included closed areas, daylight only fisheries, non-retention
steelhead for both gear types, mandatory brailing for seines, non-retention Chinook salmon
for seines and a request for gill nets to release all live Chinook salmon.
The first commercial gill net sockeye salmon opening in Area 3 occurred June 10 th with 148
vessels taking part in the fishery. The Wales Island and Pearse Island boundaries (0.5 mile)
were in place until early July. Boundary and non-retention restrictions were implemented in
July to protect chum salmon returning to Area 3. For example, for 2 gillnet fisheries in early
July, a small closure was implemented on the west side of Truro Island separating the
offshore area (where largely enhanced US bound chum salmon could be retained) and the
upper area (where predominately local chum salmons were to be released).
Sockeye salmon migration passage in the Kwinageese River has improved as a result of the
land slide mitigation work conducted by Nisha’a Fisheries staff in 2011. However
management actions continued in 2014 to reduce harvest impacts on Kwinageese sockeye
salmon, limiting marine commercial fishing opportunities from July 8 th to 28th in Area 3 (peak
migration timing of Kwinageese sockeye salmon through the commercial fishery based on
DNA analysis).
The maximum number of gill nets operating in Area 3 occurred during the last week in June
with a count of 166 gill nets actively fishing. The total number of openings was 17 for 2,069
vessel operating days compared to the 10 year average of 12.9 openings and 2,949 vessel
operating days.
The first seine opening occurred July 7th with 8 vessels participating in the fishery. Seine
fishing was restricted to the outside areas of Area 3 until July 28th when 3-4 and 3-9 were
opened to permit harvest of sockeye salmon and pink salmon stocks. Seines were allowed
to retain sockeye salmon for 2 openings (July 7 th and 8th prior to the Kwinageese closure
switching to non-retention until July 28th).
4
DFO (2015a), Page 54
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The total number of seine openings for 2014 was 14 for 219 vessel operating days
compared to the 5 even year average of 8.8 openings and 232 vessel operating days.
The total Area 3 hailed commercial net catch for 2014 was 144,497 sockeye salmon and
893,798 pink salmon. This compares to the 10 year average catch of 169,110 sockeye
salmon and the five even year average of 323,952 sockeye salmon. Total commercial chum
salmon and coho salmon catch for Area 3 was 31,219 and 11,582 respectively.
Nisga’a Fisheries continue to manage the Nass River fish wheel program. Information from
the fish wheel program is critical for the management of the Area 3 net fishery.
2.4.1.3 Area 3 escapement monitoring
The Nass River test fishery fish wheels (Gitwinksihlkw – FW 1 and 2) operated between
June 1st and September 13 th, 2014 for tagging and historical catch index assessments for
salmon and steelhead. All fish caught in these fish wheels were released alive after tagging
and counting. Further upstream at Grease Harbour, 8 fish wheels operated at different times
starting June 8th and ending September 6th, 2014. These fish wheels were used for inseason mark-recapture tag recoveries, abundance estimates, additional tagging (adult
Chinook salmon, chum salmon and Pacific lamprey) and selective harvest of sockeye
salmon and coho salmon for the Nisga’a Lisms Government’s Nass River Inland
Demonstration Fishery and for NLG Treaty Fisheries.
Nass Fishwheel (FW 1 and 2) catches of sockeye salmon (38,345 adults) were above
average for 2014. 5,716 sockeye salmon jacks were also caught.
The Meziadin fishway operated from July 1st to October 7th, 2014. Below average counts of
144,920 adult sockeye salmon (average is 163,000) and above average levels of sockeye
salmon jacks 10,507 were recorded (average is 6,000). The escapement target for sockeye
salmon at the Meziadin is 160,000.
The Kwinageese weir net operated from July 10th to October 14th and counted a total of 438
adult sockeye salmon, below the average of the past ten years (3,000).
The Gingit Creek sockeye salmon surveys were conducted on July 18th and 25th, August 1st,
8th, 17th, 22nd and 26th, and September 6th. An estimate of 7,493 sockeye salmon adults and
2,343 jacks was calculated for 2014 based on methods and considerations detailed in the
Post Season Report.5 The escapement estimate for 2014 is the fourth highest recorded
since Nisga’a Fisheries began escapement surveys in 2000 and is above the 2000 – 2013
average (mean: 4,484, range: 300 (2002) to 12,941 (2011).
Aerial sockeye salmon counts of Wiminasik Creek were conducted on August 28th and
September 4th, 10th and 14th. A preliminary estimate of 5,557 adult sockeye salmon was
calculated using a survey life of 14.9 days (SD of 2.3 days) based on the average of Gingit
5
DFO (2015a), Page 42
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Creek sockeye salmon tag life curve-based survey life estimates since 2004. See the 2014
Post Season Report for more details.6
Preliminary aggregate adult escapement estimates to Gitwinksihlkw fish wheels in 2014
were ~301,000 sockeye salmon.
Based on the 2014 preliminary results, system-wide Nass net escapement of 230,693
sockeye above Gitwinksihlkw exceeded the net escapement goal of 200,000 sockeye (NLG
2015).
2.4.2 Area 4 – Skeena River
A number of First Nations harvest fish for FSC purposes in Area 4 and the Skeena River
Watershed. These are:
a) Lax Kw’alaams First Nation
b) Metlakatla First Nation
c) Gitxaala First Nation
d) Kitsumkalum First Nation
e) Kitselas First Nation
f) Gitxsan First Nation
g) Gitanyow First Nation
h) Wet’suwet’en First Nation
i) Babine Lake First Nation
j) Takla Lake First Nation
k) Yekooche First Nation
FSC fisheries occur throughout Area 4 in both freshwater and marine locations using a
variety of gear types. The total FSC sockeye salmon catch for 2014 for both marine portions
of Area 4 and the Skeena River was 106,755.
The Gitksan Watershed Authority and the Babine Lake First Nation participated in the Inland
Demonstration (Economic opportunity) fisheries for sockeye salmon in 2014. The allocation
to support this arrangement was based on licences retired from the commercial fleet and
permitting the comparative allocation to be selectively harvested further upriver. For 2014,
these two groups harvested a total of 95,771 sockeye salmon.
In addition, the Lake Babine First Nation conducted an ESSR harvest in Babine Lake off the
mouths of the enhanced spawning channels at Pinkut and Fulton rivers harvesting a further
354,556 sockeye salmon as well as 5,228 sockeye salmon jacks.
Commercial fisheries were conducted in Area 4 in 2014 with gillnet fisheries for sockeye
salmon from July 11th to 28th. Peak effort was observed in the July 21st fishery with 283
vessels participating. The total gillnet catch was 363,396 (10 year average of 243,338).
6
DFO (2015a), Page 43
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Seines operated under an individual vessel quota arrangement from July 23 rd to August 9th,
harvesting a total of 118,056 sockeye salmon. Total commercial harvest for 2014 (including
demonstration fisheries but not including ESSR fisheries) was 577,213 sockeye salmon.
The forecast for 2014 was 2.3 M sockeye salmon returning to the Skeena (range of 1.1 M to
4.7M)7 and with a commercial catch anticipated to be 525,000 8. Reported commercial
harvest was slightly higher than forecasted. For Skeena sockeye salmon, Canadian
commercial exploitation rates are based on total run size, start from zero exploitation at
any run size below 1,050,000, climbing to 20% at run sizes of 2.0 million, to 30% at run
sizes of 5.0 million, and thereafter maintaining a 30% Canadian commercial exploitation
rate (DFO 2014).
Sockeye salmon escapement to the Skeena River was approximately 1.65 million, including
fish spawning in the channels (Cox-Rogers 2014). Escapement to the non-Babine areas was
157,000 sockeye salmon, whereas the number of actual spawners in the Babine watershed
was 672,000 sockeye salmon. Of these spawners, approximately 169,000 fish spawned in
the non-enhanced systems and 500,000 spawned in the channels. Approximately 816,000
sockeye salmon were reported as unspawned surplus. Most wild sockeye salmon
escapement indices in the Skeena watershed were either improved or similar to that in 2012
and 2013.
2.4.3 Area 5
Five First Nations harvest fish for Food, Social and Ceremonial purposes in Area 5.
a) Lax Kw’alaams First Nation
b) Metlakatla First Nation
c) Gitxaala First Nation
d) Kitsumkalum First Nation
e) Kitselas First Nation
Fishing activities were conducted in much the same fashion and locations as in past years.
As in recent years, all the bands were licenced to fish through a communal fishing licence
and specific allocations of each salmon species. All bands were responsible for designating
fishers as well as gathering and reporting catch information to DFO. The FSC catch was not
reported as there were less than 3 First Nations participating.9
Commercial net activities in Area 5 are managed in conjunction with those in Area 4. There
were 10 gillnet openings over the course of the 2014 fishing season (most openings had no
effort or catch reported) harvesting a total of 848 sockeye salmon.
2.5
Barkley Sound Salmon Fishing Area
7 DFO, Integrated Harvest Management Plan for Northern B.C. for 2014
8
DFO (2015a), Page 69.
9 DFO (2015a), Page 75
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Barkley Sound sockeye salmon are targeted in Area 23. The largest component of the Area
23 return is bound for the Somass River at the head of Alberni Inlet while a much smaller
component (and the target of conservation measures in the past) is from the Henderson
Lake stock located near the entrance of Alberni Inlet.
Sockeye salmon fishing is carried out by all sectors in Barkley Sound, in Alberni Inlet and in
the Somass River. First Nations conduct fisheries within the Somass River by gill nets, set
from small open vessels while in Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound fishing is most often
carried out with seine and gill net vessels. Many of the vessels fishing in Alberni Inlet and
Barkley Sound are either band-owned or contracted. There is occasionally a minor amount
of hook-and-line effort, particularly in the Somass River.
The Maa-nulth Treaty and Harvest Document specifies the quantity of Somass sockeye
salmon available for harvest for Maa-nulth Treaty Nations at different run sizes. The Somass
River Sockeye salmon Management Plan delineates the harvest of sockeye salmon by Tsuma-uss First Nations (Tseshaht and Hupacasath). At higher run sizes, a Tsu-ma-uss
Economic Opportunity Fishery Agreement may be entered by DFO and the Tsu-ma-uss
Nations for sale and for Food, Social and Ceremonial use of Somass sockeye salmon.
Recreational and commercial net (gillnet and seine) harvest takes place in Alberni Inlet and
in Barkley Sound. The seine fleet has agreed to harvests of weekly target allocations
throughout the season. This has been utilized in the past and was continued again in 2014
with good success in achieving target allocations.
The pre-season run size forecast of 1.6 milion sockeye salmon suggested good
opportunities for all sectors.
Fishing started on June 3 (for gill nets; June 25 for seines) and continued weekly until July
29. A run size analysis following that fishery indicated that the run size was less than the
preseason forecast (1.1 million versus the pre-season forecast of 1.6 million, and down from
an inseason run size analysis in early July of 1.3 million). At the revised run size estimate,
target allocations for each of the First Nations as well as seine and gillnet had been achieved
so the fishery was closed.
In 2014, the total estimated catch of Somass sockeye salmon by Tseshaht and Hupacasath
First Nations was 164,319 sockeye and 19,659 sockeye by Maa-nulth Treaty First Nations
for a total of 183,978 sockeye salmon.
The commercial gillnet harvest was a total of 169,685 (compared to the 10 year average of
87,042) while the seine harvest was 243,937 (compared to the 10 year average of 115,020).
Thus, total FN and commercial catch of Somass sockeye salmon was approximately
603,000 sockeye salmon. Additionally, approximately 23,163 sockeye salmon from
Henderson Lake were caught.
2.5.1 Barkley Sound escapement monitoring
Escapement to the two main contributors of Somass sockeye salmon, Great Central Lake
and Sproat Lake was 73,647 and 175,401 respectively. This escapement was below the
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recent 10 year averages for each system (160,088 and 164,090 respectively). The
aggregate biological reference point range for the Sproat Lake/Great Central Lake
Conservation Units is 41,350 to 157,210 sockeye salmon (DFO 2013). Preliminary
benchmark range for Henderson Lake sockeye is 3000 to 10,000 sockeye salmon. Since
1995, the lower escapement limit for Somass sockeye (Sproat Lake/Great Central Lake
combined) has been 200,000 and below this run size no harvest is permitted. A run size of
500,000 sockeye was to be managed to achieve an escapement of 325,000 fish.
Approximately 71% of the total run (854,624 sockeye salmon) was harvested and the total
Somass escapement was 249,048, which is below the target of 325,000 spawners at a run
size of 500,000 sockeye salmon. The higher than expected harvest occurred because the
run was much smaller than 1.6 million indicated by the pre-season forecast. The upper
escapement target for Henderson Lake was met.
Error! Reference source not found. provides the post-season run size estimate for
Somass and Henderson sockeye salmon for 2014.
Table 3: Post-season run size estimates for Somass and Henderson sockeye salmon in 201410
Stock
Run Size Estimate
Catch
Escapement
Harvest Rate
Somass
854,624
605,576
249,048
71%
Henderson
35,000
23,163
11,837
67%
2.6
Fraser River Salmon Fishing Areas
Fraser sockeye salmon are primarily harvested in marine Areas 11, 12, 13, 20 and 29 and
the freshwater areas within Area 29 (i.e. Fraser watershed). The following information was
summarized or copied from the “Post-Season Report for 2014 Canadian Treaty Limit
Fisheries” dated December 31, 2014 (revised January 26, 2015) prepared for the Pacific
Salmon Commission by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
For 2014 planning, the forecast was based on the very strong return in 2010. The mid-point
forecast was for a return of 22.8 M (25 and 75 probability estimates were 12.8 M and 41.1 M
respectively).
There were directed harvest opportunities for Fraser sockeye salmon in First Nations FSC
fisheries in which marine First Nations harvested 308,600 sockeye salmon and in-river First
Nations harvested 578,000.
10
Information derived from Stock Assessment Spreadsheet – “Area 23_Sockeye salmon” (for Total return
information) and South Coast Post Season Review, 2014 p. 19. (Somass Run Size = Total Run Size of
889,624 less Henderson Run Size of 35,000 or 854,624. Somass Harvest = total catch 628,739 less
Henderson catch of 23,163 or 605,576.
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Initially, Fraser River sockeye salmon harvest opportunities were restricted for all harvest
groups based on the requirement for a three-week moving window closure to protect Early
Stuart sockeye salmon when in-season assessments indicated there was no TAC for this
group. The moving window closure was lifted in both the marine and Fraser River areas as
planned pre-season.
The TAC for Fraser sockeye salmon is calculated using arrangements defined in the Pacific
Salmon Treaty, the escapement plan, management adjustments to account for any en-route
losses, run timing and run size estimates based on test fishing catches. In-season, fisheries
are planned using in-season information.
Table 4: Final in-season estimates of Fraser River sockeye salmon catch in Canada and the U.S. for
2014.
Stock
Pre-season total TAC*
Final In-season
total TAC
Final In-season
Catch**
Early Stuart
69,800
22,600
25,600
Early Summer
2,010,400
927,700
810,500
Summer-run
3,438,900
4,813,200
4,500,500
Lates
6,988,500
5,857,900
5,393,700
Total
12,507,600
11,621,400
10,730,300
Notes:
* TAC includes the Canadian Aboriginal Fisheries Exemption amount of 400,000 fish.
** Catch rounded to the nearest 100 fish and includes test fishing catches.
Table 5: Final Fraser in-season TAC and catch1 for 2014.
Stock
Early Stuart
Early Summer
Summer
Late
Total
Test Fisheries2
2,800
26,900
79,700
40,500
150,000
Commercial
0
19,600
209,000
462,400
691,000
C&S
0
600
1,900
900
3,400
U.S. Total
0
20,200
210,900
463,300
694,400
3
0
143,400
765,400
936,100
1,844,900
0
501,100
3,550,100
4,576,300
8,627,500
U.S. Catch
U.S. TAC
CDN Catch
Commercial
Recreational
100
42,900
175,500
149,300
367,800
FSC
Other4
22,600
218,900
482,400
162,700
886,600
100
500
1,800
1,600
4,000
CDN Total
22,800
763,400
4,209,900
4,889,900
9,885,900
5
22,600
784,400
4,047,700
4,921,800
9,776,400
CDN TAC
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Notes:
1
Catch rounded to nearest 100 fish
2
Includes Fraser sockeye salmon catch in Panel approved test fisheries in U.S. waters
3
TAC as of October 6, 2014 (relinquishment date). Test fishing and Aboriginal Fisheries Exemption
(AFE) are actual catches.
4
Other catch is sockeye salmon captured in multi-species non-Panel approved test fisheries (Albion
and Qualark).
5
TAC as of Oct 30, 2014. Includes AFE
In 2014, fisheries were planned to harvest stock aggregates with available TAC. Other
stocks that could constrain fisheries were harvested incidentally to levels identified in
Canada’s Escapement Plan. The following table shows the pre-season and final in-season
international TAC and catch by aggregate. Table 4 provides estimates of the Fraser River
sockeye salmon catch by run timing group, while Table 5 provides the final in-season TAC
and post season catch estimates for the Fraser River. Overall, the reported catch matched
the allowed TAC.
Table 6 outlines potential exploitation rates based on the median forecast, pre-season
management adjustments (MAs) and 2014 total allowable mortality (TAM) rules, and final inseason exploitation rate estimates based on final in-season estimates of run size and catch.
Table 6: Potential Exploitation Rates for Fraser run timing groups
Pre-season1
26%
Final In-season2
11%
Final In-season3
26%
Early Summer
50%
43%
50%
Summer
61%
55%
61%
Late
55%
56%
55%
46%
53%
46%
Run Timing Group
Early Stuart
Cultus
4
Notes:
1
ER is the max allowable ER based on 2014 TAM rules, pre-season pMAs, the lower allowable
ER, and the p50 forecast
2
ER is based on 2014 TAM rules, in-season pMAs, the lower allowable ER, the final adopted inseason run size and in-season catch
3
Includes release mortalities
4
ER is assumed to be the same as similarly timed Late-run stocks
Early Stuart sockeye salmon experienced adverse conditions in the Fraser River during the
migration. Although discharge levels were average to below average, water temperatures
were observed to be above average
The 2014 escapement estimate of 68,608 Early Stuart sockeye salmon is the second largest
on record for this cycle year similar to the brood year (60,262) and almost double the recent
average of 33,275. Spawning success for Early Stuart sockeye salmon in 2014 is an
estimated 66.7%, well below the long term average of 88.9%.
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Early Summer run sockeye salmon experienced high water temperatures and low discharge
levels for the duration of their migration. These conditions persisted for both the Summer run
and Late run sockeye salmon migrations into the river.
The 2014 preliminary escapement estimate of 646,582 Early Summer sockeye salmon is the
second largest on record for this cycle year and is 42% of the record brood year of 2010
(1,523,307). The estimated spawning success for the Early Summer run aggregate in 2014
is 91.6%, which is similar to the long term average of 89.5%.
The Summer run aggregate escapement was 2,858,970, and the Late run escapement was
2,302,998. The summer run escapement met the goal based on the inseason run size,
whereas the late season escapement was well-below the target of 3.36 million. The
exploitation rate of Cultus Lake sockeye (46%) was the same as the pre-season planning
rate (46%). Management actions to conserve the Cultus stock lowered its exploitation rate
by 9% compared with the overall rate for late run sockeye salmon (55%).
Table 7, below, outlines the predicted escapement relative to the escapement goals at the
final in-season sockeye salmon run sizes.
Table 7: Fraser River escapement
Management
Group
Escapement
Goal @ final inseason run size1
108,000
665,000
2,852,500
3,360,000
6,985,500
Predicted
difference between
estimates (DBE)2
-68%
-30%
-12%
-9%
Predicted
Spawn
Escapement
66,600
767,300
3,201,300
3,818,100
7,853,300
Spawning
Escapement
Early Stuart
68,608
Early Summer
646,582
Summer
2,858,970
Late-run
2,302,998
Total
5,877,158
Notes:
1
Spawning Escapement Target based on adopted run size and Canada’s escapement plan.
2
DBEs are calculated from the ‘near final’ DFO estimates.
3
DFO ‘near final’ escapement estimates, April 2015
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3 Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) –
Management
The following letter was provided to the client from DFO regarding the management of the
fishery:
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4 Conclusion
4.1
Summary of Findings
In the Nass watershed, sockeye spawning escapement exceeded the goal for the basin in
2014. Abundance of Skeena sockeye salmon increased considerably in 2014 compared with
abundance in 2013, and escapement indices for wild sockeye salmon was similar or larger
than that in 2012 and 2013. Nevertheless, the enhanced Babine sockeye stock continues to
dominate the run, representing about 85% of the total in 2014 (Cox-Rogers 2014).
In Barkley Sound, approximately 71% of the total run (854,624 sockeye salmon) was
harvested and the total Somass escapement was 249,048, which is below the target of
325,000 spawners at a run size of 500,000 sockeye salmon (no commercial fishing is
permitted when the run is less than 200,000 fish). The higher than expected harvest
occurred because the pre-season forecast was 1.6 million fish. The upper escapement
target for Henderson Lake was met.
Abundance of Fraser sockeye salmon was high in 2014, stemming from the large parent
escapement in 2010. TACs and targeted exploitation rates were typically met for each run
timing group. Approximately 46% of the Cultus stock was harvested, as planned, compared
with 55% of other late run stocks. Although management actions reduced the harvest on
Cultus sockeye, a 46% harvest rate is nevertheless somewhat high for a stock of concern.
The review team concludes that from the information they were provided they did not have
any reason to believe that the fisheries were not in compliance with the MSC Standard
during the 2014 sockeye salmon season.
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5
References
Cox-Rogers, S. (2014). North/Central coast Sx update. DFO stock Assessment Power Point
Presentation, Prince Rupert. Dec 2014.
DFO (2013). Area 23 sockeye local integrated fisheries management plan, draft – Augus19,
2013. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 114 pp.
DFO (2014). Northern Pacific salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plan summary;
genus Oncorhynchus. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 19 pp.
DFO (2015a). 2014 Post Season Review – Salmon – North Coast Areas 1-6 & Central Coast
Areas 7-10. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 87 pp.
DFO (2015b). Post-season report for 2014 Canadian Treaty Limit Fisheries, January 6 th,
2014. In, PSC (2015), Pacific Salmon Commission post-season meeting, January 1216,
2014,
available
here:
http://www.psc.org/Meetings/2015_PSC_PostSeason_Meeting_Summary.pdf)
NLG (2015). 2014 Nass stock assessment update. Nisga’a Lisims Government, Fish &
Wildlife Department. 30 pp.
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