March 1 deadline to respond to 2019 Fraser River Chinook Conservation Measures

DFO has distributed information that describes the actions DFO is proposing to take to address Fraser River chinook conservation concerns in 2019. They are seeking your feedback by March 1, 2019.

The table shown below, from DFO’s letter, summarizes the options they are proposing. You are strongly encouraged to provide them with your feedback.

Table 3: Summary Table of proposed management actions for Scenario A and B
Fishery Scenario A Scenario B
Commercial
NBC AABM (Area F) Troll Closed to July 17 Closed to July 10
WCVI   AABM   (Area   G)
Troll		 Closed to August 1 Closed to August 1
Kamloops  Lake  Chinook Demonstration Fishery Closed Closed
Recreational
NBC AABM No   measures   proposed   for   Fraser chinook  No   measures   proposed   for   Fraser chinook
NBC ISBM No   measures   proposed   for   Fraser chinook No   measures   proposed   for   Fraser chinook
WCVI AABM (Areas 121
to 127)		 a)   Apr 1 to July 31, Chinook non- retention;
b)   Aug 1 to Dec 31, 2 Chinook/day.		 No   measures   proposed   for   Fraser chinook 
WCVI ISBM No   measures   proposed   for   Fraser chinook No   measures   proposed   for   Fraser chinook
Johnstone   Strait   (Area 12) c)    Apr 1 to July 31, Chinook non- retention;
d)   Aug 1 to Aug 29, 1 Chinook/day (with option for terminal fisheries);
e)   Aug 30 to Dec 31, 2 Chinook/day.		 a)   Apr 1 to August 29, 1 Chinook/day (with option for terminal fisheries).
b)   Aug 30 to Dec 31, 2 Chinook/day.
 
Strait of Georgia – North
Areas   13   to   17,   28,
portion of 29 (29-1 and
29-2)		 a)   Apr 1 to July 31, Chinook non- retention;
b)   Aug 1 to Aug 29, 1 Chinook/day (with option for terminal fisheries);
c)    Aug 30 to Dec 31, 2 Chinook/day.		 d)   Apr 1 to August 29, 1 Chinook/day (with option for terminal fisheries).
e)   Aug 30 to Dec 31, 2 Chinook/day.
Strait of Georgia – South and
Juan de Fuca
Areas 18 to 20, portions
of Area 29 (29-3 to 29-5)		 a)   Apr 1 to July 31, Chinook non- retention;
b)   Aug 1 to Aug 29, 1 Chinook/day (with option for terminal fisheries);
c)    Aug 30 to Dec 31, 2 Chinook/day.		 a)   Apr 1 to July 31, 1 chinook/day; hatchery marked only
b)   Aug 1 to Aug 29, 1 Chinook/day (with option for terminal fisheries)
c)    Aug 30 to Dec 31, 2 Chinook/day.
Fraser River Tidal and Non Tidal and Sub area 29-6 to 29-10 a)   Jan. 1 to August 23 , No fishing for salmon.  Aug. 23 to Dec. 31, Chinook non-retention a)   Jan. 1 to August 23 , No fishing for salmon.
b)  Aug. Aug 23  to December 31, 1 Chinook/day
Freshwater          Regions 3,5,7 &8 b)   closed to fishing for salmon except in some areas where fisheries on other stocks or species may take place. c)    closed to fishing for salmon except in some areas where fisheries on other stocks or species may take place.
First Nations
South Coast a)   Fishing to FSC communal allocations as in previous years; marine FSC Chinook fisheries are largely terminal and directed at local Chinook stocks.  No measures proposed for SCA First Nations chinook fisheries. A)   Fishing to FSC communal allocations as in previous years; marine FSC Chinook fisheries are largely terminal and directed at local Chinook stocks.  No measures proposed for SCA First Nations chinook fisheries.
Lower Fraser a)   Jan. 1 to Aug 10, very limited impacts on chinook in FSC fisheries
b)  After Aug. 10, targeted chinook fishing or bycatch during sockeye- directed opportunities.		 a)   Jan. 1 to Aug 10, limited chinook directed FSC fisheries with effort limitations extended to Aug. 10 or bycatch during sockeye- directed opportunities
b)  After Aug. 10, targeted chinook fishing or bycatch during sockeye-directed opportunities.
BC   Interior      –   d/s   of Thompson Confluence a)   Jan 1 to Aug 10, very limited impacts on chinook in communal FSC fisheries. Time or gear restrictions.
b)  After Aug. 10 limited selective chinook fishing or bycatch during sockeye-directed opportunities until.  Later in August, targeted chinook fishing or by-catch during sockeye directed fishing. Low impact terminal harvests.		 a)   Jan 1 to Aug 10 limited communal FSC fisheries. Time or gear restrictions.
b)  After Aug 10, Directed chinook fishing or bycatch during sockeye-directed opportunities.
BC   Interior      –   u/s   of Thompson Confluence Note: the only chinook in the  area  are  Spring  52 and Summer 52 chinook. Fisheries in the area constrained by preferred gear type or fishing times. Discussion required to reduce overall catch. Fisheries in the area constrained by preferred gear type or fishing times.

2018 Salmon Catch Report

Via D.C. Reid, we are able to provide DFO’s 2018 post-season report on the salmon catch by the recreational, commercial and indigenous peoples fishing sectors. In Mr. Reid’s own words,

The table of most interest to Van Isle anglers is on page 93, cited as: 15.4 Appendix 4. It is the southern BC catch stats. I add the totals together to reach a total southern sport retained catch of 418,600.

Also of interest are the text write-ups for the specific stocks/rivers, which are earlier in the report and in the Table of Contents. Just click on an item, and the document jumps to it.

Thank you D.C. Reid and DFO.

DFO Salmon Enhancement Program Statistics

It’s worth taking a look at the Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) related Salmon Enhancement Program (SEP) statistics. While most people are familiar with several hatcheries in the areas in which they live and/or fish, the tables here nicely show the magnitude of the SEP across the province, and the activities at SEP facilities. And this does not include provincially managed fisheries enhancement efforts.

Dec 2018 SFAB Meeting Minutes

These are the minutes of the Sport Fishery Advisory Board main board meeting with the DFO in December of 2018.

A useful read if you enjoy and hope to continue to enjoy sport fishing in BC. Gives a sense of the myriad of details that make up the big picture, and some insight into DFO’s activities and concerns. Also shows the work the SFAB is doing on behalf of the recreational angler.

2019 Five Nations FMP: Meeting Jan 21

The DFO has published their initial 2019 Five Nations Multi-species Fishery Management Plan (FMP). This is a direct outcome of a court decision and order from 2018, and is the first FMP designed by DFO for the Five Nations.

There is a lot of material to read and comprehend in this document.

DFO will be hosting a multi-stakeholder meeting on this topic

  • on Monday, January 21, 2019 at 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
  • at Tigh-Na-Mara Resort in Parksville, BC
  • and via Webex

at which they expect to discuss and receive your feedback on this initial FMP.

If you wish to attend the meeting in person, or would like the connection details to attend by Webex, please advise Tara Sawatsky by email at tara.sawatsky@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or by telephone at 604-666-6907.

Gold River Steelhead Decline: Meeting Jan 23

The BC Conservation Foundation invites interested anglers, conservationists and stake-holders to a public information session on the recent decline of Gold River steelhead trout, comprising:

  • A presentation including results of recent stock assessment activities, fishery management actions, and historical context regarding Gold River steelhead, followed by an opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback.
  • Information on how community members may continue to be informed and included in Gold River steelhead recovery.

Where : Campbell River Fish and Wildlife Clubhouse, 2641 Campbell River Rd, Campbell River, BC V9W 4N4

When : Wednesday January 23, 7-9 pm

For more information, contact

Jeramy Damborg
Senior Project Biologist, BCCF.
#1 7217 Lantzville Rd,
Lantzville B.C. V0R 2H0
0: 250-390-2525 C:250-714-9458
jdamborg@bccf.com 

Herring Roe Fishery: Comments Sought

Pacific Wild has alerted us to the opportunity to provide DFO with our thoughts on the herring roe fishery. The ACS is responding in support of a reduction in this fishery that drastically reduces a key support of the food chain that, in the local ocean, leads to the southern resident killer whales.

Herring are a critical food source for chinook and coho salmon and a valuable link in the food chain which supports not only these salmonids but also numerous other fish species. By extension, herring also support the salmon eating resident Orcas and other marine mammal species.

The Amalgamated Conservation Society would like to see the commercial roe/reduction herring fishery curtailed but, at a very minimum, suggest that quotas be reduced by 30% coastwide – to take effect immediately.

DFO is taking comments until January 9. You may express your own thoughts on this issue to:

Victoria Postlethwaite
Pelagic Management Unit
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
1420-401 Burrard Street
Vancouver BC V6C 3S4
phone 604-666-7851
email victoria.postlethwaite@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Noise and Vessel Traffic

Our ACS President, Tom Cole, retired from the Royal Canadian Navy where he served as an underwater acoustics expert, has offered insights and advice to the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson. You can read Tom’s letter here, for which he awaits a response.

…new regulations will do absolutely nothing to change the noise levels in these waters and will not change the inland waterway noise.

time that Government and DFO finally realize that the Orcas NEED to have Large Salmon to eat. To do this they need to close all salmon fishing in the Fraser river as that is where all the damage is being done to the brood stock that carries the Gene pool for these large Chinook.

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