Tag «chinook»

Goldstream Hatchery

Earlier this year, the Globe & Mail published an article profiling the efforts of the volunteers at the Howard English Hatchery in Goldstream Provincial Park. The challenges faced at Goldstream are not uncommon to the many other volunteer-run hatcheries across BC.

…the role of hatcheries has to be just one part of salmon restoration. Management of commercial and recreational fisheries is another, significant, issue. But if DFO wants to boost Chinook stocks, B.C.’s hatcheries could use their help…

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

Kamloops Lake Chinook Demonstration Fishery

Closed

Recreational

NBC AABM

No measures proposed for Fraser chinook

NBC ISBM

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

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.

Notice of Victoria SFAB Evening Meeting Nov 6 at 7pm

WHAT	Victoria and Area SFAB Committee Post-Season Meeting
WHEN	Tuesday November 6th, 2018 (7:00 p.m.- 10:30 p.m.)
WHERE	Sooke Community Hall, 2037 Shields Road, Sooke BC

This meeting is open to the angling community and the public – please feel free to broadcast this information so we consult with a greater audience.

Draft meeting minutes from Wed Oct 17th can be read here.

Draft Agenda for Tuesday Evening’s meeting:

Welcome and Introductions
Remembering Gary West
Shellfish Aquaculture Tenure Proposals – Possession Point, Sooke (Presentation)
Summary of last Victoria and Area SFAB Committee Meeting (Wed Oct 17th)
Adoption of the minutes from the last meeting
SC Regional Updates
2018 Consultation Timing regarding Salmon Measures (SFAB, IHPC, 25-35% Reduction, SRKW)
Post-Season Chinook Salmon Fishing (Angler Observations)
2018 and 2019 Halibut Seasons + TAC Expectation and Committee Guidance on 2019 Season (partial)
Southern Resident Killer Whale Measures and JDF and Gulf Islands Closures
Commercial Crabbing Concerns
Shellfish Aquaculture Tenure Proposals – Salt Spring Island
Creel Verification Project – Trailer Counting 2018 + Camera Info + angler DNA Collection
Enhancement Update
SFAB Representative Elections

Upcoming Victoria SFAB Daytime Meeting Oct 17 10 am – 12:30 pm

Chris Bos, Victoria and Area Committee Chair, Sport Fishing Advisory Board (SFAB), extends an invite to

WHAT:	Victoria and Area SFAB Committee Post-Season Meeting
WHEN:	Wednesday October 17th – (10:00 AM – 12:30 PM)
WHERE:	Esquimalt Anglers Lounge, 1101 Munro Street, Victoria

This meeting is open to the angling community and the public. Please feel free to broadcast this information so the SFAB consults with a wider audience.

Draft agenda for Wednesday’s meeting:

2018 Consultation Timing regarding Salmon Measures (SFAB, IHPC, 25-35% Reduction, SRKW)
Post-Season Chinook Salmon Fishing (Angler Observations)
2019 Halibut TAC Expectation and Committee Guidance on Season
Southern Resident Killer Whale Measures and JDF and Gulf Islands Closures
Commercial Crabbing Concerns
2 x Shellfish Farming Tenure Proposals
Enhancement Updates

Proposed Expansion of Killer Whale “Critical Habitat”

Recent amendments to the Recovery Strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Canada 2018 (proposed) expand the area to be included as critical habitat. Under the recovery strategy action plan, this area will be subject to measures that respond to perceived threats to killer whale survival. The threat of “Reduced prey availability” identifies “Fishing for Chinook Salmon, Chum Salmon, and other important prey species” and “Other activities that are detrimental to habitat and survival of prey (e.g. fishing for forage fish species)” as activities likely to result in the destruction of critical habitat. The images here are from the above linked document, and show the areas proposed.

Proposed NRKW critical habitat:

Proposed SRKW critical habitat:

FOCUS Magazine: Vancouver’s role in the chinook-sewage-orca death spiral

FOCUS Magazine has published an article that takes DFO to task for its inaction and seeming ignorance regarding chemical discharges from sanitary sewage treatment plants on the lower Fraser River. In Washington state, scientific studies have connected sanitary sewage chemical contamination of salmon natal waterways that empty into Puget Sound to a reduction by half of salmon smolt survival, compared to smolt survival rates in uncontaminated waterways.

With chinook runs on the verge of collapse, you would think that Meador’s published research on chinook estuary contamination, only 200 kilometres away, would have prompted DFO to narrow the gap in their knowledge. We contacted DFO, but as of our press deadline a spokesperson had been unable to confirm whether or not any DFO-affiliated scientist was investigating the impact of the Fraser River estuary wastewater treatment plants, or other sources of chemical contaminants, on the survival rate of juvenile chinook.

A thought provoking read.

DFO proposes more fishing closures: feedback sought

In what DFO terms “Consultation on the critical habitat section of the draft Amended Recovery Strategy for the Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) in Canada”, they propose fishing closures to both Swiftsure Bank and La Perouse Bank.

A DFO public “consultation” generally occurs after they have made their plans. Nonetheless, it is in the interest of the recreational angler to voice their concerns.

For details regarding what DFO has sent out please see RKW External Review and Critical habitat section of draft Amended RS.

The DFO Regional SARA Consultation webpage is here.

We invite you to submit comments on the critical habitat section (section 7; pages 55 to 68) of the draft Amended Recovery Strategy. Note that this external review period is limited to comments on section 7 of the draft Amended Recovery Strategy. Please provide comments through DFO’s Regional SARA Consultation webpage (link above), or via email, mail or phone.

In order for your input to be considered at this stage in the Recovery Strategy amendment process, comments must be received by July 12, 2018.

Emergency Victoria and Area SFAB Committee Meeting re: 2018 Chinook

What:	Emergency DFO 2018 Chinook Management Proposal
Host:	Victoria and Area SFAB Committee
When:	Friday May 4th at 7:00pm
Location:	Four Points Sheraton Hotel, 829 McCallum Road, Langford

Chris Bos, Victoria and Area Committee Chair for the Sport Fishing Advisory Board, writes:

All are welcome to attend and please share this meeting invitation broadly so local salmon anglers know about it. There is no charge to attend, parking is free and the facilities are wheelchair accessible. There will be a cash bar in the room and I understand the hotel is planning a meeting dinner special in the restaurant for those who want to eat there before the meeting starts.

The meeting agenda will include:

PowerPoint about the DFO proposed additional Fraser Chinook measures in 2018

The proposed local SFAB committee response and a summary about other PFMAs where possible

PowerPoint update about the DFO Proposed Southern Resident Killer Whale closures

Initiating an angler-based stock composition and bio-sampling program

I look forward to seeing everyone there.

Victoria and Area SFAB Committee – Regional Issue Update from DFO

You may read this summary document from DFO concerning fish and fisheries issues being considered by and of interest to the Sport Fishing Advisory Board. If you have any questions or would like your local reps to bring something to the table at the upcoming South Coast SFAB meeting this coming weekend, please feel free to contact Tom Cole at (250) 478-1306 or by email, or Chris Bos at (778) 426-4141 or by email before this Saturday.

Mentioned in the document linked above is the Southern Resident Killer Whale fisheries management proposal from DFO. Earlier this year, in Feb and Mar, the Victoria and Area SFAB Committee held three emergency SFAB meetings (Sidney, Victoria and Sooke), where Martin Paish (SFAB Exec and IHPC SRKW Committee) and Chris Bos consulted with the local angling community so that a suitable response could be submitted to DFO from our sector relating to their proposal. The formal SFAB response was submitted before March 15th deadline and included the recommendations coming from the emergency meetings.

Regarding 2018 Chinook fishing coastwide – the department has recently sent out a document indicating they are contemplating additional Chinook management measures for BC this year. The concern DFO anticipates poor returns of number of stocks including but not limited to Skeena and Fraser Rivers. While no final decision on what measures may be taken has been made, further reductions in exploitation are being considered. For Fisheries Management Areas 18, 19 and 20 early timed Fraser stream-type Chinook are expected to be low too. It is not anticipated to have a closure of the Chinook fishery locally, but DFO might seek some additional tightening of the regs. SFAB reps will discuss this topic with DFO prior to the upcoming South Coast meeting.

Comment on DFO’s SRKW discussion document re: closures by March 15

DFO has proposed measures intended to provide food (chinook salmon) and perhaps less interaction with sport fishing vessels for SRKW. These measures include shutting down salmon fishing in specific areas from May 1 to September 30 of this year.

You can read their SRKW Discussion Paper Final Feb 15 2018.

As an example of proposed measures, for the Strait of Juan de Fuca west of Sooke, they showed this map as captioned:

SRKW forage areas in JDF west of Sooke — Juan De Fuca Map showing SRKW Foraging areas and Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs).

and followed it with this information:

Proposed Management Measures: For this area, an experimental approach is proposed with salmon fishing or fin fish closures proposed for Subareas 20-3 and 20-4 from May 1 to September 30. Monitoring is planned to compare SRKW foraging behaviour in these areas with the adjacent Subareas 20-1 and 20-5, which will remain open to fin fish.

Other areas discussed are named as Pender Island, Saturna Island and Mouth of the Fraser.

You have an opportunity to submit your remarks on this topic to the DFO by March 15 using the form Southern Resident Killer Whale Discussion Paper Feedback Form, which is formatted by DFO as a Microsoft Word document.