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.
Tag «DFO»
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.
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.
Preliminary 2019 Salmon Outlook
DFO Pacific Region Stock Assessment staff have released their preliminary outlook for salmon returns in 2019.
Summary of Pacific Salmon Outlook for 2019
A total of 91 Outlook Units (OUs) were considered with 82 OUs receiving an outlook category assignment. Eight (8) OUs were data deficient (ND), and one (1) Pink OU was not applicable given that 2019 is the off-cycle year for this group (NA). Sixteen (16) Outlook Units are expected to be at or above target abundance (categories 3, 3/4, 4), while 39 are expected to be of some conservation concern (categories 1, 1/2, 2). The remaining 27 Outlook Units have mixed outlook levels (categories 1/3, 1/4, 2/3, 2/4). Overall, the outlook for 2019 has declined relative to the previous outlook (2018 for most species but 2017 for Pink Salmon).
Five (5) Outlook Units improved in category (Sockeye: Somass, WCVI-Other, Skeena-Wild; Chinook: Alsek; Coho: WCVI).
Twenty-five (25) units declined in category (Sockeye: Early Summer – North Thompson, South Thompson, Mid and Upper Fraser, Summer – Late Stuart, Nechako, Quesnel, Harrison, Raft, Fall – South Thompson, Birkenhead, as well as Okanagan and Coastal Areas 3 to 6; Coho: Area 3, Haida Gwaii – East (Area 2 East), Skeena, Skeena – High Interior; Pink: Fraser, Georgia Strait – East, West, North Coast Areas 3 to 6; Chum: Fraser River, Johnstone Strait Area and Mainland Inlets, Coastal Areas 5 & 6, Areas 7 to 10, Yukon).
The entire document may be read here.
Notice of Victoria and Area SFAB Meeting Nov 27, 2018 at 7 pm
This meeting is intended to cover the agenda items remaining from the previous fall 2018 SFAB meeting.
| What | Victoria, Sidney, and Sooke Area Sports Fishing Advisory Board (SFAB) Committee Meeting. Open to the angling community and the public. |
| When | Tuesday November 27th, 2018 (7:00 p.m.- 9 p.m.) |
| Where | Esquimalt Anglers Association, 1101 Munro St, Victoria BC V9A 5P2 |
| Agenda |
|
| Notes | Please review these documents for Halibut 2019 TAC and Options.
If you cannot attend the meeting and wish to comment on any topic on the agenda, please respond by email to RyanC.SFAB@gmail.com |
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
Fraser River Sockeye Migration Numbers for 2018
From DFO Fishery Notice FN1062-Salmon, some numbers worth calling out:
The estimated total sockeye salmon escapement past Mission to September
24 is 5,055,200. From the spawning ground report, more location specific numbers:
| Location | Count |
| Scotch Creek counting fence, Aug 9 onward | 79,300 |
| Eagle River hydroacoustic site, Aug 10 onward | 233,325 |
| Nadina Spawning Channel, post-fire impacts | 26,515 |
| Stellako River hydroacoustic site, Aug 1 onward – Nadina sockeye | 178,085 |
| Gates Creek | 1,874 |
| Chilko River hydroacoustic site, Aug 3 onward | 576,353 |
| Quesnel River hydroacoustic site, Aug 7 onward | 803,232 |
| Stellako River hydroacoustic site, Aug 1 onward – Stellako sockeye | 141,340 |
| Birkenhead River hydroacoustic site, Aug 23 onward | 12,163 |
| Sweltzer Creek, July 31 onward – Cultus Lake sockeye | 30 |
You can view much more detail on this topic on the website of the Pacific Salmon Commission.
