Tag «salmon»

Wild Salmon Advisory Council: Time to Speak Up!

DC Reid has written an article worth reading with regard to the work of the Wild Salmon Secretariat. Community meetings offer you an opportunity to speak with representatives of the Advisory Council on this issue.

Their paper, Options for a Made-in-BC Wild Salmon Policy, is not a quick read, but speaks to their goals and strategies to achieve their goals. A community meeting is planned for Victoria in January 2019; no specific details as to time and place at this moment.

The complex task of restoring salmon abundance and bringing the benefits from our fisheries resources back to BC simply cannot be done without a whole-citizen effort. There is no question that wild salmon are iconic for this province. They link us to our history and hold the promise for our future generations. Wild salmon are woven into the culture, histories and economies of the Indigenous Peoples of BC and they help to define our fishing communities.

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
  • Halibut 2019 TAC Expectation and Committee Guidance on 2019 Season
    (See attached Chart)
  • DFO Fall 2018 Regional Updates
  • Creel Verification Project – Trailer Counting 2018 + Camera Info + Angler DNA Collection
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

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.

Spawning sockeye. Image courtesy of Government of Canada DFO site.
Spawning sockeye. Image courtesy of Government of Canada DFO site.

DFO to close fishing west of Otter Point – SVIAC asks you to write or phone Minister LeBlanc

Christopher Bos, President of the South Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition, writes:

SVIAC have just learned that DFO’s proposed sport fishing closure for SRKWs in Juan de Fuca Strait will have boundaries between Otter Point in Sooke and East Point in Port Renfrew and is set to be a “no Fin Fish Fishing” zone. The closure will start on June 1st and run through to September 30th. The SFAB asked for Fossil Point just west of Point-No-Point and no salmon fishing for the closed area. Closing the fin fish fishing west of Otter this summer is a terrible idea, will not save a single Southern Resident Orca and, as anglers, we must all let DFO know how seriously bad this decision will be for the community of Sooke.

Today several members of the SFAB met with DFO staff to discuss the soon to be announced SRKW Actions outlined in DFO Minister LeBlanc’s press release (see below).  We made a plea that the SFAB proposal be honoured.  However, it seems clear that the SFAB proposed closure boundaries reached after thorough consultation with many local anglers has been ignored by the Minister.  A real slap in the face to the respected SFAB process.

An SFI and SVIAC talking points and letter writing information document is attached [ed. – see below] – it includes names, email addresses and phone numbers 

So before the formal fishery notice is released YOU MUST ACT IMMEDIATELY to protect your fishing opportunities!  Wednesday is likely too late

NOTE – Please share this with any anglers who you think will write or phone.

Thank you sincerely for your help and support

SRKW Writing Points SFI&SVIAC-1

SFAB Main Board meeting April 14-15, Richmond, BC

The Sport Fishing Advisory Board (SFAB) main board is meeting this coming weekend, April 14-15, 2018 at the Airport Marriot Hotel, 7571 Westminster Highway, Richmond, BC. The public is welcome. Please respect the meeting chairperson with regard to speaking or presenting at this event. Follow this link to learn how to request meeting materials.

At a March 20, 2018 meeting of the Upper Fraser Valley Sport Fishing Advisory Committee, an update on enforcement of fishing regulations raised a number of concerns, among these being the few Fisheries Officers and Conservation Officers available to keep order, and the significant number of illegal net sets these few officers managed to catch. Which begs the question as to how much illegal fishing on the river goes unremarked?

5. Enforcement Update – C&P, F.V. East (FVE) –D. Clift

  • During 2017-18 season C&P staff levels/resources were very low (e.g. down from 11 Fishery Officers(FOs) to 5 F/T FOs and 1 Recruit);
  • Provincial CO Service are short also and are currently hiring more staff;
  • Low C&P resource levels also impacts ability to respond to new & emerging priorities;
  • Mission C&P Office is closed;
  • 2017 season enforcement stats summary: 126 illegal set nets, 90 violation tickets issued, 37 warnings and over 2000 fishers checked;
  • ORR staffing issue (i.e. limited/reduced coverage during 2017 season) impacted FO patrols;
  • Areas of reported high non-compliance in recreational fisheries were the Stave and Vedder Canal at Keith Wilson bridge.

Concern expressed by committee members about observed increase in number of cars seen
on Vedder Canal Dykes and potential impacts of these activities on riparian habitat areas; it
was confirmed that rules (i.e. bylaws) are in place prohibiting motorized vehicles.
General reminder to report fisheries enforcement concerns to Observe, Record, Report
(ORR) line 1-800-465-4336 & Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) 1-877-952-7277.

Deadline for Comment on Draft 2018/19 Northern and Southern BC Salmon IFMPs for Consultation – Extended to April 13, 2018

DFO has extended the deadline for comments to be submitted on the 2018/19 draft Northern and Southern BC Salmon Integrated Fishery Management Plans (IFMPs) to April 13, 2018.

The draft plans set out the policy framework that guides decision making, general objectives relating to management of stocks of concern, enhancement and enforcement, as well as decision guidelines for a range of fisheries. Plans for First Nations, recreational and commercial fisheries and post-season evaluations from the 2017 fishing season are also included. A number of key changes have been shaded in the draft IFMPs for comment and discussion.

Comments may be provided in writing to Ashley Dobko via e-mail or to the local DFO office in your area. For more information, and perhaps a copy of the subject IFMPs, you may contact Ashley Dobko by email or at (604)-666-1505.

Another cost of Victoria’s new blue bridge

While it’s easy to track the ever increasing dollar cost of the old Blue Bridge replacement in Victoria, it’s only recently it seems that people have noted another potential cost.

The lights that are planned to illuminate the new bridge will almost surely cost many bait-sized fish their lives. Of special concern are salmon fry migrating out to the ocean. Hunting animals need only park themselves at depth under the lights and await their prey to swim above them. This feeding method has been observed to be used by seals and sea lions in several Vancouver Island rivers in which man-made lighting – on a bridge or a near-shore structure or roadway – enables them to easily detect their prey.

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