Tag «SRKW»

2022 Sooke Chinook Sea Pen: Volunteers Needed!

This year the Southern Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition (SVIAC) will release 660,000 smolts from our sea pen tied up to the Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina. On completion of this year’s project, SVIAC will have released over 3.16 million smolts with thousands of large adults returning to the Sooke River, in addition to feeding for the local orcas, while also providing salmon for all user groups. To make this happen we have raised over $375K in the last 6 years by generous support from the community.

The success of this project over the years would not be possible without strong support from the area residents who care about the southern resident killer whales and the local salmon populations. As a community-based volunteer driven project, your help is needed to succeed.

Please see below the times and dates that we need volunteers. To sign up to help out please phone

778-426-4141

and we will set you up on a work team. Joining us even once or twice will help us make this effort a success! Many thanks to all who volunteer and show up!

2022 Sooke Chinook Sea Pen volunteer opportunities

Release of Draft 2022/23 BC Salmon IFMPs for Consultation

With FN0168, DFO has released their draft 2022-2023 Integrated Fisheries Management Plans.

The draft IFMPs 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.
Please refer to the New for 2022/23 for key changes for the IFMP that may be under consideration.
Section 13 of the IFMPs outline the Species Specific Fishing Plans, …
During March and April, the Department will be meeting with First Nations and recreational, commercial and environmental groups to seek further feedback on the draft IFMPs as part of the IFMP consultation process.
https://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=view_notice&DOC_ID=255685&ID=all

You may read the northern and southern IFMPs via the fishery notice, or the links below:

With regard to chinook in southern BC and Fraser River waters, p. 33 says “… management measures similar to 2021 are outlined in this IFMP.” There are also words about mark selective fisheries (MSF) and mass marking (MM) of hatchery salmon, but they see any changes to MSFs occurring only in 2023 (p. 34).

Notice of Important DFO – SFAB Meetings on Feb. 16, 2022

A note from Chris Bos, local SFAB committe co-chair:

The DFO Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery Team have agreed to present their 2022 proposed salmon fishing closure options to our local SFAB Committees. The SFAB is seeking your expert angler knowledge about the areas in question and have arranged two separate meetings for our constituents to hear from DFO and ask questions about the DFO proposals. Closures, if approved by the minister, would be in effect between June 1 and October 31 and mean no salmon fishing. You can attend the meeting that relates to areas you fish, either one or both meetings. The meetings are:

Online Meeting 1 – Wednesday February 16^th from 11:00am to 12:30pm – for Victoria – Juan de Fuca – Port Renfrew – Nitinat

Microsoft Teams meeting – Join on your computer or mobile app Click here to join this meeting at 11:00am

Online Meeting 2 – Wednesday February 16^th from 3:00pm to 4:30pm – Fraser River Mouth – Southern Gulf Islands

Microsoft Teams meeting – Join on your computer or mobile app Click here to join this meeting at 3:00pm –

There is also already a DFO online survey circulating on the same issue with their proposed closure options identified that seeks public feedback. The deadline for public response to the survey is March 2, 2022.

The SFAB suggests that local anglers wait until after the two DFO presentations before completing the DFO survey. Using input from the SFAB constituents and local angling knowledge, there may be some special recommendations or hybrid options to put forward by the SFAB.

UBC researchers: SRKW food shortage is “probably not occurring”

A DFO-funded study by UBC rsearchers into prey availability for southern resident killer whales (SRKW) has made some interesting observations. Basically, there’s no lack of chinook salmon as a food source where the SRKWs normally range. The article, published in the Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Acquatic Sciences, may be read here wth the title, “Southern resident killer whales encounter higher prey densities than northern resident killer whales during summer”.

Contrary to expectations, we found the density of potential prey available to southern resident killer whales was relatively high during summer in the coastal waters of British Columbia and Washington, where salmon restoration and enhancement management efforts including the commercial and recreational fishing regulations have been focused.
“Southern resident killer whales encounter higher prey densities than northern resident killer whales during summer”

As this study using acoustic technqiues – ship based echosounders – had very few similar studies with which to compare data, and none in the same regions and for the same fish species; and it focused on specific times and places – there are limits to what may be concluded.

The study does, however, suggest that the closures and non-retention restrictions imposed by DFO upon southern Vancouver Island recreational fishers during peak chinook migration over the past few years has been all pain and no gain. And this year, of course, the commercial chinook fishery was pretty much shut down with next to no notice.

Going forward, please let’s not confuse the precautionary principle with the politically inspired rewriting of the rules.

Public Fishery Alliance Video

The Public Fishery Alliance (PFA) has produced a video that tells about a five-year self funded program – the Sooke Chinook Enhancement Initiative – to put more Chinook into Juan de Fuca Strait to increase the food supply for southern resident killer whales in the summer. Some of those fish will benefit anglers and provide the opportunity for First Nations terminal fishing, plus commercial fisheries, and feed other pods of whales and marine mammals.

We all benefit by moving from Chinook shortages to Chinook abundances. If only our federal government thought this way, too.

DFO Requests Feedback on 2020 Southern Resident Killer Whale Management Measures

Feliksas Markevicius, Recreational Fisheries Program Manager at DFO, has written to request feedback from recreational anglers regarding measures that DFO put in place to protect Southern Resident Killer Whales.

This information will help us to understand more about how the measures are working on the water and to help inform future management measures. Please note, the response to this survey will be collected anonymously and none of the information will be used to pursue enforcement action.
DFO email of August 26, 2020

This link (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XT6RXC3) takes you to a short survey regarding the 2020 suite of Southern Resident Killer Whale management measures.

You may read here about the Southern Resident Killer Whale management measures. Questions should be sent using email to the Marine Mammal Team – DFO.SRKW-ERS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Area 19/20 Spring SFAC Meeting March 16: Venue Change to Conference Call!

Due to the COVID-19 related health concerns, this meeting will now take place as a conference call. With no simultaneous online presentation, please ensure you have access to any documents relevant to the agenda, which is:

Fraser River Chinook
Big Bar Slide
SRKW
Halibut hybrid model
Prawns
Best Practices

Local chairs Ryan Chamberland and Chris Bos will update the public fishing community on the difficult issues at hand on March 16 at the Area 19 & 20 SFAC spring meeting.

Date	March 16, 2020
Time	7:00 pm
Dial-in Information	Phone: 1-877-413-4782 Select "1" for English. Meeting ID: 1830175, followed by "#" (the "pound" or number-sign key) Once connected, please mute your line until such time as the host invites callers to speak.

The DFO Fraser River management letter sent recently solicits feedback.

The Department is seeking feedback from First Nations and established advisory groups on potential adjustments to 2019 management measures or alternative approaches that should be considered for the period June 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021.

Your SFAC chairs will want your feedback and to document motions to carry forward to the South Coast Main board meeting, March 28-29 in Nanaimo.

Ryan has been engaged in SRKW-related talks over the last month and a half, resulting in recommendations for DFO regarding

a science based approach to providing more access to fishing areas
a perspective regarding mobile avoidance zones/mobile sanctuaries
a 1 nautical mile corridor from Sheringham Point to East Point in Port Renfrew

which today gained much support within the technical working group. For reference, see the measures put in place by DFO for 2019.

Subsequent communications are expected to both inform and collect feedback on proposed and/or draft plans.

Survey on 2020 SRKW Management Measure Options

You have until March 23 to tell DFO how you feel about the Southern Resident Killer Whale management measures they are proposing for the 2020 season.

Southern Resident Killer Whales face three primary threats to recovery: reduced prey availability (primarily Chinook salmon), contaminants, and physical and acoustic disturbance.

In 2019, the Government of Canada implemented a suite of measures to help address these threats and further support the recovery of Southern Resident Killer Whales. The Government of Canada is expecting to take a similar approach to measures in 2020, with some modifications based on feedback received and lessons learned in 2019.
Email from Fisheries and Oceans Canada/ Pêches et Océans Canada Pacific Region/Région du Pacifique.

The survey and more information on this topic may be found here.

Image, with some mods, courtesy of https://www.pugetsoundexpress.com.

Transport Canada Survey re: Measures to Protect SRKW

Via the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance and our local Sports Fish Advisory Committee chair, we learned of a Transport Canada online survey.

Transport Canada is now seeking to assess the economic and social impacts of measures put in place to protect the Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW). This Transport Canada project introduction letter will provide some background information.

Transport Canada is seeking feedback from marine stakeholders on how these protection measures may have affected them, their businesses and their communities. VIEA is forwarding this letter and survey link to you in case you would like opportunity to share your thoughts by completing this online survey.
Your participation will help ensure that the magnitude of impacts of the protection measures are communicated to enable the consultants to make informed recommendations to Transport Canada. The survey is completely anonymous and takes about five minutes to complete. There may be opportunity to participate in more focused interviews, if you [are] interest[ed] in exploring economic and operational impacts further.

To be clear, this is Transport Canada, not DFO. The measures largely affect where and how marine vessels may operate, and are not restrictions on recreational fishing.

DFO: Consultation Regarding Recovery Actions for SRKW

DFO, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Transport Canada invite you to participate in a Webinar/Teleconference to be held Thursday, April 18, 2019 from 9:30-11:30 am Pacific Time. The purpose of this Webinar is to present the proposed suite of measures for 2019.

A snapshot of Scenario A for Juan de Fuca Strait/Swiftsure Bank.

A snapshot of Scenario B for Juan de Fuca Strait/Swiftsure Bank.

Here are the details for the Webinar/Teleconference:

Meeting Number: 559 136 012
Meeting Password: MFRuX944

To join this meeting

Go to https://gts-ee.webex.com/gts-ee/j.php?MTID=mb77121875ff462b810973e1059bf4ada
If requested, enter your name and email address.
If a password is required, enter the meeting password: MFRuX944
Click “Join”.
Follow the instructions that appear on your screen.

Teleconference information

Provide your phone number when you join the meeting to receive a call back. Alternatively, you can call:

Call-in toll-free number: 1-877-413-4792 (Canada)
Call-in number: 1-613-960-7516 (Canada)
Attendee access code: 444 668 0

For assistance

Go to https://gts-ee.webex.com
On the left navigation bar, click “Support”.
Call 1-800-226-6338 or 613-941-9554

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This Webex service includes a feature that allows audio and any documents and other materials exchanged or viewed during the session to be recorded. By joining this session, you automatically consent to such recordings. If you do not consent to the recording, discuss your concerns with the meeting host prior to the start of the recording or do not join the session. Please note that any such recordings may be subject to discovery in the event of litigation.