North Coast Salmon Update #3 – Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Please note that in-season updates always deal in preliminary numbers. Usually these change somewhat upon receipt
and analysis of all the data.
North Coast Troll
The 2015 Area F Troll Chinook TAC is 117,400 pieces, and will be managed to the maximum
3.2% exploitation objective on WCVI Chinook using an Effort / Harvest Relationship
Management Tool. The troll fishery opened June 18th (FN0534) with approximately 105 vessels
participating in the opening. The total number of Chinook validated to date is 83,765 with an
estimated total catch of 89,000 Chinook, which is 75% of the 2015 Area F Troll TAC. Effort
over the last week has dropped to approximately 10 vessels as the availability of Chinook quota
has limited access to the fishery. While Chinook abundance has remained high, Chinook CPUE
has declined to less than 40 Chinook per day, as the remaining vessels have started to target
Coho with opening of the AB-Line Coho retention on July 1.
The A-B Line Coho retention fishery opened July 1st (FN0566) with retention of Coho and Pink
Salmon and an allowance for Sockeye Salmon by-catch retention. Coho CPUE has averaged 41
Coho per day along the AB-line during the first few days of July. Estimated catch is listed in the
following table. The main targeted Coho Fishery opening is scheduled to open July 10th
(FN0592) with an allowance of sockeye by-catch (FN0593).
Table 1 – Summary of Area F Troll catch and releases to date by week.
Estimated Weekly Catch
End
WEEK
Date
Effort
26
27-Jun
743
27
4-Jul
132
28
11-Jul
35
Total
Validated Catch:
North Coast Salmon Update
Chinook
Kept
Rel.
82,190
4,938
7,098
1,324
544
131
89,832
6,393
82,765
Coho
Kept
Rel.
0
7,817
5,428
1,059
1,219
0
6,646
8,876
Pink
Kept
832
2,419
319
3,570
Rel.
2,500
549
0
3,049
Sockeye
Kept
Rel.
0
72
0
8
0
0
0
80
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Figure 1 – Distribution of fishing effort of the Area F Troll Fleet by week.
Area 1-2 Recreational
The majority of lodges commenced fishing operations in early June. Anecdotal reports have
indicated an above average presence of Chinook and Coho Salmon for the month of June. Catch
information will not be available until the 2nd week of July.
Area 3 (Nass River)
The Nass River fishwheels have been operating since June 4th. here:
Nass River sockeye returns are forecasted to be average with an expected total return from
558,000 (90% probability) to 900,000 (10% probability) and a point estimate of 727,000 (50%
probability) based on a composite of 5 different forecast models. The current in-season forecast
(50% confidence interval), based on mark-recapture data and mean run timing, is 471,000
(310,000 – 838,000). This estimate assumes that 31% of the returning sockeye have migrated
past the lower fish wheels at Gitwinksihlkw.
In addition, the point estimate for Nass chinook is 70,000 (41,000 – 263,000), based on markrecapture data and mean run timing, and assuming that 51% of the returning stock has migrated
past the Gitwinksihlkw fishwheels. It is too early to project return strength for Nass River pink,
chum and coho salmon.
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To date, the current estimated escapement past the lower fishwheels is 27,820 chinook and
98,649 sockeye, based on Mark-Recapture data. Chinook have exceeded the minimum
escapement target of 15,000. Nass River salmon stock assessment updates from the Nisga’a Fish
and Wildlife Department are posted at:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/northcoast-cotenord/nass-eng.htm
Nisga’a Fisheries
Below is the estimated catch by Nisga’a harvest fisheries.
*From Nisga’a Fisheries
CommercialNet Fisheries:
Eleven gillnet openings have occurred in Area 3 to date with two more openings announced for
this week (July 9/10). The first seine opening occurred on July 6th, with 4 vessels participating.
No catch estimates for the seine opening were available at posting.
Area 3 Gillnet Catch Estimates
A catch monitoring program is in place for Area 3 net fisheries. Packer vessels and gillnet
vessels landing to shore-based sites each have a 20% chance of being validated by an
independent service provider. At-sea observers will be deployed after the Kwinageese closure
starting July 25th.
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Gillnet species composition from gill net validated landings
Date Fished Sockeye Sockeye
pieces
%
09-Jun
459
100
June 15/16
2317
98.8
June 22/23
1702
78.8
June 25/26
2217
89.7
Pink
pieces
Pink %
0
0
68
91
0
0
3.2
3.7
Chum
pieces
0
0
0
0
Chum
%
0
0
0
0
Coho
pieces
0
4
292
114
Coho Chinook Chinook Steelhead Steelhead
%
pieces
%
pieces
%
0
0
0
0
0
1.2
0
0
0
0
13.5
97
4.5
0
0
4.6
49
2.0
0
0
Data provided by Ecotrust Canada
Nass Inland Demonstration Fishery
Both the Nisga’a and the Gitanyow will be participating in inland demonstration fisheries to fish
selectively for sockeye in the Nass watershed this year. The Nisga’a have been issued their first
allocation. The Gitanyow fishing plan is still being finalized at this time, thus they have not
received an allocation. Weekly allocations will be issued based on the number of commercial
salmon licences each First Nation has obtained for the 2015 season and the catch in the Area 3
marine commercial fishery.
Sockeye allocations:
First Nation
# GN Licences
Nisga’a
20
Gitanyow
55
Allocation
793
Catch
793
Meziadin Fishway
The Meziadin Fishway was operational on July 1st. Current environmental conditions include
water temperature of 19oC, which is 5oC warmer than the historic mean, and water levels which
are near normal. To date, 1,624 adult sockeye, 2 jack sockeye and 43 adult chinook have passed
through the fishway. Historic and 2015 counts are available here:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/northcoast-cotenord/meziadin-eng.htm
Kwinageese Weir
The Kwinageese weir will be operated by the Nisga’a Fish and Wildlife department again this
year. It is typically not operational until July.
Tree Point Gill Net Fishery
The Tree Point gillnet fishery in Alaska opened for 3 days of fishing this week, opening Sunday,
July 5th at noon and has since been extended for another day, closing at noon on Thursday, June
9th. No catch estimates were available at the time of posting. Catch estimates for the previous
week (Week 27) for the Tree Point gillnet fishery are listed below.
North Coast Salmon Update
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Noyes Island Seine Fishery
The District 4 (Noyes Island) seine fishery had its’ first opening this week. Preliminary catch
estimates for the fleet of 11 seines include 4,300 sockeye, 2,500 coho, 9,000 pink and 5,000
chum salmon.
Area 4 (Skeena River)
The pre-season Skeena sockeye escapement expectation was for an above average return of 3.5
million (50% probability) with a 90% probability of 1.7 million and a 10% probability of 7.3
million, based on the sibling model. Based on the estimated escapement past the Tyee Test
Fishery, and assuming average run timing, the current in-season point estimate (50% probability)
for total return to the Skeena is 815,000, with a 90% probability of 487,000 and a 10%
probability of 1.7 million. As a result, no Area 4 sockeye fisheries are anticipated at this time.
Net Fisheries:
One 18 hour gillnet opening occurred on June 12 and a second opening of 30 hours on June
27/28. Catches were below average for both openings.
Area 4 Gillnet Catch Estimates
Skeena Inland Demonstration Fishery
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The Lake Babine Nation and Gitxsan Watershed Authority have both expressed interest in
participating in an inland demonstration fishery in the Skeena River watershed. Further details
will be provided in future updates as they become available.
Recreational Fisheries:
The Area 3 and 4 marine creel survey began on June 1st. The program has conducted 541
interviews as of June 25th. Also by that date, technicians have collected scale samples and
lengths from over 300 Chinook salmon, retrieved 52 Chinook heads for the Sport Head Recovery
Program, and taken 190 length measurements from pacific halibut.
The lower Skeena River creel survey began on June 1st. June results will be available in July.
Regular daily retention limits apply for salmon in the Skeena watershed.
Tyee Test Fishery:
Tyee test fishery data are available here:
http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/salmon/testfish/sockeye/tyee_gillnet.htm
Tyee test fishery cumulative index to July 6:
2015
2000's Avg.
1990's Avg.
1980’s Avg.
Sockeye
84.56
269.26
104.95
220.67
Coho
0.00
0.04
0.03
0.05
Pink
0.41
0.37
0.08
0.16
Chum
0.15
0.03
0.13
0.05
Lg Chinook
55.50
117.20
140.40
134.03
Steelhead
0.00
6.93
18.06
4.40
Historical and 2015 counts are available here:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/northcoast-cotenord/index-eng.html
Kitwanga Weir
The Gitanyow Fisheries Authority will be operating the Kitwanga weir again this year. It is
typically operational in early July. Updates provided by the Gitanyow Fisheries Authority will be
available here:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/northcoast-cotenord/index-eng.html
Slamgeesh Weir
The Gitksan Watershed Authorities will be operating the Slamgeesh weir again this year. It is
typically operational in late July.
Sustut Weir
The Province of BC will be operating the Sustut weir again this year. It is typically operational in
early August.
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Area 6
Net Fisheries:
The first Area 6 seine opening is anticipated for July 13th. A catch monitoring program will be in
place for this fishery.
Area 7
Net Fisheries:
The first net fisheries are not anticipated until July 27 depending on in-season assessments of
abundance.
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Recreational Fisheries:
Recreational fishery information will be provided in the next update.
Area 8
Chinook returns to the Atnarko River are the 2nd highest since the 2010 flood, based on first
Nations chinook FSC catches (approximately 530 pieces as of last week).
Net Fisheries:
Today in the Area 8 gill net fishery, 20 gill net vessels are operating in the Fisher/Fitz Hugh area.
In the BCGNA there are 30 gill net vessels operating and an average catch of 20 chinook and 50
chum. Food fishing in the lower Bella Coola River remains good this week, with a catch of
approximately 200 chinook for the first 2 days of fishing. Chums are also starting to show up in
the food fishing catch.
Area 8 (BCGNA) Gillnet Catch Estimates
Recreational Fisheries (Hakai Pass):
Recreational fishery information will be provided in the next update.
Area 9
Recreational Fisheries:
Recreational fishery information will be provided in the next update.
Area 10
The Docee weir became operational on July 1st. To date, 340 sockeye have migrated past the
fence. This year’s Docee weir count can be found here:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/northcoast-cotenord/index-eng.html
North Coast
For more information please visit the North Coast website here:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/northcoast-cotenord/index-eng.htm
North Coast Salmon Update
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