Synopsis of Local and South Coast Sportfish Advisory Meeting
Staffing
-Previously autonomous areas – BC Interior and Lower Fraser have been amalgamated
-this has left several local positions unfilled with no backfilling
- the 24 million$ that Trudeau gave to DFO has mostly been assigned to Ocean Science with none coming to Resource Management or Compliance and Enforcement (C&P)
Halibut
-it looks like Canada may see a reduction in the International Halibut Allocation. This is the result of a change in survey methods. Also the international creel has filled in some gaps in areas not previously creeled and this has added to the calculated recreational catch.
Transportation of Other People’s Catch
-DFO is actively trying to find a “fix” to this problem.
‘Currently it is illegal to transport any more than the two day limit of the number of licensed anglers in the vehicle’
The previous use of a letter from the non-accompanying angler would suffice. It looks like a more detailed letter may end up being used.
Consultation
-DFO is currently carrying out public consultation around several topics:
-Changing the Fisheries Act
- How they manage Chinook in the Fraser River
- Wild fish policy
If you have any comments, there are web sites you can access.
Pacific Salmon Treaty
-In 2017, five separate treaties are up for renegotiation:
-Northern Fisheries Treaty
- Trans Boundary Treaty
-Coho
-Chinook (all are separate treaties)
-Chum
Sockeye and Pink Treaties are to be negotiated in 2018
-2016 Fraser River Chinook Fishery
-the entire fishery was closed for all but 12 days in August. This closure was to prevent any accidental by-catch of the abnormally low run of sockeye that were moving up the river at the same time.
- many Anglers Clubs, and our committee felt the total closure was unnecessary resulting in lost angler opportunity and large economic impact.
- our committee and several others have sent a motion to DFO urging them to work with recreational anglers to find methods or fishing locations that can be used to fish while there are co-migrating runs such as sockeye or coho.
Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) First Nations
-The Fraser River near Lillooet was only open for 9 days. 3 Communities continued to fish for 3 more days – DFO gathered evidence. One community continued to fish. Charges were laid against Chiefs who influenced fishers to continue to fish after the closure.
Okanagan Sockeye
-343,000 sockeye returned to the Columbia River
- 81,000 made it to the spawning grounds in Okanagan River and channel
-FN harvested 69,000 combined FSC and Commercial
- Ceremonial release of 10,000smolts into Okanagan Lake
- 5 million eggs collected and placed in hatchery – they expect to release 4 million into Skaha Lake and 500,000 – 700,000 into Okanagan Lake
Thompson River Steelhead
-a 3 gov’t working group (FN’s, Feds, BC) has been trying to develop a recovery plan for 2 year
- a consultation meeting was held in Kamloops on Dec 2 at which the public was told of the results
of the meetings
- public was told of some options, but no option was selected, and public left the meeting pretty unhappy
this year’s run looks to be the lowest on record – less than 400 fish
Fraser Sockeye in general
All stocks return of between 40 and 70% of expected returns
Lower Fraser Chum Fishery
-in excess of 7 million (biggest run in history)
-commercial fishermen had 2-10 hour openings and caught 197 000 chums
-21 Steelhead encountered and released – DFO estimates 60% mortality so maybe 12 Steelhead killed in this fishery
Coastline Protection
Federal government has a goal of protecting 5% of all of Canada’s coastline from all development and extraction. Currently we have .9% protected of which 25% is on the West Coast. Their ultimate 2030 goal is 100% protected.
Changing Catch Limits in years of abundance
This year DFO increased the Chum quota in some Vancouver Island rivers from 2 to 4 per day.
Historically, fresh water limits are ½ of tidal limits. But, the allocation policy does allow increases in time of abundance through the use of a variance order.
Coho
West Coast of Vancouver Island run was larger than expected and fish were bigger.
Note: 2016 returns started in the spring of 2016 at ½ to 1 lb. They put on 10 – 20 lbs over the summer.
Coho rearing in the inside of Vancouver Island probably benefitted from the large summer algae blooms. As there seems to be far more activity and Rockfish fry to feed on. This should help the South Thompson chinook as well as the juveniles from 2015. Spawners also rear in the inside waters.
Interesting Notes:
-hatchery fish are coming back 5 cm smaller than wild fish – this could mean hatchery fish have less eggs and may not be able to use some of the larger gravel sizes to spawn
- delayed release of smolts seem to be improving coho survival
- Fishing guides – 25% of salmon are guided but catch 50% of the fish
- Seal predation – 44% of predation of salmon is from seals who eat 2 kg per day X 40,000 seals = 80, 000kg per day
- seals at the mouth of the Puntlage River target female salmon (spawner) probably after the eggs
- West Coast Resorts has been purchased by the Haida Nation
- St. Jeannes Cannery has been purchased by 5 Nuchanlith bands of the N. Nation