Chum Return To The Fraser

High Time

Crew Member
FYI

Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Subject: FN1097-Salmon - Chum - Area 29 - Fraser River - October 15, 2021 Update

In-season estimates of return-to-the-mouth (“terminal”) abundance for Fraser River Chum Salmon are based on historical information on the probable range of run size, timing, expansion line, and duration, combined with the current year’s catch information provided by the Albion test fishery. The Chum-directed test fishing gill net (6.75” mesh) is fished every other day from September 1 to October 20, then daily through November 10, then every other day until November 23. More details of the Albion test fishery can be found on the DFO website: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/fraser/index-eng.html

Catch in the Chum net through October 13 totals 985 Chum Salmon. Combining this data with the historical information on return size and timing in a Bayesian non-linear regression model results in an expected terminal Fraser River Chum Salmon return of 519,000 Chum (median estimate), with a 50% migration date of October 20. The return is expected to be between 422,000 and 652,000 (80% probability), and it is almost certain that the return will not meet the escapement goal of 800,000.

The current run size estimate is insufficient to allow for recreational and commercial opportunities (including First Nations Economic Opportunities) in the Fraser River.

A reminder that opportunities to harvest Chum Salmon for First Nations Food, Social, and Ceremonial purposes will be constrained by management objectives for Interior Fraser Steelhead, a stock of concern presently co-migrating with Chum Salmon in the Fraser River. Moving window closures are in place for all salmon fisheries located along the migratory route of Thompson and Chilcotin River Steelhead, including Southern BC marine waters and the Fraser River and tributaries downstream of Thompson and Chilcotin River Steelhead spawning areas, as outlined in the 2021/2022 South Coast Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP). Harvest opportunities in all fisheries will be planned in line with these management measures.

The final planned in-season Fraser River Chum update will be provided by October 22, 2021.
 
It should have been closed weeks ago with the way the test sets were going.
If DFO actually had anyone with "boots on the ground" in our Fraser tributaries they would actually have seen how horrible the numbers are long ago this fall.
With closures the last few years why even have it open to start with?

Chum are now the IFS of the LM.

Right now on a daily basis since the beginning of Sept you have 6-8 seals patrolling the Stave. The Harrison is exactly the same.

Wonder how much chum skiens will be getting sold from the "test" fisheries now...
 
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Coastal chum have been a concern for years and are key to healthy rivers. Chum should be enhanced big time through hatchery intervention and money for habitat restoration project maintenance.
With all due respect, hatchery intervention for IFS chum sounds like the perfect recipe for guaranteeing the Thompson steelhead is wiped off the face of the earth, if it hasn’t been already

One only need look at the Tyee Test results for Skeena steelhead during the years when the sockeye gill net fleet was unleased on the enhanced Fulton and Pinkut spawning channel sockeye returns
 
With all due respect, hatchery intervention for IFS chum sounds like the perfect recipe for guaranteeing the Thompson steelhead is wiped off the face of the earth, if it hasn’t been already

One only need look at the Tyee Test results for Skeena steelhead during the years when the sockeye gill net fleet was unleased on the enhanced Fulton and Pinkut spawning channel sockeye returns
Doesn't have to be that though ... terminal fisheries for chum are the answer with a split between sporties, FN and the watershed. The start of that new fishery is beginning now on the Vedder. Lessons are being learned, partnerships are evolving. It's the only way forward, imo.
 
Boats were netting around the Port Mann yesterday. Guess chum roe is more important than conservation.The lower Fraser chum return has been the worst I have seen. Some streams have maybe a handful at best.

Possibly one of the biggest collapses we have seen in our lifetime. Sad seeing one of the key building block species of our river completely non existent. This will have impacts for our flows in the future.


Glad the few that are returning are getting taken out by test fisheries, food fisheries and seals.
 
Vancouver Island and Fraser River Chum Update- Week of Oct 14, 2021
Overall, very poor returns to most of Vancouver Island systems and Fraser River, and the size of Chum returning to most systems also appears to be smaller than average (~ 8lbs)
Request made to DFO to immediately close the recreational fishery in the name of conservation.
Update: DFO announced via Fishery Notice (FN 1102) on Oct 15 that REgion 2 - Fraser River Chum recreational fisheries would be closed Oct 16, 2021 until further notice due to conservation concerns.
Update: No closures were announced for Vancouver Island. Currently the following rivers are open for Chum retention on Vancouver Island (Region 1):
Courtenay River (Oct 1-Dec 31: 2/day)
Nitinat River (scheduled to begin Oct 16-Dec 31: 2/day)
Puntledge River (Oct 1 - Dec 31: 2/day)
1. Westcoast Vancouver Island update:
Nitinat Lake Chum - very poor returns overall, with average size of fish observed small (~ 8lbs)
Esperanza Chum - Lowest CPUE on record in assessment fishery. Very low return. Average fish size has also decreased.
Conuma Hatchery Chum - Hatchery has collected broodstock target
Tlupana Hatchery Chum- Broodstock collection to begin later in the week.
Kyuquot Chum- again low CPUE in assessment fishery, indicating poor return and small size fish (~8lbs).
2. Johnstone Strait update:
Test fishing catches indicate low/poor return and small sized fish. Weak 4 year old composition. Catches dominated by 3 year olds. Test fishing catches indicate peak of the run may have passed.
Likely no Area 12 commercial fisheries. DFO will make a decision on Monday Oct 18th and announce via Fishery Notice.
3. Strait of Georgia update:
Puntledge River Chum: early in run timing but tracking around forecast.
Big Qualicum River Chum: no update for this week
Little Qualcium River Chum: tracking below pre-season forecast and at this rate, returns will not meet the escapement target.
Nanaimo River Chum: Below pre-season forecast, but at this rate return may meet escapement target.
Cowichan River Chum: Early in run timing. No update - fence was pulled on Sept 30th; Didson installed this week; so updated numbers next week.
Goldstream: still early in run timing but tracking around forecast.
4. Fraser River Chum update:
Overall, very poor returns expected based on Albion test fishing data to dat
 
Chum Working Group In-Season Update - October 21
Key Points/Highlights
1. Overall continued very low abundance for all Vancouver Island, Mainland Inlet systems and the Fraser River
Escapement estimates to date are as follows:
• Nitinat River, October 21- 60,000 - Lower Fishery Reference Point 225,000
• Puntledge River, October 19 – 4,777 - Target Escapement 60,000.
• Big Qualicum River, October 20 – 2,608 - Target Escapement 85,000.
• Little Qualicum River, October 14 – 1,360 - Target Escapement 85,000.
• Sliammon Creek, October 18 – 6,603
• Nanaimo River, October 20 – 12,090 – Target Escapement 40,000.
• Cowichan River, October 19 – 4,500 – Target Escapement 160,000.
• Goldstream River, October 20 – 334 – Target Escapement 15,000.
2. Recreational fisheries are still occurring in marine and Vancouver Island systems despite these very poor returns.
• DFO closed recreational Chum retention in Region 2 (Fraser River and Tributaries) due to a conservation concern BUT they have failed to close VI and marine recreational Chum fishing to date.
Currently the following rivers are open for recreational Chum retention on Vancouver Island (Region 1) despite the fact that returns are extremely poor:
• Courtenay River (Oct 1-Dec 31: 2/day)
• Nitinat River (scheduled to begin Oct 16-Dec 31: 2/day)
• Puntledge River (Oct 1 - Dec 31: 2/day)
• There are also Chinook and Coho directed recreational fisheries currently open on the Big and Little Qualicum Rivers which may intercept Chum.
• DFO has plans to open Nanaimo River to recreational retention at the end of the month.
3. Commercial fishing opportunities and ESSR/Demo Fisheries are closed or postponed due to poor returns.
4. Fraser River Chum - Albion Test Fishery catches are still low; well below the brood year of 2017.
• Fraser run size estimates for Chum will be released Oct 22.
The next Mid Vancouver Island Chum Update will be Thursday, October 27.
 
It's interesting reports from Alaska down are the same for chum. It isn't just our rivers.

Poor survival or interception would be my guess. First Nations are freaking out in Alaska right now. This points to a way bigger problem not just one place.
 
It's interesting reports from Alaska down are the same for chum. It isn't just our rivers.

Poor survival or interception would be my guess. First Nations are freaking out in Alaska right now. This points to a way bigger problem not just one place.
Just might have something to do with over 5 BILLION hatchery fish?
 
Most likely Chinese and Russian drift nets off our coast.

Yup, drift nets and more...brother in law flew CP-140s 25yrs back, this has been going on a lonnnggg time, just more sophisticated with bigger ships now, some of which were just seized...
P.S. You know the same people I know who were flying around out of Japan for past mth of Sept ?!
 
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Sickening.

One local expert thinks that because the chum are small this year they slipped through our test fisheries....
That local expert should just go for a walk along a few of the local flows to see if any fish carcasses have been washed to the beach. Most streams and creeks that used to be full of chum by now are barely showing any signs of life. There’s going to be widespread impact on the entire ecosystem, including the bears and eagles. This is quiet a sad situation.
 
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