Looks encouraging - here is the latest notice
Fishery Notice
Category(s): ABORIGINAL - General Information
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Seine
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Troll
RECREATIONAL - Salmon
Subject: FN0701-Salmon - Fraser River Sockeye Update - Areas 11 to 29 - August 02, 2013
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First Nations Food, Social and Ceremonial fisheries are underway in most areas.
Fishers are requested to check for opening times and any restrictions in their
local areas. There are no planned Canadian commercial or recreational fisheries
directed on Fraser sockeye at this time.
An update from the July 29, 2013 Fraser River Panel meeting follows:
The Fraser River Panel met Friday, August 2, 2013 to review assessment data on
Fraser River sockeye salmon and environmental conditions in the Fraser River
watershed. Marine test fishing catches in Johnstone Strait and Juan de Fuca
Strait have continued to be flat while a steady flow of sockeye has continued
into the Fraser River past Mission. The diversion rate of Fraser sockeye
through Johnstone Strait has increased to 65% over the last 5 days. DNA
analysis of samples collected from recent test fisheries in Johnstone Strait
and Juan de Fuca Strait indicate that Summer-run sockeye are now the dominant
Fraser sockeye management group currently migrating through the marine
assessment areas. The migration of sockeye past the Mission hydro acoustic site
has increased over the past week with about 60,000 sockeye estimated to move by
each day.
The marine migration of Early Stuart sockeye is complete and a final in-season
run-size estimate of 182,000 was adopted by the Fraser River Panel. DFO
initiated visual surveys of Early Stuart spawning grounds on July 23, 2013 and
observations to date indicate the fish are in good condition although water
levels are low. Details on DFO's Fraser sockeye escapement enumeration plans
this season are available at
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-
gp/fraser/docs/Escapement/sockeye-rouge-eng.html.
Assessments of Early Summer-run sockeye run size are currently exceeding the
p50 or mid-point forecast of 253,000 sockeye, with Pitt River sockeye appearing
to be much larger than forecast. At the meeting on July 29, 2013 the Fraser
Panel approved an increase in the Early Summer run size to 400,000 with a
revised run timing from the pre-season predicted date of July 23 to July 21,
2013. No further decisions on run size and management adjustment were made. The
estimated escapement of Early Summer-run sockeye past Mission through August
1st is 331,500 fish.
Although it is still early in the marine migration of Summer-run sockeye based
on the observed abundance to date the return will need to about 7 days later
than the pre-season predicted timing in order to achieve the p50 run size of
3,718,000. Based on pre-season information, summer-run sockeye (Chilko,
Quesnel, Late Stuart, Stellako, Harrison, Raft, and North Thompson) are
expected to provide most of the fishing opportunities directed at Fraser
sockeye this season. The peak migration of Summer-run sockeye (Chilko) was
forecast to be earlier than average by approximately 5 days. In-season
assessments of Summer-run sockeye abundance will not be available until after
their expected peak migration period through Juan de Fuca Strait in early to
mid-August. The estimated escapement of Summer-run sockeye past Mission through
August 1st is 249,800 fish.
Catches of pink salmon in marine test fisheries continue to be at much higher
levels than usual for this early in the season. DNA samples for this season
indicate that the Fraser comprises approximately 11% of Area 20 Pink salmon
with other South Coast Canadian stocks making up 59% and the remainder of U.S.
origin.
On August 1, 2013, the Fraser River water discharge at Hope was 3,390 cms,
which is approximately 25% lower than average for this date. The temperature of
the Fraser River at Qualark Creek on August 1, 2013 was 19.1 C, which is 1.4 C
higher than average for this date. Sustained exposure of sockeye to Fraser
River water temperatures in this range may slow their migration and cause
elevated levels of pre-spawning mortality. Fraser River water temperatures are
forecast to increase slightly over the next few days. The Fraser Panel manages
fisheries to provide additional Fraser sockeye above the spawning escapement
targets through application of management adjustments. The management
adjustments help ensure that the escapement targets are achieved by off-setting
en-route mortality and other factors that could affect meeting spawning
escapement targets. At the Panel meeting on Friday no changes were made to
Early Summer run size or management adjustment.
The next in-season meeting of the Panel is scheduled to occur on Tuesday,
August 6, 2013.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Les Jantz 250-851-4892
Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0701
Sent August 2, 2013 at 1511