Islandgirl
Well-Known Member
It is not looking like the escapement target will be reached but the run was commercially fished week after week since June.
As of July 22 escapement was 314 650 so appoximately 60 000 fish short of the target of 375 000
For some reason this happens year after year in Port Alberni with other species of salmon as well.
Somass River Escapement Bulletin
Observations to July 22, 2012
IN-SEASON OBSERVATIONS:
Through July 22, total sockeye escapement to Great Central Lake is estimated to be 139,950
adults, and total sockeye escapement to Sproat Lake is estimated to be 174,700 adults (total
escapement approximately 314,650 adults). Daily escapement counts over the previous week
ranged between 600 and 1,100 adults through the Great Central dam, and between 350 and
2,200 adults through the Sproat fishway.
River temperatures are relatively high at 20oC at the Sproat River fishway, but remain low at
16oC at the Great Central dam. Flow throughout the Somass system remains high for this time
of year, and migration does not appear impeded.
Based on current catch, escapement, and abundance estimates in the Alberni Inlet and Somass
River, the forecast was reduced to 850,000 adult sockeye on July 19. The escapement target
for this run size is 375,000, giving an expected surplus of 475,000 (i.e., about 56%) sockeye
available for catch.
2012 PRE-SEASON EXPECTATIONS:
Sockeye: For 2012, the forecast return of Somass sockeye was 700,000 (range 500,000 to
1,000,000). (The forecast was upgraded July 5 based on in-season observations.) Expected
stock composition is about 47% Great Central and 53% Sproat sockeye. Expected age
composition is about 36%, 51%, and 13% for age 42, 52, 53 / 63 adults, respectively.
Chinook: Approximately 34,000 Somass chinook are forecast to return to Barkley Sound and
Alberni Inlet in 2012. The predicted adult age composition is 5%, 33% and 62% of 3, 4 and 5-
year olds, respectively. Given the age composition, about 24,000 spawners are required to meet
the 57.2M egg target for the system. Therefore, about 10,000 Somass chinook are available for
harvest in the ‘terminal fishery’ from Alberni Inlet seaward to Barkley Sound.
Chum: Approximately 530,000 chum are forecast to return to South West Vancouver Island in
2012 (62,000 to Area 23). While this forecast is below long-term averages, some modest
harvest opportunities may be expected.
Coho: For 2012, the total expected return to Somass system is about 25,000 to 35,000 coho.
The forecast survival rate for the 2009 brood year (2011 sea entry) year is somewhat below the
long-term average for West coast Vancouver Island coho.
As of July 22 escapement was 314 650 so appoximately 60 000 fish short of the target of 375 000
For some reason this happens year after year in Port Alberni with other species of salmon as well.
Somass River Escapement Bulletin
Observations to July 22, 2012
IN-SEASON OBSERVATIONS:
Through July 22, total sockeye escapement to Great Central Lake is estimated to be 139,950
adults, and total sockeye escapement to Sproat Lake is estimated to be 174,700 adults (total
escapement approximately 314,650 adults). Daily escapement counts over the previous week
ranged between 600 and 1,100 adults through the Great Central dam, and between 350 and
2,200 adults through the Sproat fishway.
River temperatures are relatively high at 20oC at the Sproat River fishway, but remain low at
16oC at the Great Central dam. Flow throughout the Somass system remains high for this time
of year, and migration does not appear impeded.
Based on current catch, escapement, and abundance estimates in the Alberni Inlet and Somass
River, the forecast was reduced to 850,000 adult sockeye on July 19. The escapement target
for this run size is 375,000, giving an expected surplus of 475,000 (i.e., about 56%) sockeye
available for catch.
2012 PRE-SEASON EXPECTATIONS:
Sockeye: For 2012, the forecast return of Somass sockeye was 700,000 (range 500,000 to
1,000,000). (The forecast was upgraded July 5 based on in-season observations.) Expected
stock composition is about 47% Great Central and 53% Sproat sockeye. Expected age
composition is about 36%, 51%, and 13% for age 42, 52, 53 / 63 adults, respectively.
Chinook: Approximately 34,000 Somass chinook are forecast to return to Barkley Sound and
Alberni Inlet in 2012. The predicted adult age composition is 5%, 33% and 62% of 3, 4 and 5-
year olds, respectively. Given the age composition, about 24,000 spawners are required to meet
the 57.2M egg target for the system. Therefore, about 10,000 Somass chinook are available for
harvest in the ‘terminal fishery’ from Alberni Inlet seaward to Barkley Sound.
Chum: Approximately 530,000 chum are forecast to return to South West Vancouver Island in
2012 (62,000 to Area 23). While this forecast is below long-term averages, some modest
harvest opportunities may be expected.
Coho: For 2012, the total expected return to Somass system is about 25,000 to 35,000 coho.
The forecast survival rate for the 2009 brood year (2011 sea entry) year is somewhat below the
long-term average for West coast Vancouver Island coho.
