, " PACIFIC REGION 1996 SALMON NET MANAGEMENT PLAN AREAS B, D, AND E SOUTH COAST AND FRASER RIVER This Salmon Net Management Plan is intended for general purposes only. Where there is a discrepancy between the Plan and the regulations. the regulations arc the final authority....o:ription of Areas and Subareas referenced in this Plan can be found in the Pacific Fishery Management Area lions. '. Fisheries and Oceans Peches et Oceans Canada Canada Canada
TABLE OF CONTENTS I. INTRODUCTION 3 2. MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES 3 3. SOUTH COAST AND FRASER RIVER NET HIGHLIGHTS 3 4. SOUTH COAST AND FRASER RIVER NET FISHING PLAN 4 4.1. Assumptions Regarding Abundance 4 4.1.1. Areas II to 13 and 16 4 4.1.2. Areas 22 to 27 5 4.2. Allocations and Limitations 6 4.2.1. SOCKEYE 6 4.2.2. PfNK 6 4.2.3. CHUM 6 4.2.4. CHfNOOK AND STEELHEAD 6 4.3. Suuth Co:c:;t Net Fishing Plans 7 4.3.1. Areas 11 to 18 7 4.3.2. Areas 21, 23 and 25 8 4.4. Fraser Ri 9 4.4.1. 9 5: PLAN DETAIl 9 6. ENFORCEMll 10 i 1996 Salmon Net Managemj June 20, 1996 Area S, D. and E South C,
'I 1. INTRODUCTION This fishing plan has been developed by DFO using pre-season expectations. Specific details of individual fisheries will be developed in consultation with Areas B, D and E stakeholders. Catches are limited by domestic allocations and stock abundance. At the time of publishing this plan, there was no Pacific Salmon Treaty fishing agreement in place for 1996. In the event of an agreement, the fishing plan will be adjusted to reflect the fishing agreements. Notification of these adjustments will be made by a Notice to Industry. 2. MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES The net fishing plan for 1996 was developed with consideration of the following objectives: 2.1. Manage fisheries using a risk aversion management strategy to ensure that management objectives and escapement goals are met. 2.2. Meet Aboriginal fisheries obligations. 2.3. Minimize incidental catches of non-target species, e.g., coho, chinook and steelhead. 2.4. Contribute to the Lower Strait of Georgia chinook conservation program and the Strait of Georgia Coho Rebuilding Strategy. 2.5. Maintain manageability and enforceability of the plan. 3. SOUTH COAST AND FRASER RIVER NET HIGHLIGHTS 3.1. For seines, there will be non-retention and non-possession of chinook and steelhead during all fisheries in 1996. For gillnets, there will be voluntary release of all live chinook and steelhead.. 3.2. The first net opening opportunity may not be available until late September for chums due to forecasted low returns of Fraser River sockeye and Mainland Inlet pink, however, all fishing options will remain open if stocks warrant a fishery. Area B, D, and E South Coast and Fraser River 3 June 20, 1996
3.3. All times referred to in this plan are local times. 3.4. Recorded phone services for 24 hour commercial fishery information is provided at the following locations: Vancouver 666-1506 Nanaimo 754-0281 4. SOUTH COAST AND FRASER RIVER NET FISHING PLAN 4.1. Assumptions Regarding Abundance 4.1.1. Areas 11 to 13 and 16 4.1.1.1. SOCKEYE A return of 1.56 million Fraser River sockeye is forecast with no commercial catch expected. The diversion rate through Johnstone Strait is forecast (early June) to be 51%. Next diversion rate forecast date is mid-july. The maj or local sockeye stock returning in 1996 is the Nimpkish '.Voss stock. The required escapement is 250,000. No surplus is anticipated and early protection measures will be required if net fisheries are conducted in upper Johnstone Strait. C) 4.1.1.2. COHO Coho are expected to be extremely low in the Strait of Georgia. It is assumed that the Strait of Georgia coho have migrated to the West Coast of Vancouver Island. 4.1.1.3. PINK This is an off-cycle year for southern bound (Fraser River) pink. The Study Area (Johnstone Strait and Strait of Georgia but not including Fraser River) pink salmon escapement in 1994 was 1.28 million. The expected total return is about 1.79 million. This is less than the escapement requirement of 3.1 million. Mainland Inlet (Area 12) pinks are expected to be low in abundance in 1996. While no surpluses are expected, there may be a small surplus to the Kakweiken River system in the order of 250,000 pink. In-season monitoring programs will be in place for the KnightfBond Inlet areas. Area 8, D, and E South Coast and Fraser River 4 June 20, 1996
4.1.1.4. CHUM Study Area (Johnstone Strait, Strait of Georgia and Fraser River) chum total run size is forecasted to be 4.2 million. Fishers should be aware that ocean survival conditions have been poor and that this forecast may be optimistic. 4.1.1.5. CHINOOK The usual conservation measures, e.g., the ribbon boundary, will remain in effect. As well, DFO will require mandatory release (seine) and voluntary release (gillnet) of" chinook and steelhead caught incidentally in regular net fisheries. If necessary, further measures, e.g., area closures, may be taken. 4.1.2. Areas 22 to 27 4.1.2.1. SOCKEYE Marine survival rates are well below average resulting in a poor return expected in 1996. The return of sockeye to Area 23 (Somass and Henderson systems) is forecast to be 278,000 fish. Assessment by electronic counters will commence in early June and seine test fishing and hydroacoustic surveys will start in early July. The first reforecast ofrun size will be announced July 11. A run size of 450,000 is required prior to a limited commercial net fishery. No commercial fishing opportunities are anticipated. 4.1.2.2. CHUM No commercial TAC of chum is expected for Area 21122 (Nitinat) or Area 25 (Nootka). No net fisheries will be scheduled unless in season assessment identifies a surplus. One seine test fishing vessel will assess chum runs on the West Coast of Vancouver Island commencing in mid-september and there will be gill net test fisheries in Areas 22 (Nitinat Lake), 24 (Clayoquot), 25 (Nootka) and 26 (Kyuquot). 4.1.2.3. CHINOOK There are major conservation concerns for WCVI chinook in 1996, and therefore no net fishing opportunities in 1996. 1996 Swmon Net Managcmenl Plan Area B, D. and E South Coast and Fraser River 5 June 20, 1996
4.2. Allocations and Limitations There is currently no 1996 allocation plan. Given that the expectations are so poor in 1996, Commercial Fishing Industry Council (CFIC) has recommended that DFO manage the 1996 commercial salmon fishery using the following prioritized allocation criteria: 1. Maximize the commercial harvest of the available surplus by commercial gear type. 2. Do not use the 1992 allocation plan for 1996. 3. Be fair and equitable as possible in allocating the available resources between the three gear sectors within the constraints of points 1 and 2 above. 4. The 1996 season should be considered as anomalous and, therefore, the 1996 Domestic Allocation Plan should not set any precedents for the Long Term Allocation Plan. 4.2.1. SOCKEYE No commercial T AC of Fraser River sockeye is forecast. If, inseason the estimated run size exceed forecast levels and a commercial T AC is identified, allocation levels and fishing opportunities will be determined.... ). \-.~ 4.2.2. PINK Limited opportunities may be available. If, in season the estimated run size exceed forecast levels and a commercial TAC is identified, allocation levels and fishing opportunities will be determined inseason. 4.2.3. CHUM Limited opportunities are available. Due to poor stock returns expected for 1996, CFIC has directed DFO to allocate the fish in the most fair and equitable manner as possible. 4.2.4. CHINOOK AND STEEL HEAD For seines, there will be DOD-retention and nod-possession of chinook and steelhead during all fisheries in 1996. For gillnets, there will be voluntary release of all live chinook and steelhead. Area B, D, and E South Coast and Fraser River 6 June 20. 1996
4.3. South Coast Net Fishing Plans 4.3.1. Areas II to 18 4.3.1.1. SOCKEYE No commercial fisheries for Fraser River sockeye are anticipated in 1996. The 1995 seine fishery in Johnstone Strait was restricted to a geographical area equivalent to the distance that sockeye travel in 2 to 3 days migration. This area was from Malcolm Island in Area 12 to Chatham Point in Area 13. This will be reviewed, with fishers and processors prior to the start of the 1996 season. However, fishers should not expect substantive changes from the 1995 approach. 4.3.1.2. COHO There are no targeted net fisheries for coho in the south coast. Management actions, e.g., voluntary (gillnet) or mandatory (seine) release, may be implemented in 1996 during net fisheries for other species. 4.3.1.3. PINK No net fishing opportunities are anticipated for Mainland Inlet pinks in 1996. 4.3.1.4. CHUM Study Area (Johnstone Strait, Strait of Georgia and Fraser River) chum total run size is forecasted to be 4.2 million. An assessment fishery is planned for the 3rd or 4th week of September. Further fishing opportunities after this time will be governed by stock strength and the Clockwork Management Guidelines. Area B. D, and E South Coast and Fraser River 7 June 21, 1996
I The Johnstone Strait and Fraser River Clockwork Management Guidelines for 1996 are as follows: TOTAL STOCK HARVEST RATE 0.0-3.0 million 10%(1) 3.0-3.9 million 20% 3.9-5.2 million 30% over 5.2 million 40% (1): 10% harvest rate to include non-commercial catch, catch in assessment fisheries and incidental catch in sockeye or pink fisheries after September 1. The assessment fishery is usually the third or fourth week of September. Fishing plan details for the period following September 8 will be developed with fishers and processors during September. If the run returns at the high forecasted range of 4.2 million, the harvest rate goal would be 30% under Clockwork :liles. If the run returns at the low forecasted range of 2.0 million, the harvest rate goal would oriiy be 10% under Clockwork rules, and no further fisheries would be scheduled. Terminal fisheries will be conducted under individual terminal management plans if surpluses are identified. Currently surpluses are forecast for the Nimpkish, Jervis, Nanaimo, Cowichan and mid-vancouver Island (Qualicum and Puntledge) Rivers. Terminal' run sizes will be monitored in-season and fishing plans will be developed if or when surpluses are identified. 4.3.2. Areas 21, 23 and 25 No anticipated net fisheries in 1996. There will be in-season assessment programs for chum, as well as continuation of the steelhead study in Areas 21 and 121. Fishing options remain open should a fishing opportunity be identified..~) Area B. D, and E South Coast and Fraser River 8 June 20, 1996
4.4. Fraser River Net Fishing Plans 4.4.1. Areas 20 and 29 Sockeye and pink fishing plans for the Panel Areas will be developed by the Fraser River Panel or, in the event there is no Pacific Salmon Treaty fishing agreement, DFO in conjunction with the Canadian Caucus of the Fraser River Panel. S. PLAN DETAILS AREA: MONTH : DATE "i"i"" """ ""~ "Aij"Seaso~"""""""" """" t ""Closed""""""".,,, "i 2""""""""t"j uly/august"""""""""" t" dosed""""""". i 2""""" ""t "AugusUS"eptemher"" t" dosed""""""" --------- --~ -- ---- --- -----------------+ ----- --- ------ --- 12 : Late September 1600 Mon TIME : DESCRIPTION """"""""""""""""""""""" t" N (; fis"he"nes" iilliicipaied "i~" Area" i" i" : during 1996. """""""""""""""""" """"" t" "Ne;" Maiii"ia;;d" "i~"lei" jjicic" 'fi"she~i"es" : anticipated. """"""""""""""""""""""" r-"ne;""" Fraser""""soc"ke"ye" """"fishe~i"es" : anticipated -----------------------r----------------------------------------------- 24 hrs 24 hrs Subareas 12-1 to 12-6, 12-8 to 12-12, 12-18 (east of a line running from Lewis Point to Donegal Head on Malcolm Island), 12-21 and 12-24. "j;f""""""r" E&iyA~g~st!Seiii"T "Ciosed""""""" """ """"""""" """""" """"" f" Ne;" """Fraser"""" sockeye"""" "fi"sheri"es" "i '3" """""t" Late" Seiite~"bei""""" t"" i 600 "Mo~""" "i4""" to "f"mid~ocioher"""" """"" T""""""""""""""""" 18 : : ---------- -~ ---------------- ----------+ ----------------- 21 to: All Season : TBA 27 : : closed " anticipated. r "24"hfs""" "24 his""" -" "subareas""i':;:7""( e;;:cejit""deepwater" Bay), 13-8 to 13-10, 13-27 to 13-32, 13-35 (west of a line running from Gunner Point to a boundary sign on the Hardwicke Island shore opposite) and 13-40 (west of a line running from a prominent point approximately 1.5 miles east of Eden Point on West Thurlaw Island across to a boundary sign on the Hardwicke Island shore opposite). ""Possi hie""" ~et""" "opportiilli ties""" "for" terminal chum. "No" fisheries "~ticiiiated:"""""""" """"""" Area B. D. and E South Coast and Fraser River 9 June 20, 1996
6. ENFORCEMENT OBSERVE, RECORD AND REPORT: FISHERlES VIOLATIONS 1-800-465-4336 WILDLIFE AND POLLUTION VIOLATIONS 1-800-663-9453 Users of the resource have a responsibility to report violators. Any suspected or actual violations can be quickly and discretely passed on to the appropriate Enforcement Officer by telephoning the toll-free Observe, Record and Report (ORR) number for reporting fisheries, wildlife and pollution violations. Confidentiality is assured. (),. l ". 'n-" '"-" 10 June 20.1996 Area B. D, and E South Coast and Fraser River