Johnstone Strait Sockeye Salmon Tagging Program
Posted on August 4th, 2006 by Rodney Hsu, Webmaster

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), has entered into a co-management project with the B.C. Wild-Harvest Salmon Producers Association (BCWHSP), formerly known as the Commercial Salmon Advisory Board (CSAB), and will be jointly conducting a tagging study on migrating Fraser River sockeye. This study is likely to occur during the second week of August depending on the run timing of the summer group of Fraser sockeye. The objective of this tagging study is to determine harvest rates of the commercial seine, gillnet and troll fleets and to verify daily rates of migration of Fraser River sockeye salmon.

Approximately 12,000 Floy tags will be applied for 4 or 5 consecutive days prior to a commercial seine fishery in Johnstone Straits (Areas 12 and 13). Tags will be applied to migrating sockeye in the North Shore area of Malcolm Island (Subareas 12-6 and 12-8). Tags will be inserted near the dorsal fin with some sockeye being double tagged. This double tagging procedure is necessary to estimate tag loss.

Five colours are being applied, a different colour for each day of tagging. colours consist of: white, yellow, florescent pink, green and florescent yellow.

If you catch a tagged sockeye, please remove the tag or tags and send them to the address on the tag or to:

Cindy Rasmussen
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
3225 Stephenson Point Road
Nanaimo, B.C. V9T – 1K3

It is extremely important to include the following information with your tags when you send them in:

• the type of fishing gear,
• the date and location the tagged sockeye was caught.
• Reporting the DFO Subarea is preferred for reporting location.

Individuals returning tags will be entered once for each tag returned into a $4500.00 lottery. Tags will be accepted and entered into the Lottery until October 31, 2006. Prizes are as follows:

$2000.00 – First Prize
$1000.00 – Second Prize
$500.00 – Third Prize
$250.00 - Honorable Mention
$250.00 - Honorable Mention
$250.00 - Honorable Mention
$250.00 - Honorable Mention

DFO and the BCWHSP would like to thank those participating in this study for their cooperation. The information obtained from the returned tags will directly contribute to the management of Fraser River sockeye.

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