September 7th, 2007
Pacific Salmon Commission's Fraser River Panel regulatory announcementThe Fraser River Panel met Friday, September 7 to receive an update on the status of Fraser River sockeye and pink salmon runs and catches and discuss fishing plans.
Low numbers of Fraser sockeye continue to migrate through the marine assessment areas. The migratory abundance of Fraser River pink salmon through Johnstone Strait is presently at moderate levels while the migration through Juan de Fuca Strait has been declining over the past week.
At the meeting today, the run size estimates for Fraser River sockeye and pink salmon were unchanged: 155,000 Early Summer-run, 650,000 Summer-run, 100,000 Birkenhead, 510,000 true Late-run sockeye, and 10,000,000 pink salmon.
CANADIAN FRASER RIVER PANEL AREA WATERS:Area 18-1, 18-4 and 18-11: Closes to Area H troll for pink salmon with non-retention of sockeye salmon at 11:59 p.m., Friday, September 7, 2007.
Area 20: Relinquish regulatory control effective 12:01 a.m., Saturday, September 8, 2007.
UNITED STATES FRASER RIVER PANEL AREA WATERS:Areas 4B, 5, 6C: Relinquish regulatory control effective 12:01 p.m. (noon), Saturday, September 8, 2007.
TREATY INDIAN FISHERY:Areas 4B, 5 and 6C: As previously announced, extended for drift gillnets for pink salmon from 12:00 p.m. (noon) Saturday, September 1, 2007 to 12:00 p.m. (noon) Saturday, September 8, 2007.
Areas 6, 7, and 7A: Extended for net fishing for pink salmon from 5:00 a.m., Saturday, September 1, 2007 to 9:00 p.m. Monday, September 10, 2007 southerly and easterly of a straight line drawn from the Iwersen’s Dock on Point Roberts in the State of Washington to the Georgina Point Light at the entrance to Active Pass in the Province of British Columbia.
NON INDIAN FISHERY:Areas 7 and 7A: Open to gillnets for pink salmon with non-retention of sockeye salmon from 8:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. (midnight) Friday, September 7, 2007, and from 8:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. (midnight) Monday, September 10, 2007 southerly and easterly of a straight line drawn from the Iwersen’s Dock on Point Roberts in the State of Washington to the Georgina Point Light at the entrance to Active Pass in the Province of British Columbia.
Areas 7 and 7A: Open to purse seines for pink salmon with non-retention of sockeye salmon from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday, September 7, 2007 and from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday, September 10, 2007 southerly and easterly of a straight line drawn from the Iwersen’s Dock on Point Roberts in the State of Washington to the Georgina Point Light at the entrance to Active Pass in the Province of British Columbia.
Areas 7 and 7A: Open for reefnets for pink salmon with non-retention of sockeye salmon from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Friday, September 7, 2007 and from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday, September 8, 2007 and from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday, September 9, 2007 and from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday, September 10, 2007 southerly and easterly of a straight line drawn from the Iwersen’s Dock on Point Roberts in the State of Washington to the Georgina Point Light at the entrance to Active Pass in the Province of British Columbia.
(Note: U. S. Non-Treaty fishers should check the U.S. hotline and WDFW regulations before fishing as there are additional State of Washington regulations, including time restrictions that may be in effect).
The next in-season meeting of the Panel is scheduled to occur on September 10, 2007.
Pacific Salmon Commission's news release