August 31st, 2010's regulatory announcement by Fraser River Panel of Pacific Salmon Commissionhttp://www.psc.org/NewsRel/2010/Announcement21.pdfThe Fraser River Panel met Tuesday August 31 to review stock assessment data on the Fraser River sockeye runs, plan fisheries and review migration conditions in the Fraser River watershed.
Purse seine test fishing catches of sockeye have been variable but strong in Areas 12 and 13 over the past several days, while catches in the Area 20 purse seine test fishery have been lower due to the high diversion rate of Fraser sockeye through Johnstone Strait. The large, sustained catches of Late Shuswap sockeye in marine area test fisheries along with other assessment data has resulted in another increase in their run size estimate. At the meeting today, the run size estimate for Late Shuswap/Weaver sockeye was increased from 20,000,000 to 24,000,000 fish, with marine timing through Area 20 of August 22. Also at the meeting today, the following run size estimates were unchanged: 3,700,000 Early Summer-run, 4,800,000 Summer-run, 1,200,000 Harrison and the forecast of 241,000 sockeye in the Birkenhead stock- group. Current run size assessments suggest that the total Fraser sockeye return this season is slightly over 34,000,000 fish (including 105,000 Early Stuart sockeye), which is the largest return since 1913.
Migration conditions for sockeye in the Fraser River are presently satisfactory. On August 30 the discharge of the Fraser River at Hope was 2,050 cms, which is 30% below average for this date. The temperature of the Fraser River at Qualark Creek on August 30 was 16.2 0C, which is close to average for this date. Fraser River water temperatures at Qualark Creek are forecast to be in the 15 0C range over the next several days. Migration conditions for Fraser sockeye will be monitored closely over the next several weeks and appropriate management actions will be taken.
CANADIAN FRASER RIVER PANEL AREA WATERS:Area 18-1, 18-4 and 18-11 and Areas 29 – 1 to 6: As previously announced, open to Area H troll as of 12:01 a.m. Sunday, August 8, 2010 and continues until further notice (please refer to DFO Fishery Notices for further details).
Area 29: Subareas 29-1 to 4, 6, 7 and 9 to 17: As previously announced, open to Area E gillnets from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 1, 2010 (Please refer to DFO Fishery Notices for further details).
Area 29: Subareas 29-1 to 4, 6, 7 and 9 to 17: Open to Area E gillnets from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday September 2, 2010 (Please refer to DFO Fishery Notices for further details).
UNITED STATES FRASER RIVER PANEL AREA WATERS:TREATY INDIAN FISHERY:
Areas 4B, 5 and 6C: As previously announced, extended for drift gillnets from 12:00 p.m. (noon) Saturday, August 28 through 12:00 p.m. (noon) Wednesday, September 1, 2010.
Areas 4B, 5 and 6C: Extended for drift gillnets from 12:00 p.m. (noon) Wednesday, September 1, 2010 through 12:00 p.m. (noon) Saturday, September 4, 2010.
Areas 6, 7 and 7A: As previously announced, open to net fishing from 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 31, 2010 through 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 1, 2010.
Areas 6, 7 and 7A: Extended for net fishing from 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 1, 2010, through 9:00 a.m. Friday, September 3, 2010.
NON INDIAN FISHERY:
Areas 7 and 7A: Open to purse seines from 9:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m., Friday, September 3, 2010 in the area southerly and easterly of a straight line drawn from 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: As previously announced, open to reefnets from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 31, 2010.
Areas 7 and 7A: Open to reefnets from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Friday, September 3, 2010. Areas 7 and 7A: Open to gillnets from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. (midnight), Friday, September 3, 2010.
(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 Friday, September 3, 2010.
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Topic: 2010 Fraser River chinook and sockeye salmon updates (Read 29043 times)