The following notice from the Pacific Salmon Commission is more relevant when a sockeye salmon opening is available in the Fraser River later on this season.

The Pacific Salmon Commission, in conjunction with universities, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and LGL, is conducting two coordinated tagging studies on migrating Fraser River sockeye from July to November 2010.

The objectives of these studies are to identify the times, locations and causes of adult sockeye mortalities that occur between the marine tagging areas and spawning streams.

This study includes more tracking effort in both marine and freshwater areas than conducted in previous years.

Approximately 600 radio transmitters and 450 acoustic transmitters will be applied to sockeye in marine areas to assess the migration behaviour and survival of summer-run and late-run Fraser sockeye stocks, and 525 additional radio transmitters will be applied in the Lower Fraser River to early-run stocks and angler caught sockeye to assess in-river survival rates for these groups.

Most radio or acoustic transmitters will be inserted into the stomach of each fish; a small number will be inserted into the abdominal cavity.

Study fish will be evident by a punched adipose fin and an external green or yellow tag near the dorsal fin.

Radio transmitter fish will also have a thin wire antenna protruding from the mouth. Each transmitter can record hourly data on the water temperatures encountered by each tagged fish.

These fish will be tracked as they enter the Fraser River and throughout the watershed as they migrate toward their spawning grounds.

Detailed temperature data will be obtained from each transmitter recovered from fisheries or spawning areas.

If you catch a tagged or adipose-punched sockeye in an open fishery and choose to keep it, please remove the external tag and internal transmitter and contact LGL at once at the phone number listed below.

Individuals returning transmitters to LGL along with information on time and place of capture will be sent the complete tracking history of the fish and their name will be entered into a $1,000 lottery once for each transmitter returned.

With your cooperation, the information obtained from the returned tags will directly contribute to improved management and conservation of Fraser River sockeye.

Thank you for your interest and cooperation.

If you catch a tagged fish or you have any questions related to this study, please call toll free in Canada or US: 1-866-221-3444.

For further information on Late-run sockeye, please check the Pacific Salmon Commission’s website.

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