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[chris gadsden]

Am hearing there is a good run in the river this year. Good to hear. Anyone else seeing this?

[Fish Assassin]

Do they spawn in the Fraser ? Do they die after they spawn ?

[Dave]

Do they spawn in the Fraser ? Do they die after they spawn ?

Yes and yes

[arimaBOATER]

If true that would be great news.
As a person who grew up in Coquitlam area I travelled to New Westminster alot.
Also worked for two years at Lamford Cedar sawmill back in the 70s & the mill was located right at the mouth of the Brunette R.
But just west of this mill was some old docks with a few fish boats that tied up there.
Yearly a crude message painted on plywood would get put up for all to see ( travelling by on Columbia St.) " Eulachons for sale "
( candle fish )

Then a few years ago there were no more sales.
But for apox. 45 or so years that I witnessed those signs were put up.

[Hook, Line and Sinker]

That's funny, every time I hear the word eulachons I think about that sign. And how crappy it was painted. Reminds me of my childhood - I can remember it being there since about 1977 and then disappearing a decade ago or more.

[Rodney]

The Fraser River eulachon return has "improved" last year and possibly this season (you can't conclude anything until spawning stock biomass is sampled and determined) but it is still a tiny percentage of historic spawning stock biomass average.

2010's spawning stock biomass hit an all time low at 4 tonnes. Last year's biomass was estimated to be 120 tonnes. To give you an idea how significant the decline has been, the spawning stock biomass in 1996 was estimated to be 1,911 tonnes.

The stock will most likely be listed as endangered in the Species At Risk Act in 2015.

[Fish Assassin]

Eulachons are absolutely delicious pan fried. My dad would buy a few lbs from the fish market and have a real feast.

[liketofish]

So is it like a 'oily' smelt? Is the oil good for the body?

[Dave]

The stock will most likely be listed as endangered in the Species At Risk Act in 2015.

Thanks for this Rod.  How is the spawning stock biomass measured and what are your thoughts for the implications if these fish are listed under SARA?