Thursday, August 29, 2013
The Fraser River Panel met today to review assessment data on Fraser River sockeye and pink salmon, discuss fisheries management plans for the harvest of pink salmon and review environmental conditions in the Fraser River watershed.
At the meeting today, the run size estimates of 550,000 Early Summer-run and 2,400,000 Summer-run sockeye were unchanged. The run size estimate of Late-run sockeye was increased from 450,000 to 500,000 fish, with 50% marine timing through Area 20 of August 15, which is three days later than expected. At the meeting today the run size estimate of Fraser River pink salmon was increased from 14,000,000 to 16,000,000 fish with 50% marine timing of August 29, which is one day later than average.
On August 28, the Fraser River water discharge at Hope was 2,410 cms, which is approximately 15% lower than average for this date. The temperature of the Fraser River at Qualark Creek on August 28 was 18.6C, which is 1.8C higher than average for this date.
The Panel announced the following regulations for Panel Area waters:
CANADIAN FRASER RIVER PANEL AREA WATERS:
Areas 18-1, 18-4, and 18-11 and Areas 29-6, 29-7 and 29-9: Open to Area B seine assessment (2 vessels) ITQ fishery for pink salmon with non-retention of sockeye salmon 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily on Sunday, September 1, 2013 until further notice. (Please refer to DFO Fishery Notice for further details).
UNITED STATES FRASER RIVER PANEL AREA WATERS:
TREATY INDIAN FISHERY:
Areas 4B, 5 and 6C: Extended for drift gillnets from 12:00 p.m. (noon) Friday, August 30, 2013 to 12:00 p.m. (noon) Wednesday, September 4, 2013. Sockeye may be retained for ceremonial and subsistence purposes only.
Areas 6,7 and 7A: Open for net fishing from 5:00 a.m. Saturday, August 31 through 9:00 a.m. Monday, September 2, 2013, and from 5:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 3, 2013 through 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 4, 2013 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. Sockeye may be retained for ceremonial and subsistence purposes only.
ALL CITIZEN FISHERY:
Area 7: Open to reefnets with non-retention of sockeye salmon from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily on Saturday, August 31, 2013, Sunday, September 1, 2013, Monday, September 2, 2013 and Tuesday, September 3, 2013.
Area 7 and 7A: Open to purse seines with non-retention of sockeye salmon from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Monday, September 2, 2013 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.
Area 7 and 7A: Open to gillnets with non-retention of sockeye salmon from 8:00 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. (midnight) Monday, September 2, 2013 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.
(Note: U. S. All Citizen 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 Tuesday, September 3, 2013.
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Topic: 2013 Fraser River Sockeye Updates (Read 38568 times)