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[poper]

If First Nations catch Interior coho do they release them dead or alive? Or just report that they caught and killed etc.

[RalphH]

two have been reported below Sawmill so far:

https://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fraserriver/firstnations/HTMLs/CohoKeptCatch.html

[firstlight]

The response from FOC re the request for a bar fishing only on the Fraser River.
August 28, 2020
Dear Rod:
Re: Recreational Fishery in Lower Fraser River
Thank you for your letter on August 23rd seeking a Chinook directed recreational
demonstration fishery in the Lower Fraser River.
I understand that a request for this type of demonstration fishery was raised with Fraser
and Interior staff earlier this year, however a number of concerns remain with this
proposal, including serious in-season conservation concerns for Fraser River Sockeye and
an expectation that First Nations FSC obligations for Chinook and Sockeye harvest will
not be met. As a result, we are not in a position to provide for a Chinook directed
recreational fishery in the Fraser main stem at this time. The Department’s current
thoughts on your proposal are outlined below:
 We understand you are looking to promote this a test fishery using the “Bar
fishing” method but at this time the Department does not have the regulatory tools
to restrict the method of fishing to limit impacts on Sockeye stocks of
concern. Specifically, we do not currently have the ability to limit leader length
and other gear.
 As you note in your letter most of the Fraser Summer 5-2 stocks of concern will
be through the river by early September. However, as outlined in the 2020 Fraser
Chinook management actions consultations this spring, the Department also has
concerns for Harrison Fall 4-1 Chinook which are not expected to meet spawning
requirements. This stock has only met its escapement goal once since 2012 and is
not expected to do so in 2020 based on the pre-season abundance forecast. Failure
to meet this escapement goal has implications on Canada’s obligations under the
Pacific Salmon treaty (PST). In the September time frame, there is a steady
decline in the amount of Summer 4-1 fish in the lower Fraser system, whereas the
Harrison Fall 4-1 fish steadily build in abundance and eventually dominate the
Chinook population in river.
 We also need to consider Fraser that Sockeye returns are shaping up to be the
lowest on record with the in-season run size for the Late Run component
currently at 6100 fish total. The Department needs to consider all potential
impacts on these fish very seriously, including release mortalities.
2
 After conservation and consistent with salmon allocation priorities and the
constitutional right to fish for Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) purposes, the
Department is providing First Nations with FSC harvest opportunities for
Chinook. However, First Nation FSC fisheries directed on the more abundant
Summer 4-1 Chinook have also been severely restricted by other Fraser Chinook
stocks of concern as well as the need to minimize Sockeye impacts. As a result,
we do not expect that FSC needs will be met in the Fraser River so recreational
and commercial fisheries are not being planned consistent with allocation
priorities.
 The proposed fishery also overlaps in time and area with the Interior Fraser Coho
window closure period, and would be expected to result in some impacts on this
stock of concern.
Departmental staff will work with the SFAB process to support further discussion of this
type of proposal this fall to allow for a thorough review and consultation before the 2021
season. Please feel free to contact Dean Allan if you would like to discuss this matter
further.
Yours sincerely,
Dean Allan
A/ Area Director, Fraser and Interior Area
Pacific Region
cc:
Greg Hornby, Resource Manager
Jeff Grout, Salmon Resource Manager
Rebecca Reid, Regional Director General
Sarah Murdoch, A/Regional Director General
Terri Bonnet, Area Director, Fraser and Interior

They could have saved a lot of ink and BS by replying with just two words.

[typhoon]

Sure, but there was no chance of this being approved from the start.
No fish = no fishing.

[firstlight]

Must be some fish if all them nets are out there.
Just no fish for us.

[redside1]

I bet the Fraser will never open for sport fishing salmon again.
DFO will always have some sort of excuse/issue with stocks of concern involved.
Toss in the constitutionally FSC rights and there will not ever be enough salmon to fulfill the requirements.
It’s over, change the constitution or get used to it.

[RalphH]

there is actually an amount as in weight of fish (it's done per capita) that's allocated to FSC. Returns above that are potentially available for sport of commercial harvest. There was a pink salmon fishery last year. There was a C&R fishery in 2017. I can't think of a year where there wasn't excepting the closure when sport anglers couldn't identify pinks and coho. Everyone wanted a complete closure to protect IFS and now some folks complain when there is one. It's likely the current FSC red spring harvest of South Thompson stock will shut down in a couple of weeks as that run ends and Harrison springs start to show.

[redside1]

there is actually an amount as in weight of fish (it's done per capita) that's allocated to FSC.

Do you know the amount or where to look for it?
Seems like a good starting point for a discussion on what is required.
I wonder just how much fish can a person eat everyday for a full year?

[santefe]

Just a thought' if I can troll for salmon at the Sandheads, why can't I just cast a spoon or bar fish with a spin and glow in the Fraser for salmon?
Maybe I just don't see the big picture.

[redside1]

Just a thought' if I can troll for salmon at the Sandheads, why can't I just cast a spoon or bar fish with a spin and glow in the Fraser for salmon?
Maybe I just don't see the big picture.

Because you can selectively target chinooks at sandheads and everyone will, meanwhile there will be those that target chinooks by flossing in river and by doing so not selectively fish.
There is no gear regulations to make the river bar fishing only and the gear regulations are controlled by the province not the federal government that manages salmon only in freshwater.

[wildmanyeah]

HOSTED BY THE FRASER VALLEY SALMON SOCIETY
Urgent all Fraser River Anglers its time to be heard ! 

Please be advised that on Wednesday September 9th A demonstration bar fishery will take place. Registration will be at Island 22 at 7:30 am. This demonstration bar fishery will take place on several locations in the Chilliwack area. This event will be monitored and documented to gather more data on this selective method of fishing. See you on the 9th !!!
Please share to all your friends we need as many people and boats as possible to make this successful , I cannot stress how close we are to losing our rights on the river and we need to take a stand.

[Hike_and_fish]

I've been fishing for Chinook the past two days from my boat. Just looks like I'm sturgeon fishing. and yes. The fishing has been solid.

[CohoJake]

HOSTED BY THE FRASER VALLEY SALMON SOCIETY
Urgent all Fraser River Anglers its time to be heard ! 

Please be advised that on Wednesday September 9th A demonstration bar fishery will take place. Registration will be at Island 22 at 7:30 am. This demonstration bar fishery will take place on several locations in the Chilliwack area. This event will be monitored and documented to gather more data on this selective method of fishing. See you on the 9th !!!
Please share to all your friends we need as many people and boats as possible to make this successful , I cannot stress how close we are to losing our rights on the river and we need to take a stand.

What are the ground rules?  Bait allowed?  It would be a shame for a protest intended to demonstrate how selective bar fishing can be to result in the landing of interior steelhead or coho. 

[RalphH]

Mostly that's done with lures such as spin'n'glos. From what I heard the guys who have done this for decades say few coho are caught this way. Roe would be a different story. I have also seen coho caught off the bars with spinners and spoons. Coho are now showing up in the Whonnock and Albion test fisheries. One steelhead counted as well. Steelhead certainly were caught in numbers back when the river was open & the runs were in decent numbers.

[Dave]

Why is this being done on a week day?  Surely a larger turnout would turn up on a weekend.