VANCOUVER - As identified pre-season, Fisheries and Oceans Canada is extremely concerned about the Late run component of the Fraser River sockeye stock. This year, the Late run stock has again entered the river earlier than normal.

This unusual behaviour of Late run Fraser River sockeye first became apparent in 1996 and has continued each year since then. As in previous years, it is anticipated that 90 per cent of the returning stock will experience en-route and pre-spawn mortality. There is no new evidence to suggest that the pattern of the past five years has changed in 2002.

Currently, the return of Late run Fraser River sockeye in 2002 is projected to reach 5.8 million sockeye. The fishery management difficulty is that 90 per cent of these fish are likely to die before spawning, even if no additional fisheries were to take place on these fish. If this is the case, resulting spawning escapement would be far below the Department's escapement goal, which at the current run size under normal conditions would be approximately 2.0 million spawners.

In order to ensure that a sustainable spawning population is maintained, Fisheries and Oceans Canada remains committed to meeting conservation goals for this stock. First Nations fisheries for food, social and ceremonial purposes will continue, and will remain within the conservation objectives (maximum 15 per cent exploitation rate ceiling).

Fishing opportunities for Fraser River sockeye have already been provided to First Nations, commercial and recreational harvesters. Flexibility in the provision of additional fishing opportunities has also already been provided to harvesters. These additional opportunities were provided on the basis of an in-season agreement between Canadian domestic harvest interests, the Pacific Salmon Commission and the United States, and were specifically designed to avoid fishing the Late run which has the greatest probability for spawning success.

Given the conservation concerns for the Late run stocks, and despite the current estimated abundance, further commercial and recreational fishing opportunities are not warranted and would place the future of these stocks at unusually high risk. Additional fishing opportunities may be possible, if there is an increase in the estimated abundance. However, several factors would have to be considered, such as the timing characteristics of the Late run, stock proportions, the presence of vulnerable stocks, such as those from Cultus Lake, and spawning escapement goals.

As well, the Department will have to take into account the impact on the conservation of Late runs sockeye fished illegally.

Opportunities to harvest other salmon species are either on-going or are anticipated in the coming months for all harvesters.  

Media contacts:

Wayne Saito
Chair, Fraser River Panel
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(604) 666-3271