Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced today that the Pacific Region's salmon fisheries are drawing to a close, ending a season where there were good fishing opportunities for all sectors. Returns for some major runs exceeded pre-season expectations.

The Department's strong salmon conservation programs implemented over the past four years and an apparent improvement in marine survival led to an expansion of fishing opportunities in 2002 as a result of increased flexibility in managing the Pacific Region's salmon stocks. According to preliminary assessments, overall, salmon stocks returned at good abundance levels this year, with catches reflecting these good returns. In general, North Coast chinook, sockeye and pink returns were good. North Coast steelhead returns appear to be the third highest on record in the past 40 years. Central Coast chum returns were strong. South Coast chinook returns improved. Southern sockeye returns were good and the Somass River and Late run Fraser River sockeye returns were strong. Additional details of these returns will be provided following a review of the escapement data.

Besides the strong returns of many of this year's salmon runs, there remained a number of stocks of concern, including interior Fraser River coho (including Thompson River), Strait of Georgia coho, some upper Skeena River coho stocks, West Coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI) chinook, and several sockeye stocks, including those bound for Rivers and Smith inlets as well as Henderson and Nimpkish watersheds. Two other stocks of concern, Cultus Lake and Sakinaw Lake sockeye, were recently listed as endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), and efforts are underway to develop recovery plans for both. As in recent years, directed fisheries on all of the stocks of concern were not permitted and fisheries targeting other species and stocks were constrained as required to achieve conservation objectives.

Preseason, there were significant concerns that the pattern in recent years of extremely high en route and pre-spawning mortalities of Late run Fraser River sockeye would continue. As it turned out, the Late run did arrive earlier than normal, however, it appears that the level of pre-spawn mortality was significantly lower than in previous years. In addition, this year's returns of Late run sockeye are well above the pre-season forecast. This good news means that escapements of Late run sockeye in 2002 will be significantly greater than observed in recent years.

In the coming months, a formal post-season review will be conducted, as committed to by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans during his visit to Vancouver, B.C. in September, 2002. Senior DFO officials, First Nations, representatives of the fishing industry, and others with an interest in Fraser River sockeye, will guide the review process. The review will examine the management approach employed in 2002 and recommend areas for improvement in the future. The intent of the review is to explore approaches to conserve stocks while ensuring viable and sustainable fisheries.

DFO has a responsibility to manage the salmon resource to rigorous conservation standards. Because of the unpredictable and fragile nature of the resource, there is a strong emphasis on conservation and protection of all fish stocks and their habitat. Management decisions are made with this in mind.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada remains committed to the conservation and sustainability of B.C.'s salmon resource. Working together with First Nations and the recreational and commercial sectors, is a crucial element to maintaining this commitment.

Contacts:

Bert Ionson
A/Resource Manager, Salmon
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Pacific Region
(604) 666-0497