Area 3 Catch Statistics

Area 3 has now had 3 openings up to the 7th of July. The catch stats for this 'Nass sockeye' targetted fishery are listed below. Of special note is the number of chum caught as 'by-catch'. North Coast chum stocks are severely depressed and are not supposed to be the target of any directed fisheries as per DFO policy and recommended by the ISR Panel Report recently. However, look at the number of chum caught incidentally in this 3 day fishery....over 7200. This wouldnt appear to be in the best interest of those depressed chum stocks would it? Wonder how DFO rationalizes what is acceptable by-catch levels on depressed stocks? On some Fishery Notices you do see a disclaimer stating further openings would depend on numbers of stocks of concern caught....but is that just lip service....and openings proceed no matter what they catch...Sure looks like it in Area 3 for chum doesnt it?



For 3 openings:
# of boats: 553
hours open: 48
sockeye: 18,347
pink: 1064
chum: 7265
chinook: 409

no listing for steelhead