Final 2009 North Coast IFMP: Steelhead Objectives

As we mentioned in an earlier post, the finalized 2009 North Coast Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plan was published late last week. Such a grandiose title for a 137 page very detailed Plan that can be changed at will in season by the DFO Area Chief for a variety of reasons. Anyways, we thought we would take a look at the steelhead sections first to see what changes there are from the Draft Plans that were in circulation earlier this spring.

We see that there are several changes to the section on Skeena steelhead objectives. Some new verbiage has been added and old wording deleted. But, overall we find there is a lack of specifics and a lack of commitment to actually employ any selective measures, especially the gillnet short set/short net. We would have to conclude that in reality very little will change in 2009 for Skeena steelhead management.
More details below ( Long post warning) IFMP image © copyright DFO


Steelhead: Draft IFMP April 2009
The objective for Skeena steelhead, as well as all north coast steelhead, is to minimize commercial impacts.
Steelhead retention throughout BC is not allowed in commercial fisheries. The Skeena fishery,as well as others, is shaped to avoid steelhead encounters, and when encountered, to increase the likelihood of steelhead surviving the encounter. Various methods such as weedlines (used partially in Areas 3, 4, and 5 and in approach waters to Dean Channel), daylight fisheries, timing, boundaries, revival tanks, short sets and nets, and other methods are used at various
times and areas to minimize commercial impacts.

Steelhead: Final IFMP July 2009:
The objective for Skeena steelhead, as well as all north coast steelhead, is to maximize escapement, minimize interception, and minimize commercial impacts.
For 2009, a reduction in Canadian commercial sockeye exploitation rates will result in reduced commercial net fishing times, which will in turn significantly reduce steelhead encounters. Steelhead retention throughout B.C. is prohibited in commercial fisheries, and all steelhead encountered must be released to the water with the least possible harm. The Skeena commercial sockeye fishery will incorporate weedlines on all 90 mesh nets, daylight fisheries, timing, boundaries, revival tanks, and seine net brailing and sorting in order to minimize commercial net impacts to Steelhead . During times when steelhead are prevalent in the fishing area, the additional measure of short gill net sets and short nets will be implemented. In addition to the C&P monitoring programs, DFO has proposed additional compliance monitoring programs for gill net and seine fisheries in Area 4 for 2009 including a pilot program for cameras on seine vessels and dockside auditing of offloads.


As you can see there is a significant difference between the Draft and Final versions:

1.-The addition of the 'maximize escapement' is definitely a new use for DFO as is 'minimize interception'. The 'minimize commercial impacts' phrase has been the previous DFO standard of verbiage to address steelhead bycatch issues. So, how does DFO plan to maximize steelhead escapement? The Final IFMP is a little short on specifics on this.


2.-"...The Skeena fishery,as well as others, is shaped to avoid steelhead encounters..." Notice this line has been edited out of the Final IFMP. No doubt as a result of our criticism that since the sockeye fishery timing completely overlaps the steelhead run timing, trying to claim the fishery is 'shaped' to avoid steelhead is a bit of a stretch.

3.- "...a reduction in Canadian commercial sockeye exploitation rates will result in reduced commercial net fishing times, which will in turn significantly reduce steelhead encounters." So, it appears DFO's main tool for reducing steelhead interception is reducing commercial fishing time. Reducing encounters via less fishing time is fine up to a point. But, when DFO does allow the gillnetters to fish, it is still the same archaic non-selective method being used. And it will be used at the very worst time for the steelhead early run component. A change to selective fishing methods is what is required.

4.-"During times when steelhead are prevalent in the fishing area, the additional measure of short gill net sets and short nets will be implemented" This phrase is definitely new and never been used before to our knowledge. We would assume the crux of this phrase is DFO's definition of "prevalent" in the fishing area. The NCSA would translate this phrase to mean gillnet short sets/short net should be used all season as Skeena steelhead are definitely migrating through the area in mid-July. On the other hand, a gillnetter might define prevalent as only during the peak migration time period of early August. Past experience says ss/sn wont be implemented until the last couple of gillnet openings in early August. This is mostly due to lobbying by gillnet reps using the excuse that the gillnet fleet demographic is too old to physically comply with this measure through a 16 hour opening.

Further complicating this issue is the description found on Page 84 of the IFMP detailing the Commercial Fishing Plan "...The decision on when to implement this selective gill net fishery will be made in-season based on the level of fishing that has occurred to date and the expected impact on steelhead, upper Skeena coho and chum throughout the year....." This statement appears to preclude the use of SS/SN from the very start of the season. This statement also appears to say the decision on ss/sn will be made "in-season"...again hinting that there will be some regular gillnetting occur prior to moving to SS/SN.
Strange that they would mention the "...expected impacts..." on steelhead, chum, and coho as these are all well documented. If expected impacts really had that much sway in the decision to use SS/SN you would think it would be implemented all season and written into these IFMP's. So, in the end just more lip service rhetoric paid to the impacts of non-selective gillnets.


5.-"DFO has proposed additional compliance monitoring programs for gill net and seine fisheries in Area 4 for 2009 including a pilot program for cameras on seine vessels and dockside auditing of offloads." Last we heard the seiners told DFO to stuff the onboard cameras idea.( More on seiners and ITQ's in a follow up post) As for additional gillnet measures, the only measure that counts is the 60-70% mortality rate of encountered steelhead. The rest is just counting dead fish and quantifying the damage done after the fact.


6.-"The Skeena commercial sockeye fishery will incorporate weedlines on all 90 mesh nets, daylight fisheries, timing,
boundaries, revival tanks, and seine net brailing and sorting in order to minimize commercial net impacts to Steelhead" This same old "90 mesh" routine of giving 50% more net down below for using a 3 foot weedline on top is high on the list of commercial fishing myths. Does DFO really think this is of any utility at all, especially in the rivermouth areas? Wouldnt you think 300+ gillnetters driving around would force steelhead to travel a little deeper than 3 feet?? What about recaptures....what measures mitigate for this?

7.-Daylight fisheries is another bogus measure as DFO hasnt allowed night fisheries for many years ( except with the extended chinook openings).

8.-"....timing...." As for 'timing' being a selective measure: why does the bulk of the gillnet fishery occur on the peak timing of the early run steelhead year after year? Of course, the timing of the commercial fishery has nothing to do with steelhead and everything to do with sockeye. And rarely, if ever, do you hear of a gillnet opening being postponed or delayed because of steelhead concerns, so to claim 'timing' is used as a selective measure is pretty weak.


9.-"....boundaries..." Another bogus claim....when was the last time DFO shut down an area like River-Gap-Slough ( a known high steelhead interception area) for example because of steelhead concerns?? What examples are available to show this claim? Also, boundaries on what...where...when?? This claim is a little light on substance in describing any visible benefit for steelhead. Plus, DFO actually confined the seine ITQ fishery into the Skeena rivermouth area in 2008. One seine boat captain NCSA spoke to actually stated he'd never caught so many steelhead in his career before. So just how are "boundaries" utilized by DFO to maximize steelhead escapement and minimize commercial impacts....?

10.-"....revival tanks..." Sounds great in theory, but in practice if the fishermen dont use them how effective is this device? Fishery Officer Reports from the gillnet opening day in 2008 showed 100% of gillnetters checked to be out of compliance with this measure. Moreover, a revival box is not a selective fishing measure. It's a non-selective fishing measure mitigation device. Gillnetting shouldnt be viewed as seemingly ok just because they are 'forced' (yes, forced) to use revival boxes to try and resuscitate the non-target fish that arent DOA at the back of the boat. It shouldnt be viewed as a magic box that wonderfully heals all fish caught in gillnets.