North Coast Salmon Update To Aug.04th

North Coast Salmon Update – Tuesday, Aug 04, 2009
Please note that in-season updates always deal in preliminary numbers. Usually these change somewhat upon receipt and analysis of all the data.
Information courtesy/copyright DFO North Coast

Area 3
From Nisga’a Fisheries:
Depending on the cumulative run timing estimate used to date, the in-season Nass sockeye projected TRTC is between 385,000 (using 2008 run timing - 81%) and 445,000 (using 93-08 median run timing and entitlement - 70%) and continues to track well below the pre-season TRTC and entitlement estimate (511,000 TRTC; 86,000 entitlement). We believe the run is more advanced than the median estimate based on the high number of jacks and larger fish observed over the past week that typically suggest a more advanced run timing.

Area 3 commercial fishery:

...........Sockeye....Coho....Pink.....Chum....Chinook Stldrelease
Seine:......13,261.....0.....744,558....0........0...........42
Gill net:..103,628.....0.....184,679...47,197....1,299.......291

Totals:.....116889.....0......929,237....47,197....1299.......333

Allocative split :
......................Gill net.....................Seine
Sockeye:...............89%..........................11%
Pink :.................20%..........................80%

8 Seines fishing today in Area 3.

Observer Data:
Area 3 JOT Monitoring Summary (to July 25, 2009)
(Complex Table not suited to blogger copy & paste)
Highlights:
Area 3 Gillnet Fishery: Observed Sets: 168 Steelhead Rel: 6

Area 3 Seine Fishery: Observed Sets:190 Steelhead Rel: 16


Area 4
Sockeye escapement through Aug 3 = 741,603. To reach the production escapement target of 900,000 and to achieve 150,000 for FSC purposes, we would have wanted about 882,000 in the river by now. Projected total return is now estimated to be just less than 1 million.

Tyee test indices:
(to Aug 3)..2009 index...........2000s average..................90s average
Coho.........15.75..................11.52..........................20.25
Pink........650.89.................610.93.......................233.34(odd year aver
Chum........9.47...................6.03..........................9.65
Chinook....207.57.................280.32........................216.66
Steelhead...58.90..................41.86.........................38.48

Area 3 / 4 Chatham Sound Recreational Creel Survey (in-season preliminary numbers):

June:..............2009...............2008
Chinook............5113................7708
Coho...............4394................3913
Sockeye...............3...............no data

Recreational tidal effort is about 80% of 2008 levels.

From the Gitanyow Fisheries Program:
The Kitwanga River Salmon Enumeration Facility has been in operation since July 10th, 2009 under slightly higher than normal water conditions, and total salmon counts to the night of Aug 3rd, 2009 are as follows:
· Sockeye = 15
· Chinook = 26
· Pink = 2
· Chum = 0
· Coho = 0
To date we have counted only 15 sockeye through the fence. This years escapement compares to a maximum observed to the day of 419 in 2006 which resulted in an overall escapement of 5,139 and the minimum observed to the day of 8, which resulted in an overall estimated escapement of 1,200 for the year.

Chinook escapement to the Kitwanga River for 2009 to the day is the lowest observed since counts were initiated in 2003. This years escapement compares to a maximum observed to the day of 1241 in 2007 which resulted in an overall escapement of 3,225 and the minimum observed to the day of 115 in 2008, which resulted in an overall escapement of 1,450 for the year.

Area 6
Douglas Channel (6-1) open with 74 Gn vessels fishing today. Hatchery brood stock collection average to poor, so likely close today.

Seine fishery around Gil Island took place July 30 & 31st where approx. 54 seines fished, average 18,600 pinks for the 2 days. SN opened today on the outside with 42 boats.

Area 7
4 Gn and 1 SN operating in Mathieson Channel for the first time this year. No count for Finlayson Channel.

Area 8
Gn and Sn fishing Tuesday, Aug 4. Bella Coola gill net area – 40 gn. Fisher/Fitzhugh – 40 gn. 10 seines fishing.

Area 10
Docee Fence total sockeye to end of Aug 03 = 16,608. The in season model is in line with the preseason forecast of 15,700.

North Coast troll -
50 – 60 trollers working. Coho opening saw fairly good averages near 175 per vessel. Since then, average coho catch has dropped to around 50 per day.

Estimated WCVI chinook taken is about 2300 out of an allowance of 2860. Chinook fishery closed as scheduled Aug 3. The catch is estimated to be 68,000.

Sockeye and chum are closed.