North Coast Update to August 25th,2010

Here is the last North Coast Salmon Update for 2010. Information provided by DFO North Coast Prince Rupert office.


North Coast Salmon Update – Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010
Please note that in-season updates always deal in preliminary numbers. Usually these change somewhat upon receipt and analysis of all the data.

This will be the final salmon weekly update of the 2010 season.

Areas 1 & 2
Pink salmon target escapements will be achieved in the Salmon River in upper Darwin Sound, Management Area 2E. A seine fishery targeting the surplus opened on Wednesday, Aug 25, with one seine vessel attending.

A pink salmon surplus has developed in Masset Inlet, and will open on Friday.

Other pink salmon surpluses appear to be developing in selected streams throughout Haida Gwaii, and other openings could be forthcoming in coming days.

Area 3
From Nisga’a Lisims Government – Fish and Wildlife Department:
The TRTC estimate being used by Nisga’a Fisheries for Nass sockeye is ~339,000 (Min/Max ranges: 328,000, 378,000).

The TRTC estimate for Nass Chinook is 14,500 (Min/Max ranges: 14,000, 15,000).

The in-season TRTC estimate being used by Nisga’a Fisheries for Nass coho is ~261,000 (Min/Max ranges: 202,000, 375,000).

The GW catch (1,500 vs. 6,000 mean) of pink is well below average.

The GW catch (26 vs. 50 mean) of chum is below average.

The run size projection for Nass summer-run steelhead to GW to date is 8,000 (95% CI: 4,000, 11,000).

Area 4
Estimated sockeye escapement through August 24 = 939,640.

Tyee test indices:
(to August 24).....2010 index.....2000s average.....90s average
Chinook............181.73.........289.06..............221.62
Coho...............47.65..........53.41...............34.67
Pink...............503.64.........455.74..............308.86(even year averages)
Chum................25.30..........40.16...............48.68
Steelhead..........180.62.........103.87...............82.01



From Gitanyow Fisheries Authority:
The Kitwanga River Salmon Enumeration Facility (KSEF) has been in operation since July 7th, 2010. Water levels to this point have been consistently lower than what has been seen in previous years and the maximum water temperature of 16ºC was recorded on August 4, 2010. Total salmon counts to the night of August 22th, 2010 are as follows:
• Sockeye = 8,449 (including 115 hatchery)
• Chinook = 168 (+19 jacks)
• Pink = 152
• Chum = 1
• Coho = 48 (including 11 CWT)
Sockeye returns continue to be good and to date we have counted 8,334 wild and 115 hatchery sockeye through the weir, the highest return ever counted since counts were initiated at the KSEF in 2003. This years escapement compares to the previous maximum observed to the day of 2,642 in 2003, which resulted in an overall escapement of 3,377 and the minimum observed to the day of 134 in 2007, which resulted in an overall escapement of 245 for the year. Presently, hatchery fish make up 1.4 % of the total return for 2010.

Chinook escapement to the Kitwanga River for 2010 to the day is 168, which is the lowest observed since counts were initiated in 2003. This years escapement compares to a maximum observed to the day of 3,097 in 2007, which resulted in an overall escapement of 3,225 and the minimum observed to the day of 701 in 2009, which resulted in an overall escapement of 824 for the year.

Pink salmon escapement to the Kitwanga River to the day is 152, which is the lowest observed since counts were initiated at the KSEF in 2003. This even year escapement compares to a maximum even year escapement to the day of 38,246 in 2004, which resulted in an overall escapement of 71,070 and the minimum even year escapement to the day of 497 in 2008, which resulted in an overall escapement of 4,245 for the year.

Chum escapement to the Kitwanga River to the day is 1, which is the lowest observed since counts were initiated at the KSEF in 2003. This years escapement compares to a maximum observed to the day of 430 in 2005, which resulted in an overall escapement of 1,862 and the previous minimum observed to the day of 5 in 2008, which resulted in an overall escapement of 150 for the year.

Coho escapement to the Kitwanga River to the day is 48, of which 11 were adipose clipped indicating they had been implanted with a Coded Wire Tag (CWT) during our smolt program in 2009. This year’s escapement compares to a maximum observed to the day of 518 in 2009, which resulted in an overall escapement of 12,080 and the minimum observed to the day of 0 in 2006, which resulted in an overall escapement of 2566 for the year.

Areas 6 & 8
Monitoring of Central Coast salmon returns is underway. Further fisheries this year are unlikely.

Area 7
No surpluses identified, but monitoring will continue for any fishing opportunities.

Area 10
Docee Fence - Comparative sockeye and coho counts to August 24:
..........Sockeye..........Coho
2010 -38,583.............6450
2009 -18,378.............7585
2008 -16,389.............5309
2007 -19,951.............3423
2006 -26,283.............2907
2005 -14,959...........17,093
2004 -7,823..............8944


North Coast Troll
Area F troll chinook fishery closed August 8, 2010.

Area F Chinook TAC summary: 2010 TAC – 107,100.
Total Chinook validated to date – 90,213 Chinook
DFO owned licences (ATP, PICFI, etc) 20 licenses – 7,540 chinook
Total catch plus DFO owned = 97,753.

There are 10 licences that had no validations nor reallocations made in 2010 (4,726 chinook).

There were five DNA samples collected over the course of the season. Results were as follows:

Dates............Catch.....% WCVI.....#WCVI
June 15-20.......12,643......2.2........276
June 15-29.......23,978......3.9........931
July 1-10........17,073......1.1........175
July 7-26........18,064......5.2.......940
Jul 22 - Aug 8...18,455......5.6......1,039
Total...........90,213.................3,361

The total projected troll catch of coho suggests an approximate harvest of 91,800 pieces with Area 1, 101 and 142 comprising 86.8% of the total with Area 102, 104 and 105 accounting for the balance. CPUEs have dropped continually since July 22nd
due in part to the extreme weather conditions in current harvest areas. Total catch is low compared to previous recent years.

A total of 21,420 pinks have been reported through the FOS with Areas 1, 101 and 142 accounting for 91.6% of the catch.