North Coast Update to August 3rd, 2010

Here is the latest North Coast Salmon Update provided courtesy of DFO North Coast, Prince Rupert.



North Coast Salmon Update – Wednesday, Aug 3, 2010
Please note that in-season updates always deal in preliminary numbers. Usually these change somewhat upon receipt and analysis of all the data.

Areas 1 & 2
Pink salmon assessments currently underway.

Area 3
Last commercial fishery was conducted on July 26.

Area 3 commercial fishery:
Ttl retained catch to-date:
...........Sockeye.....Coho.....Pink.......Chum........Chinook
Gill net.....65,649.....0......30,150.....15,388........694
Seine.........2108.......0......23,220.........0................0

Ttl........67,757.......0.......53,370.....15,388........694


From Nisga’a Lisims Government – Fish and Wildlife Department:

The TRTC estimate being used by Nisga’a Fisheries for Nass sockeye is 370,000 (Min/Max ranges: 314,000, 458,000).

The TRTC estimate for Nass Chinook is 14,700 (Min/Max ranges: 14,000, 15,000).

The run size projection for Upper Nass coho to GW to date is 165,000 (95% CI: 65,000, 265,000)

The GW catch (183 vs. 1,375 mean) of pink is below average based on mean catches for even years from 1994-2009 to week ending 31 July.

The GW catch (14 vs. 10 mean) of chum is above average based on mean catches from 1994-2009 to week ending 31 July.

The early projected run size projection for summer-run steelhead to GW to date is 10,000 (95% CI: 4,500, 16,000)

Area 4

Estimated sockeye escapement through August 3 = 815,042.
Skeena sockeye aggregate run size annual forecast to August 3 remains at 1.1M.
Area 4 & 5 retained catch to date:
..............Sockeye.......Coho....Pink......Chum.......Chinook
Gill net......65,183.........0......15,410.....0..........1061
Seine...........150............0............0.........0.............0

Tyee test indices:
(to August 3)......2010 index......2000s average......90s average
Chinook...............174.82................280.32....................216.66
Coho....................11.53....................11.52........................9.07
Pink....................97.39...................131.15....................145.70(even year averages)
Chum.................4.44.......................6.03.........................9.65
Steelhead..........77.27....................41.86.......................38.48

Lower Skeena River Creel Survey
The July update should be ready by mid-August.

Area 3/4 Chatham Sound recreational creel survey
July summary coming soon.

From Gitanyow Fisheries Authority:
The Kitwanga River Salmon Enumeration Facility has been in operation since July 7th, 2010 under lower than normal water conditions. Total salmon counts to the night of August 2nd, 2010 are as follows:
• • Sockeye =....1,444 (26 hatchery)
• • Chinook =....48
• • Pink =....1
• • Chum =.....0
• • Coho =....0
Since the last update we have seen a substantial increase in sockeye numbers. To date we have counted 1418 wild and 26-hatchery sockeye through the fence, which is the highest, observed since counts were initiated in 2003. This year’s escapement compares to a previous maximum observed to the day of 416 in 2006, which resulted in an overall escapement of 5,139 and the minimum observed to the day of 2 in 2008, which resulted in an overall estimated escapement of 1,200 for the year. Presently, hatchery fish make up 1.8% of the total return for 2010. Based on these very preliminary results it appears that hatchery fish may have had a slightly higher survival rate then wild fish given that the total hatchery smolt output in 2008 was only 1.2%.

Chinook escapement to the Kitwanga River for 2010 to the day is 48 which is the second lowest observed since counts were initiated in 2003. This year’s escapement compares to a maximum observed to the day of 1,194 in 2007, which resulted in an overall escapement of 3,225 and the minimum observed to the day of 24 in 2009, which resulted in an overall escapement of 824 for the year.

To date we have only seen 1 pink and no chum or coho salmon at the fence site. In previous years pinks show-up between July 22nd (2006) and August 6th (2008), chum between July 28th (2005) and August 21st (2006), while coho start migrating through the fence between August 6th (2010) and September 1st (2006).

Area 6
Brood stock collection for Kitimat Hatchery is currently underway. Chinook – have captured about 1/3 of broodstock needed. Chum – have caught less than half what is needed. Brood stock catch rate is slow.

Pink assessment is underway. In general, returns are better than brood year but still well below target.

Coho return is being assessed.

Areas 7 & 8
Chum assessment is underway. No surpluses identified at this time.

Area 10
Docee Fence - Comparative sockeye and coho counts to August 3:
..........Sockeye........Coho
2010 -36,842..........2524
2009 -16,609...........649
2008 -16,095..........1168
2007 -18,958...........283
2006 -26,320..........1495
2005 -12,488........11,451
2004 -7,588...........2959


North Coast Troll
From Dave Rekdal:
The total projected troll catch suggests an approximate harvest of 67,000 Chinook (62.6%) against the established TAC of 107,100 Chinook.

The total number of WCVI morts harvested to date indicates a harvested total of 1,400 pieces (53.8% of the WCVI TAC) based upon the projected Chinook catch to date placed against the WCVI DNA percentages encountered to date. This total is a current estimate only and will be subject to retroactive change based upon the receipt of further sample results.

The total FOS reported troll catch of coho suggests an approximate harvest of just under 25,000 pieces

Troll Management Actions:
ITQ Chinook fishery remained open past the Aug 2 scheduled closing date due to low numbers of WCVI present in the catch.