WLFN Fisheries Notice: July 18, 2023
Chinook – kekésu7
Fraser River Spring 52 and Summer 52 Chinook are a Species at Risk with low populations, these fish are being managed by DFO in a highly precautionary manner to allow as many fish to pass through to the spawning grounds as possible.
Management actions for commercial and sport fisheries have been implemented in times and areas where early-timed Fraser-bound Chinook are thought to be migrating. These include salmon fishing closures, non-retention of Chinook, reduced daily limits, and sized limits depending on the time and area. Details on these measures can be found in the fishery notices listed below. Some additional measures were announced on July 13, 2023 in commercial and recreational fisheries. Links to the recreational notices are provided below.
Some fisheries impacts are expected to occur in First Nations FSC fisheries, in the Chinook and Sockeye test fisheries and in mixed stock fisheries directed at other stocks and species in marine waters.
2023 Management Measures:
Below are links to fishery notices announcing 2023 management measures for Fraser River Chinook salmon. Fishing for salmon is closed at the mouth of the Fraser River and in the Fraser River tidal and non-tidal waters effective January 1 each year. Details are at the DFO Area 29 Salmon webpage.
FN1421 – announced January 1 management measures in other South Coast waters.
FN0158 – announced March 1 management measures in portions of Areas 19 and 20.
FN0331 – provided details on recreational management measures that commenced on April 1, 2021.
FN0426 – provided details on new mark selective fisheries in portions of Areas 17, 18 and 19.
FN0604 – In-season abundance update for Fraser River Spring and Summer 52 Chinook.
FN0654 – announces additional salmon management measures for southwest Vancouver Island.
FN0652 – announces additional salmon management measures for northeast Vancouver Island.
FN0645 – announces additional salmon management measures for north coast.
Big Bar Upper Fraser Fish Passage Monitoring
For 2023, Fish passage monitoring will take place in the early part of the season only. The initial plan for monitoring fish passage is:
- Fishwheel operations in the lower Fraser River began June 27; to date 57 Sockeye and 38 Chinook have been radio-tagged.
- Sonars have been installed at the Alfalfa and Churn sites and are operational as of Wednesday, July 5.
- Telemetry stations are installed and operational at Alfalfa, Churn, and around the slide site area as of June 30.
- Telemetry stations at Lillooet, BC are operational and will remain in operation until late August.
- Telemetry stations on the Fraser River mainstem in the Soda Creek area and on the Stuart River just downstream of the Stuart Lake outlet are operational as of Friday, July 7. Other telemetry stations on the Stellako River, and on the Nadina River are planned for late July. All of these stations will be operational through mid to late August.
Discharge levels at Big Bar are currently below the unimpeded passage threshold for both Chinook and Sockeye as previously assessed.
Fraser Sockeye – sqlelten7úw̓i
In-season teleconferences between DFO and First Nations take place during the fishing season. Fraser Panel in-season meetings commence on Friday, July 14, 2023. Meetings usually take place each Tuesday and Friday at 11:00 am.
Early-Timed Sockeye Window Closure
For 2023, the window closure in place to protect Early Stuart and other earlier-timed Sockeye will be approximately 5 weeks in duration. Early season forecasts indicate a later-than-expected run timing for Early Stuart, as such the closure window dates have been adjusted by 3 days to account for an expected A20 peak run timing of July 7 (previously July 4). Please note that the actual closure dates may be revised in-season based on updated timing or other in-season information.
| Area | Start Date | 5-Week End Date | Management Actions* |
| Areas 111, 121, 123-127 | June 26 | Aug. 1 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 1 (Sn. Gr, Tr) |
| Area 11 | June 26 | Aug. 1 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 1 (Sn. Gr, Tr) |
| Area 12 | June 26 | Aug. 1 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 1 (Sn. Gr, Tr) |
| Area 13 | June 26 | Aug. 1 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 1 (Sn. Gr, Tr) |
| Areas 14-16 | June 26 | Aug. 1 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 1 (Sn. Gr, Tr) |
| Area 17, 19, 20 and 21 | June 26 | Aug. 1 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 1 (Sn. Gr, Tr) |
| Areas 18 and 29 | July 1 | Aug. 6 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 6 (Sn. Gr, Tr) |
| Steveston – Mission Bridge | July 1 | Aug. 6 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 6 (Sn. Gr, Tr) |
| Mission Bridge – Sawmill Creek | July 3 | Aug. 8 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 8 (Sn. Gr, Tr) |
| Sawmill Creek – Texas Creek | July 6 | Aug. 11 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 6 |
| Texas Creek – Kelly Creek | July 6 | Aug. 11 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 11 |
| Kelly Creek – Deadman | July 6 | Aug. 11 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 11 |
| Deadman – Chilcotin | July 12 | Aug. 17 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 17 |
| Chilcotin – Quesnel | July 12 | Aug. 17 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 17 |
| Quesnel – Hixon | July 12 | Aug. 17 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 19 |
| Hixon – Prince George | July 14 | Aug. 19 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 21 except for potential First Nations FSC allowable harvest in terminal areas |
| Prince George – Stuart R | July 16 | Aug. 21 | No Fraser Sockeye directed fisheries before August 21 except for potential First Nations FSC allowable harvest in terminal areas |
FSC In-river Management Actions and Preliminary Catch to Date:
| Area | Management Action / Openings | Catch To Date | Catch To Date | Catch To Date | Catch To Date |
| Sockeye | Sockeye | Chinook | Chinook | ||
| Kept | Released | Kept | Released | ||
| Below Port Mann Bridge | Consideration for Limited Participation licenses only targeting 3 Chinook for unplanned events only and 1 ceremony of their choice for each community. No communal opportunities until further notice Tributary Chinook fisheries in Sumas/Vedder began July 1 and Chehalis July 7. | 0 | 7 | 41 | 0 |
| Sawmill Creek to Texas including Thompson d/s Bonaparte | No fisheries licensed at this time. | 40* | 8 | 85* | 37* |
| Texas to Deadman | No fisheries licensed at this time. | 5* | 24 | 63* | 19 |
| Deadman to Naver (includes tribs) | No fisheries licensed at this time. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Upstream to Naver Confluence (includes tribs) | No fisheries licensed at this time. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Thompson u/s of Bonaparte and tribs | No fisheries licensed at this time. | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
If you are looking for updates to catch information between bulletins, the most current catch reports are available online at: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/fraser/index-eng.html
To receive a weekly harvest report for the fishing areas upstream of Sawmill Creek, please contact Cynthia Breau (Cynthia.breau@dfo-mpo.gc.ca) tel: (250) 256-2652 to be added to her mailing list.
South Coast Sport Catch Bulletin – to be added to the distribution list, please contact Aswea Porter (Aswea.Porter@dfo-mpo.gc.ca). These are produced monthly from June to September.
If you catch a tagged fish:
Researchers with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in partnership with First Nations and the Province of BC, are tagging Chinook, Sockeye, and Coho salmon with radio tracking transmitters. The numbers printed on the radio tracking transmitters uniquely identify individual salmon and will be used to evaluate adult salmon migration success associated with the Big Bar landslide.
Please report the tag numbers along with the date and location of capture or recovery to BigBarTag@gmail.com or turn the tags in with the above information through your local catch monitoring program.