Integrated Fisheries Management Plan June 1, 2020 - May 31, 2021
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PACIFIC REGION DRAFT INTEGRATED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN JUNE 1, 2020 - MAY 31, 2021 SALMON SOUTHERN BC Genus Oncorhynchus This Integrated Fisheries Management Plan is intended for general purposes only. Where there is a discrepancy between the Plan and the Fisheries Act and Regulations, the Act and Regulations are the final authority. A description of Areas and Subareas referenced in this Plan can be found in the Pacific Fishery Management Area Regulations, 2007. TABLE OF CONTENTS DEPARTMENT CONTACTS ..................................................................................................... 13 INDEX OF WEB-BASED INFORMATION ............................................................................... 18 GLOSSARY AND LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................. 24 FOREWORD ................................................................................................................................ 28 NEW FOR 2020/2021 .................................................................................................................... 29 1 OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................... 33 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 33 1.2 History .................................................................................................................................... 33 1.3 Type of Fishery and Participants ........................................................................................ 33 1.4 Location of Fishery................................................................................................................ 34 1.5 Fishery Characteristics ......................................................................................................... 34 1.6 Governance ............................................................................................................................ 36 1.6.1 Policy Framework for the Management of Pacific Salmon Fisheries ............................. 36 1.6.2 First Nations and Canada’s Fisheries ................................................................................. 38 1.6.3 Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (PICFI) ............................................. 39 1.6.4 Fishery Monitoring and Catch Reporting .......................................................................... 40 1.7 Consultation on 2020/2021 ................................................................................................... 41 1.8 Approval Process .................................................................................................................. 41 2 STOCK ASSESSMENT, SCIENCE AND TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE ............................................................................................................................. 42 2.1 Biological Synopsis ............................................................................................................... 42 2.2 Ecosystem Interactions ......................................................................................................... 45 2.2.1 Environmental Conditions Influencing 2020 Salmon Returns ........................................ 47 2.3 Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge (ATK)/Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) 50 2.4 Stock Assessment .................................................................................................................. 51 2.5 Science Information Sources ................................................................................................ 53 2.6 Precautionary Approach ...................................................................................................... 54 2020/2021 Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plan – Southern BC Page 2 2.7 Research .................................................................................................................................. 55 3 SHARED STEWARDSHIP ARRANGEMENTS ................................................................ 57 4 ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE .............................................. 60 4.1 Aboriginal Fisheries .............................................................................................................. 60 4.2 Recreational Fishery ............................................................................................................. 61 4.3 Commercial Fishery .............................................................................................................. 65 4.3.1 Harvest Sector ........................................................................................................................ 65 4.3.2 Processing Sector ................................................................................................................... 70 4.4 Export Market ........................................................................................................................ 71 5 MANAGEMENT ISSUES ................................................................................................... 76 5.1 Conservation .......................................................................................................................... 76 5.1.1 Wild Salmon Policy ............................................................................................................... 76 5.2 International Commitments ................................................................................................ 76 5.2.1 Pacific Salmon Treaty ........................................................................................................... 76 5.3 Oceans and Habitat Considerations ................................................................................... 80 5.3.1 Oceans Act .............................................................................................................................. 80 5.3.2 Canada’s Marine and Coastal Areas Conservation Mandate ......................................... 80 5.3.3 Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area........................................................... 81 5.3.4 Marine Protected Area Network Planning ........................................................................ 81 5.3.5 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) ......................................................................................... 82 5.3.6 Other Marine Conservation Initiatives ............................................................................... 84 5.3.7 Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife Species Assessments ....................... 88 5.3.8 Species at Risk Act ................................................................................................................. 89 5.3.9 Whale, Turtle and Basking Shark Sightings ...................................................................... 95 5.3.10 Cetacean, Sea Turtle or Basking Shark Sightings .............................................................. 96 5.3.11 Resident Killer Whale ........................................................................................................... 97 5.3.12 Environment Canada Assessing the Impact of Salmon Gill Net Fishing on Local Seabird Populations ........................................................................................................................... 101 5.3.13 Aquaculture Management ................................................................................................. 101 2020/2021 Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plan – Southern BC Page 3 5.3.16 Salmonid Enhancement Program ..................................................................................... 103 5.3.14 Fishing Vessel Safety........................................................................................................... 105 6 FISHERY MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES FOR STOCKS OF CONCERN ................... 106 6.1 Lower Strait of Georgia Chinook ...................................................................................... 106 6.2 West Coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI) Chinook ........................................................ 107 6.3 Fraser Spring 42 Chinook ................................................................................................... 108 6.4 Fraser Spring 52 and Summer 52 Chinook ....................................................................... 108 6.5 Interior Fraser River Coho ................................................................................................. 109 6.6 Cultus Lake Sockeye ........................................................................................................... 112 6.7 Sakinaw Lake Sockeye........................................................................................................ 114 6.8 Nimpkish Sockeye .............................................................................................................. 116 6.9 Interior Fraser River Steelhead.......................................................................................... 117 6.10 Nimpkish Chum .................................................................................................................. 118 6.11 Inshore Rockfish .................................................................................................................. 119 7 GENERAL DECISION GUIDELINES, ACCESS AND ALLOCATION