The 1977 Return of Pink Salmon Stocks to the Johnstone Strait Study Area and Prospects for 1979

Home , Burrard Inlet, Howe Sound, Jervis Inlet, Toba Inlet

The 1977 Return of Pink Salmon Stocks to the Johnstone Strait Study Area and Prospects For

1979 LIBRARy FISHeR II~:S 24() SP~!\NI) ~ A.D. Anderson, C. N. MacKinrW\htvt\, o~:;.~ ~ Ki~'_ '~~ . ___~

Resourse Services Branch Department of Fisheries and Oceans 1090 West Pender Street Vancouver, B.C. V6E 2PI

October 1979

FisHeries and Marine Services ;fechnical Repelit No. 893 Fisheries and Marine Service Technical Reports These reports contain scientific and technical information that represents an important contribution to existing knowledge but which for some reason may not be appropriate for primary scientific (i .e. Journal) publication. Technical Reports are directed primarily towards a world wide audience and have an international distribution. No restriction is placed on subject matter and the series reflects the broad interests and policies of the Fisheries and Marine Service, namely, fisheries management, technology and development, ocean sciences, and aquatic environ ments relevant to Canada. Technical Reports may be cited as full publications. The correct citation appears above the abstract of each report. Each report will be abstracted in Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts and will be indexed annually in the Service's index to scientific and technical publications. Numbers 1-456 in this series were issued as Technical Reports of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada. Numbers 457-714 were issued as Department of the Environment, Fisheries and Marine Service, Research and Development Director ate Technical Reports. The series name was changed with report number 715. Details on the availability of Technical Reports in hard copy may be obtained from the issuing establishment indicated on the front cover.

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A.D. ANDERSON

and

C.N. MACKINNON

TECHNICAL REPORT NO. 893

FISHERIES AND OCEANS

RESOURCE SERVICES BRANCH

JUNE 1979 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT i

LIST OF TABLES ii

LIST OF FIGURES ii

INTRODUCTION 1

THE 1977 SEASON REVIEW 3

The Fishery . . 3 The Escapement 7 The Stock Size 7

THE 1979 SEASON 10

Pink Salmon Prospects 10 1) Study Area Stocks 10 2) Fraser River Stocks 10 Sockeye Salmon Prospects 12 1) Study Area Stocks 12 2) Fraser River Stocks 12 Timing 13 1) Pink Salmon 13 2) Sockeye Salmon 13

MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS FOR 1979 16

Considerations 16

Proposed Fishing Pattern 17 1) Area 11 17 2) Area 12 18 3) Area 13 19 4) Strait of Georgia 20

Expected Catch 20

PROVISO 20

LITERATURE CITED 22

APPENDICES 23 A. Major regulations and fishing effort by area and week for the 1977 pink and sockeye season. . • . . • . . 23 B. Recorded odd-year pink salmon escapements, in thousands of fish, by stream and sub-area, to the Johnstone Strait Study Area for 1977 ...... •.•..•..... 25 i

ABSTRACT

Anderson, A.D., and C.N. MacKinnon, 1979. The 1977 Return of Pink Salmon Stocks to the Johnstone Strait Study Area and Prospects for 1979. Fisheries and Oceans Tech. Rept. 893.

The 1977 Study Area catch of both Study Area and Fraser River pink salmon totalled 1,887,404. This catch was about 0.2 million less than expected. In addition, 754,266 sockeye were taken, mainly from stocks returning to the Fraser River. The sockeye catch was about 0.15 million more than expected.

The 1977 escapement of pink salmon to the Study Area totalled just 282,400 and is the second lowest on recent record. Of ten subareas, Kingcome Inlet was the only subarea that received an optimum escapement. On the basis of such very low Study Area pink salmon brood stock, a run of fishable strength should not be expected in 1979. Although a greater than average marine survival is indicated, the 1979 return of pink salmon via Johnstone Strait is expected to total just 817,800. In adition, the portion of Fraser River pink salmon migrating via Johnstone Strait is expected to total 4.4 million.

It is anticipated that the outlined regulatory proposals, based on the projected abundance, will provide catches of ~bout2.1mi11ion pink salmon from both Study Area and Fraser River returns, and 0.18 million sockeye, mainly from the Fraser River returns.

Escapement of Study Area pinks is expected to total 630,000. An escapement of this level is well below the desired optimum of 1.7 million and less than the average of 1.0 million. ii

LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

1 Pink and sockeye salmon catch by gear and area in 1977 4

2 Odd-year pink salmon escapements by sub-areas for 1977 in comparison to optimum 8

3 Catch, escapement, exploitations and ratio of return of Study Area pink salmon ...... 9

4 Projected abundance and allowable harvest for the 1979 pink return ...... • ...... 11

5 Expected weekly catches of pink and sockeye in Statistical Areas 12 and 13 for 1979 ...... 21

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

1 The Johnstone Strait pink salmon study area 2

2 Weekly catches of sockeye and pink salmon by Statistical Area and sub-area in Johnstone Strait in 1979 ...... 6

3 Times of passage of pink salmon stocks in upper Johnstone Strait ...... 14

4 Expected weekly abundance of sockeye and pink salmon entering Queen Charlotte Strait for 1979 .•.... 15 -1-

INTRODUCTION

The status of the Johnstone Strait study area odd-year pink salmon stocks have been analyzed and reported bi-annually since 1963. This ninth report, a continuation of that series, includes a review of the 1977 catch and escapement, a forecast of the J979 level of abundance, and recommendations for the 1979 Johnstone Strait study area pink and sockeye salmon fishery.

In 1959 a major pink salmon investigation, under the direction of the Pink Salmon Co-ordinating Committee appointed by the Governments of Canada and the United States to fulfill the requirements of Article VI of the Pink Salmon Protocol, was carried out along both migration entrances to the region to determine the migration routes, timing, abundance and exploitation of these fish. The findings of that study, published in 1964 as Bulletin XV of the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission, have been used extensively in the preparation of this report.

The Johnstone Strait study area consists of the Johnstone Strait region and that portion of the Strait of Georgia lying north of the Convention area (Fig. 1). A number of pink salmon stocks migrate to streams within the Study Area from both the south via Juan de Fuca Strait and from the north via Johnstone Strait. Of the ten sub-area stocks, four stocks destined to streams in the Johnstone Strait region, use the northern approach exclusively. The remaining six stocks, destined to streams tributary to the Strait of Georgia, utilize both routes.

In addition to Study Area pink stocks, a su~stantial segment of the Fraser River pink salmon stock migrates through Johnstone Strait. The strength of this stock is a major factor which must be taken into consideration in the over-all management program of the Study Area. At the same time the abundance of other species, particularly sockeye, must also be taken into consideration. - 2-

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THE 1977 SEASON REVIEW

For 1977, an above average return of 2.9 million pink salmon had been projected for Study Area stocks returning via Johnstone Strait. In addition the portion of Fraser River stocks returning via Johnstone Strait were expected to total 1.3 million pink salmon and 0.9 million sockeye. The proposed regulations were designed to protect the weaker Study Area pink stocks of Upper and Mid Vancouver Island, Jervis Inlet, Toba Inlet, Howe Sound and Burrard Inlet as well as the Nimpkish River sockeye. The regulations, based on projected run sizes and average fleet sizes, were developed to provide cAtches in Johnstone Strait, from more abundant Study Area pink stocks as well as the Fraser River pink and sockeye salmon stocks, of about 2.1 million pink salmon and 0.6 million sockeye.

The Fishery

The 1977 Study Area catch of both Study Area and Fraser River pink salmon totalled 1,887,404 (Table 1). This catch was about 0.2 million less than expected. As well, 754,266 sockeye were taken, mainly from stocks returning to the Fraser River. The sockeye catch was about 0.15 million more than expected.

Of the pink catch; seines took 79.4%, gillnets 4.6%, and trollers 16.0%. Of the sockeye; seines took 72.8%, gillnets 25.5% and trollers 1.7%.

In comparison to the 1975 fishery the percentage of catch by seines for sockeye increased from 59.0%, but decreased from 90.1% for pink salmon. The percent of pinks by gillnets remained at a similar low level, but for sockeye the percent of catch decreased from 39.9%. The percent of catch by trollers for sockeye remained at a similar low level but for pink salmon the percent of catch increased from 4.9%. In 1977 as in 1975 three quarters of the pink catches were taken in Area 12. However, for sockeye, increased portions were taken in Area 13 and 14 to 16, 22.9% and 18.4% respectively. This is compared to 13.3% and 2.6% for 1975.

Details of the weekly fisheries for 1977 including days fishing, fleet sizes, and major boundaries are provided in Appendix A. - 4 -

Table 1. Pink and sockeye salmon catches by gear and area in 1977.

Area Gillnet Seine Troll Total

PINKS 12 73,609 1,099,706 289,756 1,463,071 (77.5%)

13 10,108 368,068 6,256 384,432 (20.4%)

14-16 2,619 29,979 7,303 39,901 (2.1%)

Totals 86,336 1,497,753 303,315 1,887,404 (4.6%) (79.4%) (16.0%) (100%)

SOCKEYE 12 148,976 282,634 11,296 442,906 (58.7%)

13 13,359 158,436 812 172,607 (22.9%)

14-16 29,845 108,187 721 138,753 (18.4%)

Totals 192,180 549,257 12,829 754,266 (25.5%) (72.8%) (1. 7%) (100%) - 5 -

In 1977 the peak pink catch, totalling about 590,000, occurred in Area 12 during the 4 day fishery of August 21 - 25 (Figure 2). This peak catch occurred about two weeks earlier than in 1975. Based on available timing information this catch would have been primarily of early Fraser stock. A second but lesser peak of about 118,000 occurred in Area 12 during the 2 day fishery of July 31 - August 2. Based on available timing information and assuming that Study Area stocks may have been as early as was indicated for the Fraser stocks, this lesser peak catch would have been from the Johnstone Strait, Loughborough-Bute Inlet and Howe Sound stocks.

In the pre-season expectations it was indicated that the projected abundance for the Johnstone Strait and Loughborough-Bute Inlet stock would have provided an allowable harvest (Anderson, 1977, Table 4). However no allowable harvest was expected for the Howe Sound stock as with four other stocks listed in that table. On this basis a closure was provided for during the week ending August 13. However, if the stocks were early, the closure protected only the tail end of the weak stocks.

The peak catch of sockeye, totalling about 88,000 occurred in Area 12 during the 4 day fishery of July 24-28. The timing of this catch was about as expected.

Of the total sockeye catch in Area 12 to 16, an estimated 728,000 were of Fraser River origin (I.P.F.S.C., 1977). The remainder of this catch, about 26,300, was from Study Area stocks. Based on the portions of Study Prea sockeye escapements, about 18,000 was of Nimpkish River origin. Sockeye escapement to the Nimpkish was 15,000. This implies an exploitation rate on Nimpkish sockeye of 55%. This exploitation rate, for the small stock size of 33,000, was too high in spite of the enlarged Nimpkish River boundary for the season and the closure above Boyles Point - False Head for the two week period of July 10 to July 23 .

. ~ " " - 6 -

100 Sockeye

/ / / /\ 25 / Are.13 / -- -' 0

800

550

Pink 500

450 -" i Are. 12 ir.... 0 'I 400

j 360 I-

300

250

200 Area 13 150 .I J \ J \ J \ 100 J \ I \ J \ , \ J \ J \ 50 \ ...... ' \ Area 12 Troll \ Catch '-_ 0 25 2 8 16 23 · 30 8 13 20 %7 3 10 17 June July August Sept. 14141414141413101214141212121 Day Filhing For Nets in Ar.. 112.nd 13

F igun 2. WHkly net and troll catcheI of Sockeye .nd Pink selmon by IUtiItic8I ------..... and I""''' in JohnItOnl Stnit in 1877.------7 -

The Escapement

The 1977 escapement of pink salmon to the Study Area is summarized by sub-areas in Table 2 and listed by individual streams, in comparison to previous years, in Appendix B. The optimum escapements referred to are the highest, that have produced an equal or greater escapement for odd-year stocks since 1951.

The 1977 escapement to the Study Area totalled just 282,400 pink salmon and is the second lowest on recent record (Table 3). Only one of ten sub-areas received an optimum escapement. This was the Kingcome Inlet sub area. All other areas received less than adequate escapements. Escapements to Upper Vancouver Island, Johnstone Strait, Toba Inlet, Jervis Inlet and particularly Howe Sound are of particular concern.

Stream conditions throughout the Study Area were moderate during the spawning and incubation periods for the 1977 cycle. However, because of very low escapement, even better than average marine survival conditions would not produce a run in 1979 of any strength. Particular emphasis will have to be placed on obtaining adequate escapements in 1979.

The Stock Size

An analysis of the catches along both the northern and southern approach routes, based on information obtained from Bulletin XV , has been carried out to identify and separate the pink salmon catches into those of Study Area and non-Study Area destinations. Based on this analysis the run size of the Study Area stock totalled about 916,900 pink salmon and represents the second lowest run size for recent years (Table 3).

The proportion of the Study Area stock which approached from the north via Johnstone Strait has been estimated at 805,900. Of this number 550,100 were caught and 255,800 contributed to the escapement. In addition the proportion of Study Area stocks which returned from the south via Juan de Fuca Strait has been estimated at 111,000. Of this number about 84,400 were caught and 26,600 contributed to the escapement. Table 2. Odd-year pink salmon escapements by sub-area for 1977 in comparison to optimum.

Optimum Sub-Area Escapement 1973 % 1975 % 1977 %

Upper Vancouver Island 61,400 17,240 28.1 7,680 12.5 2,460 4.0 Johnstone Strait 89,250' 71,800 90.6 97,800 109.6 5,810 6.5 Mid Vancouver Island 24,250 '. 10,300 17.8 34,310 141.5 12,560 51.8 Kingcome Inlet 42,900 100,080 233.3 49,030 114.3 50,000 116.6 Bond to Knight 536,500·· 523,430 185.9 987,460 184.1 104,820 19.5 Loughborough To Bute 177,190 · 233,180 164.0 248,600 140.3 44,270 25.0 Toba Inlet 88,500 23,500 26.6 20,500 23.2 11,240 12.7 Jervis Inlet 256,400 10,830 4.2 24,310 9.5 26,000 10.1 Howe Sound 422,500 135,500 32.1 101,500 24.0 3,110 0.7 Burrard Inlet 100,000 35,000 35.0 35,000 35.0 22,130 22.1 co I

Total 1,798,890 1,160,860 75.8 1,606,190 89.3 282,400 15.7 Table 3. Catch, escapement exploitation and ratio of return of Study Area pink salmon.

Return to Total Percent Brood Year Escapement Year Catch Escapement Stock Exploitation Escapement Ratio

1959 1,508,726 1,024,700 2,533,426 59.6 1,078,900 2.3:1 1961 1,818,443 1,244,000 3,062,443 59.4 1,024,700 3.0:1 1963 1,992,112 1,781,000 3,773,112 52.8 1,244,000 3.0:1 1965 425,989 621,480 1,047,469 40.7 1,781,000 0.6:1 1967 746,782 379,920 1,126,702 66.3 621,480 1!8:1 1969 118,103 220,820 338,923 34.8 379,920 0.9:1 1971 663,871 1,409,530 2,073,401 32.0 220,820 9.4:1 1.0 1973 1,019,992 1,160,860 2,180,852 46.7 1,409,530 1.6 :1 1975 689,791 1,606,190 2,295,981 30.0 1,160,860 2.0:1 1977 634,494 282,400 916,894 69.2 1,606,190 0.6:1

Average 961,830 973,090 1,934,920 49.7 1,052,740 2.5:1 - 10 -

THE 1979 SEASON

Pink Salmon Propsects

(1) Study Area Stocks

The 1979 return of pink salmon to the Johnstone Strait study area is expected to total just 903,800. A run of this size would be the second lowest on recent record . On the basis of the very low brood stock of only 282,400 fish recorded for the 1977 escapement, a run size of fishable strength should not be expected. The 1979 expected return represents a greater than average ratio of return from escapement of 3.2:1 reflecting average spawning and incubation conditions and greater than average marine survival.

The projected abundance in comparison to optimum escapement requirements indicates that expected returns for 8 out of 10 stocks will not meet escapement requirements (Table 4). Only one stock, the Kingcome Inlet stock, is expected to have a definable harvest. However indications are that we are underestimating optimum escapements for this system. In any case this stock will not be able to support a specific fishery.

The proportion of each sub-area stock that approaches by the northern Johnstone Strait route and the southern Juan de Fuca route has been calculated based on information obtained from Bulletin XV. Based on this and the projected abundance, the strength of each sub-area stock returning via Johnstone Strait in 1979 has been calculated in Table 4. Thus it is expected that Study Area pinks returning via Johnstone Strait will total 817,800 fish.

(2) Fraser River Stock

The International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission has predicted the 1979 pink salmon return to the Fraser River will total about 15.0 million fish. Based on information from Bulletin XV it is expected that 29.5 percent of the Fraser River stock will migrate through Johnstone Strait. It is expected, therefore, that Fraser River pink salmon migrating through Johnstone Strait in 1979 will total approximately 4,425,000 fish .

In summary, the expected number of pink salmon entering Johnstone Strait in 1979 will total: Study Area Stocks . 817,800 Fraser River Stocks 4,424,000

Total 5,242,800 Table 4. Projected abundance and allowable harvest for the 1979 pink return.

Optimum Potential Return via Johnstone Strait Sub-Area Projected Escapement Allowable Stock Abundance Requirement Harvest Percent Number

Upper Vancouver Island 7,900 61,400 0 100 7,900 Kingcome Inlet 160,000 42,900 117,100 100 160,000 Bond - Knight Inlet 335,400 536,500 0 100 335,400 Johnstone Strait 18,600 89,300 0 100 18,600 Loughborough - Bute Inlet 141,700 177,200 0 98 138,900 Toba Inlet 36,000 88,500 0 93 33,500 Mid Vancouver Island 40,200 24,300 15,900 76 30,500 Jervis Inlet 83,200 256,400 0 63 52,400 I--' Howe Sound 10,000 422,500 0 73 7,300 )-' Buryard Inlet 70,800 100,000 0 47 33,300

Total 903,800 1,799,000 133,000 90 817,800 - 12 -

Sockeye Salmon Prospects

The abundance of other salmon, particularly sockeye migrating through Johnstone Strait during the same period as pink salmon, must be considered in the overall management program of the Study Area.

Two major sockeye stocks are harvested in Johnstone Strait. These are the Nimpkish River and Fraser River stocks.

(1) Study Area Stocks

Although several Study Area sockeye stocks enter Johnstone Strait en route to spawning grounds in Areas 12 to 16, only the Nimpkish River sockeye is important to the Johnstone Strait fishery.

Since 1950 Nimpkish River sockeye escapements have averaged 87,000, ranging from 35,000 to 150,000 and on the average has contributed about 73,000 pieces to the commercial fishery and 5,000 pieces to the native food fishery. Examination of Nimpkish River sockeye scales has shown that the stock is comprised of mainly four and five year old fish and that either age class may predominate in any particular return year. (Anderson, 1976).

The 1979 return will be from the 1974 and 1975 escapements of 150,000 and 40,000 respectively. The return of four year old fish in 1978 from the 1974 brood was very weak. The total escapement in 1978 was 8,500, one of the lowest on record since 1950. This low return indicates very few, if any, five year old fish to return in 1979. Therefore the strength of 1979 return will depend on four year old fish from the 1975 escapement. Based on an average rate of return of 2.2:1 and an average proportion of age four fish for the 1975 brood, the Nimpkish stock would total 55,000 sockeye. Considering the extent of flooding in the fall of 1975 and the effect it had on the 1977 return of pink salmon, a more realistic expected return would be 25,000 sockeye. A return of this size will not meet escapement requirements of 100,000.

(2) Fraser River Stocks

The International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission has predicted the 1979 sockeye salmon return to the Fraser River will total 3.8 million fish. Seven rivers should constitute aboJt three quarters of the return. These are the Chilko, Adams, Lower Shuswap, Early Stuart, Stellako, Birkenhead, and Weaver. The proportion of Fraser sockeye migrating through Johnstone Strait, for this cycle, has averaged about 15 percent. On this basis, Fraser sockeye returning via Johnstone Strait will total about 570,000 fish. - 13 -

Timing

(1) Pink Salmon

The timing of individual odd-year pink stocks in Johnstone Strait, based on information obtained from Bulletin XV, is summarized in Figure 3. Based on this and the projected abundance for 1979, the expected weekly abundance of Study-Area and Fraser River pink stocks entering Area 12 has been calculated and is summarized in Figure 4.

Peak abundance of the 1979 pink salmon return to the Study Area is expected to occur during the week ending August 11. At this time, during which every Study Area stock will be present, the Knight Inlet stock (particularly the Kakweiken River return) will predominate. The peak abundance of the return to Kingcome Inlet will occur during a three week period ending August 4. The six stocks returning to streams south of and including the Johnstone Strait sub-area will peak in entry into Area 12 during a three week period ending August 25. The peak of anyone of these stocks will take about two weeks to clear the gantlet fisheries from Gordon Channel to Discovery Passage.

The Fraser River stock will be in major abundance during a three week period ending September 8, with the peak occurring during the week ending September 1.

(2) Sockeye Salmon

The expected weekly abundance of Fraser and Nimpkish Rivers sockeye entering Area 12 is summarized in Figure 4.

The more abundant sockeye will be the return to the Fraser River. The peak is expected to occur during the weeks ending July 28 and August 4, at which time the Stellako and Chilko runs will predominate. A second, and lesser peak will occur during the week ending August 25. During this week, the Adams and Lower Shuswap runs will predominate.

The Nimpkish sockeye return, not expected to meet escapement requirements, will be in major abundance, entering Area 12, during a three week period ending July 28. - 14 -

50 1--- -1- /'\ --f---- -f- ______(\--~l~ VA1NCoLvER_+-! - -140 f \ r - ~ ISLAND

40 I--~--+-.- __ ~UPPERI~6.~~O r ER ...... - /" " I ... I -.[ - 30

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10 1----+--+- ~--~10 O~ __~,~~/V~I~~\~~-~~~ I ~I ~~/~~/~~~-\~,,'~~~-~O 4 14 24 3 13 23 2 1 2 24 3 13 23 2 12 22 2 JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER

Figure 3. Times of passage of pink salmon stocks in Upper Johnstone Strait during 1959 (Data from I.P.S.F.C. Bulleting XV). - 15 -

Sockeye 150 Total Abundance = 625,000

100

----- I' Nimpkish Stock Only O+-=-=-~------~~~------=---~

1,500 Pinks Total Abundance = 5,242,440

Break in Scale I'

500

• Fraser River .!!ock Only 400

300

.A \ • 200 \ . .\ • \--Study Area " \ Stock Only 100 \ \ \ ...... , "

0..-.:0.-.:;;..00"'.:::;00" ...... O~~~~~~~--~~~--~~~~~~~ 23 30 7 14 21 28 4 11 18 25 1 8 15 22 29 June July August Sept.

Figure 4. Expected weekly abundance of sockeye and pink salmon entering Queen Charlotte Strait for 1979. (Note differencel in ICilIeI. - 16 -

MANAGEMENT PROPOSALS FOR 1979

Considerations

The 1979 return of pink salmon through Johnstone Strait is expected to total 5,242,800. This will be composed of 817,800 Study Area pinks, the second lowest on record, and 4,425,000 Fraser pinks, one of the highest on recent record. The returning sockeye through Johnstone Strait is expected to total 625,000. This will be composed of 55,000 Study Area sockeye, one of the lowest on record, and 570,000 Fraser sockeye, a moderate run size and comparable to the 1975 brood year.

The peak abundance of Study Area pinks entering Area 12 is expected to occur during the week ending August 11 and for Fraser River pinks, September 1. The peak abundance of the six weak Study Area stocks entering Area 12 is expected to occur during the period of August 5 to 25. The peak abundance of the weak sockeye return to Nimpkish is expected to occur during the period of July 8 to July 28. Fraser sockeye are expected to peak during the weeks ending July 28 and August 4.

Protection of the weak pink and sockeye stocks will have to be emphasized to obtain even a minimum acceptable escapement. For six of ten Study Area pink stocks (Upper Vancouver Island, Johnstone Strait, Toba Inlet, Jervis Inlet, Mid Vancouver Island and Howe Sound) where the expected total return is less than one half of escapement requirements the emphasis must be to maintain a viable brood stock.

The required protection of the Upper Vancouver Island pink stock can be accomplished by local boundary closures of Goletas Channel and the waters within the surf line between Cape Scott and Cape Sutil. Protection of stocks to the Mainland Inlets of Area 12 and 13 can be provided for by closures of the Mainland Inlets. Protection of the other weak pink stocks can only be accomplished by closures of the Johnstone Strait fishery. In past cycle years, as other stocks of fishable abundance were present at the same time, only partial protection was provide by a one week closure. However expected run sizes for 1979 do not allow this flexibility. Thus it is proposed that the Johnstone Strait fishery be closed for a three week period from August 5 to 25. With moderate fisheries on each side of this closure, sufficient harvesting of the more abundant Fraser River sockeye and pink stocks can be provided. - 17 -

In past years partial protection of the Nimpkish sockeye return has been given by the local Nimpkish River boundary. The 1977 return was given additional protection by a closure of the northern portion of Queen Charlotte Strait during a two week period. However for the run size expected in 1979 the above protection would not be adequate. Thus it is proposed that the northern portion of Queen Charlotte Strait be closed for a three week period.

Proposed Fishing Pattern

Accordingly, under the foregoing considerations, the following major regulations are proposed for the 1979 pink and sockeye fishery for the Johnstone Strait - Strait of Georgia area.

(1) Area 11

Fishing Week July 15 - July 18 - Effective 6:00 P.M. Sunday, June 24, 1979 (one week) until 6:00 P.M. Sunday July 22, 1979 the waters of Area 11 will be closed to salmon net fishing; salmon trolling during this time will be permitted seven days per week outside a line from Clark Point on Calvert Islant to Secretary Point on Hope Island; trollers inside this line will be restricted to net fishing time and area.

July 22 - July 25 - Effective 6:00 P.M. Sunday, July 22, 1979 and remainder of netting and trolling inside the surfline season in Area 11 will be regulated in con junction with Area 12. Commercial trollers will not be permitted to retain sockeye salmon from 6:00 P.M. July 22, 1979 to 6:00 P.M. July 29, 1979.

Aug. 5 - Aug. 8 - Closed for conservation of weak pink Aug. 12 - Aug. 15 stocks (Effective 6:00 P.M. Tuesday Aug. 19 - Aug. 22 July 31 and until 6:00 P.M. Sunday (three weeks) August 26, gillnetting not permitted; effective 6:00 A.M. Wednesday August 1 and until 6:00 P.M. Sunday August 26, trolling not permitted. - 18 -

(2) Area 12

Fishing Week

July 8 - July 11 - Two days fishing, gillnetters 6:00 P.M. July 15 - July 18 Sunday to 6:00 P.M. Tuesday, seiners July 22 - July 25 6:00 A.M. Monday to 6:00 A.M. Wednesday (three weeks) except closed northwest of Blinkhorn Peninsula Light - Hanson Island - Cracroft Point for the conservation of Nimpkish sockeye. Commercial salmon trollers will not be permitted to retain sockeye salmon in the closed portion as described above from 6:00 P.M. July 8 to 6:00 P.M. July 29.

July 29 - Aug. 1 - Two days fishing, gillnetters 6:00 P.M. (one week) Sunday to 6:00 P.M. Tuesday, Seiners 6:00 A.M. Monday to 6:00 A.M. Wednesday. Effective 6:00 P.M. Sunday July 29 and until 6:00 A.M. Wednesday August 1 trolling permitted.

Aug. 5 - Aug. 8 - Closed for conservation of weak pink Aug. 12 - Aug. 15 stocks (Effective 6:00 P.M. Tuesday Aug. 19 - Aug. 22 July 31 and until 6:00 P.M. Sunday (three weeks) August 26, gillnetting not permitted; effective 6:00 A.M. Wednesday, August 1 and until 6:00 P.M. Sunday August 26 seining not permitted; effective 6:00 A.M. Wednesday August 1 and until 6:00 P.M. Sunday August 26, trolling not permitted).

Aug. 26 - Aug. 30 - Three days fishing, gillnetters and Sept. 2 - Sept. 6 seiners 6:00 P.M. Sunday to 6:00 P.M. (two weeks) Wednesday.

Sept 9 - Sept 12 - Two days fishing, gillnetters and Sept 16 - Sept 19 seiners 6:00 P.M. Sunday to 6:00 P.M. (two weeks) Tuesday, except closed northwest of Blinkhorn Peninsula Light - Hanson Island - Cracroft Point for the conservation of early run chum salmon.

Special Boundaries and Closed Areas a) The Mainland Inlets be closed from July 15 and until further notice for the conservation of weak pink stocks. b) Closed Northwest of Blinkhorn Peninsula Light - Hanson Island - Cracroft Point for the conservation of Nimpkish sockeye effective 6:00 P.M. July 8 to 6:00 P.M. July 29. Nimpkish River area closed from False Head - Pulteney Point - Donnegal Head - Blinkhorn Peninsula Light from July 29 to August 12 for the continued conservation of Nimpkish sockeye. Effective August 13 and for - 19 -

the balance of the season the Nimpkish River boundary will revert to the Ledge Point - Haddington Island - Yellow Bluff - Lewis Point line. c) Goletas Channel and waters within the surfline between Cape Scott - Cape Sutil closed from July 29 and until further notice for the continued conservation of local stocks. d) Extended boundaries on the Cluxewe, Keogh, and Adams Rivers in effect July 22, vntil further notice for conservation of local stocks.

(3) Area 13

Fishing Week

July 15 - July 18 - Two days, gillnetters 6:00 P.M. Sunday July 22 - July 25 to 6:00 P.M. Tuesday, seiners 6:00 A.M. July 29 - Aug. 1 Monday to 6:00 A.M. Wednesday. (three weeks)

Aug. 5 - Aug. 8 - Closed for conservation of weak pink Aug. 12 - Aug. 15 stocks (Effective 6:00 P.M. Tuesday Aug. 19 - Aug. 22 July 31 and until 6:00 P.M. Sunday (three weeks) August 26 gillnetting not permitted; effective 6:00 A.M. Wednesday August 1 and until 6:00 P.M. Sunday August 26 seining not permitted; commercial salmon trollers will not be permitted to retain pink salmon from 6:00 P.M. Wednesday August 1 until 6:00 P.M. Sunday August 26.

Aug. 26 - Aug. 30 Three days, gillnetters and seiners Sept. 2 - Sept. 6 6:00 P.M. Sunday to 6:00 P.M. Wednesday. (two weeks)

Sept 9 - Sept 12 Two days, gi11netters and seiners 6:00 P.M. Sept 16 - Sept 19 Sunday to 6:00 P.M. Tuesday. (two weeks)

Special Boundaries and Closed Areas a) The Mainland Inlets are closed from August 12 and until further notice for conservation of weak pink stocks. - 20 -

(4) Strait of Georgia - Areas 14, 15 and 16.

Fishing Week

July 15 - July 18 - Two days in S.abine Channel and West July 22 - July 25 Coast of Texada Island Region of Area 16, July 29 Aug. 1 gillnetter 6:00 P.M. Sunday to 6:00 P.M. (three weeks) Tuesday, seiners 6:00 A.M. Monday to 6:00 A.M. Wednesday. The balance of Area 16 and Areas 14 and 15 remain closed. Commercial salmon trollers will not be permitted to retain pink salmon from 6:00 P.M. Wednesday August 1 until 6:00 P.M. Sunday August 26.

August 5 until - Closed for the duration of the pink further notice salmon migration.

Expected Catch

It is anticipated that the outlined regulatory proposals, based on the projected a6undances, will provide catches of 2,142,200 pink salmon and 187,300 sockeye salmon (Table 5). The pink catch would be similar to the average 1.8 million for the last five cycle years. The sockeye catch would be less than the average of 467,000 for the same period. This catch is however similar to the 1975 catch of about 184,000.

Of the pink catch about 222,000 would be from Study Area stocks migrating via Johnstone Strait. The sockeye catch would be primarily from Fraser River stocks.

An escapement of Study Area pinks of about 620,000 is anticipated. An escapement of this level is well below the desired optimum of 1.7 million and less than the average of 1.0 million. It is however a marked improvement over the brood year of 0.3 million.

PROVISO

The weekly fishing periods outlined below will be reduced in the event that for any week, or series of weeks, during the progress of the fishing season the proposed weekly closures are deemed insufficient to provide adequate escapement. Likewise. extra fishing time may be granted if such might safely be permitted. consistent with attaining adequate escapements. However extra fishing time will depend on a substantial increase of pink salmon beyond that expected. - 21 -

Table 5. Expected weekly catches of pink and sockeye salmon in Statistical Areas 12 and 13 for 1979.

Proposed Week Days Ending Fishing Pinks Sockeye

June 23 0 30 0

July 7 2 7,000 9,500 14 21 11,200 4,400 21 21 17,800 19,600 28 21 47,400 44,800

Aug. 4 2 87,000 46,400 11 0 18 0 25 0

Sept 1 3 951,000 41,000 8 3 860,000 18,000 15 21 140,800 3,600 22 21 20,000 0

Totals 2,142,200 187,300

1 Closed northwest of B1inkhorn Peninsula Light. - 22-

LITERATURE CITED

Anderson, A.D., 1976. The 1974 return of even-year pink salmon stocks to the Johnstone Strait study area and prospects for 1976. Environment Canada, Technical Report Series PAC/T-76-6.

Anderson, A.D. , 1977. The 1975 return of pink salmon stocks to the Johnstone Strait study area and prospects for 1977. Fisheries and Environment Canada, Technical Report Series PAC/T-77-ll.

International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission. Annual report, 1977.

Vernon, E.H., A.S. Hourston and G.A. Holland, 1964. The wigration and exploitation of pink salmon runs in and adjacent to the Fraser River convention area in 1959. International Pacific Salmon Fish. Corom., Bull. XV. - 23 -

APPENDIX A

Major regulations and fishing effort by area and week for the 1977 pink and sockeye season.

Week Days Number of Ending Fishing Cillnets Seines Major Regulations

Area 12 June 25 4 Parsons Bay closed until Sept. 11. Nimpkish boundary in effect

July 2 4 118 33 As above July 9 4 211 103 Two days only northwest of False Head-Boyles Point. Including Mainland Inlets. July 16 4 129 77 Closed northwest of False Head Boyles Point. Nimpkish River boundary enlarged to False Head Pulteney Point-Donegal Head Blinkhorn Peninsula Light. July 23 4 35 28 As above. July 30 4 115 87 Two days northwest of Boyles Point False Head. Coletas Channel and Surfline waters closed for remainder of season. Mainland Inlets closed. Aug. 6 3 170 73 Mainland Inlets closed. Aug. 13 o Closed. Trolling closed southeast of Boyles Point - Dillon Point. Aug. 20 2 120 200 Mainland Inlets closed. Nimpkish boundary reverted to Ledge Pt. - Lewis Pt. Line. Coletas Channel closure enlarged to include Noble Island - Duval Point. Aug. 27 4 108 194 As above. Sept 3 4 90 240 As above. Sept 10 2 101 162 As above Sept 17 2 90 111 As above - 24 -

Area 13

July 9 4 20 60 Mainland Inlets open. July 16 4 40 63 As above. July 23 4 12 26 As above. July 30 4 34 27 As above. Aug. f> 3 30 23 As above. Aug. 13 0 Closed. Aug. 20 2 120 200 Mainland Inlets closed for remainder of season. Aug. 27 4 53 80 As above. Sept 3 4 50 77 As above. Sept 10 2 56 78 As above. Sept 17 2 117* 70 As above, except lower portion of Bute Inlet from Orford Bay to Lawrence Point opened to gi11nets (157 gillnets operating in Bute)*.

Area 16

July 9 4 4 9 Sabine and West Coast of Texada only. July 16 4 7* 0 As above. July 23 4 4* 1* As above. July 30 4 3* 1* As above. Aug. ' 6 4 13 1 As above. Aug. 13 6 28 33 As above. Aug. 20 2 30 20 As above. Aug. 27 0 Closed for remainder of season.

* Area 16 gear counts estimated from deliveries. •

Appendix B

Recorded odd-year pink salmon escapements, in thousands of fish, by stream and subarea in the Johnstone Strait Study Area for 1951 to 1977.

Optimum 1951-59 1961-69 Stream Escapements Average Average 1971 1973 1975 1977

UEEer Vancouver Island

C1uxewe R. 3.50 10.60 2.29 .40 1. 80 2.10 .051 Keogh R. 35.00 18.50 8.50 3.50 7.00 2.50 2.1 Nahwitti R. 14.50 9.10 0.54 .20 N/O .08 N/O Quatse R. 0.75 1. 31 1.01 1. 50 1.00 .301 N/O Shushartie R. 0.75 2.90 4.51 .20 N/01 N/01 N/O Songhees R. 0.40 0.45 0.07 N/O .04 N/O Y/O Stranby R. 4.50 4.10 0.18 .05 .40 .40 N/O Tsu1quate R. 2.00 1.63 0.25 .40 7.00 2.30 .03 Misc. Streams .28 N VI Total 61.40 48.59 17.35 6.25 17.24 7.68 2.46

Johnstone Strait

Adam R. 60.002 26.70 53.20 35.00 60.00 70.00 4.0 Kokish R. 1.50 0.91 0.54 0.02 .30 .20 N/O Nimpkish R. 3.50 3.50 3.94 4.00 N/O N/O .08 Menzies Cr. 1.00 0.61 0.40 N/O N/O N/O N/O Mohun Cr. 0.75 0.61 0.40 N/O N/O N/O N/O Salmon R. 15.00 10.45 16.00 15.00 7.50 25.00 L5 Tsitika R. 7.50 13.00 1.59 7.50 4.00 2.00 .2 Misc. Streams .03

Total 89.25 55.78 76.07 61. 52 71.80 97.80 5.81 Mid Vancouver Island

Englishman R. 0.75 0.91 .04 0.02 .03 .01 .03 Oyster R. 3.50 5.40 1.43 1.40 1.20 .90 .20 Punt1edge R. 7.502 28.20 3.74 0.30 .70 .40 4.0 Quinsam R. 5.002 1.95 2.45 0.40 5.00 30.00 4.5 Mid Vancouver Island (Cont'd)

Tso1um R. 7.501 52.0n 4.34 0.80 3.37 3.00 3.8 Misc. Streams .03

Total 24.25 88.46 12.00 2.92 10.30 34.31 12.56

Kingcome Inlet

Embly R. 0.40 0.35 0.01 .20 .08 .03 N/O Kingcome R. 7.50 5.90 3.63 7.50 20.00 9.00 25.0 Wakeman R. 35.00 29.50 26.50 700.00 80.00 40.00 25.0

Total 42.90 35.75 30.14 707.70 100.08 49.03 50.0

Bond to Knight

Ahnuatti R. 7.50 5.35 12.50 3.50 3.00 20.00 4.0 Ahta Valley Cr. 3.50 3.08 1.88 3.50 1. 20 .90 .08 Fraser Cr. 0.75 9.25 · 0.84 N/O .75 .03 N/O Glendale R. 175.00 347.50 90.00 150.00 200.00 150.00 16.0 Hoyea Cr. 3.50 2.73 .27 .75 1.50 7.50 1.0 N Kakweiken 300.002 56.00 45.00 220.00 300.00 800.00 75.0 '" Kliniklini R. 7.50 4.70 1.63 .75 .08 .08 N/O Kwa1atte R. 0.75 .83 0.28 0.02 N/O N/O .10 Lull Cr. 1.50 1.50 0.02 1. 50 1. 60 1. 60 .40 Viner R. 1.50 .98 0.34 .05 .30 .05 N/O Waterfall Cr. 35.00 16.10 8.90 15.00 15.00 8.00 8.00 Misc. Streams .24

Total 536.50 448.02 161. 66 395.07 523.43 488.16 104.82

Loughborough to Bute

Apple R. 35.00 19.00 22.30 35.00 50.00 35.00 5.0 Cumsack Cr. 3.50 1.52 N/O N/O N/O N/O N/O Eva Cr. 3.50 1.93 .30 N/O N/O N/O N/O Fulmore R. 0.75 .91 N/O N/O N/O N/O N/O Granite Cr. 0.02 .02 .09 N/O N/O N/O N/O Grays Cr. 0.20 .42 .19 N/O N/O N/O ; 03 Heydon Cr. 1.50 .72 .74 3.50 .40 .40 .03 Homathko R. 7.50 5.28 1.50 N/O .08 N/O N/O Kamish Cr. 0.02 .01 N/O N/O N/O N/O N/O • • ..

Loughborough to, Bute (Cont' d)

Orford R. 35.00 11.20 20.70 15.00 100.00 25.00 3.5 Phillips R. 75.002 32.70 35.70 35.00 75.00 175.00 35.0 Read Cr. 0.20 .l3 .14 N/O .20 .20 .20 Stafford R. 7.50 7.40 4.40 3.50 7.50 8.00 .48 Southgate R. 7.50 7.50 .30 3.50 N/O 3.50 N/O Misc. Streams .03

Total 177 .19 88.74 86.36 92.00 233.18 247.10 44~27

Toba Inlet

Brem R. 35.00 20.80 2.95 6.00 6.00 1.00 .200 Klite R. 15.00 16.90 7.20 12.00 8.00 8.00 N/O Quatum R. 3.50 16.78 2.33 0.75 1.50 3.50 5.00 Toba R. 35.00 36.00 21.40 19.00 8.00 8.00 N/O Misc. Streams 6.04

Total 88.50 90.48 33.88 37.75 23.50 20.50 11.24

Jervis Inlet N '" Brittain R. 3.50 2.95 loll 0.10 .30 .01 .10 Deserted R. 7.50 29.00 6.60 25.00 5.00 12.00 10.00 Lang Cr. 0.40 .58 .15 N/O N/O N/O .050 Skwawka R. 240.00 97.00 102.80 20.00 5.00 12.00 14.00 Vancouver R. 3.50 2.15 1.35 1.00 .50 .20 1.00 Tzoonie R. 1.50 0.94 3.15 1.50 .03 .10 .250 Misc. Streams .60

Total 88.50 90.48 33.88 37.75 13.83 24.31 26.00

Howe Sound

Ash1u R. 7.50 1.60 4.80 5.00 5.50 1.50 .080 Cheakamus R. 300.00 31.00 184.40 2.20 25.00 20.00 .750 Mamquam R. 15.00 3.20 27.90 1.50 35.00 30.00 .750 Squamish R. 100.00 90.00 30.00 15.00 70.00 50.00 1.50 Misc. Streams .03 247.10 Total 422.50 125.80 Burrard Inlet 23.70 135.50 101.50 3.11 Indian R. 100.00 105.00 63.00 35.00 35.00 35.00 22.0 Misc. Streams .130

Grand Total 1,833.89 931. 02 839.20 1,409.51 1,160.86 1,606.19 282.13 1 N/O = none observed 2 Adjusted, see text.