Field Services Branch

Fisheries and Oceans Pacific Region

..... Government of Gouvernement du Canada • """I"" Fisheries and Oceans Peches et Oceans Field Services Branch Department of Fisheries and Oceans 1090 West Pender Street , B.C. V6E 2P1

EdIted and compiled by Maxine Glover & Cindy Low Glover Business Communications Ltd. Cover design and layout by Bev Bowler Word processIng of the text by Doug Harris

Cover photo by Mar; Trim: seiner in Contents

Directors' Reports .. 1 Habitat Management. 78 Coordination and liaison. 78 , Northern B.C. and Yukon .. 4 Land Use ...... 81 District ..... 5 Water Quality .. ... 91 New Westminster District ...... 7 Water Use ...... 97 Whitehorse District ...... 11 Management Biology ... . 14 Management Services...... 103 Southern Inspection District. 20 Recreational Fisheries Coordinator...... 104 Recreational Fisheries Advisor...... 104 South Coast 22 Training and Career Development...... 105 Nanaimo District 22 Field Services Systems...... 106 District. 27 Campbell River District. 31 Ship Division ...... 109 34 Management Biology 38 Fisheries Development. .. 112 Habitat Management 45 Inspection District 45 Headquarters Support ...... 115 Herring Coordinator ...... 115 Northern Operations. 46 Licence Appeals Board ...... 115 Kitimat District .. 47 Licence Appeals Committee .116 Queen Charlotte District 53 Salmon Coordinator .. .117 Prince Rupert District ... 58 Salmon Services. .118 Management Biology...... 62 Northern Inspection District ...... 66 Appendices. . ... 121 A Key Field Services Branch Staff ..... 122 Offshore 67 B Advisory Committees ..... 124 Special Programs and Management .. . 67 C Publications List ...... 129 Offshore Operations...... 68 D Field Services Offices...... 130 Offshore Surveillance and Enforcement ...... 68 Operations Center ...... 72

~~c~ n Inspection Engineering 73 Shellfish Coordinator.. 74 Boat Inspection. 75 Product Inspection 75 Bacteriological Laboratory 76 Chemical Laboratory... 76 Fishing Vessel Insurance Plan...... 77

Directors' Reports

vessels came into being. In addition Field Services to setting out more clearly the terms and conditions of vessel licencing, I am very pleased to provide some they should form a sound basis on which introductory comments to the 19B2 fleet rationalization can be developed. Review of activities of the Field Ser­ vices Branch, Department of Fisheries I am also pleased to note the and Oceans, Pacific Region. establishment of closer ties between our Branch and Fisheries Research in The Field Services Branch is often order to encourage the development of described as the leading or cutting joint programs for the creation and edge a f the Department, as it is the application of more precise salmon group which has responsibility for the management tools. Techniques, such as day-to-day management of the fisheries electrophoresis and scale analysis, and for the enforcement of the various used for the identification of salmon Fisheries Acts and Regulations and for runs and to assess the size of compo­ the protection of the resource. nents of intermingled runs, should be of very great value to our managers in The Branch is now totally decentral­ the future. ized, with area managers in Nanaimo and New Westminster and a director in The three-area system for the Prince Rupert. Collectively, they management of the roe herring fishery manage operations in ten districts and was employed successfully for the 30 subdistricts. Each area office now second year in 19B2. However, the has the capability to deal with many of fixed quota management system under the responsibilities of the Branch, development ultimately should be an such as vessel licencing and insurance, even better approach to the fishery. inspection of processing facilities and products, enforcement of fisheries The Branch has a very signi ficant regulations, management of 'fisheries responsibility for the protection of and habitat issues. fish habitat. This can a ften be an area of conflict with other resource A number of new initiatives were users, where their encroachment can undertaken in 19B2 which reflect the harm or endanger fish and their habi­ present emphasis of the Branch. tat. In order to help resolve such conflicts, the Department is developing A special covert operation was a policy of "No Net Loss" with respect undertaken in 19B2 against salmon to such matters, in the hope that the poaching on the Fraser River and the concept will provide reasonable grounds illegal sale of such fish. While the for the resolution of such differences results of this exercise were somewhat and for the maintenance of the produc­ controversial, they demonstrated the tive capacity of fish habitat. magnitude a f the poaching problem and reaffirmed the Branch's dedication to a In 1983, we will continue to upgrade strong enforcement program and improve the Department's radio com­ munication network, as well as improve We are also pleased to report that staff housing at various isolated posts new regulations dealing with the on the coast. registration and, licencing of fishing 1 In 1982, a new senior management team was established in Ottawa, with Northern Operations the appointments of Dr. Art Mayas deputy minister and Gary Vernon as The 1982 salmon season in the North assistant deputy minister. Coast was characterized by high fishing effort, a record return and catches of I extend my appreciation to the Skeena sockeye and disappointing staff for their continuing dedication returns of pink and chum. It was a and hard work in the face of very challenging season, for our managers difficult challenges. were faced, in many cases, with too many boats for the few fish available. I trust that you will find the 1982 report both interesting and useful in As predicted, the salmon season saw understanding the work and activities concentrated fishing by a large fleet of the Branch. in sped fic areas. The returns to the Skeena system were larger than expect­ ed, and the fleet was regulated to exploit this run in periods of not more than two or three days at a time. D. D. Wilson, Fishing times were controlled to Director, attempt to allow additional "dId stocks Field Services Branch. of sockeye, chinook and steelhead to escape the commercial fishery and head for spawning grounds.

As expected, the Central Coast fail­ ed to produce pink salmon. This fact, combined wi th the poor fishing oppor­ tunities in the south, resulted in large fleets in the north. For example, during one opening, 400 sein­ ers and 1,200 gillnetters fished north of Cape Caution. The Queen Charlottes had the largest seine effort on record. Similarly, large numbers of gillnets fished Smith Inlet; the sock­ eye return was greater than expected and the fleet fished for an extended period. Escapements to the Smith Inlet in 1982 were also the highest on record.

The sockeye return was sufficient for a good escapement. The strength of this run is increasing and a much-improved fishery is hoped for in the future.

Chinook conservation measures Were imposed in 1982 in the north coast: a two-week northern troll closure during the last half of June and implemen>R­ lion 0 f a quota on the net catch in Areas 1 and 2W. Millbanke Sound was closed during July as a chum conserva- 2 tion move, but the closure also bene­ technician and an administration fited chinook. Further conservation officer have joined ranks. In addi­ measures for all groups are required in tion, the Branch established a fully­ 1983 in order to comply with the operational licencing section and Canada-U.S.A. agreement. issued 5,006 licences and tabs in 1982. Consolidation of processing plants I wish to express my appreciation in the north continued during 1982. for the effort and dedication that the Port Edward was closed, leaving the Northern· Operations staff have demon­ Cassiar plant as the only operating strated in the management of the fish­ plant on the . Oceanside eries resource. I am also appreciative has expanded to become the largest of the support which has enabled me to salmon cannery in B.C. carry out my role.

The 1982 roe herring season was a success. The fishery was well managed; a team approach was used in all areas. The anticipated catches, the .seine/ gillnet ratio of catch, quality and roe Eric Kremer, yield of catch were all met. Spawn Director, levels were relatively high in compar­ Nothern Operations. ison to prev ious years; however, there was some concern due to the preponder­ ance of older fish and the apparent lack of recruitment. Nevertheless, the quality and age of the fish provided high roe yields for fishermen and processors.

Groundfish landings were down in Prince Rupert in 1982, due to poor market conditions and to the closure of Seal Cove, which had operated as a cold storage plant for 70 years.

The northern B. C. area (Areas 1-5) and south-eastern Alaska were the locations of the largest tagging pro­ gram on sockeye and pink salmon ever conducted on the Pacific coast. This program, a joint Canada-U. S. research venture, was initiated in response to the lack of adequate data revealed in international negotiations to define equitable harvests. of salmon stocks subject to interceptions. The results of the tagging will help settle disputes regarding the interception of sockeye and pink in these areas.

The Northern Operations Branch con­ tinues to expand under the Region's decentralization program. During the year, OivisionFll staff increased--a senior habitat biologist, a habitat 3 Fraser River, Northern B.C. and Yukon

The Fraser River, Northern B.C. and Yukon Division encompasses a geographi­ cal area of approximately 1.3 million square kilometres, including the water­ shed 0 f the Fraser River, the salmon­ bearing streams known as transboundary rivers (originating in northern B.C., and terminating in U. S. waters in the State of Alaska) and the entire Yukon Territory. In the Yukon Territory, unlike in the province of B.C., the Department is responsible for managing freshwater species as well as anadro­ mous fish.

During 1982, habitat management responsibilities continued to demand a large commitment of manpower and resources in this Division. Physical habitat and chemical pollution problems continued to degrade salmon habitat, and litigation has required significant amounts of field officers' time.

Al though the lowered price of gold prevented the placer mining industry in B.C. and Yukon from expanding in 1982, the record number of existing claims and operations stretched staff to a maximum level. A high priority was put on a review of the B.C. system and the DFO technicians sample chinook on the development of an extensive management Cllilko River. package to protect fish in the Yukon. The Fisheries position, developed in cooperation with the Department of signi ficantly compared to returns for Environment and Department of Indian the past several years. However, a and Northern Affairs will be presented relatively high exploitation rate on to a public inquiry in 1983. chinook within the river limited the number reaching the spawning grounds, Once again, a concerted effort was although there was a sUbstantial made to combat the illegal capture of increase in escapements to the H<:lrrison ______salmon in the Fraser River system. In River. It will be several years before 1982, a maj or undercover operation was it can be determined whether or not the undertaken which resulted in charges higher returns ill 1982 represent the being laid against 130 individuals beginning of an upward trend. accused of selling fish illegallY. A major tagging program in the Yukon The total return of chinook salmon River provided new information on the to the Fraser River in 1982 improved migratory patterns and spawninq distri-

4 bution of chinook and chum salmon. The the taking of chinook and coho salmon information will assist in management over ZO cm from nontidal waters; how­ of this important fisheries resource. ever, chinook over 50 cm can not be taken from the Fraser River watershed. Also in Yukon Territory, work con­ A limited sport fishery for jack tinued on a project designed to provide chinook and coho developed in the South basic information on productivity and and the Fraser River potential fish yields of Yukon lakes. near Lillooet. Estimations of total catches would be 700 chinook and 300 Contact: Fred Fraser, coho. Area Manager, Fraser River, Northern B.C. and Yukon Division. Table 1 KAMLOOPS DISTRICT

Kamloops District 1982 Sport Fish Catches* Species Nontidal District 1 is comprised of ZZO, 000 __ 1 2 Sockeye km of the upper Fraser River water­ 300 Coho __ 1 shed, with terrain ranging from moun­ Pink tains to plateaus. There are no tidal Chum 1 waters within the District. The south­ Chinook 700 ern boundary extends from North Bend to Steelhead NAZ the U.S./Canada border at Osoyoos; the northern boundary being the Driftwood * Estimate only. River; the western boundary is Burns 1 Closed. Lake, and the eastern boundary is east 2 Not ava.ilable. of Tete Jaune Cache to near Revel­ stoke. The District office is located at Kamloops, with subdistrict offices located at Prince George, Quesnel, Indian Food Fishery \~illiams Lake, Lillooet, Clearwater and Several meetings involving native Salmon Arm. Indians, International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission personnel and this The principal functions within the Department's staff were held prior to District are habitat protection, the fishing season to discuss stock management of the Indian food fishery, strength, closures, and management and the enforcement of the regulations objectives. As in 1981, no major covering these matters. enforcement difficulties were encoun­ tered. Commercial Salmon Fishery No commercial fisheries are under­ Poor sockeye catches were taken from" taken within_the District. the Early Stuart run; however, more than adequate catches were taken from Sport Fishery the Adams River run. Sockeye, pink and chum salmon are illegal to take in any manner from non­ Approximately 60 Indian bands situ­ tidal waters, except in the Indian food ated throughout District 1 participated fishery. Since all waters within in the fishery. Over 60 percent of the District 1 are nontidal, there are no total catch was taken from the Fraser sport fisheries for these species. The River (North Bend to Lillooet fishing B. C. Sport Fishing Regulations permit area),

5 Table 2 Chinook escapements, although down 19 percent from the brood year, were up KAMLOOPS DISTRICT approximately 10 percent over the 1980 and 1981 escapement. The greatest loss 1982 Indian Food Fish Catches occurred in the Lower , where 2,500 spawned in 1982, and 10,400 Species Catch in the brood year.

Sockeye 152,881 Table 3 Coho 625 __ 1 Pink KAMLOOPS DISTRICT Chum 2 Chinook 4,586 1982 Salmon Escapements Steelhead NA* Species Escapements Brood Year Total 158,092 Sockeye 4,024,280 2,270,364 (1978 ) * Not available. Coho 10,752__ 1 13,288 (1 979) 1 Not present in even years. Pink __ 2 2 District not frequented by chum. Chum Chinook 46,308 57,740 (1978) Steel head NA* Salmon Escapements The sockeye escapement of 4,024,280 * Not available. to District 1 during 1982 was the larg­ 1 Not present in even years. est on record. The Adams River sockeye 2 Oistrict not frequented by chum. escapement was in excess of 2,000,000, exceeding by 35 percent the previous record set in the brood year. Other Habitat signi ficant sockeye escapements Matters relating to habitat continue occurred in the Little River (231,935, to be the highest priority within the representing a 186 percent increase District. Field personnel devote up to over the brood year), Lower Shuswap 80 percent of their working hours to (513,925, representing an increase of habitat matters. Wi th 112 salmon­ 175 percent over the brood year) and producing streams and several salmon Chilko River (242,000). rearing lakes in the District, habitat protection has become an enormous The early Stuart sockeye escapement responsibiLity for a limited staff. to the system was disap­ pointing. Of the estimated 90,000 Of concern environmentally are over sockeye that entered the Fraser River, 100 wood-processing manufacturers, six only 4,560 were enumerated on the pulp mills (both of the aforementioned spawning grounds. Of the total run require huge harvesting operations), that entered the Fraser River, 40,000 two oil refineries, one smelter, were taken by the Indian food fishery, hundreds of placer mine operations, and. the balance were believed to be plus agriculture and urban development. lost due to fish mortality· caused by severe stress, developed when the run During spring 1982, a CNR derailment encountered high water levels and high near Blue River caused a 227,000 litre water temperatures. spill of ethylene dichloride to enter the . No evidence Coho escapements were down from the of damage to the fishery resource was brood year by 19 percent. A large found. Litigation in this matter percentage of this decline occurred in remains under consideration. the Salmon Arm SUbdistrict. 6 The development of the CNR twin­ in its first year of operation, with tracking program adjacent to the 77,000 chinook eggs from the Stuart Thompson and North Thompson Rivers is a system. A small facility. at Penny is major habitat concern and is being in continuing operation with 203,000 carefully monitored. chinook eggs from the McGregor River system. Several new pilot projects, at Table 4 Shuswap Falls, River and Adams River, are in the planning stages. KAMLOOPS DISTRICT Construction is planned for the Clearwater pilot project in 1983-84 and construction is now complete at the 1982 Habitat Protection Referrals Eagle River pilot. Number The Public Involvement Program is Water Licences 1,261 sponsoring 15 projects. The projects Forestry involve schools, wildlife clubs and the 613 general public from Bl ue River to Navigable Waters Protection Act 11 Land Use Applications 70 Lillooet and from Prince George to Urban Development 58 Lumby. These projects are incubating Ocean Dumping & Dred'Jing 156,000 coho, 51,000 chinook and 18,000 Pollution Control Board: 3 sockeye eggs. As well as projects, Pesticides 106 education is stressed in the Interior. Waste Management 80 Through the projects and the media Highway Development 12 coverage of the projects, many people Placer Mining 526 are becoming aware of salmonids and Other 30 thei r habitat. Total 2,770 The Fish and Wildlife Branch oper­ ates the Loon Greek hatchery near Cache Creek. Steel head eggs and 39,000 chinook eggs are being incubated from Enforcement the Bonaparte River system. Eighty-four prosecutions were initi­ ated in the District during 1982. Contact: Grant Scott, Charges ranged from seUing salmon not District Supervisor, caught commercially, to habitat mat­ Kamloops. ters. Fines imposed were noticeably increased from those levied in 1981. This Department's staff participated New Westminster .in a RCMP roadblock conducted on High­ way 1 in Rogers Pass.. Five persons District were char'Jed under Section 5(2) of the B.C. Fishery (General) Regulations: The New 'tlestminster District office being in possession of sockeye, pink, administers fisheries-related activi­ or chum salmon taken from nontidal ties in the eastern Gulf of Georgia, waters of the province. , Greater Vancouver, , Indian Arm and the Lower Main­ Salmonid Enhancment land. Included in the District is the The Quesnel satellite hatchery at Fraser River watershed west of Boston Likely is in its first year of pro­ 8ar, the Squamish River watershed and duction, incubating 1.6 million chinook the combined watersheds of the eggs from the , Blackwater Harrison, Lillooet and Birkenhead River, 80wron River and Slim Creek. Rivers. In addition to sUbstantial The pilot hatchery at Fort St. James is commercial salmon, crab, shrimp and 7 prawn fisheries, the District has one Gulf of Geoqia (Management Area 29) of the largest sport fishing fleets opened in July under the control of the found on the coast, with sport fishing International Paci fic Salmon Fisheries activity greatest in Howe Sound and the Commission. The fishery operated on a . The District also 24-hours-per-week basis with 12-hour houses the largest Indian food fishery fisheries occurring when stocks war­ of the Region (approximately one third ranted. Two chum salmon fisheries of total catches within the Region). occurred during December, with poor Approximately two thirds of the total results. The season was highlighted by popUlation of the Province is located the large cycle return of Adams River within the boundaries of the District, sockeye. resulting in major and chronic habitat encroachment problems in addition to a Sport Fishery sUbstantial amount of illegal poaching The large ~port fishing fleet was and sale of fish. Management and most active 1n Howe Sound, Burrard enforcement of the various fisheries Inlet and the Gulf of Georgia. The and the protection of habitat consti­ Capilano hatchery continues to produce tute the major functions of the salmon, primarily coho, in numbers that District. allow for increased sport fishing activity along the north shore of Commercial Salmon Fishery Burrard Inlet. , Burrard The commercial salmon fishery on the Inlet and Indian Arm are popular Fraser River and District waters of the recreation areas and support an inten-

Table 5 NEW WESTMINSTER DISTRICT

1982 Commercial Salmon Catch and Escapements

Species Gillnet Seine Troll Total1 Escapement Statistical Area 28 (Howe 5ound-8urrard Inlet) Sockeye 0 0 0 0 50 Coho 0 0 0 0 48,100 Chum 0 0 0 0 157,400 Chinook 0 0 0 0 4,700 Steel head 0 0 0 0 3,800

Total 0 0 0 0 214,050 Statistical Area 29 (Fraser River) Sockeye 704,094 02 63,766 767,860 448,500 Coho 15,280 0 75 15,355 42,800 Pink 5 0 0 5 0 Chum ~3,685 0 0 53,685 324,200 Chinook 19,505 0 0 19,505 24,000 Steel head 363 0 0 363 NA* ------Total 792,932 0 63,841 856,773 839,500:'- * Not available. 1 No commercial salmon fiShery ill Area 28. 2 No seine fishery.

8 sive crab fishery for both dungeness Table 1 and red rock crabs. Catches of smelt by sport fishermen in English Bay have NEW WESTMINSTER DISTRICT declined in recent years, but the interest and effort in this fishery has 1982 Indian Food Fish Catches not declined. A limited sport fishery is conducted each spring on the stocks Species Catch of returning eulachons. 248,137 Due to manpower shortages and Sockeye budgetary constraints sport fish catch Coho 57,089 Pink 0 information was not obtained during 19,159 1982. Chum Chinook 30,603 Steelhead 2,018

Total 357,006

357,000 pieces, compared to the pre­ vious eight-year average of 210,168 pieces (including pink). The food fishery continues to target on the Ear ly Stuart sockeye, known for their high food quality, and appears to be harvesting a significant number of chinook salmon, 30,600 in 1982, compar­ ed to the previous eight-year average catch of 15,700 pieces. Fishing restrictions for conservation purposes are necessary but are difficult to implement.

Fishery officer conducts sport fish 1 icence check in "owe Sound.

Table 6

NEW WESTMINSTER DISTRICT

1982 Sport Fish Catches*

* Statistics not available fo~ 1982.

Indian Food Fishery A total of 879 Indian food fishing licences, (of which two were Band licences) were issued in 1982, compared to 739 and 671 licences issued in 1981 and 1980 respectively. The Indian food fish catch in 1982, (a non-pink year) Indian food fishery on the Capilano increased dramatically to a record Ri ver.

9 Salmon Escapements evident in proposed developments Chinook escapement to Lower Fraser affecting foreshore areas, both fresh streams showed a slight improvement in and marine waters and the Fraser River 1982; however, coho escapements. remain estuary, as well as the continued land­ below average. Chum escapements were fill and reclamation along the Fraser below average resulting in less-than­ River itself. The District continues optimum returns, with the exception of to pour manpower and resources into chum in the Alouette River system. A habitat protection activities; in some highlight of the season was the record subdistricts, 60 percent of the field escapement of 290,000 sockeye salmon to officers' time is spent on habitat Weaver Creek and Weaver Creek spawning issues. The District processed 1,430 channel. habitat referrals in 1982, compared to 1,441 in 1981. Other Fisheries The New Westminster District sup­ ports an active crab, shrimp and prawn fishery. A large portion of the sales of these species occur over the dock. In addition, fisher1nen who have pre­ viously fished only for salmon have made inqu1r1es into other fisheries, such as zooplankton, crayfish and octo­ pus, in order to further diversify.

Habitat Habitat encroachment and pollutIon problems, from industry and urban development, are increasing at an alarming rate in this District, a direct result of the density of the population. This is particularly ,. ;;;4;,,,.fjl ',-,. ~,~::;;:tt-- Table 8 These sockeye salmon were seized en route across commercial boundary at NEW WESTMINSTER DISTRICT Clearbroo/<, B.C. 1982 Habitat Protection Referrals Enforcement Type Number Enforcement continues to be a major priority within the District. As the Water Licences 254 price of fish and fish products has Forestry 134 increased, the illegal fish "trade" has Navigable Waters Protection Act 83 become more lucrative. Therefore in Land Use Applications 120 1982, in an effort to curb this illegal Urban Development 546 activity and to try to determine the Ocean Dumping&: Dredging 58 size of the problem, an undercover Pollution Control Board: 10 "storefront" operation was conducted Pesticides 55 within the District. This operation Waste Management 90 concluded after 200 buys (a total of Highway Development 16 57,000 kg of salmon). One hundred and Placer Mining 18 thirty individuals were chaqed with Other 46 3L~0 violations, and 54 vehicles were considered for seizure. In addition, Total 1,430 the District staff charged 282 persons

10

\ with 553 offences. Seizures related to hydro dams. A maj or responsibility these offences included 398 nets, 23 (not shared by any other District in vehicles, 15 boats and other fishing the Region) is the management of all equipment, 3,370 salmon, 996 crabs, 2 freshwater species, incl uding domestic tonnes of clams, 5 tonnes of blackcod fishing by non-natives. In addition, and quantities of various other species the District participates in joint of fish. One hundred and tllirty-three U.S./Canada management activities for habitat-related offences were investi­ transboundary river systems. Pipeline gated, resulting in 41 charges being proposals, Indian food fishing, mining, laid. Ivtany of these cases will not be road construction, logging, seismic concluded by the courts until 1983 or operations, and developments in many 1984. This high violation rate in this fields of the Beaufort Sea make up some District compared to other Districts of the activities in the Yukon and can be attributed to the large popula­ northern B.C. tion and the resulting pressures exert­ ed upon the resource by that Commercial Salmon Fishery population. The District had weak runs to all river systems. Dawson City finally had Salmonid Enhancement its first fish plant in operation for Several enhancement facilities the 1982 season. Although the plant (Chilliwack, Chehalis, Inch Creek, prov ided a firm market for the fisher­ Capilano, Birkenhead) are located with­ men, strikes in and in the ~istrict. They will provide poor markets did not make for good additional salmon for the user groups economics for the plant. when the hatcheries reach production capacity. In addition, several Com­ The Stikine plant met with similar munity Development Projects and numer­ financial problems when record catches ous Public Involvement (volunteer) of early sockeye by the Alaska seine Proj ects are each presently incubating fleet reduced the expected Canadian chum and coho eggs ranging from 1,000 catch drastically. Good coho catches to 150,000 eggs. Many of the volunteer made up for the poor sockeye catch. projects include stream inventory and The Stikine coho catch showed a marked clearance work. Two community advisors assigned to the District are kept Table 9 extremely busy throughout the year with these volunteer projects. WHITEHORSE DISTRICT

Contact: Don Aurel, 1982 Commercial Salmon Catches* District Supervisor, New Westminster. Species Catch1

Sockeye 18,736 Coho 15,955 Whitehorse District Pink 1,984 Chum 12,037 Chinook 10,463 The Whitehorse District office is Steelhead 829 responsible for supervising all river and lake systems in the Yukon and Total northern B.C. * Escapement figures are not available Management of the commercial, for this District. domestic and sport fisheries is the 1 All commercial fishing was by gill­ major concern. Habitat protection net. revolves around mining and proposed 11 increase in quality, due to proper handling and input from the Fish Table 10 Inspection Division. WHITEHORSE DISTRICT The small catch from the Taku River system was flown out to Atlin and then 1982 Sport Fish Catches* to local markets in the Yukon. Species Tidal1 The commercial freshwater fishery, which serves only local markets, is Sockeye 360 bearing the brunt of blame for the lack Chinook 324 of lake trout in certain lakes. The Coho 30 fishery may be forced to concentrate on * Estimates only. whitefish stocks. 1 Catch figures are not available for pink, chum and steelhead. Sport Fishery Interest in sport fishing continues Due to the previous success of pot­ to expand both on a commercial vein and hole lake stocking programs, 20 lakes growing awareness from the general were stocked with rainbow trout in the public. spring, and already people are report­ ing limits of 226-g (t-pound) trout. The final report on productivity of selected lakes will be released in There is no estimate of the chinook March 1983. It has pointed out the catch in the Yukon River system, there­ very low productivity of most lakes and fore the estimated catch is down the need for immediate action on cer­ dramatically from 1981. Due to a very tain lake trout stocks. poor run of chinook stocks it is esti­ mated the catch would be about a third The results have also made for dif­ that of 1981 at best. ficul t policy decisions on allocation of quotas. The very limited quotas may The 1981 sport survey is delayed due mean that some user groups would be to computer problems. The lack of data eliminated from specific lakes. on the freshwater stocks is creating serious management concerns.

Table 11 WHITEHORSE DISTRICT

1982 Indian Food Fish Catches

Species Catch

Sockeye 9,948 Coho 40 Pink 60 Chum 4,096 Chinook 8,341 . Steelhead NA*

DFO seized these lake trout which were Total 22,485 caught illegally by sport fishermen on * Not available. Frank and Coghlan Lakes.

12 Indian Food Fishery During 1982, there was a concerted effort to obtain much better catch statistics on the Indian food fishery. One COSEP student spent the entire sum­ mer issuing licences and picking up catch figures. The result was that licences were issued to many previously unlicenced Indians, and an excellent estimate 0 f catches was recorded.

Salmon Escapements In 1982, chinook stocks on the Yukon River declined dramatically; only 473 adults passed through the fishway at Whitehorse. For the first time, the commercial fishery Was cut back for This fishwheeI, located approximately conservation reasons. 10 km from the Al aska border on the Yukon River, is one of many used in The churn run was down from 1981; tagging and sampling programs carried American catches of summer and fall run out in the Yukon. chum were only one-hal f those of the preceding year. The Yukon chum run has Habitat been poor in the past few years, with Gold prices dropped in 1982 to escapement to the Fishing Branch still around the $400 mark, setting off a less than 10,000. The only point of wave of mining collapses. By the end optimism is the glut of chum salmon on of 1982, the metal market was so bad the world market, which may decrease that there was not a single hard rock fishing effort on the American side. mine operating in the Yukon. The had a disappoint­ Although this was a major calamity ing sockeye return, with only 28,000 to the Yukon economy, it appeared to be counted into Tahltan Lake. The coho an opportunity to establish the new escapement was excellent, but heavy placer guidelines in a calm fashion. fishing may have depleted the stocks. Public hearings will be held in 1983 to review the new guidelines. The Taku River had disappointing sockeye and chinook escapements, even Gold prices climbed substantially at though Canada operated only a token the end of the 1982 season. It is fishery. The coho run appeared improv­ expected that 1983 will see record ed, but there is no information on the applications for water authorizations. pink and chum salmon stocks. One new aspect to the placer industry was that some companies worked over the The Klukshu system was a bright winter, using tunnels and ore cars to spot, with a record 34,000 sockeye stockpile material for sluicing in the through the counting fence; an estimat­ summer. ed 6,000 belonged to the early run. The early run is the major concern The recession has put a hold on most because of heavy fishing on the Ameri­ power development projects. Although can side and the emphasis of the Indian Yukon Electric was issued a water food fishery on the earlier run fish. licence, they are not in a rush to com­ mence development unless the Cyprus Anvil mine starts up. The Northern Canada Power Commission (NCPC) will

13 have completed the fourth turbine installation by late 1983 and there is little speculation on a major project Management Biology at this point. The Management 8iology Unit under­ The proposed pipeline is, for all takes studies and analyses designed to intents, a dead issue until there is a provide a biological basis for managing drastic rise in the world price of oil fisheries. Some pro'Jrams such as test and lowered interest rates. fishing are primarily of use in manag­ ing fisheries in-season, while others Contact: Gordon Zealand, such as coded-wire tagging and lake District Supervisor, productivity investigations provide Whitehorse. information valuable in developillg long-term management and enhancement Table 12 strategies. WHITEHORSE DISTRICT Contact: Robin Harrison, Senior Management Biologist, 1982 Habitat Protection Referrals Fraser River, Northern B.C. and Yukon Division. Number Fraser River Chinook Test Fishing Water Licences 15 Forestry 40 A chinook test fishery took place in Navigable Waters Protection Act 1 the Fraser River at Albion for the Land Use Applications 108 third consecutive year in order to index the abundance of chinoDk within Urban Development o the river. A gillnet vessel under Ocean Dumping & Dredging 2 charter fished three days per week from Pesticides 1 April 2 to October 3. Two dri fts were Waste Management 2 made each fishing day during low tide. Highway Development 104 Placer Mining 363 Other 21 Catches were low (between zero and five fish per day) during April, simi­ Total 657 iar to the 1981 pattern, then increased in May, with daily catches ranging from four to 20 fish. In 1981, catches increased briefly in early May, then declined until June. For the remainder of the 1982 season, catches fluctuated between one and 53 chinook per day, with the cumUlative monthly indices exceeding those of 1981, except for the month of August. Exceptionally high catches during .September reflected a relatively good return of Harrison River chinook; The curnulativ-e seasonal index for 1982 was about 60 percent greater than the 1981 index.

Chinook caught in the test fishery were sampled for length, sex and age. The age composition in 1982 was eight An obstruction to Stikine chinook percent age 3, 55 percent age 4, 35 spawners is removed in 8eatty Creek. percent age 5 and two percent age 6. 14 -,

Fraser River Chum Testing Fishing North Thompson and Birkenhead River Test fishing to monitor the abun­ Coho !:WT dance of chum salmon in the Fraser Juvenile coho from the North Thomp­ River was conducted at two sites in son and Birkenhead Rivers were captured 1982. and implanted with coded-wire tags (CWT) in the autumn of 1982. This pro­ One site, at Cottonwood Drift near gram was an extension of previous CWT Tilbury Island, has been used annually programs on Fraser River coho, which since the early 1960s, while the Grave­ this year included Chilliwack, Salmon yard Drift site adjacent to Albion has (lower Fraser) and upper Pitt River been in use since 1978. Fishin,] is stocks. Tag returns will provide carried out by commercial fishermen information on the catch distribution, under contract using standard nets and migratory timing, exploitation rates techniques. Two 3D-minute drifts were and total abundance of these stocks. made each day commencing at the lowest Approximately 24,000 coho fry from the Ude of the day. Test fishing was North Thompson River waterahed (Lion, undertaken from October 2 to December Wire Cache, Lemieux and Louis Creeks) 10 at Cottonwood and from September 30 and 48,000 from the Birkenhead River to December 17 at Albion. Were tagged and released. These stud­ ies were funded through the Job Crea­ The seasonal pattern of index values tion Program. in 1982 was quite similar to that of 1978, the main brood year, although the Harrison River Chinook 1982 values were lower. The relatively The Harrison River, a maj or tribu­ low index in 1982, indicating a less tary of the lower Fraser River, than adequate escapement, was subse­ supports a large popUlation of chinook quently reflected on the spawning salmon. Escapement enumeration of this grounds. stock has always been difficult because of low water clarity and the large size Fraser River Fry Enumeration of the spawning area. In 1982, an A program to provide an index of fry exploratory program was undertaken to abundance in the Fraser River during assess several possible methods for the spring out-migration was conducted obtaining improved escapement esti­ again in 1982. The operation was mates. Aerial counting from a helicop­ undertaken jointly with the Interna­ ter was attempted but was of limited tional Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commis­ use because of variable water clarity sion (IPSFC), who are primarily inter­ and the intermingling of chum, sockeye ested in the abundance of pink salmon and chinook, which made species identi­ fry. The information is used to calcu­ fication difficult. Visual counts from late egg-to-fry and fry-to-adult sur­ a drifting boat were also of limited v i v als and is one factor used in fore­ use because of the difficulty in under­ casting returns of adults. taking observations over the large area on a consistent basis. The most The estimated number of pink fry was encouraging results came from the dead­ the highest on record and the abundance pitching efforts; a large proportion of of chum fry was well above average. the total spawning popUlation was able Chinook fry abundance Was very low, in to be counted by this technique. A 1982~ This is probably due to the low mark-recapture program' is proposed for escapement in 1981 of Harrison River 1983 and, if successful, may become the chinook, which are thought to be the standard method for enumerating this main source of the fry enumerated at stock. Mission. Fraser River Mainstem Chum During the 1960s, investigations of Fraser River chum salmon identified 15 populations spawning in certain side (as "shakers"--undersized fish--or as sloughs and channels of the Fraser legal-sized fish). River. Collectively, these were referred to as "mainstem" chum. Annual In September 1982, a small explora­ identification and enumeration of these tory program was set up with the basic populations has received little atten­ objective of developing angling tech­ tion in recent years. In order to niques for sockeye. The program was improve knowledge of the mainstem chum, developed and undertaken with the an exploratory program was undertaken assistance of volunteer sport fisher­ in the fall 0 f 1982. The field crew men. Fishing was conducted on two examined all known spawning areas and Saturdays at sites located between the investigated other areas that appeared North Arm and Tsawwassen. Commercial potentially capable of supporting chum pink and red hoochies were the main salmon spawners. Very few chum were lures used and these were compared with actually observed in most mainstem standard "coho lures." areas with the exception of Wahleach Slough. All chum were observed in The results confirmed the high areas of groundwater seepage. Futher juvenile shaker rate in this area dur­ work is required to develop a more ing September. The pink and red consistent method 0 f enumerating main­ hoochies used were not specific for stem chum on an annual basis. sockeye, as both shakers and legal­ sized chinook and coho were taken on Fraser River Creel Census them. Shakers were caught throughout A creel sensus was undertaken on the the study area from the North Ar,n to bars of the lower Fraser River in order Tsawwassen. to provide estimates of effort and cstches and angler distribution. Sockeye were caught, although in Virtually all of the known fishing relatively small numbers, considerillg sites were visited from September to their abundance. While the program was December, and more than 3,200 illter­ small in scope, results do indicate views were conducted. Catches were that the lures tested were not specific relatively low, with coho, cutthroat for sockeye. trout, chinook and rainbow trout being most common, in descending order of Crab Soft Shell Monitoring importance. If fUnding permits, an A program initiated in 1981 to moni­ expanded program is planned for spring tor the incidence of soft shell in 1983. The 1982 census was funded Dungeness crabs continued in 1982. through the Job Creation Program. Soft shell describes the condition of crabs a fter they have moulted. During Fraser River Experimental Sockeye Sport this period, the undersized crabs can Fishery be easily injured, the meat is general­ A triangular-shaped area off the ly of low quality and the meat recovery Fraser River is currently closed to rate is low. sport fishing for salmon as a conserva­ tion measure for chinook. The sport The objective of the program is to fishing ban~ has ~been criticized as identify when the majority of crabs in being too restrictive, and several the Fraser River area have soft shells alternatives have been suggested, and then close the fishery during this including the limIting of fishing to period. The program was conducted sockeye and pink salmon only. Before between February 4 and June 21. Sample this suggestion could be considered, a sites were located on Roberts and technique had to be developed for Sturgeon Banks in 80undary Bay and in catching sockeye and pink specifically Burrard Inlet. Crabs Were sampled for without affecting other salmon species size, sex and hardness of the shell,

16 and on one occasion, the average meat chinook, 33,699 sockeye (new record), recovery rate for soft and hard crabs and 189 coho were counted. In addi­ delivered to a processor was deter­ tion, about 800 samples were obtained mined. from the various fisheries. Estimates of the total Canadian catch were 300 The incidence of soft-shell crabs chinook, 5,500 sockeye and 100 coho. increased, first in the Burrard Inlet area, followed approximately one month Tahltan Lake COunting fence and Stikine later by Roberts and Sturgeon Banks and River Sampling Boundary Bay. In Burrard Inlet, the A counting fence at the outlet of incidence of soft shell among sampled Tahltan Lake in the Stikine River legal-sized crabs increased from system has been operated for 24 consec­ approximately 47 percent on April 5 to utive years. The objectives of the 68 percent on April 21. The incidence 1982 program were to: enumerate of soft shell on Roberts and Sturgeon returning sockeye adults; collect base­ Banks and Boundary Bay did not exceed line biological information from the 50 percent until the last week of May. escapement; and collect some baseline On June 21, the last sampling date, the limnological data on Tahltan Lake which incidence of soft shell on Roberts Bank might be useful in a proposed lake still exceeded 50 percent. The meat enrichment program. recovery rate of crabs sampled at a processor on June 17 and 18 averaged A total of 28,263 sockeye were approximately 17 percent for soft­ counted during the period of migration shelled crabs and between 19 and 23 from July 11 to the end of August. percent for hard-shelled crabs. On Approximately 1,500 of these fish were those dates, approximately 80 percent live-sampled for length, sex and age. of the crabs delivered to the processor In addition, 301 chinook were counted were considered to be soft shelled. during regular stream walks from the lake downstream over a distance of Unfortunately, the annual closure of about 7.5 kilometres. Three coho were May 15 to June 15 could not be varied also counted through the weir towards and consequently results of the moni­ the end of the program. toring pro]ram were not used to regu­ late the 1982 fishery. The limnological data are still being analysed, but preliminary results Klukshu Salmon Enumeration suggest the lake to be an excellent This year marked the seventh con­ candidate for lake enrichment. secutive year the Department has oper­ ated a counting weir 011 the Klukshu Approximately 2,100 salmon caught in River in southwest Yukon Territory. the lower Stikine River commercial This small stream, probably the most fishery and 500 taken in the upper productive in the entire Alsek drain­ river fishery in the vicinity of Tele­ age, is the site of the most intensive graph Creek were sampled for length, sport and native food fisheries in the sex and age in 1982. These data will Yukon. The objectives of the 1982 pro­ assist in the future management of gram were: to enumerate the chinook, these stocks. sockeye and coho returns to the system prior to October 15; to sample a ·por­ Field work at Tahltan and on the tion of the catch (both sport and food Stikine was performed by participants fishing), for baseline bio-statistics; in COSEP (Career Oriented Student to obtain a rough estimate of the total Employment Program) and Summer Canada harvest. Employment Program.

The counting weir was in operation 1982 Aquaculture Program from May 28 to October 22; 2,369 From tile early 1970s to 1977, the 17 Department was engaged in an aquacul­ morphoedaphic index (a relationship ture program which undertook to stock between total dissolved solids and mean rainbow trout and/or coho salmon in depth) was selected as the measure of several pothole lakes within close productivity and this Was determined proximity to various population cen­ for 52 lakes. The program was con­ ters. However, this very popular pro­ tinued in 1982 as part of the Yukon gram was suspended in 1978 when more River 8asin Study, and an additional 17 stringent fish health regulations elim­ lakes were sampled. Ten of these lakes inated the donation of fish from vari­ were examined for fish species ous federal fish hatcheries throughout composition. B.C. In 1982, the Salmonid Enhancement Program (SEP) funded the aquaculture The major objective of the lake pro­ program. ductivity program is to develop fish harvest quotas (primarily for lake The primary obj ecti ve for the stock­ trout) which will reflect the relative ing of pothole lakes is the provision productivity of specific water bodies. of readily accessible year-round sport­ The morphoedaphic index will provide fishing opportunities which may help to basic fish production yields, whereas relieve pressure on heavily exploited the species composition work will indi­ wild stocks. Indications that this cate how that yield should be parti­ objective was being reached came from tioned. Once these data are deter­ the results of an aquaculture question­ mined, harvests by sport, commercial, naire circulated in 1980, which deter­ domestic and SUbsistence fishermen will mined that 2,431 Yukoners fished in one be moni tored to ensure that lakes are or rnore of the stocked lakes for a not exploited beyond their productive total of 15,444 person-days (represent­ potential. ing approximately ten percent of total fishing effort of resident anglers). The results of the program to date However, with the last stocking taking indicate that, in general, fish produc­ place in 1977, the quality/success of tion in Yukon lakes is low. Extremely fishing these lakes gradually slow growth rates have been determined deteriorated. for lake trout, and severe size overlap occurs between di fferent age classes. In June 1982, 117,000 rainbow trout It is becoming apparent that a low fry purchased from a commercial fish yield policy should be instituted for farm in 8.C. were released into twenty this species in order to perpetuate the pothole lakes located from near Watson good fishing in the Yukon's relatively Lake to north of Elsa. underexploited lakes.

Preliminary information suggests Resul ts from the species composi­ that the 1982 stocking will be success­ tion work show the follOWing average ful. In a follow-up sampling program distribution-by-weight in the catch: to dAtermine growth rates and relative 42.4 percent lake whitefish, 22.4 per­ abundance, rainbow weighing in excess cent pike, 20.9 percent lake trout. of 0.5 kg have been caught. Several Tile remaining 14.3 percent is composed reports from the public have also been of species such as: round \~hitefish, received relating stories of excellent least cisco, Arctic grayling, longnose fishing. suckers, burbot, etc.

Yukon Lake Productivity Survey Yukon River Chinook and Chum Salmon In 1981, a program designed to esti­ Spaghetti Tagging and Sampling Program mate basic levels of productivity in In 1982, a chinook and chum tagging Yukon lakes was ini tiated in order to program was conducted in the Yukon provide a biological basis for estab­ River in order to estimate popUlations, lishing fishing regulations. The exploitation rates, migration timin1 18 and rate of travel. Using two fish­ to be either regurgitated or the fish wheels and small-mesh gillnets, 265 died, and six transmitters were either chinook and 1,OB2 chum salmon were lost or failed. caught, sampled, spaghetti-tagged and released in an area just inside the The greatest tracking distance was U.S.-Canada border, approximately 200 BOO km over a period of 34 days. The km downstream from Dawson. Tag average migration rate was 37.9 km/day recovery information and tag:untagged (max. 50.9 km/day), which is signifi­ ratios in the catch were used to calcu­ cantly higher than migration rates late population estimates. reported from other Yukon River tagging studies. This figure indicates that Escapements to upper Canadian Yukon chum salmon would require an average of tributaries were then calculated by 4.2 days to migrate through the 160 km subtracting the total Canadian catches, commercial fishing zone. Noted which were approximat9ly 17,000 chinook behavioral changes in migration and 15,000 chum. The exploitation rate patterns included increased bank in the Canadian commercial fishery was orientation in the mainstem Yukon as 34 percent for chinook and 26 percent fish approached the destination­ for chum. The length-weight-age and tributary and variable migration rates sex statistics gathered from chinook in from one tributary to the next. the commercial catch and on the spawn­ ing grounds, when compared to similar In spite 0 f the extreme water tur­ measurements for fish caught in the bidity and the extensive area to cover, fishwheels, indicate a sampling bias no major problems were encountered. towards the capture of smaller males by Plans are to continue the project in fishwheels. 19B3 with chinook salmon.

Yukon River Radio Tagging Program Yukon River Escapement Surveys In conjunction with the spaghetti The Whitehorse fishway has been pas­ tagging program, a two-year radio tag­ sing chinook salmon around the NCPC dam ging study will provide information on since 1959. By 1976, when only 121 migratory behavior, residency time in fish were counted, it looked as if the the commercial fishery, spawning run was heading into extinction. How­ distribution and stock separation of ever, during the past half decade, Yukon River chum and chinook salmon. escapement increased significantly, to a peak of 1,555 in 1981. Unfortunate­ In 19B2, 114 chum salmon were ly, the escapement was dramatically implanted with radio tags and releas­ smaller this year, with only 473 count­ ed. By using 50 different frequencies ed past the fishway. and variable pulse rates, individual fish could be separated by the radio The poor shoWing of chinook this trackers. A Cessna 1 B5 equipped with year at Whitehorse was also reflected two independent receivers and antennae in very poor counts from other tribu­ systems tracked the fish daily. Some taries. In all of the dozen or so of the tags were recovered by ground tributaries floated or flown for crews operating from boats or on foot. escapement estimates, the number of spawners seen was significantly less Of the 114 radio tags applied, .68 than normal. An extremely high were tracked to various tributaries and Japanese highseas catch ill 1980 and spawning grounds. Principal spawning comparatively high Alaskan catch in areas identi fied were the Kluane-White 1982 are thought to have greatly River system, the mainstem Yukon and contributed to the low numbers upper Yukon-Teslin system. Twenty­ returning to Canada in 19B2. seven radio tags were recaptured by fishermen, thirteen tags were believed 19 North Coast and South Coast Districts is transhipped for labelling/warehous- Southern Inspection ing in Vancouver. The CUlling opera- tions of five labelling/screening District warehouses are monitored in this District. Furthermore, all USA canned The Fraser River, Northern B.C. and salmon import shipments must also be Yukon Inspection District contains 83 mechanically screened and/or hand federally registered fish plants, of culled. This program has involved an which 38 are registered to handle bi­ in-depth analysis of canning lines, valve shellfish (compared to 80 and 37 development of policies and techniques respectively, for 1981). These figures in the event that defective cans were include eight shell fish plants located found and long hours of supervising on the Sechelt Coast, which is nominal­ culling operat.ions for questionable ly in South Coast Division area, but is lots. Roughly 500,000 48-lb cases of moni tared for convenience by Vancouver B.C. canned salmon were packed here. staff. Product Certification There has been a continuing trend The field staff has continued to be for small, ostensibly specialty plants flooded by industry with requests for to apply for registration. These tend Certificates of Inspection for the not to remain specialty plants, but exporting of fish products. In addi­ expand, and therefore begin to occupy tion to being a regulatory mandate to increasing portions of DFO staff time. issue these certificates on request, In addition, two new "P" licence ves­ the Inspection Branch also provides the sels (processing at sea) and the industry with a vital service where: "Callistratus" deliver to Vancouver certiFicates are a regUlatory plants. These vessels require sampling requirement of the importing country and inspection like shore-based certi ficates are a necessary facilities. document for letters of credit in the trading function Cannery Inspections - they are a regulatory requirement In late April 1982, the botulism for the export of some restricted pro­ case in Belgium involving U.S.A. canned ducts (i .e. frozen sockeye and pink salmon and a subsequent false alarm in salmon, herring spawn-an-kelp). Britain had a devastating effect on Canada's canned salmon markets and In 1982, because of the weak market hence, on the salmon canning industry. for canned salmon, a dramatic increase In order to restore con fidence in the of frozen sallnon production, especially integrity of Canada's canned product, sockeye salmon, resulted in a 57 per­ there was a cOlnplete restructuring of cent increase in shipments inspected. the cannery surveillance program. In There were 18.0 million kilograms addition to the ongoing sampling and examined. inspection by the canned fish labora­ tory, and the surveillance of the can­ It should be noted that much of the ning operations by the District field frozen product from North Coast and staff, mechanical screening (double dud South CDast Disttictsis also trans­ detector/weight checker) and/or hand ferred to Vancouver for reshipping to culling of B.C. canned salmon was made export :narkets. Much of this product mandatory for every lot. is inspected in the other districts, but it is still monitored and certiFied Almost all of the screening now through this District office. There required by the program takes place in were 2,886 Inspection Certificates this District (87 percent of the pack) issued through the Vancouver office. since much of the canned product from 20 -I

Plant Inspection Activities 1983 Prospects All plants in this District are The long-awaited Quality Improvement surveyed at least once during the year Program will be implemented in 1983. for the purposes of maintaining their Elements of this initiative are expect­ Certificates of Registration. Surveys ed to include: are a means of determining whether the implementation of final product plant meets the operational and con­ quality grade standards for salmon, structional standards of the Fish ground fish and food herring, on a one­ Inspection Regulations, or in essence, year voluntary basis whether the processor is conforming to - maj or modification to the vessel good manufacturing practices. inspection program formal introduction of quality Product quality and sanitation is control program requirements to also monitored on a continual basis. industry Much of the clam harvest in southern - development of dockside grading waters passes through Vancouver plants requirements for distribution, and it is sampled - implementation of a plant rating here. Appropriate working arrangements system have been made with several remote - surveillance of unloading sites, plants for sampling their products other than registered plants, and locally. Surveillance of the clam inspection of transport vehicles. fishery resulted in closures for PSP blooms in several statistical areas. Contact: C. Dale Paterson, The illegal trade in untested clams was District Inspection stopped when retail outlets were Supervisor, canvassed. Vancouver.

The 1982 roe herring fishery became increasingl y routine, with departures from good commercial practices being recognized promptly before quality losses occurred.

The food herring catch was reduced with the imposition of a quota of 45 tonnes per vessel, one vessel per plant. There was an improvement in product quality, but improvements were still somewhat marginal. Poor markets, coupled with poor fishermen and proces­ sor attitudes resulted in warm deliver­ ies and delayed processing. Many lots were denied product certification, While sorne were designated bait. With imposed quotas, .it was hoped these problems would be minimal.

The Stikine sockeye and Yukon River chum/chinook fisheries were also moni­ tored. There is an increasing interest in these areas to do secondary processing.

21 South Coast

This year can probably be best described as a trying year for all con­ cerned. Faced with a sagging economy, Nanaimo District budget cuts, inadequate or outdated biological data and regulations, and This District is responsible for International Treaty negotiations, the that portion of the Strait of Georgia management of most fisheries was from Shelter Point on the east coast of extremely difficult. Major changes in Vancouver Island just south of Campbell diversion rates and unexpected abun­ River to , and from Toba dances of salmon only intensi fied the Inlet to Howe Sound on the mainland. competition amongst the user groups. There are six subdistrict offices, The Pearse Report was on everybody's located at Comox, Qualicum Beach, mind--while many fishermen saw it as Nanaimo, Duncan, Madeira Park (Pender another threat to thei r surv ivaI, Harbor), and Powell River. The major Departmental staff hoped that it may fishing activities in this District provide some salvation. include shellfish, salmonids, herring and ground fish harvested by commercial, Decentralization continued in 19B2, recreational and native fisher~en. with the arrival of three habitat management staff in Nanaimo; they will A 36-mernber crew on a job creation be joined by five more in early 1983. project greatly assisted officers in The addition of this strengthened capa­ the Cowichan subdistrict in stream enu­ bility in the South Coast Division merations, fry salvage and natural should go a long way in preserving the enhance~ent projects. multitude of fish habitats which are being threatened. Commercial Salmon Fishery There was a catch of 130,658 Fraser On a more positive note, these dif­ River sockeye by seine and gillnet dur­ ficulties have proved to be the cata­ ing the Sabine Channel fishery, which lyst to promote the fusing together of lasted six weeks. An expected bumper fishery officers, office support staff, return of chum to the Big Uualicum biologists, technicians, inspection resulted in six gillnet fisheries and staff, scientists, ship's crews and one seine and gillnet fishery. The seasonal staff and fisheronen, all with total catch was 7,535 coho, 278,577 one goal in mind: the preservation of chum and 403 chinook. The fall chum the fisheries resource. A multidisci­ gillnet fishery in Area 17 took 46,250 plined team is developing, and lhe com­ chum over a four-week period. II small bined efforts can only enhance the gillnet fishery was conducted in Division's abilities to resolve the Satellite Channel--the first since complex issues of 1983. 1973. The troll fishery was light in lower Georgia Strait. Contact: Dennis Brock, Area Manager, The District sold 3,226 one-year South Coast Division, personal commercial fishing licences in Nanaimo. 1982 and 220 five-year licences f'lf a total of 3,1~46 licences, up 3lightly froln 1981. Three tuna licences were also sold.

22 Table 13 NANAIMO DISTRICT

1982 Commercial Salmon Catch and Esca~ements

Species Gillnet Seine Troll Total Escapement

Statistical Area 14S (Parksville-Qualicum) Sockeye 0 0 475 745 38 Coho 7,160 375 9,436 16,971 42,094 Pink 0 0 20 20 0 Chum 103,475 175,102 11 278,588 202,718 Chinook 293 100 7,360 7,753 4,512 Steelhead 0 0 0 0 0

Total 110,928 17 5,577 17,572 304,077 249,362 Statistical Area 14N (Comox) Sockeye 0 0 0 0 0 Coho 0 0 0 0 33,180 Pink 0 0 0 0 1,093 Chum 0 0 0 0 71,421 Chinook 0 0 0 0 2,340 Steelhead 0 0 0 0 300 --~------Total 0 0 0 0 103,334 Statistical Area 15 (Powell River) Sockeye 0 0 0 0 0 Coho 0 0 0 0 2,054 Pink 0 0 0 0 0 Chum 0 0 0 0 30,800 Chillook 0 0 0 0 2,052 Steel head ---0 ---0 ----0 0 0 Total 0 0 0 0 34,906 Statistical Area 16 (Pender Harbour) Sockeye 5,196 125,462 0 130,658 3,400 Coho 82 3,228 0 3,310 2,023 Pink 1 0 0 1 0 Chum 3 81 0 84 34,225 Chinook 35 1,168 0 1,203 0 Steelhead 0 0 ----0 0 0 Total 5,317 225,401 0 135,256 39,648 Statistical Area 17 (Nanaimo) Sockeye 0 0 0 0 11 Coho 1,305 0 0 1,305 7,908 I'ink 0 0 0 0 0 Chum 46,798 0 0 46,798 102,000 Chinook 84 0 0 84 2,335 Steelhead 0 0 0 0 0

Total 48,187 0 0 48,187 112,254

23 Table 13, Contd NANAIMO DISTRICT

1982 Commercial Salmon Catch and Escapements

Species Gillnet Seine Troll Total Escapement

Statistical Area 1 B (Cowichan) Sockeye 0 0 0 0 0 Coho 115 0 0 115 30,000 Pink 0 0 0 0 0 Chum 6,150 0 0 6,150 110,000 Chinook 50 0 0 50 4,500 Steelhead 0 0 0 0 0

Total 6,315 0 0 6,315 144,500

Sport Fishery fishery near Sliammon and Okeover Sport salmon fishing continued to Creeks resulted in a combined catch of decline in 1982. The downturn in the appro~imately 8,000 churn and 1,000 economy affected both tourism and sport coho. Punt ledge hatchery provided fishing. The Department, aided by sum­ 1,500 churn carcasses to the Como~ mer students, continued to conduct a Indian Reserve survey by aircraft overflights and fishermen interviews. Long-term, In the Qualicum-Parksville subdis­ e~tensive, paralytic shell fish poison­ trict, the Indian food fishery was ing conditions persisted in the Strait almost completely satisfied by removing of Georgia, resulting in widespread surplus fish directly from the big closures. Areas 14 and 1 B were not Qualicum hatchery. These fish (25,200 affected. coho and 5,867 chum) were supplemented by a catch of 4,755 chum from a test Table 14 fishery. NANAIMO DISTRICT In 1982, a new method of distribu­ tion was proposed and irnplecnented. In 1982 Sport Fish Catches*

* Statistics are not available for Table 15 1982. NANAIMO DISTRICT

Indian Food Fishery 1982 Indian Food Fish Catches A fisheries river management course was initiated by the Cowichan Indian Species Catch Band. i3and members who took ~ the course made numerous pat rols of the Cowichan Sockeye 346 River on their own and in conjunction Coho 32,927 with the local fishery officers. Open­ Pink 15 ings and closures of the Indian food Chum 22,072 fishery were administered through the Chinook 2,735 band. A purse seine fishery was organ­ Steelhead 22 ized for the Nanaimo Indian Band. In the Powell River area, the Indian food Total 58,117 24 the past, represent at i ves of Southern Vancouver Island bands took delivery of Table 16 fish at the hatchery and transported NANAIMO DISTRICT them by vehicle to the various Vancouver Island destinations. This 1982 Herring Spawn Deposition* year, the bulk of the fish removed from the hatchery was transported to (standard square metres x 1,000) Kingfisher Enterprises, a local pro­ cessing plant in Coombs, where they Area 1982 1981 were processed, frozen, and stored. Pickup and transportation of Indian 14 6,229.67 2,205.83 food fish by the Island bands then 15 1,235.43 848.98 originated from Kingfisher. 16 10.80 0.44 17 2,174.35 1,085.64 Salmon Escapements 18 37.35 114.08 The total 1982 salmon escapements was comparable to that of 1981. Area * The 1981 figures in this table are 14N experienced a very low return of the final data compiled by the Field fall chinook and pink salmon. Two Services Branch; they do not in all salmonid enhancement projects on Beach cases correspond with the data and Craig Creeks expecting their first published in the 1981 FSB Review. returns were not disappointed--both creeks received better than expected Table 17 escapements. A new SEP project was started on French Creek. Escapement of NANAIMO DISTRICT chinook to the Toba system was excel­ lent in 1982. Churn escapements were 1982 Commercial Herring Catch (tonnes) low in Areas 15 and 18. Total1 Herring Fishery In a 12-hour seine fishery in Statistical Area 14N (Comox) Pylades Channel, only half of the pro­ Food & Bait o jected quota, approxirnately 3,500 Roe 6,656.1 tonnes, was taken. An extension in Area 14, upper Georgia Strait, was Statistical Area 17-2,17-3, 17-4 requi red to reach the gi llnet quota. (Nanaimo-Ladysmith) The Larnbert Channel area had two Food & Bait 1,485.3 successful openings. Roe 3,809.0

Trincomali Channel was the scene of 1 All herring fisheries were by seine the bulk of the food and bait herring in this District. fishery in the gulf, with 29 vessels participating. Other Fisheries Of the five roe-an-kelp licences Probabl y due to the recession, com­ issued in the District, two operated mercial clarn digging attracted an outside the District, two in the increased nurnber of people. Approxi­ Ladysmith Harbor area and one at Lund. rnately 75 percent of the District's One operation out of went oyster production callie frorn the CornoK over its quota of 7 tonnes (16,000 area, the shellfish fishery being a Ibs), and the others did not reach major commercial source of incorne for their quotas. The total combined pro­ rnany fisherrnen in this area. Mid-water duction processed was 29.16 tonnes. trawl vessels visited the Powell River region in search of hake and pollock.

25 Other major commercial fisheries in the District include the groundfish trawl Table 18 fishery for sole, grey cod, dogfish, NANAIMO DISTRICT rock fish, lingcod, skate and flounder. Prawns, shrimp, crab, 1982· Habitat Protection Referrals geoducks and sea urchins are landed in various quantities throughout the NlIDber Georgia Strait. Water Licences 167 Habitat Forestry 86 Not much activity took place in the Navigable Waters Protection Act 72 District, due to a slowdown in the Land Use Applications 191 economy. The British Columbia Logging Urban Development 104 Order came into effect in 1982 for Ocean Dumping & Dredging 5 Cowichan Bay; however, the application Pollution Control Board: of this legislation is still under Pesticides 27 consideration. Waste Management 24 Highway Development 5 The dumping of garbage on Texada Placer Mining o Island by the Greater Vancouver Region­ Other o al District was the cause of great con­ cern to the islanders. The decision Total 681 was successfully reversed.

Increasing interest in the interior Enforcement of 14S (Coombs-Errington), by develop­ The number of charges laid was 162, ers has drawn closer attention to the and 117 of these resulted in conv ic­ sensitive environmental aspects of the tions. The most common violation in mat shy conditions and given rise to new both the commercial and sport fisheries approaches undertaken to protect them. was for not having the appropriate per­ sonal licence. Some large-scale projects occurring in the Como'< region included the Salmonid Enhancement Regional District of Como,<-Strathcona District staff continue to be sewerage system from Cape Lazo to the involved with SEP community advisors on Courtenay River, the Regional Dis­ many small projects as well as the lar­ trict's water system expansion affect­ ger community development projects at ing the Puntledge and Tsolum Rivers, Cowichan, Nanaimo, Sechelt and Sliammon and modi fications to the Como'< Lake Ri vers. Public response to all these hydro dam. Proposals causing signifi­ projects has been excellent. New pro­ cant fishery concerns are the jects begun on French, Craig and Beach Parksville to Campbell River highway Creeks in the Parksville/Qualicum area bypass, construction of the natural gas are showing promising signs for the pipeline, coal mining in the Trent, future. Washer and Tsolum River systems and construction of barge loading facili­ The Sunshine Coast/Powell River area ties at Royston. A concrete spill in acquired a resident community adv isor Wakefield Creek resulted in charges in late 1982, and his presence is bei ng laid against the Department of already showing a positive influence in Highways. The number of referrals the community. He can be contacted in decreased from 819 in 1981 to 681 in the Pender Harbor office. 1982, a decrease of 17 percent. Contact: Kip Slater, District Supervisor, Nanaimo. 26 -,

year, the management of the fishery was changed. The gillnet fleet operated in Port Alberni District Barkley Sound; the purse seines in the waters of Alberni Inlet. This proce­ The Port Alberni District office dure reduced the seine incidental catch supervises fishing and other related of chinook salmon from an average of environmental matters for the west 10,000 pieces per season since 1973 to coast of Vancouver Island. Subdistrict 100 only this season. Following this offices are located in Tofino, Tahsis June-July fishery, Alberni Inlet was and . opened for a chinook gillnet fishery, where a record catch of 42, 000 pieces Commercial Salmon Fishery was harvested. In October, a chum Again, as in past years, there was a salmon gillnet and seine fishery in large commercial gillnet and seine Areas 24-25 and 26 produced a very good sockeye salmon fishery in Barkley Sound catch of high quality chum salmon. and Alberni Inlet (Area 23). This

Table 19 PORT ALBERN I DISTRICT

1982 Commercial Salmon Catch and Escapements

Species Gillnet Seine Troll Total Escapement Statistical Area 22 (Nitinat Lake) Sockeye a a 0 0 40,000 Coho 0 a a a 7,000 Pink a 0 0 a 0 Chum a a a 0 30,000 Chinook a 0 0 0 2,000 Steelhead 0 0 --a 0 200 Total a 0 0 0 79,200 Statistical Area 23 (Barkley Sound) Sockeye 189,421 220,245 0 410,025 440,140 Coho 549 13 a 562 21,000 Pink 1 0 0 1 0 Chum 195 1 a 196 135,000 Chinook 42,698 48 0 42,746 17,6361 Steelhead 94 2 0 96 NA* Total 234,357 220,369 0 454,726 613,776 Statistical Area 24 () Sockeye 0 0 0 0 90,000 Coho 0 100 0 100 4,000 Pink 0 0 0 0 2,500 Chum 3,800 18,600 . 0 22,400 75,000 Chinook 0 300 a 300 700 Steelhead 0 0 0 0 NA

Total 3,800 19,000 0 22,800 172,200

27 Table 19, Contd PORT ALBERNI DISTRICT

1982 Commercial Salmon Catch and Escapements

Species Gillnet Seine Troll Total Escapement Statistical Area 25 () Sockeye 0 0 0 0 2,200 Loho 0 0 0 0 5,610 Pink 0 0 0 0 17,000 Chum 91,715 122,854 0 236,734 164,000 Chinook 0 0 0 0 1,855 Steelhead 0 0 0 0 NA --- Total 91,715 122,854 0 236,734 190,665 Statistical Area 26 () Sockeye 0 0 0 0 7,000 Coho 0 0 0 0 750 Pink 0 0 0 0 2,500 Chum 30,000 291,337 0 321,337 91,200 Chinook 0 0 0 0 1,010 Steelhead 0 0 --0 0 NA Total 30,000 291,337 0 321,337 102,460

Statistical Area 27 () Sockeye 0 0 0 0 1,000 Coho 0 0 0 0 5,562 Pink 0 0 0 0 5,530 Chum 0 0 0 0 78,110 Chinook 0 0 0 0 5,562 Steelhead 0 0 0 0 5,000 ~--- ~--- Total 0 0 0 0 100,764 * Not available. 1 Wild stock. Table 20 Sport Fishery PORT ALBERNI DISTRICT As in past sea~ons, the majority of the effort took place in Area 23, where 1982 Sport Fish Catches* a record of effort and catch took place. During late July to early Species Tidal Nontidal September, the chinook catch in Alberni Inlet was excellent. Port Alberni is Sockeye 3,090 0 now the self-proclaimed "Salmon Capital Coho 6,500 0 of the World." Pink 2,575 0 Churn 800 0 Chinook 18,200 0 Steelhead NA1 NA * Estimates only. 1 Not available. 28 Indian Food Fishery This season's illcrease in chum and Table 21 chinook salmon resulted in more fishing effort and subsequently a 100 percent PORT ALBERNI DISTRICT increase in the sockeye catch and a 50 percent increase in the chinook catch. 1982 Indian Food Fish Catches Ninety percent of the District's activ­ ity takes place in and near Port Species Catch Alberni. The remaining effort is in Area 24 and Area 25. Sockeye 67,000 Coho 2,200 Salmon Escapements Pink 25 The 1982 escapement of Sproat Lake Chum 5,000 sockeye--215,000 pieces--was very good Chinook 18,500 and the 170,000 escapement to Great Steelhead 1,200 Central Lake was fair. Chum escape­ ments varied throughout the District, Total 93,925 ranging from poor to Nitinat Lake, low in Quatsino Sound, adequate in Barkley Table 22 and Clayoquot Sounds, to good in Nootka and Kyoquot Sounds. There were good PORT ALBERNI DISTRICT returns of chinook to enhanced systems and less than adequate in systems pro­ 1982 Commercial Herring Catch (tonnes) ducing wild chinook. Seine Gillnet Total 1 Herring Fishery Again in 1982, herring stocks Statistical Area 23 (Barkley Sound) declined slightly, despite lower roe Food & Bait 0 0 0 herring catches. Area licencing has Roe 3,385 0 3,385 proved its worth, but increased effort by District staff was necessary to Statistical Area 24 (Clayoquot Sound) achieve a desired catch and escapement Food & Bait 0 0 0 balance. Roe 700 885 1,585 Other Fisheries Statistical Area 25 (Nootka Sound) In this District, there are fisher­ Food & Bait o o o ies for geoducks, shrimp and prawns, Roe o o o abalone, lingcod and various bottom fish. Statistical Area 25 (Esperanza Inlet) Food & Bait 0 0 0 Habitat Roe 0 2,100 2,100 This function is one of high prior­ ity in this District, accounting for Statistical Area 26 (Kyuquot Sound) about 60 percent of staff time. Food & Bait 0 0 0 Despite a decline in forestry-oriented Roe 0 0 0 production, the planning and referral process continued. Statistical Area 27 (Quatsino Sound) Food & Bait 000 The Meares Island and Tahsish River Roe 325 400 725 Task Force studies, set up to determine a best use management policy, are near­ 1 There were no trawl fisheries in this ing completion. Meares Island, located District. east of Tofino, has been under examina­ tion for possible logging activities.

29 Enforcement Table 23 This District had a total B4 charges, resulting in 53 convictions PORT ALBERNI DISTRICT during the year. The majority of the season's enforcement effort was spent 19B2 Herring Spawn Deposition* during the sockeye net fishery in Area 23. The FPV Atlin Post and night­ (standard square metres x 1,000) operated aircraft assisted with bound­ ary enforcement for the five-week Area 19B2 1981 fishery. __ 1 21 __ 2 Other enforcement effort took place 22 on habitat violations, sport fishery 23 291.93 426.42 violations and illegal sales of salmon. 24 168.66 1,792.94 25 720.49 625.80 Salmonid Enhancement 26 NA NA The three salmonid enhancement 27 722.323 1,173.12 facilities, at Conuma, Robertson Creek * The 1981 figures in this table are and Nitinat Lake, are in full pro­ the final data compiled by the Field duction. The effects of the Robertson Services Branch; they do not in all Creek facility have been felt for a cases correspond with the data number of years. The large return of published in the 1981 FSB Review. hatchery-produced chinook salmon are 1 There is no herring spawning in Area harvested commercially as well as by 21. the sport fleet and by native Indians. 2 Area 22 is Nitinat Lake; no herring spawning takes place. The artificial fertilization program 3 Area 27 figure does not include for sockeye enhancement at Great Klashkish Inlet, as there was no est­ Central Lake continues and has well imate of Bare area or egg densities proved its worth. available. SEP's community advisor was busy Table 24 with various groups, schools, etc. on small, but nevertheless important PORT ALBERNI DISTRICT projects. Contact: Don McCulloch, 1982 Habitat Protection Referrals District Supervisor, Number Port Alberni.

Water Licences 30 Forestry 175 Navigable Waters Protection Act 10 Land Use Applications 100 Urban Development 30 Ocean DLlmping & Dredging 8 Pollution Control Board: Pesticides 50 Waste Management 30 Highway Development o Placer Mining o Other 100

Total 533

30 relatively mild and wet, while the heads of the mainland inlets exper­ Campbell River ience greater extremes in temperature and heavy snowfall. The District District manages the largest multiple-use area in Pacific Region, with more than This District, composed mainly of 103,600 sq km from Campbell River to sheltered waters, is extremely moun­ Cape Scott, with subdistricts at Port tainous, with extensive ice fields at Hardy, Alert Bay and Campbell River. headwaters of some of the mainland The Campbell River District has 127 river systems. Climatic conditions spawning streams, extensive logging and vary considerably throughout the mlnlng interests, and a large com­ District, with the coastal areas being mercial and sport fishery.

Table 25

CAMPBELL RIVER DISTRICT

1982 Commercial Salmon Catch and Escapements Species Gillnet Seine Troll Total Escapement

Statistical Area 11 (Port Hardy) Sockeye 12,505 0 13,248 25,753 0 Coho I~, 581 0 81,077 85,658 1,400 Pink 2,109 0 5,830 7,939 0 Churn 20,200 0 2,351 23,451 59,087 Chinook 525 0 12,194 12,876 0 Steelhead 55 ---0 0 55 0 Total 39,975 0 114,700 155,732 60,487 Statistical Area 12 (Alert Bay) Sockeye 190,246 824,806 862 1,015,914 63,760 Coho 39,791 72,737 5,619 118,147 2,500 Pink 6,249 97,007 1,580 104,836 432,475 Chum 185,968 593,921 37 779,926 135,280 Chinook 4,008 13,209 3,867 21,084 1,475__ 1 Steelhead 302 688 0 990 ~------Total 426,564 1,602,368 11 ,965 2,040,897 635,490 Statistical Area 13 (Campbell River) Sockeye 19,310 531,033 ,12,449 562,792 11,500 Coho 7,659 62,311 21,726 91,696 32,111 Pink 367 21,009 941 22,317 115,100 Churn 93,352 410,756 3,440 507,548 322,070 Chinook 691 10,446__ 1 32,771__ 1 43,809__ 1 2,151 Steelhead 0 0

Total 121,379 1,035,555 71,327 1,228,162 482,932 1 None observed.

31 Commercial Salmon Fishery The 1982 catch of 3,424,194 salmon Table 26 was down from the previous year. The landed value would likely exceed that CAMPBELL RIVER DISTRICT of 1981, as the catch consisted of 90 percent sockeye and chum. The catch of 1982 Sport Fish Catches* only 109,000 pink salmon was the lowest ever recorded for the District and Species Tidal1 reflects the problems caused by major flooding in the brood year of 1980. Sockeye 2,350 Coho 24,370 The 1982 Fraser River sockeye migra­ Pink 1,250 tion returned to normal, with only 28 Chum 75 percent 0 f total stock returning Chinook 1,250 through . Although the Steelhead 1982 sockeye return to the Fraser River ° was the largest since 1958 (14.3 * Estimates only. million), the catch in Johnstone Strait 1 These sport fish catches reflect Area was well below average for an Adams 11, 12 and portion of Area 13 north River cycle. The catch of 1,564,459 in of Seymour Narrows. 1982 was one million below the 1981 catch. Indian Food Fishery Restrictions were imposed on the The Indian food fish catch was up commercial fleet at the peak of the slightly from the previous year. This season for the conservation of depleted fishery is well organized by subdis­ Gulf pink salmon stocks, which are at a trict officers and presents very few point of extinction. problems--for example, in the previous year, the Nimpkish Band agreed not to The 1982 catch of 29,199 chinook fish Nimpkish sockeye if DFo continues salmon by the net fleet is still at an to restrict commercial fishing on this all time low, and improved only slight­ species. ly from the previous year. Table 27 Sport Fishery Effort in the recreational fishery CAMPBELL RIVER DISTRICT continues to expand, with more fIsher­ men moving up Island to fish out of 1982 Indian Food Fish Catches Port McNeill and Port Hardy. Due to poor pink returns, fishermen put more Species Catch effort into fishing for sockeye. Approximately 3,000 were taken, mostly Sockeye 25,840 in Alert Bay area. The recreational Coho 578 fishery for shell fish was down because Pink 151 of closures due to shellfish toxicity. Chum 20,848 - -- Chinook 107 Steelhead ----0 TDtal 47,524

32 -l

Salmon Escapements The escapement of sockeye to the Table 29 Nimpkish was above the previous year-­ approximately 60,000 escaped to spawn­ CAMPBELL RIVER DISTRICT ing grounds. The other small sockeye­ producing streams in the District 1982 Herring Spawn Deposition* appear to be about average. Pink salmon returns were low; however, there (standard square metres x 1,000) was an adequate escapement to most streams. Chum escapement was well Area 1982 1981 above average, with more than 50,000 fish returning to Viner Creek. Coho 11 0.82 and spring salmon are in serious 12 169.83 217.37 trOUble; strong enhancement measures 13 480.91 272.53 are needed. to sustain a viable commer­ cial Fishery on this species in this * The 1981 figures in this table are area. the final data compiled by the Field Services Branch; they do not in all Herring Fishery cases correspond with the data There are not adequate stocks of pUblished in the 1981 FSB Review. local herring to sustain a roe fishery in this District. A catch of 613 tonnes was taken for food and bait. Enforcement There were' a total of 46 prosecu­ tions in the District; most have been Table 28 successfully processed to date.

CAMPBELL RIVER DISTRICT Habitat In 1982, 436 reFerrals for input to 1982 Commercial Herring Catch (tonnes) other government agencies were process­ ed. This was slightly less than the Total1 previous year. Logging and other industrial activities, which are the Statistical Area 11 (Port Hardy) major source of habitat problems, were Food & Bait reduced by the poor economic condi­ Roe °o tions. However, habitat degradation by industry is still a major problem. Statistical Area 12 (Alert Bay) Urban and industrial development has Food & Bait 89.56 slowed down at Campbell River, Port Roe ° McNeill and Port Hardy. Statistical Area 13 (Campbell River) There are still major problems, such Food & 8ait 613 as Quinsam Coal, Westmin, and the Roe o Campbell IUver foreshore development that have not been resolved. The 1 All herring fisheries were by seine Salmon River dry land sort is still in this District. pending.

Construction of B.C. Forest Pro­ Other Fisheries ducts' dry land sort in the Campbell The efFort by commercial fishermen River estuary was completed to the on crab and prawns was approximately satisfaction of everyone. the same as the prev ious year. The shell fish Fishery was closed, due to toxicity, for most of the year. 33 Table )0 Victoria District CAMPBELL RIVER DISTRICT The Victoria District includes the 19B2 Habitat Protection Referrals southern tip of Vancouver Island from Port Renfrew and Sooke to the west, and Number Victoria and to the east and north. With offices in Water Licences 29 Victoria and Sooke, District staff is Forestry 216 responsible for the management of the Navigable Waters Protection Act 12 commercial fishery, sport fishery, Land Use Applications 87 Indian food fishery, and fish habitat. Urban Development 13 Ocean Dumping & Dredging 18 This highly-populated District has a Pollution Control Board: 2 large, year-round sport fishery; a Pesticides 24 major interception (commercial) fishery Waste Manag ement 16 controlled by the International Pacific Highway Development 19 Salmon Fisheries Commission; a growing PI acer Mining 0 Indian food fishery; varied and viable Other 0 fisheries for other species, such as prawn, shrimp, abalone, octopus, and Total 436 groundfish. Habitat issues such as sewage disposal and contamination, silting, logging activities, and stream Salmonid Enhancement reh"bilitation are handled by fishery There are a number of small public offices and support agencies. Victoria involvement projects in process. A is the birthplace of the Salmonid community advisor is now stationed at Enhancement Program and the program is Port Hardy, and he will likely get a still active. number of small proj ects underway on the North Island. Commercial Salmon Fishery The International Paci fic Salmon A small coho hatchery has been con­ Fisheries Commission opened the 1982 structed at Scott Cove. It was funded Area 20 interception fishery on Aug. 8 by a sport fisherman and built by a and relinquished control on Sept. 5. pat rolman. Area 20 was fished on eight days. A one-day fishery which took place after The hatchery will be in operation in the Commission relinquished control saw the summer of 1983. a large catch of coho. No further fisheries took place in 1982. A great­ Contact: Norm Lemmen, er than normal number of Adams River District Supervisor, sockeye passed through Juan de Fuca Campbell IUver. Strait.

Sport Fishery There isn't a day that goes bi when someone isn't sport fishing in Victoria or Sooke. Whether anglers are target­ ing on passing summer stocks, winter "feeder" chinook, or jigging for bottom fish, the catch is good. On any given "good weather" day, there are as many as 1, ODD boats from Victoria to Otter Point. Obviously, pressure is great, 34 -, ,

One good set for this modern drum seiner nets a catch of some 2,000 sockeye salmon.

Table 31

VICTORIA DISTRICT

19B2 Commercial Salmon Catch1

Species Gillnet Seine Troll Total

Statistical Area 20 (Blue Line) Sockeye 123,276 1,642,200 0 1,765,476 Coho 40,014 66,130 0 106,194 Pink 0 0 0 0 Chum 156 501 0 657 Chinook 1,826 24,979 0 26,805 Steelhead 0 0 0 0

Total 165,272 1,733,810 0 1,899,132

1 Escapement figures are not available for this District.

35 and in 1982 a substantial number of sockeye were caught during the months Table 33 of September and October. Large chinook (greater than 14 kg, or 30 VICTORIA DISTRICT pounds) are regularly caught off 8echer 1982 Indian Food Fish Catches Bay. Some anglers completed their 3D-chinook report and punch card by Species Catch mid-April. Sockeye 0 Nanaimo biological staff conducted a Coho 800 creel census in 1982. Results have not Pink 0 yet been published. The creel census Chum 6,200 will continue in 1983. Chinook 200 Steelhead 0 Table 32 Total 7,200 VICTORIA DISTRICT (West of Sheringham Point) Herring Fishery 1982 Sport Fish Catches* Table 34

Species Tidal VICTORIA DISTRICT " 1982 Commercial Herring Catch (tonnes) Sockeye 365 Coho 740 Total1 Pink o Chum trace Statistical Area 19 (Victoria/Saanich) Chinook 567 Food & Bait 514 Steelhead NA1 Roe o * Estimates only; 1 All herring fisheries were by trawl 1 Not avaIlable. in this District.

Indian Food Fishery Other Fisheries The food fish catch increased in The District supported a varied ~istrict 6 in general; but specifical­ fishery for species other than salmon ly, some 5,000-6,000 chum were gaffed in 1982. Saanich Inlet produced 3,600 in the Goldstream River. A further kg of prawns, While Sooke Basin and 1,000 Goldstream River chum were taken Harbor provided a total catch of 34,800 by seine in Saanich Inlet. The resur­ kg of shrimp. The sea urchin fishery gence of Indian rights play~d a large reached its quota of 68,000 kg by mid­ part in the increased activity in the December. Crab fishermen enjoyed con­ Goldstream and San Juan River systems. Sistently good catches and reported . good recruitment of juvenIles in some heavily-hsrvested areas. Only one boat harvested geoducks, as much of the area is depleted. Juan de Fuca Strait sup­ ports a small mid-water trawl fishery, although stocks of Pacific cod are low. In addition, 1982 was a good year for octopus fishing. The octopus fish­ ery spawned a new fishery; scallops.

36 The scallops are consumed by local Fuca Strait. Patrol vessels monitored restaurant patrons, but are highly the movement of this substance; the susceptible to contamination, resulting Canadian shoreline was not polluted. in a closure of Area 19 for most of the latter half of 1982. In addition, marine development con­ tinues, in order to accommodate the Salmon Escapements burgeoning small vessel fleet. Chum salmon continue to return in record numbers. Goldstream River saw a return of 30,000 fish from a brood year Table 35 of 28,500. To minimize the effects of overspawn, approximately 10,000 chum VICTORIA DISTRICT salmon were taken at the mouth of Goldst ream. Total escapement, taking 1982 Habitat Protection Referrals into account the Indian food fishery, was 14,000 fish. The San Juan system Number had a ten-fold increase of chinook from a brood year of 1,000. This is mainly Water Licences 26 due to enhancement activ it ies--both Forestry 27 incubation and stream rehabilitation. Navigable Waters Protection Act 20 Land Use Applications 40 Unfortunately, brood-year flooding Urban Development 2 decimated the coho returns to the Sooke Ocean Dumping & Dredging 28 River system. This would account for Pollution Control Board: the again-dismal coho return to Pesticides 42 Colquitz River. Waste I~anagement 15 Highway Development 10 Habitat Placer Mining 1 As in 1981, habitat issues centered ~her 16 around the problem of the highly-urban­ ized environment. The salmon-producing Total 227 streams in the Victoria area are sub­ ject to heavy silting, and encroachment by landowners on the stream banks. Enforcement Vertebrate and invertebrate species in Heavy pressure on the fish resource, the Colquitz River were killed when a highly-urbanized and densely-populat­ 13.6 million litres of raw sewage were ed environment, and poor economic con­ diSCharged inadvertently into the ditions were all factors resulting in river. Coho fry were spared, as their enforcement activities in the District rearing areas are upstream from the in 1982. sewage pumping station. Charges were laid against the Regional District, Sport fishing occurs all year and resulting in a $2,000 fine. Fortunate­ occupies the lion's share of fishery ly, almost all communities bordering officers' time. A total of 62 charges salmonid habitat are now on sewage were laid; 47 cases were convictions, syste1ns. It is hoped that increased two were dimissed, two were stayed, monitoring by government agencies will four were withdrawn, and seven are ensure that similar accidents are few pending. and far between. Officers monitor the commercial Stream rehabilitation continues; salmon fishery in Area 20. Several most producing streams are now free of charges were laid for illegal gear. As logjams and large barriers. In 1982, the State of Washington conducts a an unidentified freighter discharged a gillnet fishery in Juan de Fuca Strait large amount of bunker "C" into Juan de at the same time as the Canadian fish- 37 ery. much time is spent patrolling the Contact: Larry Duke, international boundary. Consequently, District Supervisor, ten American gillnetters were convicted Victoria. in Victoria courts for offences under the Coastal Fish Protection Act.

The illegal sale of sport-caught Management Biology salmon continues, with fishery officers hard pressed to apprehend the Under the direction of the senior violators. biologist, the Management Biology Unit undertakes investigative programs and Local officers had some success in various other activities to provide the curbing the lucrative abalone-poaching biological basis for, and to assist in, activities. Nine individuals were the manag~nent of fisheries. The Unit charged with 19 counts under the Shell­ includes three management support fish Regulations, fines up to $3,000 biologists (one assigned to salmon were levied and gear was forfeited. fisheries, one to the herring fisher­ ies, and one to the shell fish, crusta­ Salmonid Enhancement Progr~n cean and miscellaneous fisheries) and The community development project five technicians. (CDP) at Port Renfrew, as well as many of the public involvement groups, Contact: Don Anderson, increased the number 0 f salmonid fry Senior Management Biologist, released in 1982 over the previous Nanaimo. year. Port Renfrew CDP propagated all species of salmon except pink. The chinook egg-take was increased by Georgia Strait Creel Survey almost 40 percent, and the chum egg­ The creel survey was conducted in take was increased by more than 600 1982 with the aid of subsidies from percent. However, egg collection for various job creation programs. Job coho declined by 20 percent and sockeye Creation staff interviewed anglers at declined by 106 percent. boat ramps, marinas, and public docks. During 1982, the number of public Data from these interviews were involvement projects increased from six analysed to determine sport catch per to ten. They ranged from a few thou­ unit of effort. Estimates of sport sand chum eggs in a classroom incubator effort were gained from aerial counts at to more than 500,000 of sport boats actively fishing. eggs in a volunteer hatchery at Sooke. Aerial counts, coupled with angler For example, a satellite hatchery was interv iews at landing sites, prav ided built on the Goldstream River under the estimates of sport catch by month and auspices of the federal Bridging Assis­ statistical area. tance Program; it will be used for educational purposes as well as to In 1982, modi fications made to sam­ suppl y coho fry to barren or depleted pling procedures improved the efficien­ streams in the Victoria area. School cy of the program. The results of each students worked on Tod, Reay, and interview with anglers were subjected Sandhill Creeks in· the Sidney area. to at least three ';'-diting-- checks to Meanwhile, senior citizens assisted the assure accuracy; also, the tirning of provincial Fish and Wildlife Branch the overflights was designed to corre­ with enumeration on spond to daily peaks in sport fishing Colquitz Creek, helped Sidney anglers activity. In 1982, 20,499 interviews with the transplant of coho fry to Reay and 42 overflights were conducted. Creek and with instream fry-feeding From this, the estimated sport fishing programs at Goldstream and Sooke. effort was 669,000 boat trips and the total salmon catch was 658,000. Of the 38 658,000 salmon caught by Georgia Strait The causes of the much reduced anglers in 1982, 173,000 were chinook chinook sport catch are uncertain. and 470,000 were coho. A breakdown by However, it is expected that a combina­ month and statistical area is included tion of declining chinook stock in the following tables. For some strength and the 18-inch chinook sport months (due to budgetary problems), size limit implemented in 1981 have only indirect estimates were avail­ influenced catches. able. Indirect estimates were based on average catches from other years, coupled with some in-season data, and are shown as monthly totals only.

Table 36

Estimated Chinook Catch* by Sport fishermen in Georgia Strait by Month and Statistical Area, Jan 1982 to Dec 1982

Statistical Area** (Catches in thousands of pieces) Month 13 14 . 15 16 17 18 19A 198+ 28 29 Total

Jan NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 14.0*** teb NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 11.6***

Mar NA NA NA NA NA I~A NA NA NA 6.5***

Apr NA I~A NA NA NA NA I~A NA NA 7.3***

I~ay 2.3 4.6 .5 2.2 3.5 1.0 .5 2.7 1.5 1.0 19.8 ( .3) (2.4) ( .3) ( .4) ( .7) ( .4) ( .2) (.5) ( .2) ( .2) (2.7) Jun 3.1 3.3 .2 .9 1 • 5 2.2 1.3 3.7 .7 .3 17.2 ( .5) ( .7) ( • 1 ) ( .2) ( .3) ( .7) ( .3) ( .3) ( .3) ( .2) (1 .5) Jul 3.7 3.6 • 1 2.2 5.8 5.4 2.1 3.6 1.9 1.4 29.8 ( .5) ( .8) (0.0) ( .7) ( 1 • 1 ) (1. 4) ( .6) (.2) (.9) ( .5) (2.7) Aug 5.0 3.0 .6 1.5 4.5 3.5 3.0 4.3 1.0 .4 26.8 ( .8) ( .5) ( .2) ( .5) (1 .2) (1. 5) ( .3) ( .4) ( .4) (.2) (2.5) Sep 5.4 .6 .2 .3 1. 7 1.0 4.8 8.2 .2 .5 22.9 (3.3) ( .3) ( • 1 ) ( • 1 ) ( .5) (.3) ( .8) (1 .3) ( .2) ( .3) (4.4) Oct 0.0 0.0 0.0 .4 .5 0.0 .3 3.4 • 1 • 1 4.8 (0.0) (0.0) (0.0) ( .3) ( .2) (0.0) ( • 1 ) ( .7) ( .1) (O.oj (1.4) Nov .08 0.0 • 1 .9 .3 0.0 0.0 2.2 .4 .2 4.2 ( • 1 ) (0.0) ( .2) ( .6) ( • 1 ) (0.0) (0.0) ( .7) ( .2) ( .2) ( 1 • 1 ) Dec .2 • 1 .3 .4 .7 • 1 .1 3.2 1 • 8 .5 7.4 ( .2) ( .2) ( .5) ( .2) ( .3) (0.0) ( .1) ( .1 ) ( .8) (.5) (1.6)

* Kept fish onl y. ** Confidence interval of estimate in brackets. *** Indirect estimate. NA Not available.

39 Salmon Programs b) Johnstone Strait Test Fishing a) Nimpkish Test Fishing Program-­ Program--Areas 12 and 13 Area 12 The upper Johnstone Strait chum For the second consecutive year, a seine test fishery is operated annually gillnet test fishing program was from September through October. Since carried out from early June to mid­ 1965, this program has aided managers August. Conducted in areas used by in the assessment of in-season chum both Nimpkish and Fraser River returtl­ stock strength, timing and composi­ ing sockeye stocks, the program is tion. Similar information was collect­ designed to assess the exploitation ed in 1982 by a seine vessel working in rates, age, timing, abundance and the lower portion of Johnstone Strait. migration patterns of Nimpkish sockeye.

Table 36 Contd Estimated Coho Catch* by Sport fishermen in Georgia Strait by Month and Statistical Area, Jan 1982 to Dec 1982

Statistical Area** ( Catches in thousands of pieces) Month 13 14 15 16 17 18 19A 196+ 28 29 Total

Jan NA NA NA NA NA NA I~A NA NA NA 3.0*-**

Feb NA NA NA I~A NA NA NA NA NA i~A 2.3-***

Mar NA I~A NA NA NA NA NA NA NA I~A 4.9*-"

Apr NA NA :~A I~A NA NA NA NA I~A NA 14.2n-'

I~ay 9.7 54.2 .7 11.4 1.5 .5 .2 .4 0.0 .3 78.9 (3.B) (31.7) ( .3) (1 .9) ( .3) ( .2) ( . 1 ) ( . 1 ) (0.0) ( .6) (32.0) Jun 22.8 33.4 1.6 5.6 6.6 .6 .3 . 1 .4 .4 71.8 (3.4) (B.4) (.7) (1 .9) (1 .8) ( .2) ( . 1 ) (0.0) ( .2) ( .2) (9.5) Jul 60.9 41.7 4.7 12.0 6.7 .2 .7 2.8 3.5 3.1 136.3 (7.1) (8.5) ( 1.4) (3.0) (1 .3) ( • 1 ) ( .4) ( .5) (1.5) (1 .2) (11.8) Aug 20.8 20.0 4.8 16.8 9.1 2.2 .5 4.5 3.9 2.7 85.3 (2.7) (3.0) (1. 9) (4.8) (2.5) ( .9) ( .1) ( . B) ( 1 .3) (1.1) (7.3) Sep 33.3 10.8 .6 .9 3.8 .4 2.8 6.5 1.0 .7 60.8 (17.2) (3.6) (.4) ( .42) ( 1 • 1 ) ( . 1 ) ( .9) ( 1 . 1 ) ( .5) ( .4) (17.7) Oct .4 .6 0.0 • 1 2.8 1 . 1 .B 2.3 .2 .1 8.4

( .4) ( .4) (0.0) ( .1) (.9) ( . 9) ( .6) ( .5) ( .1 ) (0.0) (1 .8) -- - - Nov 0.0 .1 0.0 0.0 .2 .2 .2 1.9 0.-0 0.0 2.6 (0.0) ( • 1 ) (0.0) (0.0) ( • 1 ) ( • 1 ) ( .1 ) ( .7) (0.0) (0.0) (.9) Dec 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 . 1 .2 .3 .9 0.0 0.0 1 . 5 (0.0) (0.0) (0.0) (0.0) ( . 1 ) ( . 1 ) ( .2) ( .3) (0.0) (0.0) ( .6)

* Kept fish only. *** Indirect estimate. ** Confidence interval of estimate in brackets. NA Not available.

40 c) Strait of Georgia Test Fishing d) Swiftsure Shaker Monitoring Program Program --Areas 14 and 18 This program, initiated in 1981, was Gillnet test fisheries were conduct­ conducted again in 19B2. Two vessels ed during October and November off were chartered to fish on Swiftsure Puntledge, Qualicum and Cowichan Bank to monitor the incidence of Rivers. Testing attempted to indicate chinook shakers (below the legal size chum stock strength, timing and quality limit) during the early season troll for the purpose of commercially crop­ fishery. The 1982 program started on ping for maximum yield and escapement. April 22 and ran until June 23. As a result, successful commercial gill net fisheries took place at each of The two vessels, the Cowichan and the three terminal areas. the Green Sea, fished patterns on Swi ftsure Bank, keeping records of shaker and keeper chinook. These data

Table 36 Contd Estimated Total Salmon Catch* by Sport fishermen in Georgia Strait by Month and Statistical Area, Jan 1982 to Dec 1982 Statistical Area** (Catches in thousands of pieces) Month 13 14 15 16 17 18 19A 19B+ 28 29 Total

Jan NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 17.0*** Feb NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 13.9***

Mar NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 11.6***

Apr NA NA NA NA NA NA I~A NA NA NA 21.9***

May 16.1 59.4 1 . 2 13.6 4.9 1 • 5 .7 3.2 1.5 1.3 103.4 (4.1) (31.8) ( .4) (1 .9) ( .8) ( .4) ( .2) ( .7) ( .2) ( .2) (32.1) Jun 26.4 36.9 1.7 6.5 8.1 2.8 1.6 3.B 1.2 .7 89.8 (3.4) (8.5) ( .7) ( 1 .9) (1 .8) ( .7) ( .6) ( .5) ( .3) ( .3) (9.6) Jul 65.0 45.4 4.8 14.7 12.5 5.6 2.8 6.5 5.5 4.7 167.5 (7.2) (8.5) (1.4) (3.1 ) (1.7) (1 .4) (1. 2) ( 1 • 1 ) (1.7) ( 1 .3) (12.1) Aug 26.3 23.0 5.4 18.6 13.8 5.8 3.5 8.9 5.1 3.2 113.6 (2.9) (3.1) (1 .9) (4.8) (2.7) (1. 7) ( .6) (1.3) (1 .3) ( 1 .1 ) (7.7) Sep 39.1 11.5 .8 1.2 5.7 1.4 8.5 14.8 1.3 1.6 85.8 (17.5) (3.6) ( .4) (.4) (1 .2) ( .3) (1 .9) (2.9) ( .6) ( .6) (1 B. 3) Oct 1.6 .8 0.0 .5 3.4 1 • 6 1 • 1 5.9 .3 • 1 15.3 ( 1 .0) ( .5) (0.0) (.3) ( .9) ( .9) ( .7) (1.8) ( .1) (0.0) (2.5) Nov .1 .3 • 1 .9 .5 1 • 9 .2 4.1 .5 .2 8.8 (0.0) ( .2) ( .3) ( .6) ( .2) (1.1) ( .2) (1.1 ) ( .3) ( • 2) (1 .8) Dec .3 .2 .3 .4 .8 .9 .4 4.2 1.8 .5 9.7 ( .2) ( .2) ( .5) ( .2) ( .3) (.4) (.3) (1 .2) ( .8) ( .5) (1.7)

* Kept fish only. *** Indirect estimate. ** Confidence interval of estimate in brackets. NA Not available.

41 were telephoned in daily to the Nanaimo Fish Health Section at the Pacific office, where they were analyzed, to Biological Station in Nanaimo, examined assess the scope of the problem. For samples for stock-specific parasites. example, if the shaker:keeper ratio was On the basis of information on relative high and a large fleet was present, DFO stock strengths, the fishery was closed would close the area and monitor with on July 8, 1982--earlier than in the charter vessels until the problem previous years. abated. This closure ultimately provided an However, shakers did not present escapement of 166,000 sockeye to Great problems in 1982, and Swiftsure Bank Central Lake, and exceeded the goal 0 f was not closed during this early fish­ 100,000 sockeye escaping to Sproat ery. This was a contrast to 1981, when Lake. Had the fishery not been closed, the bank was closed for most of the a severe under escapement to Great season. It is now apparent that it is Central Lake would have occurred. not possible to anticipate the severity of the shaker problem on the west coast Even with this closure, 410,000 of Vancouver Island before the season sockeye were caught, with a landed begins. value of $2.2 million.

e) Barkley Sound Chinook Test Fishery Herring Programs In 1982, thiS tesE fishery was in a) Resident Herring Survey its fifth year of operation. A gillnet Due to increased fishing pressure vessel (the Shane-E) was chartered to from local bait operators and little fish before the commercial fishery to documentation on resident herring assess the strength of chinook stocks. stocks, a survey was conducted to This vessel fished for three weeks and assess the distribution, abundance and took scale samples and relative abun­ age composition of resident (homestead) dance estimates, as in previous years. herring stocks and juvenile rearing The test fishery indicated no signi fi­ areas. The survey focussed on the cantly greater (or lesser) abundance traditional bait fishing locations such than had been anticipated in the pre­ as , Porlier Pass, Jervis season fishing pattern. Inlet, , Stuart Island and . The 1982 survey was The catch from this fishery was the second of an ongoing survey to be 42,000 chinook; 47 percent were three­ conducted over several years in order year-olds, 49 percent were four-year­ to determine trends. A preliminary oIds, and four percent were five-year­ report is written each year for olds. Adequate escapements to the in-house management use. Somass system (including Robertson Creek hatchery) were achieved. The MV Walker Rock was used to assess the distribution and abundance f) Barkley Sound Sockeye Test Fishery by plotting herring schools on marine Early returns to the Stamp River in charts. Age compositions were obtained 1982 raised concerns about the strength from biological samples. In addition, of the Great Central Lake sockeye run. both adult and juvenile herring were It was feared the escapement goal of tagged, using Floy anchor tags. Tag­ 2DO,000 sockeye would not be reached. ging was carried out in Pender Harbor, This concern led to the institution of BarlJain Harbor and Discovery Pass. this test fishery to assess the rela­ tive strengths of Great Central and For background data, local bait Sproat Lake stocks. fishermen were interviewed to ascertain locations and fishing teChniques, as The test fishery, undertaken jointly well as to gather opinions on historic by the Unit and the Parasitology and 42 -,

abundance and distribution of local conjunction with the patrol vessels herring stocks. involved in the fishery and research vessels from the Pacific Biological b) 1982 Food and Bait Fishery Station. This proj ect prov ides the food and bait herring manager with data on abun­ c) Pre-Roe Herring Fishery Seine dance, age and size prior to and during Charters the 1982 food and bait fishery. This Regional progran provided fish­ ery managers with estimates of stock Traditional echosounding and seining tonnages and biolog ical data requi red techniques were used to provide data on to manage the roe fishery. In 1982, distribution, abundance, and biological twelve commercial seine boats were samples for age and size. Tagging was chartered to carry out test seine sets also carried out in Stuart Channel, and provide samples in potential Porlier Pass and in commercial fishing areas. Samples were an attempt to determine migration also obtained from areas where no patterns and the contribution of these commercial fisheries are permitted. stocks to the Georgia st rait roe fishery. The biological data are passed to fishery managers for in-season use and The MV Walker Rock was used as the changes to fishery strategies are made working plat form for this project in accordingly.

A herring pump and dewatering device are used to transfer roe herring from the net to the hold of a seine boat. 43 Samples taken from each test are f) Herring Management Course sent to Vancouver for further anal­ At the request of FSB's training and ysis. The data are then sent to the career development officer, the Unit Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, developed a basic course in herring for use in the herring population stock biology, current management practices, assessment, which is vital in herring and the technical and practical aspects management predictions. of using sonar and echosounders to locate and estimate the biomass of her­ d) Annual Herring Fishery and Spawn ring stocks. Fishery officers and Ship Report Division staff attended the course, This report provides information on which was held over a two-week period all B.C. herring fisheries as well as in Prince Rupert for North Coast staff data on the size and timing of the and in Ful ford Harbor for South Coast spawn depositions throughout the staff. The M/V Walker Rock and Ship coast. The highlights 0 f the current Division's vessels were utilized to year's fishery and spawnings are docu­ pro v ide actual field experience in mented for use by District fishery locating and estimating herring stocks. officers, fishermen, processors and the public. Shellfish, Crustaceans, and Other Marine Species Programs Spawn maps and spawn summary tables This Section is involved in the are collected from District offices and invertebrate fisheries: abalone, geo­ sent to the Pacific Biological Station duck clams, horse clams, intertidal in Nanaimo. Analysis of the spawn data clam species, mussels, scallops, octo­ converts the length, width and density pus, squid, sea urchin, sea cucumbers, of spawn deposition to standard square crab, shrimp, prawns, and euphausiids. metres. These figures, compared with depositions of previous years, give an Landings in the abalone fishery indication of escapement to the spawn­ increased in 1982 in the South Coast in ing areas. The report also shows any the Port Hardy and Victoria areas. shift in herring spawning habits, which Landings of geoducks for 1982, 2.9 can be crucial in the management of million kilograms, were primarily from subsequent fisheries. the west coast of Vancouver Island. A minor diving fishery for horse clams e) Echosounder Evaluation took place in 1982. In cooperation Field tests of various echo sounders with Pacific Bioloqical Station, the were conducted for the Technical Section monitored commercial prawn Services Branch. One of the echo­ catches. Catch rates, sex, and size sounders Was to be purchased by the composition and fishing effort in Department to replace outdated equip­ various management areas were examined ment currently on board Ship Division to allow for escapement of an adequate vessels. spawning stock. Recommendations were 'nade to close an area if the index of The M/V Walker Rock was used to female spawners fell below a monthly carry out field tests on the practical minimum acceptable level. aspectsgf. variou~_echosounders. From the results of these tests, in conjunc­ resource surveys were tion with lab tests carried out by the carried out in 1982--geoduck grounds Technical Services Branch, twelve Were surveyed ill Tofino and Kyuquot, an Rayethon J.F.F. 101 echo sounders were examination of hydraulic clam harvest­ purchased for use during the 1982 roe ing was conducted in Mary Basin, and herring fishery; another twelve echo­ abalone were surveyed in Victoria sounders are expected to be purchased district. during the next fiscal year. Several proposals for mariculture 44 L

were reviewed. A fisheries mariculture policy is being developed. Vancouver Island This Section was also involved in consul tat ions with the interdepartmen­ Inspection District tal I~arine Plant Working Group, the Pacific Shellfish Standing Committee, The Vancouver Island Inspection the Shell fish Resource Board, and District covers fish processing plants industry fishing groups such as the on Vancouver Island, the Gul f Islands, Abalone Harvesters Association and the Quadra and Cortes Islands. There were Underwater Harvesters Association 42 processing plants and/or cold stor­ (geoduck and horseclam licence age plants and 30 fish camps in opera­ holders). tion in the District in 1982.

Contact: Don Anderson, Sewage contamination problems in the Senior Management Biologist, Gulf of Georgia continued to be a major Nanaimo. problem in the shell fish industry. Although these contamination problems resul ted in seasonal spot closures on Gabriola and Saltspring Islands and on the east coast of Vancouver Island, it Habitat Management was not serious enough to warrant the closure of entire statistical areas (as Decentralization of Habitat Manage­ was the case in 1981). However, all ment staff got underway in August 1982, commercial shellstock lots from Area 17 with tile appointment of an acting were held pending satisfactory bacteri­ senior habitat management biologist for ological anal yses. PSP blooms in the the South Coast Division. The other upper Gul f, and an unusually late two Habitat posi tions originally September bloom in the lower Gulf, also assigned to the Division--habitat caused the closure of some areas. management biologist and technician-­ These sewage contamination and PSP were subsequently staffed. problems resulted in a 70-percent increase in bacteriological and chemi­ In December, the FSB director cal analyses of molluscs to ensure that announced the decentralization of addi­ all products entering the market were tional Habitat Management staff to the safe for human consumption. As of the areas; the South Coast Division was end of 1982, only two statistical areas allocated an additional five posi­ of Vancouver Island remained completely tions. All assigned Habitat staff open for the harvesting of all bivalve should be in place in Nanaimo by June molluscs. 1983. In 1982, the first commercial-scale Discussions have been initiated with depuration plant for clam shell stock on District staff and the Habitat core Vancouver Island commenced operations group with respect to the roles of in Sooke. This resulted, for the first decentralized Habitat staff and alloca­ time, in harvesting under permit of tion of resources to ensure that Habi­ previously-unutilized stocks of manila tat Management activities within the and littleneck clams in polluted areas Division are carried out as effectively closed under Schedule I of the Pacific and efficiently as possible. Shell fish Regulations,

Contact: Bruce Hillaby, Food herring landings in 1982 were A/Senior Habitat Management down drastically over the 1981 land­ Biologist, ings. Only two small processors par- Nanaimo. 45 ticipated, with their total production highlight of 1982. Approximately five being less than 45.3 tonnes. months of full-time work by one officer were required to supervise the culling As part of the Quality Improvement of just one company I spack. In addi­ Program, quality grade standards for tion, the three-month secondment of the oysters and geoducks were drafted. In district supervisor, as part of an addi tion, considerable time was spent Inspection team, Was required to recer­ compiling data bases for previously­ ti fy Canadian canned salmon in drafted quality grade standards for Australia and New Zealand. salmon, herring and ground fish . Some preliminary work was also started on In 1982, there was a significant standards for vessel operation, stan­ increase in the direct export of round dards for handling, unloading and Pacific dogfish by fishermen. The dog­ transportation, and standards for in­ fish, incidental catches in groundfish plant quality control. trawls, are exported to American pro­ cessors, primarily in Bellingham, WA. In the laboratory, developmental In addition a considerable amount of work was done to assess the rapid round chum salmon were exported direct­ identification of faecal coli forms, I y, in the same manner, when fishermen specifically the use of A-1 modified encountered resistance on the part of media in the assessment of the bacteri­ Canadian processors to buy their catch. ological quality of shellfish. Contact: \1ayne Holmes, The problems associated with Inspection Supervisor, Canadian canned salmon were a major South Coast Division.

Northern Operations

The Northern Dperations Branch is year on an experimental, voluntary responsible for an area encompassing basis, appeared to alleviate this con­ 153,000 sq km and includes Areas 1 cern, at least in specific locations. through 10 (from Cape Caution north to the Alaska border), including the Queen The abalone fishery continued with Char lotte Islands, and extends inland the same individual quotas as last year to cover the entire Skeen a and Nass (3,629 kg/licence), but the 1982 season River watersheds. Twenty percent of was extended by two months--it opened the total B. C. catch in 1981 was pro­ on February 15 rather than on April cessed in the north. 1.5. Area 6 produced 31 percent of the northern catch, although the total Commercial Fishing quota was not taken. The herring spawn-on-kelp harvest was a 1982 success story. Twenty-three Strong returns of sockeye resulted licence holders harvested a total of in a good salmon season for net flsh-er­ 132.6 tonnes of product. In 1982, the men. An unexpected poor return of indi v idual quota (6.58 t per licence Alaskan pink salmon resulted in only 33 holder) was determined by the net delieveries to local processors by weight of product weighed at the pro­ American vessels. This showed a 70 cessing plant after a minimum draining percent reduction in poundage--down to period. Herring mortality in enclo­ 1.45 million kilograms--when compared sures continues to be a concern. Open­ with the quantity of Alaskan salmon type ponding, which was allowed this processed in the north in 1981. 46 -,

Groundfish landings were only about one hal f of what they were a year ago --7,428 tonnes were landed. Kitimat District

The fishing season came to a close This District extends from Kitimat with a very modest food and bait south to Cape Caution, an area of some herring fishery. In 1982, the northern 77 ,000 km of coastline, containing 240 quota was reduced to 2,268 tonnes from salmon-producing systems. the major 272 tonnes. The resulting catch of population centers are Kitimat, Bella only 136 t suggests continuing soft Coola and Bella Bella, as well as markets and poor economic climate in numerous smaller centers and native the industry. Indian communities throughout the District. Indian Food Fishery The Nass and Skeena Hiver systems Management of the various fisheries continue to account for almost 30 per­ and protection of fish habitat in the cent of all Indian subsistence food District are complicated and conse­ fish taken in B.C. With the exception­ quently more costly because of the vast al sockeye returns to these two rivers, distance and remoteness of the areas there were very good catches in 1982. involved. Negotiations continue with the native Indian community to establish a cooper­ Commercial Salmon Fishery ative management program in which they Trolling opened in the outside wi 11 participate in the management of waters of the District in mid-April. A the food fishery. two-week troll closure was implemented in northern waters in June for conser­ Habitat vation of chinook. Trolling in inside The poor economic climate resulted waters was generally restricted to net in many of the activities of the mining fishing times and places throughout the and forest industry coming almost to a season. standstill. On the other hand, port and industrial development at Prillce Net fishing in the District com­ Rupert (Ridley Island) and at Kitimat menced in mid-May with the opening of expanded. In addition, there is a pro­ the chinook fishery in the Bella Coola posal for a major LNG (liquefied natur­ gillnet area. This fishery was al gas) plant to be constructed at Port restr icted to one day per week until Simpson. early August for conservation of chinook. A total of 6,000 chinook were There is also growing concern in the taken this season. As expected, the north about the prospects of major off­ pink returns to Area 8 streams (and in shore oil explorations in the vicinity particular the Bella Coola/Atnarko of the Queen Charlotte Islands. system) were dismal--a result of the 1980 floods. Only 36,000 pink salmon Contact: Eric Kremer, were taken in the net fishery. Director, Northern Opertions; Although churn are usually taken inci­ Tom Perry, dentally in the pink fishery, this Operations Manager, season's chum catch comprised the bulk Pr ince Rupert. (165,000 pieces) of the Area 8 net catch.

The net fishery commenced in Area 6 and 7 in mid-July. Again the big dis­ appointment was pink production--less than 30 percent of pre-season fore­ casts. The chum catch in Area 6 was 47 somewhat better than expected. In an A "test" gillnet fishery commenced effort to reduce the interception of in Smith Inlet during the first week of chum and pink passing through Area 7, July. Although the pre-season forecast the outside portion of was for only a limited fishery, sockeye (along with Laredo Sound) remained returned much better than expected to closed to net fishing· until early Long Lake; 286,000 sockeye were taken August; it appears that this management in a gillnet fishery that cant inued strategy was effective. Chinook were until mid-August. exploited rather heavily by seines along the St. Johns Harbor shore Almost 2 million salmon (1,975,000) (Milbanke Sound) during the first two were taken by net fishermen in the weeks of August. This exploitation may Central Coast this season; 60 percent be reduced in 1983. by seine and 40 percent by gillnet. This represents a relatively poor even­ As expected, only a limited sockeye year catch, particularly when compared fishery (42,000 pieces) materialized in with pre-season expectations. Rivers Inlet.

Table 37

KITIMAT DISTRICT 1982 Commercial Salmon Catch and Escapements

Species Gillnet Seine Troll Total Escapement

Statistical Area 6 (Butedale) Sockeye 4,246 44,560 934 49,740 30,200 Coho 10,153 40,405 17,694 68,252 48,260 Pink 11 , 938 545,364 5,084 562,386 310,160 Chum 27,236 88,556 484 116,276 134,185 Chinook 507 6,945 13,494 20,946 11,475 Steelhead 28 ----2 NA* 3D 0 Total 54,108 725,832 37,690+ 817,630 534,280

Statistical Area 7 (Bella Bella) Sockeye 10,067 121,200 2,159 113,426 4,607 Coho 11,312 27,163 23,486 61,961 2,730 Pink 7,326 139,585 4,156 151,067 172,655 Chum 133,327 103,306 694 237,327 201,872 Chinook 1,244 18,608 24,329 44,181 [) 0 24 0 Steelhead ---0 ---- 24 Total 163,276 409,862 54,848 627,986 381,864

Statistical Area 8 (Bella Coola) Sockeye 17,029 11 ,604 1,559 30,192 25,555 Coho 6,563 2,213 10,696 19,472 8,750 Pink 14,302 21,895 1,539 37,736 195,320 Chum 155,628 9,718 1,186 166,532 127,110 Chinook 6,277 3,257 2,978 12,512 10,000 Steelhead 851 2 7 860 0

Total 200,650 48,689 17,965 267,304 366,735

48 -I t

Sport fishery from weighed in at 24.3 The majority of the non-tidal sport kg (54 Ibs), and a halibut of approxi­ fishing effort in this District takes mately 90 kg (200 Ibs) was also report­ place in rivers near Kitimat and Bella ed to Kitimat staff. Coola (Kitimat, Dala, Kildala, Kemano, Bella Coola, Atnarko and Dean Rivers). Rivers Inlet continues to support a An estimated 2,000 coho, 1,200 chinook healthy sport fishing charter business and 400 steelhead were taken this and attracts a number of private boats seaSOr). to its waters each summer. Two dis­ tinct runs of big chinook occur each The tidal sport fishery in the year, one peaking near the end of June Central Coast is concentrated in and the second in the first two weeks Douglas Channel (Kitimat), Rivers of August. The largest chinook taken Inlet, Hakai Pass and North Bentinck in the permit area of Rivers Inlet this Arm (Bella Cool a) • The estimated season weighted 31.5 kg (70 Ibs). salmon sport catch this season was 21,550 pieces--approximately 50 percent In addition to salmon, an estimated chinook, 40 percent coho and 10 percent 2,500 lingcod, 3,500 rockfish, 1,450 pink. halibut, 15,000 crabs, 1,200 kg of shrimp and prawns, 1,200 kg of· abalone Sport fishermen were very successful and 100 kg of herring were taken by this year in Douglas Channel, with a sport fishermen in District 7. mean catch per unit effort of 0.21. The Kitimat sport fishery warden In 1982, a sport fish warden was reports that the largest chinook taken hired for the purpose of gaining

Table 37, Contd

KITIMAT DISTRICT 1982 Commercial Salmon Catch and Escapements

Species Gillnet Seine Troll Total Escapement

Statistical Area 9 (Rivers Inlet) Sockeye 42,260 0 NA* 42,260 823,000 Coho 1,275 0 NA 1,275 6,375 Pink 2,185 0 NA 2,185 100,000 Chum 11 ,300 0 NA 11,300 102,180 Chinook 405 0 NA 405 2,250 Steelhead NA 0 ---0 0 0 Total 57,425 0 NA 57,425 1,033,805

Statistical Area 10 (Smith Inlet) Sockeye 285,950 0 NA 285,950 214,000 Coho 4,670 0 NA 4,670 2,200 Pink 2,470 0 NA 2,470 9,031 Chum 20,615 0 NA 20,615 70,000 Chinook 3,680 0 NA 3,680 1,500 Steelhead 0 0 ----NA 0 0 Total 317,655 0 NA 317,655 296,731 * Not available. 49 statistics and more control over the There were no native food fishery large sport fishery in Douglas Channel prosecutions in 1982; illegal food and the Kitimat River system. As a fishing activities seem minimal in the result, a good understanding of the Central Coast. sport fishery in this area has been gained. In addition, there was an Table 39 increase in sport fishing violation prosecutions, from six counts in 1981 KITIMAT DISTRICT to 83 counts in 1982. The sport fish warden accounted for 46 counts. 1982 Indian Food Fish Catches

The warden gathered all statistics Species Catch on the sport fishery, acted as spokes­ person, as required, to interested Sockeye 17,789 sport fishing groups, and posted closed Coho 3,405 areas, closed times, and public notices Pink 2,093 for the sport fishery. Chum 7,755 Chinook 3,758 Table 38 Steelhead 1,069

KITIMAT DISTRICT Total 35,869

1982 Sport Fish Catches* Salmon Escapements Species Tidal Nontidal Area 6 received average sockeye and coho escapements. Pink returns were Sockeye 400 0 very poor, only one-third of the Coho 8,500 2,000 expected stock materialized. The Pink 2,300 0 chinook return was above average, but Chum 350 0 desired escapement is still low; chum Chinook 10,000 1,200 are just below average. Steelhead 0 600 Area 7 experienced poor escapement Total 21,550 3,800 this year, considering the restricted fishing times which were put into * Estimates only. effect. Escapement totalled 151,000 pink (10-year average of 276,000) along with 170,000 chum (1o-year average of Indian Food Fishery 200,000) • In 1982, a total of 524 food fishing licences were issued to the natives of Area 8 had poor escapements for both the Kitamaat, Hartley Bay, Kitasoo, sockeye and coho, with a very poor pink Bella Bella, Bella Coola and owikeno return--200,000 returned from a brood Bands. Band licences were issued to year of 900,000. Chu'n returns were the Kitamaat, Hartley Bay, and Kitasoo average, and the chinook escapement to Bands,~ which in turn issued individual the ~ Iltnarko system--was improved, due to licences to band members upon request. commercial/sports fishery conservation measures. (Sockeye and chinook escape­ Catch statistics for this food fish­ ment estimates could be low, as some ery are compiled by observing fishing major streams were not inspected due to operations, interv iewing fishermen and budget restraints.) from band-supplied numbers (approxi­ mately 40 percent, 40 percent and 20 Area 9 received good escapements for percent respectively). sockeye (800,000) and chum, with pink

50 -,

and coho showing average returns. The chinook escapement overall was low and Table 40 was most apparent in the Wannock system. Area 10 sockeye and chum both KITIMAT DISTRICT had good returns; chinook and coho escapements were average, and pink 1982 Commercial Herring Catch (tonnes) returns were poor. Seine Gillnet Total1 Herring fishery The roe herring fishery in the Statistical Area 6 (Butedale) Central Coast consisted of Food & Bait o 0 o four 369 openings in Areas 6 and 7. Roe o 369 There was a 24-hour gillnet fishery Statistical Area 1 (Bella Bella) in subareas 6-16, 6-17 and 6-18 (Kitasu Food & Bait 0 0 0 Bay-Higgins Pass). One hundred and Roe 2,381 3,418 5,799 five gillnets caught an estimated 369 tonnes. 1 There were no trawl fisheries in this District. In Stryker Bay (subarea 7-18), thirty seines took an estimated 2,381 Table 41 tonnes of herring. Roe recovery was over 10 percent. KITIMAT DISTRICT

Three hundred gill nets caught an 1982 Herring Spawn Deposition* estimated 3,061 tonnes of herring in an 1 B-hour fishery in the Cape Mark­ (standard square metres x 1,000) Thompson Bay area (subareas 7-1, 7-2 and 7-19). Following the fishery, Area 1982 1981 stock remaining in the area was assess­ ed at 1,360 tonnes. In a second gill­ 6 424.09 490.06 net fishery, 175 gillnets hauled 357 7 1,546.45 1,072.67 tonnes from subareas 7-18, 7-19 and 8 190.40 164.40 7-20. 9 54.02 2.B6 10 181. B4 13.91 Three roe-an-kelp licence holders operated in the Central Coast (Areas 6, * The 1981 figures in this table are 7 and 10) this season, producing a the final data compiled by the Field total of 20,716 kg of product. Services Branch; they do not in all cases correspond with the data There were no food and bait herring published in the 1981 FSB Review. fishery landings recorded from the Central Coast this year.

Other Fisheries In 1982, 23,643 kg of abalone were The Central Coast's geoduck fishery commercially harvested from Area 6, produced a catch of approximately with an additional 1, 16/~ kg taken from 450,000 kg, with the majority of the Area 10. This total (24,807 kg) is effort in Area 7. As wi th last year, approximately 27 percent of the coast­ there were some problems with spoilage wide catch of 90,720 t, down from the of this product because fishermen fail­ 41 percent of coast wide catch recorded ed to get it to processing plants in in 1981. time.

51 Table 42 KITIMAT DISTRICT

1982 Habitat Protection Referrals

Number

Water Licences 15 Forestry 109 Navigable Waters Protection Act 7 Land Use Applications 24 Urban Development 1 Dcean Dumping & Dredging 1 Pollution Control Board: Pesticides 3 Waste Management 6 Highway Development 3 Placer Mining 2 Other A fishery officer inspects a catch of euchalons from the Kildala River. Total 171

Habitat Enforcement Habitat protection activities occupy Enforcement acti vi ties in the a major portion of fishery officer Kitimat District increased this year time. This work is mainly related to with the filling of staff vacancies and the forest industry--of the 171 habitat the addition of a sport fish officer in referrals submitted to District 7, 109 the Kitimat region. In 1982, 81 sport dealt with logging. The poor market fishery and 18 commercial charges were condi tions in 1982 resulted in a processed. decline in number of referrals received in the latter half of the year. Of these char',Jes, Area 6 accounted for 81 sport fishery charges and two Construction in the Kitimat commercial charges, Area 7 for nine industrial corridor reached its peak in commercial charges, Area 8 for one com­ 1982. The Canadian Celanese Corp. mercial charge, and Area 10 for six methanol tank farm and Ocelot commercial charges. Industries Ltd. methanol plant were operational in late July. Product is In Area 7, two charges were laid in shipped from Kitimat on tankers via 1982 for dumping herrillg carcasses into Ocelot's dock facilities. waters of Clayton Pass. One charge, against the Central Native Co-op, Alcan t s aluminum smelter in Ki timat resulted in a $ 500 fine, and another, continues to operate at capac i ty, a:gain~st the manager of the ~ Co:"op, despite a somewhat depressed world resulted in a $ 250 fine. aluminum market. At the end of 1982, several charges Eurocan's pulp mill also continues were pending against two Ki timat firms; to operate at capacity, although the against Eurocan Pulp and Paper Co. mill temporarily stopped its operations Ltd., concerning a spill of a suspected to reduce existing inventories. toxic substance, and against Ocelot Industries concerning a spill of 52 180,000 litres of cleaning effluent. This latter charge is a joint investi­ gation between the Department of Fish­ Queen Charlotte eries and Oceans and the provincial Fish and Wildlife 8ranch. District

Sport fish violations in Area 6 were The Queen Charlotte Islands' diverse divided fairly evenly between tidal and topography, low population, and dis­ non-tidal waters. The most prevalent tance from the mainland provide the charge (23 counts) in tidal waters was backdrop for a diverse variety of failing to record chinook salmon on the fisheries activities. Patrol boats sport fish licence. In this area, with operate out of Masset and Queen a high catch per unit effort and with a Charlotte. high percentage of those persons charged being frequent users of the Fishery officers are located in fishery, the reason would seem to be Masset, Queen Charlotte and Sandspit. attempting to exceed the 30 chinook per year limit. Commercial Salmon Fishery The interception fisheries at In non-tidal waters, the most common Langara Island and Rennell Sound were charge was retention of pink salmon (8 curtailed and a ceiling was put on the counts) • In some of those cases, the catch of chinook as part of the overall reason was the inability, or lack of chinook conservation strategy. Neither attempt, to identify the fish. 8ut in fishery produced outstanding SOCkeye or at least one case, a deliberate attempt pink catches, and it was difficult to was made to retain pink salmon. keep down the chinook catch in Area 1.

Salmonid Enhancement No local pink fisheries occurred Construction on the Kitimat hatchery this year, contrary to pre-season facility continued through 1982. It is expectations. Chum fisheries were con­ expected to be completed in late ducted over part of the west coast to August, 1983. Juvenile releases from sample stock strength, and later in its pilot hatchery operation in 1982 and Tasu Sound, on were 160,000 chinook, 30,000 chum, selected strong returns. Chinook 55,000 coho and 26,000 steelhead. catches by the troll fleet were moder­ ate, and coho fishing was poor through­ A total of 1.1 million chum eggs was out. The two-week troll closure in taken for the McLoughlin 8ay hatchery June signi ficantly affected the large (8ella 8ella) this season, with 600,000 troll fleet operating out of Masset. egg survival (40 percent) to date. Sport Fishery An Employment Bridging Assistance, Tidal sport fishing was outstanding Program--a joint Employment and this year, with total catches more than Immigration/Department of Fisheries double last year's catch. Overall venture established creel census and fishing effort for chinook is still stream clearance programs in various fairly low, despite 7 - 9 kg average regions in the Central Coast. This sizes, but fishing effort for coho program created employment for some continues to climb. Non-tidal fishing people who had been receiving unemploy­ was poor due to dry weather condi­ ment insurance benefits. tions, although numbers of local and tourist fishermen are increasing rapid­ Contact: W.H. McKenzie, ly. All rivers on the Islands have a District Supervisor, single-hook only regulation to protect Ki timat. pink and coho.

53 Table 43 QUEEN CHARLOTTE DISTRICT 1982 Commercial Salmon Catch and Escapements

Species Gillnet Seine Troll Total Esca~ement

Statistical Area 1 (Masset Subdistrict) Sockeye 710 60,237 15,063 76,010 28,500 Coho 106 7,822 130,325 138,253 35,250 Pink 15 6,876 71,957 78,848 211,250 Chum 226 13,834 7,488 21 ,548 70,800 Chinook 14 6,722 96,852 103,588 1,400 Steelhead 7 82 ----55 144 NA* Total 1,078 95,573 321,740 418,391 347,200+

Statistical Area 2W (West Coast Q.C.I.) Sockeye 13,259 7,004 20,263 3,831 Coho 53° 2,681 38,390 41 ,124 856 Pink 66 4,345 8,207 12,618 112,492 Chum 1,056 58,118 1,102 60,276 93,465 Chinook 6,700 43,072 49,772 0 Steelhead ° 18 150 168 NA ° ---- Total 1,175 85,121 97,925 184,221 210,644+

Statistical Area 2E (East Coast Q.C.I.) Sockeye 719 178 11,032 11,929 1850 Coho 137 20 103,422 103,579 37,059 Pink 29 70 18,136 18,235 166,796 Chum 14,816 5,674 696 21 ,186 201,556 Chinook 95 25,761 25,856 Steel head ° 53 53 NA° ° ----° ---- Total 15,796 5,942 159,100 180,838 407,261+ * Not available.

Table 44 Table 45 QUEEN CHARLOTTE DISTRICT QUEEN CHARLOTTE DISTRICT

1982 Sport Fish Catches* 1982 Indian Food Fish Catches

Species Tidal Nontidal Species Catch

Sockeye 3 NA Sockeye 8,880 Coho 6,905 2,660 Coho 275 Pink 1,220 NA Pink 75 Chum 153 NA Chum 825 Chinook 2,771 NA Chinook 350 Steelhead NA NA Steelhead 258 * Estimates only. NA means "not avail- able." Total 10,663 54 -,

Indian Food Fishery Herring Fishery The Indian food fishery is a small Spawn deposition on the east coast but important fishery. It revolves was good to excellent, while light in around several local sockeye stocks, places on the west coast. A signi fi­ some passing sockeye, and local churn. cant spawn occurred for the second year Roe-an-kelp, abalone, and halibut are in a row in the Port Louis area on the also very signi ficant in the food west coast. fishery. Eleven roe-on-kelp licences operated on the east coast. A pond survey was Salmon Escapements conducted on the licence operators, and Although this was a pink cycle year, all operators utilized the open pond returns on the whole were poor. By system. contrast, chum returns \~ere good despite a severe flood in the major brood year 1978. Little information is available on coho escapements. Expect­ ed chum returns to the Pall ant Creek hatChery did not materialize t'1is year. Yakoun River chinook showed some encouraging increase in response to several years on conservation closures.

The herring fishery in , Queen Charlotte Island. 55 Enforcement Table 46 One commercial and five sport fishing QUEEN CHARLOTTE DISTRICT charges were processed in the District this year. Conv iet ions were obtained 1982 Commercial Herring Catch (tonnes) on all charges. 1 Seine Gillnet Total Habitat The pilot mill of Cinola gold mine Statistical Area 2W (West Coast Q.C.I.) near the Yakoun River completed its Food & Bait D D D operation during 1982. The mill is now Roe 1,297 0 1,297 partly disassembled and all exploration activity has ceased in the claim area. Statistical Area 1 (Has set Subdistrict) At this time, phase II of the environ­ Food & Bait 50 0 50 mental report has not been submitted; Roe 0 0 0 therefore, the company's intentions to resolve the major problems of tailing Statistical Area 2E (East Coast Q.C.I.) waste disposal are not known. No Food & Bait 100 o 100 start-up date for resumption of full Roe 2,510 1,541 4,051 operations has yet been announced. 1 There were no trawl fisheries in this District. The South t~oresby Wilderness Plan­ ning Team has co~pleted its report Table 47 preparation for recommendations to the QUEEN CHARLOTTE DISTRICT provincial govern,nent regarding land use in the region of South Moresby 1982 Herring Spawn Deposition* Island. Key sections provided by the Fisheries district representative (standard square metres x 1,000) included a freshwater habilat evalua­ .tion of the four land-use options and a Area 1982 1981 proposed st rategy fo r DFO management in the marine zone adjacent to the park. 1 110.87 39.36 The draft report will be presented at a 2E 1,224.00 1,517.98 series of public meetings during March 2W 550.79 211.71 and April of 1983. * The 1981 figures in this table are the final data compiled by the Field The economic downturn resulted in a Services Branch; they do not in all suspension of all major forestry devel­ cases correspond with the data opments such as mainline road construc­ published in the 1981 FSB Review. tion and conversion to dryland sorts. Heavy emphasis was placed on harvesting areas with existing roads and short hauling distances to water sites. In Other Fisheries some cases, this included areas which Seven abalone vessels took approx­ had been previously deferred, resulting imately 20 percent of the total coast­ in some interagency conflict. wide quota. Halibut fishermen landed \lerygoodca£ches, . despite· poor· weather The Fish/Forestfy Int-eractio-n -·Pro,:, and low prices. Ten vessels partici­ gram has entered its preliminary report pated in the crab pot fishery off stage on its investigation into land­ Masset, though catches were generally slide processes and st ream impacts. poor. A small amount of razor cl ams The program began in 1981 to resolve were sold as bait for the crab the questions raised as a result of fishery. Small amounts of beach­ alleged da'nage to fish habitat from collected octopus were sold as bait to landslides off steep slopes. halibut fishermen. 56 Salmonid Enhancement Table 48 Enhancement activities cover a diverse range of methods and many local QUEEN CHARLOTTE OISTRICT people are involved.

1982 Habitat Protection Referrals Public involvement incubation boxes are producing mainly coho and chum Type Number fry. Under SEP's Community Economic Development Program, the Masset Indian Water Licences 1B Band operates a chinook - coho - Forestry 98 sockeye facility on the Yakoun River. Navigable Waters Protection Act 3 Both Pall ant Creek chum hatchery and Urban Development 6 Mathers Creek pilot chum hatchery Pesticide Application B experienced difficulty obtaining brood Waste Management 4 stock due to poor adult returns, but 7 Ocean Dumping & Dredging 2 million chum fry were released from Land, Lease and Foreshore Leases 32 Pallant seapens earlier in spring. Mineral Development 24 Salmon Enhancement 1 B Contact: Chris Dragseth, Total 213 District Supervisor, Queen Charlotte City.

The Tasu mine, an the west coast of Moresby Island (Gueen Charlotte Islands), is closing dawn in October 1983. 57 Commercial Salmon Fishery The 1982 return of sockeye to the Prince Rupert District Skeen a River, totalling 3.37 million fish, was the largest since accurate The Prince Rupert District is the catch and escapement records began in most northerly coastal district in the 1940. The net fishing fleet caught 2.1 Pacific Region. On the coast, it million Skeen a-bound sockeye in Areas extends from the southern tip of Banks 3, 4 and 5; these fish weighed an aver­ Island (Grenville-Principe subdistrict) age of three kilograms each. The 1982 in the south to the Alaska/B.C. border run consisted of 82 percent five-year­ in the north. Inland, it includes the olds and 15 percent four-year-olds; the and Skeena River watersheds. remainder were in other age classes.

The major population centers are The seine catch of sockeye in Area 4 Prince Rupert, Terrace, Smithers and was also the largest on record. The Houston. There are also numerous small Nass River net sockeye catch of 245,000 centers and native communities through­ fish came from a total return of out the District.

Table 49 PRINCE RUPERT DISTRICT 1982 Commercial Salmon Catch and Escapements Species Gillnet Seine Troll Total Escapement

Statistical Area 3 (Lower Nass) Sockeye 232,959 415,306 5,356 653,621 281J,OOO Coho 17,908 51,294 53,094 122,296 32,605 Pink 59,178 970,445 30,553 1,060,176 431,435 Chum 18,122 38,530 963 57,615 29,775 Chinook 7,232 28,021 9,022 44,275 6,375 Steel head 1,618 2,484 ---18 4,120 N,,* Total 337,017 1,506,080 99,006 1,942,103 780,190+ Statistical Area 4 (Lower Skeena) Sockeye 1,184,729 427,678 6,019 1,618,426 1,140,329 Coho 28,892 19,975 35,396 84,263 16,555 Pink 138,926 108,827 12,644 260,397 710,300 Chum 17,908 11,752 604 30,264 4,375 Chinook 9,196 15,717 9,155 34,068 16,725 Steelhead 9,675 916 7 10,598 NA ------Total 1,389,326 584,865 63,825 2,038,016 1,888,284+

Statistical Area 5 (Grenville-Principe) Sockeye 31 , 91 8 38,510 6,210 76,638 19,450 Coho 7,927 2,054 23,962 33,943 620 .-" Pink 18,940 39,676 4,529 63,145 70,300 Chum 9,037 2,890 79 12,006 7,370 Chinook 382 1,183 4,893 6,458 0 Steelhead 39 226 ----3 268 ---NA Total 68,243 84,539 39,676 192,458 97,740+ * Not available.

58 -,

525,000 pieces. The 10-year average Al though the chinook escapement was return is 418,000. down again in 1982, the tidal sport fish catch appeared to be much higher In an effort to increase chinook and than the previous year. Within Area 4, steelhead escapement to the Skeens, Prince Rupert Harbor and Stewart, fish­ breaks in fishing effort were uti­ ing in the early months of the year lized. No more than three consecutive produced fair catches of chinook weigh­ fishing days were scheduled, with a ing between 4.5 - 9 kg each. minimum of two non-fishing days between openings. There was good return of sockeye to Shawatlan Creek, resulting in a target­ There was a strong return of pink ted sport fishery at the creek mouth. salmon to the Nass River. A catch of When jigging became a problem, the more than one million pieces was boundary was moved seaward. recorded, and the escapement Was almost double the 10-year average. The aver­ With adverse weather conditions and age run 0 f pink salmon to the Skeena high waters during the fall months, the Was less than predicted; therefore., coho catch was down considerably over there were no net fishing openings for previous years. When the weather did this species. The chum return was weak permit small crafts to leave various in all northern subdistricts, and this harbors, coho fishing was excellent. was reflected in both the catches and escapements. The Area 3 escapement of The non-tidal sport fishery on the 20,000 fish was only one-third of the Skeena River and its tributaries con­ 10-year average. tinue to increase by leaps and bounds. The principal fisheries are for chinook Chinook and coho catches were good during the early summer months and coho in the net fisheries, but escapements and steel head in September and Octo­ were generally poor. ber. A large steelhead fishery is also developing during November and Decem­ A relatively strong steelhead run ber, lasting until freeze-up and con­ yielded high catches in the Areas 3 and tinuing in the early spring, prior to 4 net fisheries, and a higher escape­ steel head spawning During July and ment than the recent years' average was August, there are often up to 1,000 achieved in the Skeena system. anglers per day along the banks of the Skeena River. A troll closure was in effect from June 10 - 24 in an effort to increase With the advent of jet-powered coastal chinook escapements. Troll boats, even the smaller tributaries figures are not available at this time. have become "river highways." During peak fishing periods, there may be up Sport Fishery to 50 - 60 boats. In 1982, there was an increase in sport fishing activity in the coastal Although the effort is intense, the areas of District 8. This was probably catch rate is low, mainly due to due to the extensive layoffs in the declining chinook stocks. It is esti­ wood industry and the addition of con­ mated that more than 100 angler-hours struction crews to the Ridley Island are required to catch a large chinook proj ects. (more than 14 kg).

A sport fishing advisor was appoint­ Coho stocks have not declined as ed for the northern regions, in an rapidly as chinook and the effort to effort to improve communications with catch coho is somewhat better. Water the sport fish community. levels during late fall dictate angling productivity someWhat and helps protect 59 declining stocks. Herring Fishery Herring soundings in the Port Simp­ A creel census carried out in the son and Kitkatla areas failed to iden­ Terrace area, from July 4 - Sept. 24, ti fy stocks in excess of spawning gathered some valuable information on requirements and no roe fisheries were catches and fishing effort. held this year.

Table 50 Nine roe-on-kelp licence holders PRINCE RUPERT OISTRICT fished with generally good success, 19B2 Sport Fish Catches* producing a total of 57.3 tonnes of product of high quality. Species Tidal Nontidal Five 45.3-tonne bait pond permits Sockeye BOO lJ were issued in the spring, following Coho 1,400 2,500 the spawning season. None of the small Pink 750 0 northern food and bait quota was taken Chum 0 0 from District 8 this fall. Chinook 2,70lJ 2,650 Steelhead 0 685+ Table 52 * Estimates only. PRINCE RUPERT DISTRICT 19B2 Commercial Herring Catch (tonnes)* Indian Food Fishery An increase in effort and catch Was * There were no herring fisheries in noted in both the tidal and non-tidal this District in 1982. Indian food fisheries, probably an indicator of the difficult economic Table 53 times as well as the general high num­ bers of sockeye. For the most part, PRINCE RUPERT DISTRICT band councils assumed the responsibili­ 19B2 Herring Spawn Deposition* ty of issuing food licences to band members. An experimental fish trap was (standard square metres x 1,OlJO) utilized with some success at Morice­ town Canyon in an attempt to find an Area 19B2 19B1 acceptable alternate to the gaff fishery. 3 28.18 291.16 4 727.12 565.36 A number of food-fishing-related 5 359.75 410.23 charges were· laid, mostly dealing with * The 1981 figures in this table are cases of suspected illegal sale. the final data compiled by the Field Serv ices Branch; they do not in all Table 51 cases correspond with the data PRINCE RUPERT DISTRICT published in the 1981 FSB Review. 19B2 Indian Food Fish Catches

Species Catch Salmon Escapements

With the exception of sockeye, j Sockeye 240,000 steelhead and some pink stocks, escape­ Coho 28,500 ments were .Jenerally disappointing. Pink 39,000 The Babine sockeye escapement of 1.2 Chum 1,450 million was above optimum for the Chinook 13,200 second straight year. Some gains are Steel head 3,00lJ evident in the early timing stocks. The upper Skeena sockeye, however, Total 325,150 remained well below the required 60 level. Coho in general showed below Logging in the coastal areas is at a average strength on the spawning very low level. The Watson Island pulp grounds, although the confidence level mill had extensive shut-downs, the in coho figures is low. Pink salmon results of high costs and soft escapements were good in most areas and markets. Interior logging fared some­ were double recent years' average in what better, although many sawmills had the lower Nass. Chum escapements, with market-related shut-downs. Infesta­ the exception of Area 5, were low and tions of pine bark beetles in the extremely low in the lower Nass. Babine watershed are causing the B. C. Chinook escapements with few excep­ Ministry of Forests to press for accel­ tions, remained low throughout the erated rates of cut in an attempt to District. contain the spread of the beetles. Uncontrolled infestation could have Habitat detrimental effects on the Babine Industrial development in the Prince watershed. Rupert area dominated the habitat scene, with staff heavily involved in The mining illdustry also experienced referrals for the Grassy Point (Dome economic problems. Some mines, includ­ Petroleum) and Ridley Island (coal and ing the controversial Arnax Kitsault grain ports) megaprojects. Construc­ molybdenum mine, the Bell Copper and tion is well underway at Ridley Island, Noranda mines were forced to curtail with very few environmental problems operations. Concern was raised over noted to date. Pending final approval acid generation from the Equity silver of the project, construction of the tailings near Houston and the release liquefied natural gas plant at Grassy of cyanide from the Scotty gold mine Point near Port Simpson is likely to near Stewart. begin in 1984.

Building "steps" to facilitate fish passage to an improperly placed culvert on Chicago Creek, Hazelton. 61 Other areas of concern include the upgrading of highway and railroad systems adjacent to the Skeena River. Management Biology The Department of Highways has under­ taken a program to compensate for habi­ Docee Fence Adult Enumeration tat lost due to filling along the river The adult sockeye return to Long bank. The specifics of this program Lake in Smith Inlet is counted through are not available at this time. a "fence" on the Docee River, the out­ let of Long Lake. The strength of the Table 54 returning sockeye stock is estimated by the size and timing of the run through PRINCE RUPERT DISTRICT the fence. The regulation of the Smith 1982 Habitat Protection Referrals Inlet sockeye fishery is based on these estimates. An excellent return of pre­ Number dominantly five-year-old sockeye pro­ v ided an escapement of 215,000 and a Water Licences 61 commercial catch of 286,000. Forestry 158 Navigable Waters Protection Act 8 Rivers Inlet Echosounding Land Use Applications 62 Adult sockeye returning to IUvers Urban Development 19 Inlet generally hold at the head of the Ocean Dumping & Dredging 5 inlet prior to moving into the lake. Pollution Control Board: The daily pattern of sockeye buildup is Pesticides 15 estimated by echosounding along a pre­ Waste Management 17 scribed grid. The openings for the Highway Development 9 commercial sockeye fishery are deter­ Placer Mining 2 mined from the size and timing of the Other 73 returning stock, as estimated from the echo sounding program. However, in 1982 Total 429 the fish moved into with­ out holding in the inlet, thus a com­ plete estimate of the escapement was Enforcement not possible. A total of 91 persons -were charged with offences in District 8 in 1982. Owikeno Lake Adult Spawner Survey Guilty pleas were entered by 62 per­ Each fall, inspections are made of sons, five charges were stayed or with­ all the stream and lake spawning areas drawn; the remainder are unresolved at in Owikeno Lake. Representatives from this time. Penalties have ranged from industry also participate in this probation to a number of hours of com­ survey, which forms the basis of the munity service work to fines of up to escapement estimate for Rivers Inlet $2,000. Most fines levied ranged from sockeye. The sockeye escapement to $25 to $200. Owikeno Lake was estimated at 823,000 fish, which equals the 1981 escapement Illegal activity was noted mainly in and is well in excess of the 10-year the following areas: commercial fish­ average. The optimum escapement for ing boundary violations, sport fish this system is one million fish. violations (abalone in tidal waters and possession of pink and sockeye salmon Atnarko Tower Count from non-tidal waters) and Indian food The Atnarko Tower count provides fish violations. daily estimates of escapements of adult pink salmon to the Atnarko River (Bella Contact: Gus Jaltema, Coola system). In 1982, the program District SUpervisor, Was ably run through the job creation Prince Rupert. program. The escapement of 125,000 62 pink salmon was disappointing, but Nass River Test Fishery within the expected range. During the early 1960s, assessment of the strength of the Nass sockeye Contact: Dave Peacock, stock became even more difficult as the Management Biologist, mobili ty of the fleet increased and as Central Coast. greater fishing pressure was exerted at greater distances from the historical estuarine area. Since 1963, a test­ Skeena River Test Fishery fishing operation has been conducted The Skeena River test fishery was near the upriver fishing boundary. The established in 1956 to provide a daily test fishery is designed to provide a estimate of sockeye and pink escape­ daily index of sockeye escapement from ments beyond the commercial fishery the fishing area. The data obtained boundary. This information Was consid­ from this operation, in addition to ered essential for the effective estimates of commercial catch in the management of these stocks. Indices estuarine region, provide a complete for coho, chum and steelhead are also picture of the strength of the run as calculated to determine timing and it develops each year. The ability to relative abundance. All species are approximate the escapement on a daily sampled for age, length, sex and size basis as soon as it has left the fish­ to ful fill requirements for both short­ ery is an extremely valuable aid to the term management and longer-term data precise regulation of the fishery. inventory requirements.

Table 55

Accuracy of Skeena Test Fishing Index

Estimated Actual % Error Year Sockeye Pink Sockeye Pink Sockeye Pink (X 1000) (X 1000)

1969 681 917 704 873 3.27 -5.04 1970 641 912 722 923 11.22 1.19 1971 806 961 885 1,090 8.93 11.83 1972 739 650 742 1,672 0.40 61.12 1973 1,197 855 962 1,251 -24.43 31.65 1974 970 343 792 314 -22.47 -9.24 1975 902 879 910 1,822 0.88 51.76 1976 628 514 658 597 4.56 13.90 1977 962 934 1,041 962 7.59 2.91 1978 669 837 526 703 -27.19 -19.06 1979 1,061 517 1,294 510 18.01 -1.37 1980 917 627 704 765 -30.26 18.04 1981 1,064 883 1,565 1,132 32.01 22.00 1982 1,158 438 1,315 710 11.94 38.31

Average +14.51 +20.33

63 The 1982 season was the first full Babine River Counting Fence season without road access, as both the Adult Enumeration Program Ishkeenickh and Monkley 8ridges gave The system produces more way in July 1981. Fish caught during than 90 percent of the sockeye salmon the operation were delivered to Prince for the Skeena river watershed. The Rupert once a week by the test fishing Babine River counting fence (establish­ boat. The missing daily index was ed in 1947), near the outlet of Sabine estimated by interpolating the indices Lake, provides one of the best esti­ of the day before and the day after the mates of adult salmon escapements on delivery run. the Paci fic coast. It also serves as an invaluable calibration of the Skeena Table 56 River test fishery. Relationship Between Annual Nass River The adult enumeration program was Test Fishing Index of Sockeye Spawning conducted from July 9 - Sept. 27. In Escapement and Recorded Annual Spawning addition to the normal counting opera­ Escapements 1963 - 1982 tion, tags were recovered from the international tagging program with the Predicted Recorded Percent help of some of their staff. This was Year Escapement* Escapement Error the first year of a joint U. S ./Canada research program designed to determine 1963 unknown interception rates in certain key 1964 134,890 153,500 12.1 fisheries. 1965 111 ,405 127,000 12.3 1966 90,990 99,000 8.1 This was the second can sec uti ve 1967 95,360 76,700 -24.3 year, and the third time in the last 1968 132,730 110,000 -20.7 four years, that more than one million 1969 182,100 large sockeye passed through the count­ 1970 115,396 110,751~ -4.2 ing fence. The optimum escapement to 1971 145,180 244,674 40.6 this system is estimated to be around 1972 94,072 175,866 46.5 0.85 million. 1973 262,625 283,672 7.4 1974 175,610 193,203 9.1 There was no native fishery in 1982 1975 118,668 73,582 -61.3 due to the poor return of jack 1976 167,068 141,305 -18.2 sockeye. The final year of a three­ 1977 256,454 400,371 35.9 year tagging program designed to deter­ 1978 148,335 144,610 -2.6 mine the timing of the various sub­ 1979 182,418 212,920 14.3 stocks past the fence was completed in 1980 151,704 155,521 2.6 1982. The results shOUld be available 1981 232,608 255,668 9.0 by mid-1983. 1982 250,032 290,000 13.8 +19. 1 Smolt Enumeration Program Using a modified mark-recapture method, the smolt migration out of * Predicted escapement for 1961~-1968 Babine Lake has been estimated annually based on 1 :500, 197i.l-1972 on 1: 400, since the early 1960s. The 1982 pro­ 1973-1978 based on 1:550, 1979-1982 gram commenced on Ma y 14 and continued based on 1:600 until June 12; 74,500 smolts were tag­ ged and released. The total smolt out­ put of 130.7 million is the second highest on record, and it comes from a very poor brood year spawning escape­ ment. The data are useful in assessing the productivity of Babine Lake as well as in forecasting future returns. 64 Meziadin Fishway and Nass Survey QCI Test Fishing The Meziadin fishway Was built in In 1978, Japanese-style chum salmon 1966 to help the sockeye migration enhancement Was initiated on Pallant bypass a series of falls. It also pro­ Creek near Moresby Camp, Cumshewa vides a convenient facility for enumer­ Inlet, to provide more fish to the ation of the sockeye run on its way historical fall chum fishery on the into Meziadin Lake. To a lesser Queen Charlotte Islands. In order to degree, chinook and coho stocks are manage this enhanced stock effectively, also enumerated. a two-year tagging study was completed in 1980-81 to identify the timing and The 1982 enumeration ran from June mixing of Paliant Creek chums relative 29 - Sept. 13. The fishway Was manned to other chum stocks and species of by a job creation crew as part of the salmon in and around Cumshewa Inlet. recovery portion of the international tagging program. Preparatory to the first dominant four.-year-old enhanced chum returns of Sockeye spawning estimates for 1982, test fishing was initiated in Bowser Lake are made by analyzing scale Cumshewa Inlet for the purpose of: data from Bowser Lake, Meziadin Lake establishing standard gillnet and the Nass River test fisheries. The index sites 1982 results should be available in - confirming the origin of stocks early 1983. from these sites with complementary tagging information Contact: Ron Kadowaki, - investigating (through the use of Nass/Skeena Management a seine test vessel) the success of Biologist. echosounding and mark-recapture sam­ pling techniques in estimating stock Queen Charlotte Islands size within the salmon holding area at The waters surrounding the Queen the head of the inlet prior to upstream Charlotte Islands support local pink migration and fence enumeration. and chum salmon net fisheries as well as a major north coast troll fishery. Because of the unexpectedly small The latter targets on migrating stocks pink and chum salmon returns to of chinook salmon of mixed origin, Cumshewa Inlet in 1982, echosounding including Alaska, north and central did not prove feasible; however, gill­ B.C., southern B.C., Washington and net catch per unit effort (CPUE) Oregon stocks. Coho stocks of primari­ correlations with fence escapement ly northern B.C. origin are caught. A counts may prove to be a useful index sockeye interception net fiShery, occurs of chum salmon abundance for future in July and early August in the Rennell investigation. The CPUE and mark­ Sound and Langara Island area. recapture sampling results and the tag recovery information require further In 1982, the timing of the sockeye analyses before recommendations for fishery was studied in an attempt to next year's program can be finalized. minimize the incidental chinook catch, which has escalated in recent years. Contact: Lynda Orman, To rehabilitate coastal chinook stocks, Management Biologist, a two-week closure in the north coast Queen Charlotte Islands. troll fishery and chinook quotas for the sockeye interception net fisheries of Area 1 and Area 2W, the north and Geoduck Fishery west coast of the Queen Charlotte The 1982 commercial geoduck fishery Islands, respectively, were implemented was open from January to September, in 1982. Further conservation measures with a coast-wide quota of 2,984,350 kg are anticipated in coming years. (615 million pounds). Approximately 65 450,000 kg (ab.out one million pounds) mortality was due to overloading of the were taken from the North Coast, with ponds. the majority o'f this harvested from Area 7. Contact: Paul Sprout, Senior Management Biologist, Abalone Fishery North Coast Division. In 19B2, the commercial abalone season ran from Feb. 15 to Dec. 15. in 19B2, each licenced abalone vessel was assigned a vessel quota of 3,629 kg Northern Inspection (B,OOO lbs). The coast-wide allowable catch Was set at 94,347 kg (208,000 District lbs) of which 78,102 kg (172,186 lbs) were harvested. The catch was equallY The Northern Inspection District distributed geographically with 34 per­ encompasses the area north of Cape cent of the catch from the, Queen Caution to Portland Canal and from the Charlotte Islands, (Areas 1, 2E, 211), Queen Charlotte Islands inland. Eleven 32 percent from the Central Coast fish processing plants operate in this (Areas 6, 10) and 27 percent from the District. This is a decrease from South Coast (Areas 11, 12, 20, 23, 24, previous years, due to the amalgamation 27) • The single-largest producing of B.C. Packers' processing operations statistical area was Area 6 which pro­ into one facility--Prince Rupert duced 31 percent of the catch. plant. The Prince Rupert plant com- menced operations ill March 1982, and An annual meeting with abalone with eleven canning lines, it is the licence holders was held in Oecember largest salmon cannery in the world. 1982 to discuss management plans for One month later, B. C. Packers closed the 19B3 season and review the previous down its Rupert cold storage plant in year's fishery. Seal Cove.

Spawn-an-Kelp Fishery In 1982, product certification play­ Since 1975, a spawn-on-kelp fishery ed a large role in the Northern Inspec­ has been conducted on the B. C. coast. tion District; staff conducted 276 Ripe herring are caught by seine and inspections, representing 3,696,205 kg then relased in a net enclosure w'lere of fish products. kelp, attached to strings, has been suspended. Herring deposit eggs on the The canned salmon botulism incident, kelp and when the desirable egg cover­ along with the 1982 labor dispute dur­ age is obtained, the kelp is removed, ing the canning season, resulted in the packed in totes with salt, and shipped 1982 canned salmon pack being half that to plants for final processing. of the previous year's production. Due to international health concerns, In 1982, 2B licences were issued and Inspection drastically increased its each licence holder was permitted to in-plant monitoring of the canneries produce 7.26 tonnes of net product and spent considerable time toward weight. The 146.2 tonnes landed in defect analysis at B.C. Packers' can­ 1982, although slightly less than that warehouse, Canol Dock. Prior to landed in the previous year, continued release, DFO requires that all canned the high production observed in recent salmon undergo double-dudding and years. check-weighing to screen for defective cans. A monitoring study in 1982 indicated that high mortality of herring was The effects of the recession were experienced in many of the net enclo­ evident in the fishing industry during sures. It was concluded that the 1982, resulting in a decrease or end of 66 certain processing activities. B.C. monitor landings and to apply the pro­ Packers, the only holder of a clam posed standards developed for food her­ permit in the north, did not process ring and fillets under the Fish Quality butter clams in 1982. Total ground fish Improvement Program. landings in 1982 were approximately half that of 1981--only 7,428 tonnes Northern Inspection District can were landed. B. C. Packers ceased its anticipate an increase in workload, ground fish operation upon closure of should the development of processng the Rupert cold storage plant and Royal plants in Masset, Port Clements, Queen Fisheries elected not to process Charlotte City and Prince Rupert pro­ ground fish in the 1982 season. ceed as planned. The food and roe herring fisheries Contact: Lesley Pozer, ran smoothly during 1982. A reduced Fish Quality Specialist, quota of 272.1 tonnes for food herring Northern Inspection, gave Inspection officers ample time to Prince Rupert.

Offshore

The Offshore Division was created in Contact: Ed Zyblut, 1977 to develop, regulate and manage Manager, forei';jn and domestic fishing activ ity Offshore Division. within Canada's 200-mile limit. Implicit in this mandate is a full com­ plement of activities which has grown as the fisheries have increased and Special Programs diversified. and Management The Division is responsible for ~anaging the offshore and near-shore The Special Programs and Management trawl and longline fisheries, and other Unit is Offshore's "research and devel­ marine fisheries, such as the sablefish opment" arm. The Unit designs, devel­ trap fishery. As Canada allows foreign ops, evaluates and implements special countries to fish stocks unharvested by programs to optimize the yield from Canadian fishermen, the Division must offshore fishery resources. To meet identify surplus stocks and fisheries this goal, the Unit conducts investiga­ in which a surplus has been absorbed by tions and prepares analyses of diverse increased domestic fishing activity. sectors of Canada's west coast fishing industry, while promoting effective Other responsibilities of the Divi­ business relations with these industry sion include: establishing terms and sectors. The Unit utilizes the conditions under which foreign vessels research in its Regional policy papers, are permitted to fish in the Canadian impact studies and contingency plans zone, implementing an effective program in support of international negotia­ of surveillance and enforcement, devel­ tions. The Unit also provides Regional oping and implementing a ground fish input into Canada's national policy on management plan, and authorizing coop­ foreign fishing within the 20o-mile erative fishing arrangements intended limit. to bridge the gap in the transitional stage of ending foreign involvement in Highlights in 1982 included: a study the 2DO-mile zone. of the national and cooperative hake 67 fisheries; preparations for possible eventual implementation of Dr. Peter Offshore Surveillance Pearse's proposals for a halibut vessel quota system; a survey and report of and Enforcement B.C. companies that process groundfish; and research into the market potential The Surveillance and Enforcement for a B.C. seaweed harvest ing and pro­ Unit is responsible for monitoring cessing industry. foreign and domestic vessel activity and for enforcing management regula­ Contact: Barry Ackerman, tions outside the surfline and inside Head, the 200-mile limit. Special Programs and 11anagement Un i t. In order to meet these requirements, a number of objectives were set prior to e~tension of jurisdiction in 1977: - to inspect, at sea, one-third of the foreign fleet every month Offshore Operations - to inspect, at sea, one-sixth of the Canadian fleet every month This Unit is responsible for moni­ - to maintain a Canadian presence toring foreign and domestic fishing over lucrative fiShing grounds inter­ activity for both e~isting and develop­ sected by fishing zone closure lines or ing fisheries within the 200-mile the 200-mile limit limit. It is also responsible for to locate and identi fy (by ai r coordinating the development and imple­ patrol) at least once every week, and mentation of an annual ground fish more often in sensitive areas, every management plan and Regional guidelines vessel fishing in offshore Canadian for foreign fishing vessels. waters.

Some specific responsibilities of To attempt to meet these objectives, the Unit are: vessels, planes, equipment and instal­ compiling and assessing forei'Jn lations operated by DFO, Department of and domestic catches, with a view to National Defence and the Ministry of implementing closures or other regula­ Transport are used. tory measures upon attainment of quotas preparing licences, permits and Surveillance Activities fee assessments for foreign vessels In 1982, the Department of National engaged in either fishing for a nation­ Defence allotted 25 sea-days to the al allocation or in a joint-venture Offshore Division for fisheries patrol. operation with Canadian vessels - maintaining effective communica­ The full allotment was utilized and tions with other Departmental agencies, DND ships, with an Offshore fishery commercial fishermen, industry repre­ officer 011 board, stealned a total of. sentatives, and foreign industry or 5, 7L~B nautical miles on fisheries government representatives patrol. - evaluating and recommending chang­ es to e~isting regulations and agree­ In addition to the surface vessels, ments pertaining to the offshore DND also provides dedicated air sur­ fishery. veillance by Tracker aircraft and multi-tasked time by the long-range Contact: Keni Lorette, Aurora. Trackers from VU33 Squadron Head, logged a total of 520 hours and prov id­ Offshore Operations Unit. ed invaluable information on gear dis­ tribution and vessel counts. Some of 68 Table 57 1982 Surveillance Activities*

Country Vessel Sightings1 Vessel Inspections2 Aircraft of Origin (by surface patrol) (by Offshore riDs) Sightings3

Canada 1, 111 279 407

United States 2 3 14

Japan 7 7 3

U.S.S.R. 28 31 11

Poland 54 54 31

Total 1,202 374 463

1 These figures include vessels which may have been sighted on more than one occasion.

2 These figures includA multiple inspections and thus do not reflect actual vessel numbers operating in the Canadian zone.

3 A "sighting" is defined as those vessels on which the name is discernible from the aircraft. Aircraft surveillance was provided by DND Tracker, Argus and Aurora patrols. The Trackers, dedicated to fisheries patrols, flew for 519.4 hours. The multi-tasked Aurora flights compiled 404.8 hours. These figures include vessels which may have been sighted on more than one occasion.

* preliminary data. these flights were accompanied by for a total of 31,869 nautical miles. fishery officers, biologists or other The majority of this support was logged staff to assist in familiarizing the by the Tanu and the James Sinclair, as aircraft crews with DFO requirements. the Laurier was retired from active service on April 1,1982. The Auroras of 407 Squadron are credit­ ed with 405 multi-tasked hours in In addit ion, the DFO vessels AU in 1982. Although it is difficult to Post, Como'< Post, and Ar row Post ascertain the proportion of time dedi­ assisted in offshore surveillance by cated solely to fisheries, the benefit contributing a total of 69 vessel is derived from the coverage obtained days. Inshore fishery officers spent a of the fishing zone beyond Tracker total of 78 days at sea on these range and outside normal surface pat rol vessels. areas. During the 1982 season, officers The DFO headquarters' vessels Tanu, from the Offshore Division spent a James Sinclair and Laurier provided the total of 291 days at sea on DFO and DNO Offshore Division with 283 sea-days, vessels. This includes 25 days which 69 were dedicated to inshore fisheries, er to foreign processor ships, continu­ such as herring and salmon, and 19 days ed strongly in 1982. The first Cana­ on foreign vessels observing the hake dian west coast fishery of this type fishery. occurred in 1978, following the establishment of the 200-mile limit in During the 1982 season, 25 warnings 1977. The fishery has grown substan­ were issued and 13 charges were laid tially--it involved two Polish proces­ for domestic fishing violations. Four sors and two Canadian trawlers in 1978, warnings were also issued, to one and in 1982, seven Polish and four Japanese and three Polish vessels. Sov iet processors were supplied by 17 Canadian trawlers. Catches of hake during the same period have increased Hake Cooperative Arrangements by more than ten-fold. There is every The cooperative fishery for Pacific indication that this fishery, which is hake, in which Canadian trawlers deliv- coordinated by the Hake Consortium of

Table 58

Pacific Hake landings*1 in B.C. Waters (Area 3C) 1979 - 19B2 (tonnes)

1979 1980 1981 1982 Country Quota Catch Quota Catch Quota Catch Quota Catch National Fishery:

U.S.S.R. 3,000 Supplement 140.6 Poland 6,700 4,262.7 5,000 4,943.0 8,000 2,918.4 10,000 10,356.6 Japan 6,000 3,637.3 6,000 816.9 5,000 186.7 2,500 2,237.0

Total 15,700 7,900.0 11,000+ 5,900.5 13,000 3,105.1 12,500 12,593.6 Cooperative Fishery:

U.S.S.R. 6,000 1,131.0 8,000 4,884.2 8,000 7,487.4 8,000*2 9,390.9 Poland 3,000 3,102.0 5,000 4,795.7 5,000 5,049.8 10,000 10,222.4 Greece 6,000 3,529.7 8,000 4,927.3

Total 9,000 4,233.0 19,000 13,209.6 21,000 17,464.5 18,000*219,613.3

GRAND TOTAL - All Fisheries:

U.S.S.R. 9,000 1,131.0 8,000 5,024.8 8,000 7,487.4 8,000*2 9,390.9 Poland 9,700 7,364.7 10,000 9,738.7 13,000 7,968.2 20,000 20,579.0 Japan 6,000 3,637.3 6,000 816.9 5,000 186.7 2,500 2,237.0 Greece 6,000 3,529.7 8,000 4,927.3 Domestic open 92.8 8,000 46.3 6,000 3,783.0 10,lJOO

*1 This includeB 80me pollock incidental catch.

*2 One Soviet vessel continued to fish under an open contract after the initial 8,000 t were taken. 70 B.C., will continue to expand and grow in importance.

Cooperative fisheries have a posi­ tive effect on the domestic fishing industry for many reasons, including: - helping to decrease pressure on traditional ground fish stocks by employing a number of the most success­ ful Canadian trawlers enabling Canadian fishermen to increase their knowledge and fishing expertise on hake - enabling the domestic processing sector to gain technical knowledge, which may lead to the development of a new domestic fishery A cod-end of hake is dumped aboard a aiding the Canadian economy Japanese stern trawler engaged in because foreign count ries involved in national fishing activities. this fishery have cont ributed millions of dollars through pu rchases of fuel, supplies and ship repairs. Table 59 Domestic Trawl Landings (tonnes) National Hake Fisheries Under the terms and conditions of Species 1982* 1981 the Law of the Sea Conference, species of fish that are surplus to Canada's English Sole 537 1,500 needs must be allocated to nations Rock Sole 681 1,059 which have enjoyed traditional fishing Petrale Sole 274 290 rights within the proclaimed 200-mile Dover Sole 866 1,245 limit. As a result, national alloca­ Rex Sole 69 190 tions of Pacific hake continued in Starry Flounder 108 198 1982, with quotas of 2,500 t to Japan Turbot 546 91.6 and 10,000 t to Poland. Foreign fish­ Other Flat fish 4 180 ing of this type is strictly monitored Pacific Cod 3,742 6,676 by the Surveillance and Enforcement lingcod 2,425 1,729 Sablefish 192 233 Table 60 Pacific Ocean Perch 5,321 5,103 Other Rockfish 4,405 4,487 Port Calls by Foreign Vessels in 1982* Misc. Species 114 264 Dogfish 1,443 637 Pollock 922 1,251 Poland 44 Hake 1 ,352 ~691 U.S.S.R. 27 Japan o Total 23,001 31,679 West Germany 1 Bulgaria 1 * Interviewed landings and some sales slip data. * Some vessels made multiple calls.

71 Unit and is only permitted in selected areas off the lower west coast of Vancouver Island.

Contact: John Cairns Head, Surveillance and Enforcement Unit. Operations Center

The principal responsibility of the Operations Center is to gather informa­ tion relating to commercial and recrea­ tional fishing activity off the Pacific coast of Canada, and to ensure that this information is distributed to DFQ staff, the fishing industry and general public. A Soviet stern trawler awaits the del iverlj of hake from r:anadian trawlers The information includes fishing off the lower west coast of Vancouver patterns or times, regulatory measures, Island. and summary catch and effort informa­ tion resulting from specific commer­ 669-2828. Recreational fishing infor­ cial, recreational and test fisheries. mation is available to fishermen on a Current and historical information on 24-hour basis by calling 666-3169. The these activities is maintained on file recording is updated weekly (Wednesday) within the Center for use by authorized from ~1ay through September, with less personnel. frequent updates during the remainder of the year. Commercial fishing times and loca­ tions are available to fishermen on a Contact: Vilma Miller, 24-hour basis through recorded tele­ Superv isor, phone messages; the number is Operations Center.

Inspection

The Inspection Di vision of the shell fish products entering into inter­ Pacific Region maintains field offices provincial, export and import trade and laboratories at the three major under authority of the Fish Inspection fishing ports of Vancouver, Victoria Act and Regulations. and Pr ince Rupert. The staff is well dispersed and constantly in touch with During 1982, the Inspection Division industry and fishermen. Processing maintained surveillance of 136 fish plants, fishing vessels, transport plants, including 19 canneries. A pro­ vehicles and unloading sites are regu­ gram of plant and product inspection larly inspected, along with fish and was maintained throughout the year to 72 ensure production and marketing of good 1983 on a voluntary basis, becoming quality products. Such inspections regulatory in 1984. Work is progress­ have become increasingly important ing on the development of ground fish because many importing nations will no fillet, food herring and oyster longer allow products into their coun­ standards. tries without accompanying certificates - improved quality control in pro­ attesting to satisfactory quality and cessing plants: Guidelines are being safety. As Canada is one of the larg­ developed with industry input. Work­ est exporters of fish and shellfish shops for industry are planned in 1983. products, maintaining high quality - unloading, dockside handling and standards is of increasing importance transportation to pI ants: Regul ations as markets have become very prohibit the use of equipment that competi ti ve. damage fish. Approved water supplies are required at all unloading sites. In 1982, world attention was focused The handling and transportation of fish on the safety of canned salmon because is being monitored to ensure quality of the unfortunate death in Belgium preservation. at tr ibuted to consumption of a can of - dockside grading: Dockside grad­ salmon packed in Alaska. A very inten­ ing is being encouraged in recognition sive surveillance program was initiated of those fishermen who take extra care in B.C. for all salmon canneries and to land top quality fish. their products. Canneries were fre­ quently surveyed and inspected, and a Fish Inspection activities are compulsory quality control program, reported in detail in sections dealing which included processing and opera­ with Fraser River, Northern B.C. and tional procedures and a thorough Yukon; South Coast and Northern Opera­ screening of finished product, was tions programs. implemented at each facility. A sig­ ni ficant proportion of field and lab Contact: Charles Campbell, time was redirected toward helping the A/Chief. companies preserve this multi-million dollar industry. As a result of splendid efforts by all Inspection staff and excellent cooperation by the Inspection canning companies, Canadian canned salmon still enjoys a favorable posi­ Engineering tion on domestic and foreign markets.

The National Fish Quality Improve­ The Inspection Engineering Section ment Program, initiated in 1980, is provides technical information and well underway with the cooperation of advice on fish plant construction and industry. The main components of this alterations to ensure compliance with program are: the Fish Inspection Regulations. Tech­ - vessel certification: As this is nical information and training is pro­ al ready a condition of licencing, vided to Inspection staff as well as to emphasis has been directed to monitor­ international organizations or ing and upgrading operational practices companies. which have now been included in Schedule III of the Fish Inspection The number of processing facilities Regulations. remained constant at 135. The number final product grade standards: of canneries reduced to 19 (22 in Standards have been developed with 1981l. Included in the total are 4 industry for frozen gutted Pacific sports/custom canneries. salmon. These will be implemented in 73 Major changes were implemented in Work Channel--a permanently closed PSP cannery quality control programs. Con­ area. No treatment was prescribed, and tainer integrity verification through all three were released the next day. double dud detector and check weighing The leftover cooked mussels were found equipment prior to labelling became a to contain 14,000 ug of toxin per 100 g mandatory requirement for canned of sample. Live shell stocks collected salmon. from the same location showed levels of 26,000 and 30,000 ug/10o g--the highest To re-establish the confidence in levels of PSP toxin ever recorded in Canadian canned salmon, several trips bivalve molluscs along the B.C. coast. were made by Inspection staff to Great Britain. In addition, a joint team of Oysters and clam shell stocks in Inspection staff and industry officials Area 17 and 18 encountered problems recerti fied the canned salmon produc­ with faecal contamination again during tion 0 f two Canadian companies in New the summer months. After consultation Zealand and Canada. with the Environmental Protection Ser­ vice (EPS), closures were instituted at Contact: Sing Liem, five locations from August 13 to Sep­ A/Senior Engineer. tember 30. They were Degnen Bay (part), Boat Harbor, Walker Hook, North Cove, and Long Harbor. Piper's Lagoon was also closed on August 27, when a survey sample showed a faecal coli form Shellfish Coordinator level of 2,400 MPN/1oo g.

The shell fish coordinator's main Three locations in Area 16 were responsibility is to administer the recommended for closure under Schedule Sanitary and Paralytic Shell fish 1 as the result of water quality Poisoning (PSP) Control and Monitoring surveys conducted by EPS. These areas Program to ensure uniform compliance include a small portion of Hidden with national and international stan­ Basin, the shoreward half of Churchill dards. This program serves to protect Bay, and a seasonal closure of Smuggler domestic and foreign consumers against Cove. the harvesting and marketing of unsafe shell fish products. In 1982, a computerized PSP monthly report system was implemented. The Gonyaulax (red tide) blooms along ability of the program to sort data by the were detect­ area, date, species, and PSP levels ed quite early in 1982--from the first will provide management with easy week of June to the end of October. access to an excellent data base.

In addition to Areas 12 and 13, which The di fficult economic time did not were closed on May 1, Areas 15, 16, 17, hamper the enthusiasm of a few individ­ 19 and 20 also experienced toxic condi­ uals in the shell fish industry. As a tions at different times during the result, the number of shell fish regis­ summer and fall months. trations actually increased to 59 at the end of 1982 from that of only 48 in There was one confirmed incidence of the previous year. One processor suc­ paralytic shellfish poisoning in the cessfully installed and operated depur­ Pacific Region in 1982. On May 3D, two ation facilities for littleneck clams. women and a three-year-old boy Were admitted to the Prince Rupert Regional Contact: Rudy Chiang, Hospital for observation. The three Sanitary Shellfish experienced symptoms of paralysis after Coordinator. eating cooked mussels harvested from 74 Boat Inspection Product Inspection The Vessel Fish Hold Inspection Pro­ The Product Inspection Division is gram was created to ensure that facili­ responsible for the examination of ties for holding fish on board fishing imported and domestic fresh, frozen and and transport vessels are sanitary and canped fish products to ensure that conducive to the preservation of qual­ organoleptic quality (appearance, odor, ity. More than 7,600 commercially flavor, texture, etc.), container licenced fishing vessels, packers, and integrity, additives and labelling com­ barges are regularlY inspected. The ply with Fish Inspection, Food and Drug program is well accepted by the indus­ and Consumer Packaging and Labelling try, and its success can be measured by Regulations. the very low rate of failure to meet the standards--about two percent of Product rejections are generall y approximately 2,400 inspections done in related to poor quality or to improper 1982. labelling. Products which are decom­ posed or have in or upon them toxic As of October 1982, there are now substances or bacteria of public health requirements for vessel fish hold con­ signi ficance are rejected as unaccept­ struction and operation, as well as able for the consumer market. Canned requirements for the construction and products found to be under-processed or operation of fish chilling and freezing to exhibit loss of can integrity may systems. The aim of these regulations not be marketed and are detained until is to improve the landed quality of disposed of in a manner satisfactory to fish in Canada. The voluntary Freezer the Department. Vessel Quality Improvement Program, announced in 1982, is continuing. It During 1982, the Division inspected involves a detailed survey of the a total 0 f 9,436 lots of fresh, frozen freezing equipment and the landed qual­ and canned fish products. This was an ity of fish frozen on board and is increase of 20 percent over the pre­ ,intended to create an awareness of the vious year. importance of quality control in this type of operation. The Canned Fish Inspection Labora­ tory examined 33,854 samples from 1,371 In 1982, the first "P" licences, shipments, representing 7,982,405 kilo­ permitting processing at sea, were grams of imported products. The labor­ issued to two vessels to allow the pro­ atory rejected 139 shipments totalling cessing of dogfish and squid. These 935,358 kilograms from these imports. vessels comply with the requirements of During the year, the laboratory also the Fish Inspection Regulations and are inspected 1,512 lots of domestic canned permitted to process only their own salmon, representing 815,464 equivalent catch. They join the MV Call istratus 48-pound cases, valued at approximately as the only vessels in this region pro­ $ 134.3 million. This is down from the cessing fish on board. As a condition previous season due, in part, to a of the licences, all landed products month-long strike in the salmon fishing from these operations are sampled for industry. In addition, the pack was anal ysis by one of the Fish Inspection further reduced as a result of the drop Laboratories prior to distribution and in the amount of fresh and frozen marketing. Bacteriological and organo­ salmon imported from Alaska for the leptic analysis to date have indicated B.C. canning industry. the products are of good quality. In 1982, it became mandatory for Contact: Klaus Schallie, industry to mechanically screen all Regional Vessel Inspection Coordinator. 75 1982 canned salmon to cull out de fec­ There was a serious (85 percent) tive tins. By the end of the year, 862 increase in rejected import lots, batches of the 1982 domestic salmon particularly of raw crustacea, from 61 pack had been screened, and cull to 113. Of 840 lots of crustacea, 71 reports for each batch had been submit­ were rejected for salmonella, and 29 ted to the laboratory for certi fica­ additional lots for excessive tion. This was a screening of 37.5 Escherichia coli. The incidence of lot million cans or 43.5 percent of the rejection forsalmonella increased from 1982 production. 15 of 599 lots (2.5 percent) to 71 of 840 lots (8.5 percent). There were The Fresh and Frozen Fish Inspection four times as many rejections for sal­ Laboratory examined 5,445 samples from monella in 1982 than in 1981. 4,010 shipments of imported fishery products which had a total weight of The laboratory, in collaboration 8,915,552 kilograms. The laboratory with the Health Protection Branch, was rejected 209 shipments, totalling heavily involved in sterility testing 217,705 kilograms. of canned salmon, both domestic and imported. This was a consequence of Certi fication of canned salmon for the concern elicited by the botulism the export market increased sharply, ,death in Belgium that was caused by From approxirnatel y 25 percent of the American canned salmon. A more complex production to 1 DO percent by mi d-year, procedure, increasing the workload per as a result of the crisis that arose sample threefold, was used in analysing earlier in the year. By year's end, 3,117 cans. approximately 45 percent of the pack had been certi fied for export. These Domestic product inspections result­ Canned Salmon Inspection Certi ficates ed in 56 results that were bacteriolog­ covered 365,283 equivalent 48-pound' ically unsatisfactory. These included cases valued at close to $ 60 million. 47 of 428 mollusc samples, 4 of 241 smoked/brined samples, and 1 fillet There were 3,081 frozen fish export sample. certi ficates issued for a total of 125 million kilograms of fish of all Contact: Nick Neufeld, species, of which 112.5 million kilo­ Senior Microbiologist. grams or 90 percent was for salmon.

Contact: Wilf Gushue, Product Inspection Supervisor. Chemical Laboratory

The Chemistry Section is responsible Bacteriological for the chemical analyses of fish and fish products to determine compliance Laboratory with the Fish Inspection RegUlations. Import samples comprised 56 percent During 1982, the laboratory inspect­ of the analyses performed in 1982. The ed 1,836 samples, requiring a total of annual number of import samples rose 5,689 di fferent analyses. This com­ from 2,689 to 2,823 (a 5 percent pares favorably with the overall aver­ increase). Domestic analyses concen­ age workload experienced during the trated on three major categories: fresh previous five years. and frozen (9.8 percent); molluscs, including geoducks (9.7 percent); Unlike the previous year, the prob­ smoked/brined, including roe (9.2 lem of histamine in canned tuna has percent) • settled down to a reasonable level of 76 2,331 analyses, compared with 4,902. the Fisheries Improvement Loan Act and This is attributed to a much-improved Regulations. product from the Philippines; however, products from other offshore countries Recent amendments to the Fishing continue to require close scrutiny. Vessel Insurance Regulations broaden Mercury in fish, particularly canned coverage to include protection against tuna, was for the most part found to be collision with a seaplane, make protec­ within present guidelines, and for this tion and indemnity coverage available reason, the number of analyses has also to fishermen, define "vessel" to allow decreased somewhat from that experi­ coverage while under construction enced in 1981. (assistance from a subsidy), clarify the application of deductible in the A small number of mercury and heavy partial loss of electronic equipment. metal analyses were again performed for permit the allocation of deductibles in the Medical Services Branch of Health proportion to fault in collision cases and Welfare Canada as part of its and remove the specific payment periods investigation of the Indian food fish for additional and renewal premiums. safety program. Paralytic shellfish Protection and indemnity insurance, poison analyses were almost identical which should be available to fishermen in number to the previous year--1,752, late in 1983, means insurance against compared to 1,735. risks not normally covered under a hull policy. such as loss 0 f li fe and per­ The Chemical Methods Quality Assur­ sonal injury, excess collision liabil­ ance Program was continued again this ity, harbor damage risks, wreck removal year. Work was restricted mainly to risks, life and other salvage risks and the histamine program, with a smaller claims of the crew. amount of time devoted to the mercury check samples. ", .I' I I

Contact: Gin Farn, \ Senior Chemist. r i I I: Fishing Vessel Insurance Plan

The Fishing Vessel Insurance Plan prov ides insurance coverage for insur­ able commercial fishing vessels under 23 metres (75 feet) in overall length. When vessels are appraised for insur­ ance, the applicants ar·e advised on ways to improve safety practices and equipment. They receive information on fire prevention equipment, fuel st.or­ age, lifesaving equipment, safety alarm systems, pumping systems, installation of cooking and heating units, heat dis­ sipation, proper wiring and communica­ tion devices. General information is also provided to fishermen, prospective A federally-sponsored insurance plan is fishermen and credit institutions about available for commercial fishing ves- 77 sels under 23 metres in overall length. In 1982, 1,016 vessels were insured At the end of the calendar year, for a total insured value of there were 39 unsettled claims estimat­ $ 34,769,400. Revenue from premiums ed to total $ 235,850. totalled $ 948,650. Refunds (for can­ cellations and overpayments) totalling Contact: Vancouver - Audley Tinglin, $ 40,900 were made. Eighty-nine Regional Manager accidents were investigated, and 76 Steveston - David Dyck and claims totalling $ 1,477,569 were paid. Twenty-two claims were for total Mac Chettle, losses ($ 995,719) and 54 claims were District Managers for partial losses ($ 481,850). The Nanaimo claims comprised 22 strandings, 8 col­ - Neil McAra and Dave Hayes, lisions, 13 explosions and fires, 5 sinkings and 28 due to miscellaneous District Managers causes (storms, thefts, deadheads, Prince Rupert - Rob Newton etc. ) • District Manager. Habitat Management

Habitat Management activities in the Region include enforcing several Coordination sections of the Fisheries Act, investi­ gating projects which threaten fish and Liaison stocks or supporting habitats, conduct­ ing applied research, developing and The Planning Unit coordinates and maintaining interagency liaison and plans Habitat Management activities project referral systems, and conduct­ within the Department and between vari­ ing internal and public information ous federal and provincial agencies. programs. The Unit is contributing the Habitat component to the Regional Management Technical investigations include Plan, developing cQoperative resource assessing the impact 0 f urban and management and systematic inventory industrial pollutant sources, diking, programs, and participating in strate­ dredging and construction proj ects, gic planning with provincial agencies. forest harvesting activities, hydro­ In addition, the Unit is responsible electric and consumptive water use pro­ for the coordination of expert witness­ posals, estuarine and other foreshore es and the job creation program. use plans. Habitat Management Plan A Regional proj ect referral network The Planning Unit is developing the coordinates Departmental response to Habitat component of the Regional thousands of land use, water use and ~1anagement Plan, which is aimed at pollution projection projects from "conserving, rehabilitating, improving public, industrial or government and restoring fish stocks and their agencies. habi tats." The programs outlined to attain these objectives include a Contact : Forbes Boyd, Regional overview of competing Chief, resources, cooperative resource manage­ Habitat Management Division. ment, habitat improvement projects, maintenance and formulating of ongoing

78 research, development of a comprehen­ sensitivity. HMD prepared an inventory sive data base, improved habitat of coastal resources. enforcement, and programs fostering intergovernmental cooperation and Sport Fishing Piers/Artificial Reefs liaison. Fishing programs designed to serve the needs of urban populations have not Overview of Regional Economic yet developed in B. C. The Washington Development State Department of Fisheries has spon­ The purpose of the overview is to sored a successful urban fishing pro­ identi fy the degree to which various gram and has developed the criteria for subregions of the Pacific Region will the construction 0 f arti ficial reefs likely require increased habitat and pUblic fishing piers in Puget management support as a result of Sound. HMD is currently reviewing increased pressures from competing these urban fishing programs and resource use. exploring the feasibility of initiating similar projects in B.C. The Regional overviews add to the inventory and data base required for Salmonid Habitat Evaluation Hodel comprehensive habitat and stock manage­ (SHEM) ment plans. This is done by identify­ In spite of wide natural variability ing development trends for various of systems to produce salmonids, com­ resource sectors which may impact on puter modelling can be used to link fish habitat, such as mining, energy stock management strategies with habi­ and forestry. Specific development tat capability. A pilot· coho model was projects likely to proceed within five developed by Habitat Management in years were also identified for each association with the Cooperative Fish­ management area. eries Research Unit at the University of British Columbia. Ministry of Environment Under the Environment Management The model is presently based on Act, the B.C. Millistry of Environrnent Regional biostandards and its precision has a mandate to plan for the manage­ will improve as more site-specific data ment of provincial environmental become available. resources, including water, air, fish­ ·eries and wildlife. Under the direc­ Expert Witness Coordination tion 0 f the Ministry of Env ironment, During 1982, numerous cases involv­ strategic plans, based on resource sup­ ing various sections of the Fisheries ply and demand, management options and Act were before the courts and the objections, resource conflicts, and Planning Unit coordinated expert policy directives, are being developed wi tnesses for these cases. In addi- for various areas of the province. The tion, HMD initiated a formalized system Planning Unit is coordinating the of appointing expert witnesses and Department's response to this exercise. reviewing cases in an effort to maxi­ mize effectiveness. Ministry of Lands, Parks and Housing The ~linistry of Lands, Parks and Fisheries Employment Bridging Assis­ Housing initiated a joint agency pro­ tance Program gram of foreshore-use designation in During 1982, Habitat Management the District of Campbell River. The implemented six projects under the UIC/ goal of this program· is to zone the Job Creation Program. These projects foreshore for compatible use designa­ included a wide range of activities and tion and to assist the District in employed more than 90 people. A sum­ designing developments to complement mary report on these studies will be the natural resources and their habitat available in 1983. 79 a) Fraser River Habitat Mapping/ similar folio was prepared for the Rehabilitation Study Homathko River in response to a logging fhe Fraser Hlver estuary was survey­ application to harvest deciduous cot­ ed and mapped with an emphasis on areas tonwood adjacent to productive fish where opportunities exist for debris habitat. removal and restoration of marsh habi­ tat. A pilot project was undertaken in In conjuction with the International conjunction with the North Fraser River Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission, Harbor Commission to rehabilitate an the Unit examined the extent to which area of marsh in MacDonald Slough. juvenile sockeye utilize the littoral zone. The results of the study will b) Fisheries Watershed Resource Infor­ dictate which foreshore areas should be mation Project protected from development. HMD compiled a computerized bibliog­ raphy of published literature pertain­ Gravel samples collected from ing to fisheries-related research/ Carnation Creek were measured for their studies conducted in B.C. 's watersheds organic content as part of the ongoing and estuaries. The in formation is studies to assess the influence of log­ geographically indexed, using a hier­ ging on gravel quality. archical watershed coding system developed by the Aquatic Studies Branch Staff Were provided to the Lands in Victoria. Directorate, to collect and map Region­ al resource information as part of a c) Estuary/Foreshore Fisheries and Hab­ Coastal Zone Information and Analysis itat Inventory Report. These rnaps will enable Habitat Field studies in Campbell River, staff to delineate areas or corridors Prince Rupert and Alice Arm included of present/potential impacts on foreshore mapping of substrate composi­ salmonids. tion and vegetation, benthic sampling and determining juvenile salmon distri­ e) Regional Analysis of Fisheries Flov" bution. A chinook spawner survey and Requirements egg take/plant on the was A number of streams on the east also conducted. Benthic samples col­ coast 0 f Vancouver Island, North and lected from the Campbell River area and South Thompson Rivers, the Sechelt the Nechako River were sorted and ana­ Peninsula and the Lower Mainland were lyzed by project staff at the Pacific surveyed as part of a Regional program Environmental Institute. Support staff of flow requirements. A report is were pro v ided to the Aquatic Studies being prepared for each strea'll, includ­ Branch to assist in projects relevant ing hydrological, physical and fisher­ to Habitat Management activities. ies information which enables tentative flow recommendations to be calculated d) Fish Habitat Inventory and Cleanu~ for spawning and rearing habitat. The Stream inventories were conducted in report will subsequently be used as a the Tashish River watershed, Campbell basis for waterShed planning and water River and Cariboo region to provide resource allocation. The program will baseline data to evaluate and mitigate be extended -to cover other areas in impacts of proposed logging, urban B.C. and the Yukon. development and placer mining activi­ ties. A folio of maps, aerial photos f) Water Quality Surveys and field data of the lower Fraser Water quality surveys, ranging from River islands, identifying areas of short-term to comprehensive programs, sensitive salmonid habitat, was compil­ were undertaken in response to numerous ed. Some 50-60 log-handling sites were development activites which may poten­ surveyed to ensure that proper utiliza­ tially affect or alter water quality. tion of leasing sites is maintained. A Land fill sites in the Lower i~ainland, 80 industrial woodwaste sites along the mental engineering gUidelines, mitiga­ Fraser River, mining activities on tive techniques and, in some situa­ Babine Lake and the Quinsam River, tions, compensatory measures. potential impact of acid rain on the fisheries resource, and pesticides from a) Highways agricultural activity were all major Major highway construction in 19B2 elements of this program. In addition, was substantially reduced from previous a large inventory of maps and informa­ years due to economic conditions. How­ tion packages related to water quality ever, highway design continued at a Were completed in preparation for the normal pace. The Hope-to-Merritt decentralization of Habitat Management CCoquihalla) Highway has been the sub­ staff. ject of detailed environmental design; a major biophysical report and design Contact: Tom Bird, manual was prepared by a team of con­ Chief, sultants advised by the Linear Develop­ Planning and Coordination ment Group. Work continued on the Unit. application of environmental design to the construction drawings and support­ ing documents. The success ful implementation of environmental design Land Use may result in a net improvement of fish habitat in the Coldwater River. The Unit prov ides technical adv ice to field staff and proponents regarding The Group also continued its the prevention/mitigation of and involvement in the Yellowhead Highway compensation for adverse effects on between Terrace and Prince Rupert, fisll habitat by land-based activity, where major compensatory efforts will such as logging, highway construction be required to recreate habitat lost and flood control work. due to the encroachment of road fills on to the Skeena River foreshore. The Linear Development Ministry of Highways has retained con­ Construction and operation of major sultants to address the problem and linear development systems, such as develop ways and means of replacing highways, railways, pipelines, and lost habitat. powerlines, may conflict with rivers, lakes and streams--often with serious Other B.C. highway projects receiv­ ,consequences to fish and fish habitat. ing attention from the Group were the Stream crossings, if poorly desi'dned or Annacis crossing on the lower Fraser constructed, are a major source of con­ River and the Qualicum North bypass cern, due to the direct involvement route on Vancouver Island. with the strea;!] channel and the capa­ bility of impeding or obstructing Resource roads--the hundreds of upst ream fish migration. Encroachments miles of logging, mining and explora­ and diversions of rivers and streams, tion roads in B.C.--also received through di reet displacement or by attention from the Group; a series of alteration of normal channel hydrau­ lectures/seminars were held in various lics, also affect fish migration, as parts of the province to inform indus­ well as habitat used by fish for spawn­ try and regulatory agencies about the ing and rearing. The Linear Develop­ conflict between roads and the fisher­ ment Group maintains close liaison with ies resource. both publ ic and private transportation agencies during tile planning, design In the Yukon, the North Canol Road and construction of projects to ensure reconstruction project entered an that impacts are minimized through active phase. An Initial Environmental development and appl ication of env i ron- Evaluation report was issued and 81 reviewed, followed by the submission of River. The fish were tracked daily preliminary design documents. The frorn an ai rcraft and also on the ground Group will continue a detailed review to record preferred migration pathways of road design and construction moni­ and any delays experienced by the toring throughout the next few years. fish. The study was success ful and a Design review is also taking place on large arnount of data was recorded. A the South Canol Road as well as the report on the findings of the study Klondike Highway. will be available early in 1983.

b) Railways Construction is continuing on the The CNR twin-tracking project again Hydro-to-Thornton Yard and Kamloops-to­ demanded a large proportion of the Tranquille sections, although work has Group's time in 1982. The project will been sporadic due to CN-funding diffi­ result in the construction of approxi­ culties. Although most of the impor­ mately 482 km of new track adjacent to tant issues have been resolved, some the existing track between Valemount detailed design is still to be reviewed and Vancouver, up to 80 km of which by DFO. will require fills to be placed in the Albreda, North Thompson, Thompson and The CN Northline from Valemount to Fraser Rivers and their tributaries. Pr ince Rupert was the subject of two detailed field investigations by the DFO arranged a river tour in April DFO and other federal and provincial so that various agencies could see the environmental agencies. implications of major fills in the Thompson River and their possible c) Pipelines impacts upon pink salmon spawning The final series of public hearings grounds and the migration of important in the Environmental Assessment and fish stocks such as pink salmon and the Review Process (EARP) for the proposed Adams River sockeye run. During the Alaska Highway gas pipeline project was three-day trip, members of various held in Whitehorse. The DFO position government agencies and the CNR follow­ Was presented during the week-long ed the Thompson River from Kamloops hearing. The Panel SUbsequently Lake to Lytton and viewed, recorded and reported that the pipeline could be discussed each of the many proposed built with no unacceptable environment­ river encroachments along the route. al impact, providRd certain further studies are carried out and protective A radio-tagging program was conduct­ rneasures are incorporated into design ed to assess the di fficulties facing and construction. . fish on their upstream migration in the Fraser and Thompson Rivers and to eval­ The Group continues to provide input uate the impacts of river encroach­ into the planning and deaign of other ment. The joint DFD-IPSFC study (with potential pipeline projects. DFO con­ assistance from the provincial Fish and tinues to advise and coordinate COlO­ Wildlife Branch and the CNR) was con­ ments from other federal agencies on ducted in September and October to take the B.C. Hydro proposal for the advantage of the large Adams River Vancouver Island gas pipeline. This sockeye run. project will involve more than 100 stream crossings, including the A total of 34 sockeye salmon were , Cowichan, Nanaimo, Qualicum captured in the Fraser River near Yale and Puntledge Rivers. and in the Thompson River near Lytton. The fish were tagged, fitted with a Also under assessment is the Dome radio transmitter, and then released to Petroleum Western liquified natural gas continue their journey to the Adams (LNG) project, which will extend .from

82 -:

the Alberta border to either Kitimat or Yukon affected or likely to be affected Grassy Point near Prince Rupert. Major by placer mining have been classified streams which might be affected by this according to present knowledge of fish­ project include the Stuart, Salmon, eries utilization or habitat values. Telkwa, Bulkley, Zymoetz, Skeena, Where data gaps occur, a subjective Lakelse, Gitnadoix, Kasiks and Chyex assessment based on available informa­ Rivers, as well as Fraser Lake. tion has been made. The gUidelines allow for challenge of the classifica­ Placer Mining ·tion; however, the placer operator is a) Yukon responsible for acquiring the necessary In 1982, the management plan for biological information to permit placer mining which had been developed re-evaluation. in the previous year by DFO and the Department of Environment was refined The public review process is expect­ and formed the basis for the develop­ ed to occur in the summer of 1983, with ment of placer guidelines. These implementation of a revised gUidelines guidelines were jointly prepared by package in the 1984 season. When DFO, the Department of Environment and implemented, the placer guidelines will the Department of Indian Affairs and enable placer mining to proceed in a Northern Development and will be manner compatible with environmental presented to the public and industry protection. for public review. b) British Columbia One element of the guideline package During the 1982 placer mining is a set of maps showing stream-reach season, there were 700 placer opera­ classifications. All streams in the tions in B.C. This was a slight

New technology ·is being developed for placer mWlng activities on the Fraser River near Yale. This combination--sluice box, hydro cyclone and sand screw-­ produces no direct discharge. Fines such as silt and clay are discharged as a thick slurry and buried in coarse tailings. 83 decrease from 1981, when there were 721 operations. Of these 700 operations, 360 were in areas frequented by anadro­ mous species of fish and were therefore of concern to DFo. Some 60 percent of the 360 placer mining operations were mechanized; the remainder were hand operations (i.e. gold panning).

DFo also met with provincial counterparts in MOE to critically rev iew the present referral system, regulations and guidelines. Recommen­ dations to protect aquatic resources from this type of mining activity are The Department of Pub! ic Wor/

85 harvesting operations, a series of stream protection clauses (" p" clauses) was introduced in the Prince Rupert Forest District in 1956. The clauses remained basically unchanged until January 1979, when the MDF revised much of the text so that more realistically operational situations could be addressed. Changes included the addi­ tion of a general pollution prohibition clause and provision for allowing MOF forest officers to authorize, without consulting other resource agencies, the deposition of a "polluting substance" into water. Successful implementation of these clauses on an operational basis relies on good judgment and understanding of site specific process­ es by members of the industry, MOF, F&W and DFO. Present experience indicates that industry field staff (particularly fallers, rigging crews, etc.) are often unfamiliar with the content and intent of the "p" clauses. In 1982, DFO, MOE and MOF agreed to review the current stream and water quality protection gUidelines. Each year, HMD examines the stream mor­ phology on Carnation Creek to measure A report has been written which post-logging effects of various forest reflects the position of both head­ harvesting methods. quarters and field staff of DFO and i'10E. Similar documents were prepared - the introduction of logging dAbris by industry/MOF and the Fisheries and the destabilization of large Research Branch. A workshop will be instream organic debris by streamside held in April 1983 to review and logging activities have resulted in consolidate these positions. extensive morphological changes in the stream channel and streambed. Freshets c) Queen Charlotte Islands Research have channelized many segments of the ~rogram on Fish/Forestry creek by eroding stream banks, filling Interactions in pools and straightening the channel, The Fish/Forestry Interaction Pro­ thereby reducing fish rearing habitat gram was initiated by DFO and the post-harvesting slope stability provincial Ministries of Forests and problems are becoming apparent. Two Environment as a positive step toward slopes failed in the winter of 1981- resolving the major conflicts concern­ 1982. These slides were surveyed and ing steep-slope logging, (i.e. areas adjacent groundwater profiles are being with landslide potential) and facili­ monitored. tating integrated management of fish and forest resources on the Queen b) B.C. Ministry of Forests "p" Clause Charlotte Islands. The objectives of Review the program are to: In recognition of the need to - document the extent and severity consider fisheries values during forest of the impacts of debris torrents and

86 landslides on fish habitat and forest try was having difficulty interpreting sites the intent of the resource plan fisher­ investigate the potential of ies prescriptions as they related to alternative logging planning and smaller non-anadromous fish streams. methods, including he use of skylines In response to these operational and helicopters, to reduce the inci­ problems, the Forest Harvesting Group dence and severity of logging-induced and the B.C. Ministry of Environment slope failures developed in 1982 a set of guidelines - assess alternative silvicultural .to assist industry and agency staff in treatments for maintaining and improv­ making logging decisions that are ing slope stability intended to protect these channels. Of investigate the feasibility of particular concern is the minimization rehabilitating "tream and forest sites of sedimentation, the management of damaged by debris torrents and debris and the maintenance of channel landslides. stability.

The program began in 1981 with the e) Campbell River Estuary selection and organization of the Rehabili tation research team; ?reliminary and dota Since the turn of the century, the base research was carried out and a Campbell River estuary has been uti­ research plan was finalized. The full­ lized extensively for log handling and scale field program commenced in the storage activities. As a result, 1982 field season, and research natural estuarine habitat has been projects will continue, in phases, over drastically reduced. the next four years. In 1982, the Group worked closely d) Tsitika River Integrated Resource with B.C. Forest Products Ltd. (BCFP) Plan and other agencies to develop a facil­ The Tsitika River drains a 34,400- ity which would have minimal environ­ hectare watershed north of Campbell mental impact and to rehabilitate the River on the east coast of Vancouver estuary by returning the old booming Island. The anadromous fish species ground to productive estuarine habitat. utilizing the system include all five of the Pacific salmon, as well as Dolly A key element of the rehabilitation Varden char and steelhead trout. program was the construction of five islets within the old booming ground. A logging moratorium was placed on the watershed in 1973. At the request Four of the islets are intertidal; of the B.C. Ministry of Forests, DFO the fifth rises approximately six participated on a planning committee meters above a zero tide. The total that prepared an integrated resource area of the islets, including the side management plan for the watershed. slope, is 3.2 hectares. Approximately This planning process included the 23, DOD cores of Carex and Juncus marsh development of a fisheries resource grasses were extracted from nearby inventory, including the identification donor sites and replanted in several of sensitive fish habitat, and the experimental plots on the islets. establishment of innovative prescrip­ Preliminary results indicate that the tions which are intended to ensure the islets are stable and more than 93 preservation of the fisheries resources percent of the transplanted cores are of the Tsitika River watershed. growing successfully.

Shortly after forest harvesting A major cleanup of logs and debris operations began in the basin, it accumulations in the estuary accompa­ became apparent that the forest indus- nied the development of the islets.

87 Large quantitites of bark and other log shallower area was deleted and the handling debris, as well as many of the remainder consolidated in deeper 1,600 pilings, were removed from the water. The new leases represent a 45 old booming ground. Initial cleanup percent reduction (from 95 ha to 43 hal was by clamshell dredge. After the in log storage lease area wi thin the marsh-grass cores were established, the estuary. final cleanup involved work by helicop­ ter, skidder and hand labor. ii) Tahsish-Kwois Integrated Resource Management Plan A multi-agency, interdisciplinary The Tahsish-Kwois watershed is on team will undertake detailed studies the northwest coast of Vancouver during the next four to five years to Island. The drainage, covering approxi­ evaluate the success of this project. mately 19,000 ha, is characterized by a broad, braided lowland flood plain and f) Biophysical Surveys steep canyons running through sharply­ i) Chemainus River Estuary Log rising mountains. The watershed of the Storage Leases upper Tahsish River has been partially Log storage leases in the Chemainus logged, but the remainder of the drain­ River estuary expired in February age, the Kwois, Silbum and lower 1982. Much of the 95-hectare lease Tahsish watersheds, is still area was intertidal and particularly undeveloped. sensitive to the environmental damage associated with shallow-water log Harvesting of the lower drainage was storage. The Unit negotiated a scheduled to begin in 1982, but public realignment of the leases: much of the concern postponed operations.

Freeze core gravel samplers are used to determine substrate composition. 88 Much of the lower flood plain iii) Log Handling Referrals consists of side channels which act as The Group assessed a number of log important rearing habitat for juvenile handling referrals, dealing with such salmonids. Similarily, the lower subjects as dryland sort construction reaches of tributaries to the Kwois are and maintenance, log yard maintenance important for resident and rearing and debris management, lake shore fish. cleanup and log salvage and log booming time constraints. Specific locations Fisheries prescriptions for forest included: Hanson Island (Alert Bay), harvesting activities are currently Consti tution Creek (Courtenay), Naver being developed as part of the inte­ Creek (Hixon), Quesnel, Owikeno Lake grated resource management plan. and Nass River. g) Forest Harvesting Referrals Major projects included: In 1982, a number of forest harvest­ ing referrals were assessed. These i) Tahsis River Estuary Sawmill assessments generally involved a tech­ Expansion nical review of the proposed activity Since the 1940s, Tahsis Company has or operation (forest road and bridge alienated 72 percent of the Tahsis construction, logging plans, rate-of­ River estuary. The company plans to cut, fisheries prescriptions, etc.) to fill and permanently alienate 56 determine and minimize the potential percent (4.9 hal of the remaining impact on fish and fish habitat. estuarine fish habitat. Specific locations included: Slim Creek (Prince George), Eve River The company has proposed to enhance (Kelsey Bay), Toquart, Cottonwood River the rema11l1ng estuary, approximately (Quesnel), Mary Basin/Guise Creek, three hectares, with marsh and eelgrass Kennedy Lake, Anstey River, Nahwi tti . transplants. However, DFO biologists River, Trembleur Lake, Tachie River and rejected the compensation proposal as Morrison River (Babine Lake). inadequate to maintain the existing level of estuarine productivity and Other projects included: fish utilization.

i) Stein River Resource Folio Plan Negotiations continued during 1982, Concern centers on the maintenance but have not led to a satisfactory of upstream migration for chinook and solution. coho salmon. ii) Salmon River Estuary/Kelsey Bay ii) Deciduous Tree Farm Licences Dryland Sort Deciduous TFLs were applied for in MacMillan Bloedel Ltd. has operated the Kingcome and Homathko Hi ver areas a major office, maintenance and log and the lower Fraser Valley. These watering facility on the Salmon River proposed TFLs are signi ficant in that estuary at Kelsey Bay for a number of deciduous growth tends to be most con­ years. Starting in 1978, the company centrated on the flood plains and proposed to fill and permanently alien­ islands of rivers. Harvesting activi­ ate six hectares (subsequently reduced ties in these areas may have adverse to 2.8 hal of intertidal estuarine fish impacts on adjacent fish habitat. habitat in order to develop a dryland Fisheries and habitat concerns were sort. The company proposed to compen­ identified. Depending on potential sate for habitat loss by way of eel­ resource conflicts, DFO may ask that grass transplants and excavation of significant sections within the refugia (refuge areas for fish during proposed TFL boundaries be deferred low tides) on existing mudflats and from cutting. placement of rocks for colonization by

89 the seaweed Fucus. DFO biologists of and has produced a determined that the compensation study outlining its feasibility. Two proposal would not maintain the exist­ major items of concern are: the propo­ ing level of fish utilization and sal to transport logs by water (i.e. by estuarine productivity because the bundle booms on Quesnel Lake i tsel f) , proposed measures would merely create and the lack of biophysical data site­ one form of habitat (eelgrass, refugia, speci fic to those areas proposed for Fucas) in place of another (mudflat) development. MOF, having been advised and would not replace the alienated that an environmental impact analysis area. Accordingly, DFO asked for the should be carried out of the alterna­ excavation of land to create an area of tive log transport systems, has offered intertidal habitat equal to that to assist in setting up an appropriate alienated. program. However, by year-end, nothing had been initiated. In 1982, the company reopened negotiations with respect to the 2.8- v) Shoal Islets, Crofton Sawmill hectare fill. A habitat compensation Development option, which may be feasible if the . B.C. forest Products is proposing to company can reduce their fill require­ develop a sawmill site adjacent to ment to 1.6 hectares, has been their dryland sort on the Shoal identified. Islets. Development of the site would include filling of 10 hectares of iii) Dryland Sort intertidal mudflat and the suction In the spring of 1982, Whonnock dredging of an adjacent 18 hectares of Industries Ltd. developed a small intertidal mudflat. In total, approxi­ dryland sort at the head of Seymour mately 28 hectares of habitat would be Inlet. Approximately 0.4 hectares of alienated to some degree. intertidal mudflat was alienated. Under the direction of the Group and As compensation, the company District staff, the company has embark­ proposes to: ed on several compensation projects: - return to the Crown 10.4 hectares - two tidal channels have been exca­ of BCFP-owned intertidal land in the vated, creating a signi ficant amount of nearby Bonsall Creek - Chemainus River intertidal fringe extending into the estuary tree zone. The channels will be moni­ - give to the Crown and rehabilitate tored for fish utilization and stabil­ to an intertidal condition six hectares ity, and more channels may be excavated of BCFP-owned land in the Bonsall in the future Creek-Chemainus estuary; this area is - the rehabilitation 0 f a 0.5 ha cut off from tidal flooding by a dike. tidal slough is underway with the removal of an old log culvert which had The Forest Harvesting Group consid­ blocked the mouth of the slough. ers the area behind the dike to have Depending on the rate and extent of good potential for rehabilitation as natural rehabilitation, the slough may estuarine, side channel habitat. If be enhanced further at a later date the rehabilitation scheme proceeds, OFO - the company has agreed to assist will work closely with BCFP and other wi th road construction and logistical resource agencies to design a proj ect support if SEP proceeds with an which will maximize habitat but provide enhancement opportunity which has been opportunities to conduct research into identified in the area. the processes of estuarine habitat. iv) Quesnel Lake Junction Block vi) Morrison Arm, Babine Lake Log Harvesting Feasibility Study Watering and Storage The B.C. Ministry of Forests In the summer of 1982, the 'B.C. proposes to log the Junction Block area Ministry of Forests identified a 90 serious mountain pine beetle problem in flows and suitable water quality are the Morrison River/Lake area north of preserved in this system. Babine Lake. As part of the control harvesting operation, MDF proposed the Contact: John Payne, water transport of logs on Babine Lake: Chief, watering in Morrison Arm, storing and Land Use Unit. towing in bundle booms, and dewatering south of Tachek Creek. A dive survey conducted in 1982 Water Quality indicated: - the areas proposed for development The Water Quality Unit is respon­ were free of salmonid spawning activity sible for ensurinc] that acceptable and suitable spawning substrate water quality conditions are maintained - there were significant deposits of in the freshwater, estuarine and marine bark and wood debris associated with environments. The mandate of the Unit those areas currently used for log is based on the Fisheries Act [Section handling and storage. 33(2)] which prohibits the deposition of deleterious SUbstances into waters Because a major concern is the frequented by fish. Other sections, potential impact of log watering and such as 33.1, provide authority to deal storage on juvenile salmonids, MDF has with specific pollution problems and to been requested to carry out a study of protect fish habitat. To meet its man­ utilization of the area by rearing date, the Unit carries out technical sockeye. impact assessments of proposed and ongoing effluent and solid waste Urban Development disposal operations and pesticide and A reduction in staff in 19H2 result­ env ironmental contaminant use. Short­ ed in very little activity in this area term applied research projects and mon­ by the Unit; the majority of referrals itoring studies are carried out to and planning initiatives have been assess the impacts of effluent dis­ handled by District staff. charges (e.g., sewage, pulp mill effluent) in freshwater, estuarine and However, HMD staff continued to marine environments. prov ide input into a few major urban proposals: The Unit also coordinates the inter­ agency referral system regarding waste a) Brunette River management, pesticide and ocean dump­ lhe Greater Vancouver Sewerage and' ing, serves on numerous task forces and Drainage District undertook a major committees dealing with major industri­ flood prevention program in the al developments and other water quality Brunette River. This work included issues, participates in technical stream widening, debris removal, dredg­ inquiries and responds to and investi­ ing the channel and the construction of gates environmental emergencies. a flood overflow channel. The project will provide relief from the annual This year, decentralization of the flooding problems which have plagued referral systems commenced and techni­ the industrialized lower reaches of the cal workshops were held to introduce Brunette. sta ff to the pesticide and waste management referral systems. Decen­ b) Fraser Industrial Park tralization of the systems will be TillS large lndustrial development complete in 1983. (259 hal is located in the headwaters of West Creek in Langley. DFO input Contact: Mike Nassichuk, will ensure that resource maintenance Chief, 91 Water Quality Unit. Freshwater Section b) Hatchery Wastewater Study The Freshwater Section of the Unit Ihe hatchery wastewater study, fund­ was involved in one major study during ed by the Salmonid Enhancement Program 1982, as well as a number of short-term and designed and directed by the Water technical assessments. Quality Unit, is nearing completion. It is expected to provide substantial Major involvement on national com­ guidance to SEP in facility planning mittees (e.g. National Chemical Hazards and design, specifically regarding Review, National Acid Rain Program, nutrient-associated impacts of dischar­ Mining Effluent and Pulp and Paper ges. Effluent Regulations Reviews) has required considerable time and effort c) Cowichan River by Freshwater Section staff. It is A report on a Cowichan River study, expected that such committee involve­ carried out in conjunction with the ment will increase in 1983. Environmental Protection Service (EPS), will also be completed soon. This a) Acid Rain Monitoring Study report will identify recelvlng water An acid rain monitoring study was impacts of a sewage discharge into the started by the Unit in conjunction with Cowichan River and will provide recom­ the International Pacific Salmon Fish­ mendations regarding resolution of the eries Commission, in response to B.C. seasonal nuisance algal problem in the Hydro's Hat Creek proposal. The scope receiving waters. of the program was expanded in 1982 with broader geographic reference to In 1982, the assessment of mlnlng document the sensitivity of selected proposals and their potential effects "lower order" (i. e. headwater s) salmon on fish and fish habitat was a high streams to acidification. With nation­ priority for the Unit. The metal and al funding, the program has produced coal mining sectors continued to demand considerable baseline surface water and a high level of Unit involvement in snowpack chemistry data of Regional 1982, when the industry implemented interest; the data are also pertinent expansion and new development in the context of the DFD National Acid proposals. Rain Program. d) Quinsam Coal The work has indicated that a number A large open-pit mine is proposed of smaller, salmon-bearing North Coast for the Quinsam River watershed. The streams are already "acidic" from Unit recently completed a critical natural sources (e.g., bog drainage) review of the company's addendum to its and may not withstand further acidi fi­ 1981 Environmental Impact Statement. A cation from other sources, such as acid DFO position on the proj ect is being rain. Assessment of salmon stocks developed, with technical assistance indigenous to these drainages, with from the Environmental Protection respect to the potential for unique Service (DOE). racial adaptation, is worthy of further consideration under National Program e) Amax Molybdenum funding. TFi8 Amax mine at Alice Ar.ll, which began operations in 1981, continues to Early in 1983, additional snowpack occupy a high profile and has resulted and surface water monitoring will be in frequent Unit involvement in scien­ carried out on selected coastal and ti fic reviews, technical briefings and Inter ior salmon streams to further exchanges of information wit~ the develop the existing data base on public. sensitivity.

92 f) Westmin Resources An existing mine on Vancouver Island, Westmin Resources Ltd. (former­ ly Western Mines), discharges mine tailings into Suttle Lake which drains into the Campbell River system. An effluent abatement program was evaluat­ ed in conjunction with with the company's current expansion proposal. An Environmental Impact Statement / relating to the planned expansion was / reviewed by the Water Quality Unit.

g) Consolidated Cinola The proposed Consolidated Cinola ,. / gold mine on the Queen Charlotte Islands has received considerable attention by the Water Quality Unit through participation on a federal Regional Steering and Coordinating Committee. The existence of the impor­ tant Yakoun Hi ver salmon resource and the potential impacts of the operation (e.9. f)abi tat loss, mercury contamina­ tion, process chemical lossess) demands an in-depth review by the Unit. Further involvement is anticipated in 1983. h) Carolin Mines Ihis operation released toxic mine tailings into a stream tributary to the Mining operations on have Coquihalla River hear Hope. Provincial been the subject of intense habitat and federal charges (Fisheries Act) investigation. were laid aginst the gold mine. The Unit is now reviewing the question of specified the need for an environmental the production of an acceptable efflu­ impact assessment should long-term dis­ ent over the long term. charges be required.

i) Noranda-l3ell j) Cyprus Anvil, Yukon In 1982, a holding pond dyke at the Since 1969, Cyprus Anvil mining Bell Copper Mine breached, resulting in corporation has operated a 9,OOO-tonne­ a substantial loss of tailings water to per-day lead/zinc mine and mill complex Babine Lake. In an effort to prevent near Faro, Yukon Territory. In 1981, further spills, Noranda-8ell submi lted the company submitted a report in sup­ a request to discharge pit waters and port of a renewed water licence. It excess tailings pond waters to the included a proposal for final abandon­ lake. Unit sta ff rev iewed this propos­ ment of the large tailings impound­ al and the question of the maintenance ment. The Unit reviewed the report, of lagoon freeboard during operating and in conjunction with the Environmen­ and non-operating phases. As a result tal Protection Service, prepared and of the review, a temporary discharge of presented a brief at the public hearing tailings pond waters was allowed under in Faro in March 1982. The licence was strict conditions. The Unit also granted, but specified strict operating

93 conditions and the need to carry out agencies in established, formal refer­ additional studies was identified by ral systems. In association with the DoE/DFo and others at the hearing. Environmental Protection Service and Fisheries Research Branch (DFo), the k) Referrals Section assessed issues relating to Two major referral systems are existing or potential discharges from coordinated by the Freshwater Section, pulp mills and their impact on the for waste management and pesticides. marine receiving environment. Reviews In 1982, the Section reviewed approxi­ which were undertaken included: mately 250 Waste Management applica­ l~acMillan Bloedel's Port Alberni mill tions for the discharge of effluents or (effluent treatment biobasin opera­ the disposal of solid waste. Applica­ tion); Western Forest Products' Port tions are received via EPS and, follow­ Alice and Wood fibre mills permit ing evaluation of potential impacts and compliance assessment (effluent treat­ resources at risk, the Departmental ment upgrading); Canadian Forest Pro­ position is formulated and presented ducts' Port Mellon mill (effluent directly, or via EPS, to the proponent. diffuser installation). In addit ion, the Section reviewed biological The Unit assessed approximately 300 'monitoring programs currently underway pesticide (insecticides and herbicides) and rquired by the Waste Mangement referrals in 1982. A training program Branch for many coastal mills. is underway to facilitate the decen­ tralization of referrals to District The Marine Section also expended offices. considerable effort in coordinating Departmental involvement in the refer­ Unit staff represent the Department ral system associated with the Ocean on the B. C. Aquatic Weed Advisory Com­ Dumping Control Act (ODCA), which is mittee. The committee is responsible administered by EPS. Permit applica­ for providing a forum to evaluate tions reviewed included routine, shcirt­ impacts and review research/control term dredging proposals for. various measures relating to aquatic weeds. industrial operations to large-scale, contentious issues such as the B.C. The Unit scrutinized the use of Place/Expo 86 Development Proj ect for relativelY toxic herbicides for inten­ False Creek. Major environmental sive aerial forestry management concerns associated with these assess­ programs, and monitored the removal of ments involved the potential impacts on sediments contaminated with creosote receiving water quality and on the' (wood preservative) in the lower Fraser fisheries resource from dredging and River. disposal of sediments contaminated with heavy metals and organic compounds. Unit staff responded to fish kills, chemical and oil spills, answered Coincident with H~1D' s decentraliza­ public inqUiries and represented the tion of the referral systems, an inter­ Department on the Fraser River Monitor­ im decentralized program for the oDCA ing Committee in the development of an was successfully implemented with the extensive water and sediment chemistry cooperation of EPS and DFO District sampling program for implementation by staff. A permanent decentralized the Province over the next several system will be established by the years. Marine Section in 1983. Marine Section The Section continued tD review Waste Management Branch (WI1B) sewage a) Referral Systems discharge permit applications. WMB In 1982, the Marine Section contin­ application reviews also involved oil ued its participation with other and gas transportation, storage and 94 refinery operations; proposed petro­ chemical developments; and coal ports. b) Task Forces Ihe Manne Section continued to participate on a Regional Steering and Coordinating Committee Task Force established to address petrochemical developments within the Pacific Region. Considerable effort was expended on several proposals, includ­ ing facility siting on S. Kaien Island (Prince Rupert), Fraser-Surrey Docks (Fraser River), and Pacific Coast Terminals (Burrard Inlet). The Section also is a member of the Offshore Oil/ Gas Development Task Force and is also involved with the LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) Task Force. Hundreds of minor spills, such as this c) Marine Studies one near Campbell Ri ver, occur along the B.C. coast every year. In 1982, the study of heavy metal uptake and depuration by the common bioassay program at DFO I S West mussel at the Iona sewage plant was Vancouver Laboratory to assess the completed. (The study was begun in toxicity of various oils and petro­ 1981.) Data are presently being chemicals on fish; and developed appro­ reviewed and the report will be pre­ priate expertise for legal testimony. pared in 1983. The Marine Section also The demand for expert witnesses in assisted the Fisheries Flesearch Branch Fisheries Act prosecutions has in­ (Salmon Habitat Research) in water creased steadily and will require quality and impact assessments of Iona further development of such expertise. sewage discharges on salmon. f) West Coast Offshore Development d) Emergency Spill Response The lnterest ln developlng potential 1f1e:;ecUon continued its involve­ offshore oil and gas reserves on the ment ·in emergency contaminant spills. West Coast .by industry and federal/ In cooperation with the emergency pro­ provincial energy agencies prompted the grams and organizations within DOE establishment of the West Coast Off­ (EPS) and the provincial government shore Developments Committee (WESCOD) (Provincial Emergency Program), and within DFO. This committee is chaired Marine Section maintained contact with by the Marine Section and complements DFO and other agencies to ensure a other DFO committees for the north coordinated DFO response to spill (ARCOD) and east (ECOD). It consists incidents and participated in technical mainly of representatives from Ocean assessments of contaminant spills. Science and Surveys, Fisheries Research These assessments may involve receiving Branch, and Fish Habitat Management environment impacts, prosecutions, con­ Branch (Ottawa). tainment/clean-up options, and promot­ ing mitigative/preventative measures In mid-1983, the formal release of (e.g. fuel storage). Initial Environmental Evaluation docu­ ments of proposed exploration and e) Expert Witness development of potential offshore oil/ Marine Section staff participated in gas reserves by Chevron and Petro­ an EPS-sponsored Expert Witness Course; Canada is expected. The committee will established a comprehensive saltwater ·undertake a comprehensive review of 95 impacts on the fisheries resource and court proceedings. Laboratory staff on the associated fisheries. The com­ are quali fied to present such data as mittee has been involved in an informal expert witnesses. review of Petro-Canada's draft documentation. In addition to these three major services, staff offer advice and exper­ g) Job Creation Projects tise in interpretation of analytical The [~arine Section supervised sever­ data and resolution of chemcial or bio­ al programs which were undertaken logical problems. Some method develop­ through the assistance of the UIC Job ment capability is maintained, both to Creation Project. These incluced: ensure that cost-effective, state-of­ fisheries utilization and water quality the-art anal yses are prov ided and to assessments adjacent to several marine support new or changing user pulp mills, saltwater bioassays and a requirements. comprehensive West Coast environmental resource sensitivity assessment and In 1982, the laboratories received mapping program. The assessment/map­ 1,254 batches of samples from more than ping program, undertaken jointly by DOE 200 user groups. Approximately 185,000 (EPS) and the Marine Section at the results were reported from a wide request or the federal Department of variety of analyses conducted on fresh Energy, Mines and Hesources, will be and marine waters, effluents, sedi­ invaluable, not only in specifically ments, biological tissues and air assessing offshore oil/gas related pro­ samples. Major areas receiving labora­ posals, but in reviewing other projects tory support were regulatory and and responding to agency requests that require a fisheries resource data base. Additional work may be required in 1983 to refine the existing environ­ mental information, in conjunction with expected WESCOD involvement in offshore proposal reviews.

Laboratory Services Laboratory Services, consisting of the Chemistry Laboratory in West Vancouver and the Aquatic Toxicity Laboratory in North Vancouver, is jointly funded and staffed by DOE's Environmental Protection Service and DFO's Water Quality Unit. The lab provides analytical and advisory serv ices to these two departments and to several other federal agencies.

The laboratories provide three major services--routine, emergency and legal. High volume routine analyses are sup­ ported by a variety of sophisticated instrumentation and data processing equipment. Emergency response services -&.~ if' are provided to ensure tnat field staff can have accurate data to react rapid­ In 1982, the CNR derai.lment on the ly. Legal analytical services are Thompson River caused a petrochemical available to produce data for use in spill that brought related environmen­ tal concerns to the forefront. 96 en forcement programs, the Salmonid ter of Fisheries and Oceans requested Enhancement Program, environmental that a hatchery be constructed to off­ assessment and fisheries research. set the turbine mortalities.

Major developments in 1982 included: The commission has also been asked - sample management and accounting to provide a tailrace screen to prevent system: prav iding up-to-date informa­ upstream migrants from entering the tion on analytical progress and sample tail race channel and being t rapped or status and accurate monitoring of injured. laboratory usage and costs charged to user groups b) Kemano Completion Project - automation of mercury, arsenic and Dunng 1982, Habitat Management selenium analyses continued environmental studies relat­ - modified sample processing proce­ ing to the fisheries resources of the dures: including new sampling, sieving Nechako, t~orice and Kemano Rivers. and digestion procedures for soils and sediments and new digestion procedures Since a court injunction was granted for water and liquid effluent samples to the Department in 1980, the Minister - ethylene dichloride toxicity study has prescr ibed the flow regime in the - cyanide determinations: methods Nechako River in order to provide for cyanate, thiocyanate and weak acid adequate spawning, incubation and rear­ dissociable cyanide impl'emented ing habitat for chinook and sockeye - flow-through bioassay facilities salmon. The discharge regime estab­ - DOE/DFO Environmental Laboratory lished in 1980 was reinstated in 1981 Manual update. and 1982 by mutual agreement between the Department, the International Contact: Paul D. Kluckner, Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission and Manager, the Aluminum Company of Canada. Laboratory Services. In 1982, the Department completed studies to assess rearing requirements Water Use of juvenile chinook salmon in the Nechako through an intensive downstream Freshwater Management Section t rapping/ fry-marking program and an The Freshwater Management Section is investigation of fish food resources. primarily involved in hydroelectric An incubation study to determine the proj ect impact assessments and related effects of freezing temperatures on egg utilization/compensation negotiations, and alevin survival was also initiated thermal power project impact assess­ during the winter of 1982. ments, water management studies, resource maintenance flow studies and In the Morice River, the habitat reviews of water licence applications requirements and overwinter survival of to dete~nine screening requirements and side channel- rear ing chinook and coho the need for establishment of resource salmon and steel head trout were assess­ maintenance flows. ed in a joint study conducted by the Depa rtment and Env i rocon Ltd. (consul­ a) NCPC Whitehorse Rapids Hydro Project tant to Alcan). A report on the The hatchery being built by the Department's studies since 1980 in the Northern Canada Power Commission (NCPC) Morice and Nechako Rivers is in at its Whitehorse Rapids hydroelectric preparation. station on the Yukon River is nearing completion. The hatchery is to compen­ Alcen's consultants have recently sate for mortalities of chinook smolts released fisheries flow recornmendations by the station's turbines. The I~inis- for the Nechako, Morice and Nanika 97 Rivers and these are presently under Since 1972, several methods have review by the Department. been used in an attempt to mitigate this problem. The latest and Inost c) Stikine-Iskut Hydro Project prOmlSlf1g method appears to be the The B.C. Hydro Stikine-Iskut propos­ partial diversion of Cayoosh Creek, a al involves a 1, 950-megawatt proj eet tributary of the Seton River, into slated to be in serv ice October 1993. . Studies done in 1979 to Two dams are proposed on the Stikine at 1981 revealed that a reduction of the the Stikine Canyon and Tanzilla sites. proportion of Cayoosh Creek water in Two dams are also proposed in the Iskut Seton Creek and an increase of Cayoosh basin at Iskut Canyon and More Creek. water in the formerly pure Seton water In addition, a diversion dam is pro­ entering the power canal resulted in a posed to provide additional water to very signi ficant reduction of delay at the More Creek dam site from Forest the tailrace and an increase in numbers Kerr Creek. All dams are upst ream of of fish readily migrating up into the the known distribution of salmon. Seton system.

B.C. Hydro, the State of Alaska and A solution to the problems associat­ the U.S. Department of Fisheries are ed with delay and mortality of down­ conducting studies into potential down­ stream smolt migration has yet to be stream environmental impacts of the found. proposed developments. Potential con­ cerns involve changes in river morphol­ e) Falls River Hydroelectric Project ogy, such as channel simpli fication, In 19B1, B.C. Hydro proposed to alteration 0 f temperature and flow update its hydroelectric generating regimes, reduction in sediment load, station approximately 53 km southeast and the associated impacts of these of Prince Rupert. The powerhouse is Jotential changes on salmon habitats. located near the confluence of the 1abitat Management Division is involved Falls and Enstall Rivers, approximately in rev iewing the research to determine 600 meters upstream from the mouth of its adequacy, and to recommend further the Falls River. studies if required, to assure that major impacts on fish populations are In July, the B.C. Utilities Commis­ identified and resolved. sion authorized B.C. Hydro to commence work immediately and to complete the Habitat staff will continue to project by 1985; the Commission also review reports from B.C. Hydro and to stipulated that B.C. Hydro must negoti­ advise them on future studies. ate with the Department on matters per­ taining to the maintenance of the fish­ d) Seton Creek Hydroelectric Facilites eries resources. The Seton Creek power plant, which became operational in 1956, is located B.C. Hydro has retained D.B. Lister approximately one kilometre downstream and Associates to conduct the spawning from the mouth of Seton Creek on the studies. The consultants have submit­ Fraser. Water is conveyed to the power ted their report, and negotiations con­ plant by means of a two-kilometre-long tinue with Hydro regarding mitigation. power canal leading directly from Seton Lake. Salmon stocks destined for Seton Due to budget constraints, B.C. Creek and Seton Lake are delayed at the Hydro has deferred redevelopment pI ans power plant for sUbstantial periods, until 1987-1990. and many suffer head lnJuries which occur in the draft tube of the power F) plant. HMD has completed a repo rt of its biological and engineering studies of

98 the Nicola and Coldwater Rivers. The Analysis of field data has now been studies were undertaken over the last completed. A report, with recommended two years to determine fisheries flow flows for the tributary streams, is requi rements. It is part of the forthcoming. "Strategic Planning" study of the Nicola basin initiated in 1980 by the i) Englishman River Planning 8ranch of the B.C. Ministry of The Town of Parksville has made Env ironment. application for a water licence to divert water from the Englishman River A key component of the Nicola Plan for domestic water supply purposes. is the proposed reconstruction and Based on studies conducted in 1979, the upgrading of the outlet structure on Habitat Management Division has recom­ , which would provide mended that storage be provided to sup­ increased storage and better regulation port the proposed water licence during of flows. the critical low flow period. This 'would not change flows downstream of g) Tsulguate River the point of diversion; however, In 1974, the District of Port Hardy increased flows upstream could prov ide authorized a major study to develop a benefits to fisheries. The regional water supply. Consultants recommended water manager has recommended to the in the ensuing report that the old Comptroller of Water Rights that a water supply works on the Tsulquate clause be inserted into the licence, River be abandoned and a new project be requi ring the proponent to release implemented with a storage dam at the water from storage upon request. This outlet of Kains Lake. The consultants would occur when natural flows dropped reported that the proposed Kains Lake to the identified critical level. A dam would prov ide 2.4 mill ion cubic report on the biological and engineer­ meters of storage. The new project ing studies substantiating these consists of an overflow weir and pump­ requests has been completed. ing station located above a falls, impassable to fish. While approv ing j) Duteau Creek water licence application authorizing Several years ago, 1.2 million cubic the diversion and the use of 6.8 meters of water storage was obtained to million liters of water a day, the enhance fisheries in Duteau and Comptroller of Water Rights stated in Bessette Creeks. This project also 1977 that flows must be released for provided additional storage for the the maintenance of the fisheries Vernon Irrigation District. The resource. This stipulation was made District operates all the associated upon the request of the Department. storage and di version structures con­ trolling downstream flows in Duteau h) Koksilah River Creek; this includes releasing suitable The problem of low summer flows on flows for fisheries. In addition to the Koksilah River and its tributaries the storage for enhancement, the has been aggravated in recent years by District should be releasing natural an increasing demand for water for maintenance flows, but they have not irrigation and domestic use. yet cooperated in this respect. At the request of the Water Manage­ k) River ment Branch of the provincial Ministry The Okanagan Basin Implementation of Env ironment, DFO rev iewed the mini­ Board has requested an investigation mum flow requi rements for preservation into the possibility of increasing and maintenance of the fisheries maximum permissible flows along the resource. Okanagan River channel below Vaseaux Lake because the present limitation of

99 28.3 cms as speci fied for sockeye ment agencies (federal, provincial and incubation and emergence, is insuffi­ territorial) and our responsibilities cient to draw down quick­ for preservation of productive fish ly enough during years of high runoff. habitats, the Unit often represents the If more water could be spilled between Department on various foreshore manage­ November 1 and April 30, lake levels ment and planning task forces, working could be better controlled and, in groups and interagency studies. addition, impacts on shore-spawning kokanee would be reduced. a) Roberts Bank Superport The National Harbours Board's expan­ A report on the results of studies sion of the Roberts Bank superport in undertaken in 1981 has recently been the Fraser River estuary was recently completed. subjected to an Environmental Assess­ ment and Review Panel (EARP) review, at 1) Coguitlam River which the Department successfully The Coquitlam River siltation prob­ defended the position that full-scale lem which came up a few years ago is expansion was unwarranted and unaccept­ still not adequately controlled. Silt able. EARP subsequently recommended to discharges from gravel mining opera­ the federal Environment Minister that a tions were entering the mainstream reduced expansion should proceed. An ri ver and threatening salmon spawning Environmental Review Committee is pro­ beds. The problem was identified in a viding environmental advice on con­ 1978 federal/prov incial water manage­ struction of a three-pod expansion ment report, and at that time, the which was eventually approved. Department advised sUbstantial improve­ ments for gravel removal and s11 t con­ Port expansion started in September trol to comply with Fisheries Act 1981 and primarily involved suction requirements. dredging and land reclamation. This phase of port expansion should be A considerable amount of engineering completed early in 1983. An ongoing work has been done by consul tants for program of monitoring the biological the gravel mining operators. There has impacts of dredgillg commenced in the been some difficulty in implementing summer of 1981 and will continue until engineering designs, however, because dredging is complete. of the reluctance of the operators to revise traditional methods and the high A habitat compensation· fund of more costs of removing and disposing of the than $1 million was part of Treasury silt material. Nevertheless, drainage Board approval for this project. This control has been improved by developing bypass systems and settling ponds. More work is required with respect to pit drainage, settling ponds and over­ all mine planning before the siltation problem is completely solved.

Foreshore Management The Foreshore Management Section works with District staff in reviewing major port, marina, real estate and other types of development proposals in estuarine and marine areas to preserve and protect productive fish habitats. Because of the relationships between This crab monitoring screen will be the control of land use and related held in position under a dredge pipe activities on the part of other govern- outfall at Roberts Bank. 100 fund should allow the Environmental scenario of massive dredging in Yukon Review Committee to meet its objective waters (for island construction) as of preventing a net loss of productive well as port development and possible habitat. This habitat compensation processing facilities on the Yukon fund has now financed programs (crab Coast. Both a technical review and OFO habitat loss study, and eelgrass study) position paper should be finished in to help define the habitat that has 1983 for presentation to the federal been and is going to be lost. This Env ironmental Assessment and Rev iew information will be used to decide the Panel who are assessing the projects' measures to be taken to meet the goal impacts (and recommending how to deal of no net loss of habitat. To date, no with them) for the federal Minister of money has been spent on habitat acqui­ the Environment. sition or creation, but concepts cur­ rently under consideration include A survey along the 8eaufort Sea creation of eelgrass beds, artificial coast at King Point, Kay Point and reefs and artificial salt marshes. Shingle Point was carried out to deter­ mine migration patterns and timing of b) North Coast LNG Proposal Review anadromous fish along the coast at the Dome Petroleum Ltd. has proposed a site of the proposed port development liquified natural gas (LNG) terminal at at King Point by Dome Petroleum Ltd. Grassy Point, near Prince Rupert. A special interagency task force has been d) Tsawwassen Salt Marsh Dike Alignment established to measure navigational and In the early 1970s, construction of environmental risks associated with the a flood control dike around the location and operation of the terminal. Tsawwassen Indian Reserve salt marsh was stopped in order to ensure protec­ The task force concluded that: tion of productive fish habitat. This - major env i ronmental concerns along year, the Tsawwassen Indian Band com­ the marine approach routes were treated missioned a habitat study to resurvey in a comprehensive fashion and that the marsh and make recommendations on this facet of the project was env i ron­ future dike alignments. That report mentally acceptable has now been received by DFO for - there were numerous data deficien­ Departmental review. During 1983 DrO cies at the terminal site and few will be working with the Tsawwassen specific design details Band, and the Department of the it was premature to judge the Environment (Inland Waters Directorate) accuracy of statements regarding to ensure that Fisheries concerns env i ronmental impact near the terminal. regarding possible future diJ

produced describing the biophysical The major objective of the study is resources of the Campbell River fore- to develop guidelines for water and shore. related resource management. In devel­ oping the guidelines for recommenda­ f) Fraser River Estuary Study tions, basic data on the river and its Phase II of this study, initiated in tributaries will be considered, includ­ 1980, was completed in 1982 and has ing information on flora, fauna, fish been submitted to the federal and pro­ and habitats. The study has recognized vincial Ministers of Environment for the imbalance of information on consideration. The Department's input resource development initiatives and to the phase II process centered around various resource bases and has ':Judgeted the task of "area designation." Gener­ funds to supplement the resource al agreement has been reached with bases. Once the studies are completed other agency representatives on the potential development scenarios will be priorities of more than 80 percent of considered to evaluate the demands 011 the estuary shoreline. Designations the resources and to identify potential used in the process include conserva­ use conflicts. tion, park/recreation, log storage, urban (mixed boat moorage and commer­ In 19S2 (the second year of the cial), industry and port/terminal. study), the Basin Study Committee approved a $400,000 fisheries study. g) Yukon River Basin Study Study accomplishments to date include The Yukon River Basin Study is a completion of an annotated bibliography three-year, $2.2 million joint federal­ and information summary and fish provincial-territorial planning study distribution maps for the Yukon Sasin. being carried out under the auspices of Programs ongoing and proposed (to be the Canada Water Act. completed in 1983) include a salmon 102 tagging and radio tracking study, composition and vegetation distribution studies into the impacts of placer min­ in the estuary was also mapped. ing sediments on Arctic grayling and their habitat, stream surveys, limno­ The report being prepared will give logical studies and a creel census. recommendations regarding broad fore­ shore planning and development objec­ h) North Coast Estuaries tives as well as recommendations about i) Skeena Estuary a specific proposal for log dumps and a The Unit initiated a project to roadway on the intertidal foreshore. assist the Village of Port Edward by identifying foreshore areas suitable iii) Stewart Estuary for various types of development. The Unit initated a limited -stewart estuary study in 1982. Under the supervision of fishery officers, a job creation field crew The estuary, fed by the Stewart assembled subst rate composit ion and River, Bear River and Rainy Creek vegetation distributions information on supports populations of pink, chum, resource maps. coho and sockeye salmon. The study gathered a small amount of data on Data are being analysed and a their usage of the estuary and verified report, including recommendations on previous information collected by B.C. suitable foreshore development for Minist ry of Env ironment on estuary various areas of the foreshore will be vegetation, hydrology etc. completed in 1983. During 1983, the data will be ii) Kitsault Estuary/Alice Arm analysed and di fferences will be noted A foreshore plan is being developed between the draft Foreshore Plan and for the head of Alice Arm. In 1982, a the Department's recommendations to generalized survey of the habitat ensure the protection of productive resources was undertaken. fish habitat.

Three watersheds and three marsh Contact: Rod Sell-Irving, channels in the estuary were sampled to Chief, determine fish presence. Substrate Water Use Unit.

Management Services

The Management Services Division recreational fisheries coordinator has includes four major activities in the proven to be a valuable addition to Regional office. The training and Regional staff. The coordinator, act­ career development officer for FSB ing as a liaison between the Sportfish­ staff, the Licencing Unit, the Regula­ ing Advisory Board and Fisheries tions and Enforcement Unit and the management, provided an improved focus recreational fisheries coordinator are on sport fishing concerns to the Field four independent activities in the Services Branch. Region, but they are closely tied with field operations. A Licencing branch office opened in January 1982 in the north. Licencing During 1982, a number of "first also went through its first year of time" events took place in the Divi- on-line computer administration; the sion. The creation of the position of change was a marked improvement over 103 the old "card" system. The Regulations Unit completed and had previously been administered by the introduced two major sets of regula­ sport fishing economist's office. tions--the B.C. Sport fishing Regula­ tions and the Pacific Fishery Manage­ The coordinator's office has also ment Area Regulations. dealt with a steady flow of interest from the public. As DFO responds ever The Enforcement Unit undertook a more strongly to the huge clientele of major fish-buying operation in an non-commercial users of fishery effort to apprehend and charge illegal resources, not to mention the services sellers of salmon taken from the Fraser and industries that cater to that River system. interest, the coordinator's function seems destined to expand. Unfortunately, the position of the native Indian advisor was vacated early Contact: Robert Wowcl1uk, in the year, and subsequently not Recreational Fisheries staffed during 1982 due to budget cut­ Coordinator. backs. A new focus on native fisheries issues and policy is expected in 1983. Recreational Contact: Alan Gibson, Chief, Fisheries Advisor Management Services. The position of Recreational (sport) Fisheries Advisor was established early in 1979 to assess trends in sport fish­ Recreational ing, which has become a "mushrooming" activity-industry, and to act as a Fisheries Coordinator liaison between the angler and the Department. This staff position was established early in 1982 as a step toward increas­ Trends in sport fishing and the pro­ ed consideration of the burgeoning portional allocation of a share of the interest in recreational fisheries, resource to the angler and tourist are both at sea and in tidal portions of noted and assessed. Each year, the rivers. (The management of non-tidal sport fish advisor has been involved in sport fishing is under provincial the discussions over proposed fishery cont rol) • regulations and has worked with the Communications Branch and the Opera­ The position was filled by a senior tions Room, through wh ich most fishil1g fisheries employee with long service in reports are funnelled. fisheries management and a good appre­ ciation of recreational interests. The Operating under the advisory terms office took over much of the liaison on of reference of the position, the sport sport fish concerns that had temporar­ fish adv isor has been success ful in ily been funnelled through the office persuading some fishery managers to of the sport fish adv isor. The latter reconsider concepts in needs and allo­ position, designed to serve advisory, cations. One case in point is the research and ombudsman functions, led change in the regulations which to the added position of sport fish restricted the number of rods used by coordinator. anglers in boats to one rod per angler. The current regulation allows The office of the sport fish coordi­ an unlimited number of rods, provided nator has been busy from the outset. that all anglers in the boat are legal­ It has absorbed secretariat duties of ly covered--either by a licence or as a the Sport Fishing Advisory Board, which minor--for angling. 104 In addition to attending managelnent and other discussion meetings, the sport fish adv isor has been consulted Training and by employees on various sport fishing Career Development concerns. These range from allocation of salmon fisheries between sport and commercial fishing to angler regula­ The Training and Career· Development tions and even angler attitudes. Unit continues to provide training for all DFO employees. In 1983, the Unit Close contact is maintained with the will continue to be very involved in larger organized groups of anglers, the preparation and initiation of the such as the B.C. Wildlife Federation, national Fishery Officer Career Pro­ the Steelhead Society of B.C., th~ gression Program, from the recruit Pacific Salmon Society, the B.C. Feder­ level to the working level (a two-year at ion of FI yfishers and the charter­ structured program). In addition to boat organizations. providing training to DFO staff, the Unit also offers its services on In this fourth year, 25 public Pacific coast fisheries concerns to the appearances were made before angling RCMP, Coast Guard, and industry (par­ clubs, service clubs, fishing guides' ticularly logging). meetings, public protest meetings, con­ ventions, Salmonid Enhancement Task In addition, the Unit has been asked Group meetings, Sport Fishing Advisory for input into various studies, Board meetings, and radio and tele­ including: vision talk shows. - study of opportunities for train­ ing and placing BelT graduates Eight regional conferences of sport­ BCIT Basic Resources (Modular) ing groups and fishery and resource Instruction for Development Growth and agents were attended. Employment (BRIDGE) through BCIT Dis­ tance Education The depletion of steelhead trout and fishery officer career progression chinook and coho salmon stocks has plan resulted in the decline of river fish­ - Pacific Region's enforcement capa- ing, and a similar pattern is evident bilities. in lake fishing. Lakes in congested areas, such as Merritt, Kamloops, and This Unit also serves as a member of the Okanagan, continue to be "fished these committees: down" each spring, leaving scant stocks - National Uniform Committee remaining for renewed activity in the Lateral Transfer Committee fall. - Vehicle Acquisition Committee - Equal Opportunities for Natives Sea-angling success for chinook and - Training Committee coho salmon appeared reduced everywhere - Native Employment Committee. in 1982, except in Alberni Inlet and Barkley Sound, where salmon enhancsnent The Unit continues to provide infor­ measures have brought about spectacular mation to educational institutes and chinook returns. Thousands of chinook serves di rectly on adv isory boards for and coho were intercepted in mixsd­ the Kelsey Institute of Technology, stock fisheries by commercial boats in Sask.; the British Columbia Institute Johnstone and Juan de Fuca Straits, of Technology, Burnaby, B.C.; Leth­ targetting upon the return of sockeye bridge Community College, Alta.; and and chum salmon. Selkirk College, Castlegar, B.C. Contact: Lee Straight, Recreational Fisheries Advisor. 105 The Unit also serves on the accredi­ Contact: Mel Hart, tation committee of the Society of Chief, Engineering Technologists of B.C. Regulations Unit. (SETBC) for BCIT' s Forest ry Technology course, and on the advisory committee for the Enforcement Technology course General Investigations at Lethbridge Community College. The manager of the Fraser Ri ver, Northern British Columbia and Yukon Increasingly, the Unit is also being Division requested an undercover called upon to provide training for operation be conducted in 1982. The Support Serv ices. SEP has also indi­ operation, approved by the director, cated a desi re to participate in some Field Services Branch, began in June. aspects of Field Services training. The purpose of the program was to As a sideline to training, the Unit determine the extent and scope of is Field Services staff's contact for illegal sale of salmon in the Fraser the Employee Assistance Program. This Valley area. program provides confidential assis­ tance, advice and support to employees A former RCMP officer was engaged as whose work performance is, Dr likely to the operator of a fish company. He was be, affected by a personal or health­ backed by other members of the Unit and related problem. personnel from Districts 1 and 2. Contact: Brian Richman, The first buy was made on July 9 and Branch Training and Career the last one was on October 1, 1982. A Development Officer. total of 55.8 tonnes of salmon were bought.

As a result of this operation, it is Field Services expected that approximately 340 charges Systems will be laid against 129 individuals. The results of this program indicate Regulations that the illegal sale of salmon, by The Regulations Unit maintains unlicenced operators, is very large and regulations governing the various fish­ is capable of generating large amounts eries, in keeping with the changing of money. conditions and circumstances of the fisheries. A number of amendments Were The other major highlight of this prepared and forwarded to Ottawa in endeavor was the high degree of cooper­ 1982 for promulgation. The total ation that was exhibited among the volume of amendments handled by the various people who participated in it. Ottawa Regulations Unit is creating considerable delays; therefore, it is A worthwhile achievement in 1982 was important that the Regions submit the development of a compendium of proposed amendments in a more organized Fisheries case law. The compendium is fashion. available for distribution to fishery officers and others interested in the This Unit also monitors enforcement/ prosecutions of Fisheries violations. court proceedings and provides legal The work, entailing extensive research advice and assistance to field officers and organization, is the effort of in enforcement activities. In 1982, court liaison officer M. E. Bogart. 1,429 prosecutions were entered for the Region; this is a 50 percent increase Contact: Tom Moojalsky, over the 952 prosecutions registered in Chief Enforcement Officer. 1981. 106 A five-year personal commercial Licencing fishing licence was introduced in 1982. This eliminated the need for Licencing administration took a fishermen to reapply for a licence each giant leap forward into the computer year. Available at a fee of $40, it age in 1982 with completion of the proved to be very popular with fisher­ final phase in the implementation of an men. More than 1,800 were issued from on-line computer system. Benefits the Vancouver, New Westminster, accruing from this change included Nanaimo, and Prince Rupert offices. improved service to the public, better and more timely data for Fisheries The tidal water sport fishing managers, and reductions in staff over­ licence program entered its second year time. in 1982. Over 650 agents were con­ tracted to sell licences, with sales The opening of a Licence Section exceeding 286,000 licences and generat­ office in Prince Rupert January 1982 ing $1,722,300 in revenue. The revenue also contributed to an improvement in from this program is being assigned to service to the public. This step SEP. Distribution of licences and toward decentralization has proven con­ monthly/year-end reconciliations have venient for DFO staff, particularly in proven to be extremely labor inten­ the North, who can now refer fishermen sive. Consequently, improvements to to the Prince Rupert Licencing office the efficiency of the system are being to settle licencing problems, obtain sought in 1983. replacement plates, validation tabs and decals, and to be advised in a compre­ hensive and informed manner on all Contact: Dick Carson, aspects of licencing. Licence Manager. Microfilming of 500,000 licencing records (1968 to 1981) was begun in 1982. In three months' time, almost Table 61 half of the documents were filmed. The target for 1983 is to complete the 1982 Prosecutions filming and to prepare a comprehensive catalogue for the tapes. Fisheries Act (Section 19) 14 By year-end, the final draft of the Fisheries Act (habitat-related) 19 "Paci fic Fishery Registration and Fisheries Act (other) 21 Licencing Regulations" consolidated Coastal Fisheries Protection Act 12 package was ready. It was expected to Criminal Code 4 go forth for enactment early in 1983. B.C. (General) Regulations 661 These regulations consolidate present Licencing Regulations 72 licencing policy and administrative Inspection Act & Regulations 4 procedures, as well as introduce sever­ Herring Regulations 7 al new licence categories- which have Salmon Regulations 170 in the past been regulated through Shell fish Regulations 164 issuance of permits. This draft repre­ Yukon Regulations 6 sents four years of coordinated effort Sport fish Regulat ions 266 by licencing regulations, and legal Other Regulations 9 services sections. The proposed regu­ lations represent a vast improvement in Total 1,429 clarifying licencing policy and proce­ dures for both the staff and the public.

107 Table 62

1982 Tidal Water Sport Fishing Licences Number Issued Revenue 1982 1981 1982 1981

Resident (R) 237,533 222,37D $1,186,D50 $1,110,552 Non-Resident (N) 17,394 15,748 347,880 314,960 Non-Resident three-day (T) 11,947 11,156 119,470 111,560 Resident/Non­ Resident one-day (D) 19,712 20,077 68,992 70,270 ---- Total 286,585 269,351 $1,722,392 $1,607,341 ----

Table 63

1982 Vessel Licences and Personal Commercial Licences* Number Licence Designation Licence Issued Value Revenue

A-200 Salmon (vessel under 9.14 m) 273 $ 200 $ 54,600 A-400 Salmon (vessel over 9.14 m) 3,269 400 1,307,600 A-800 Salmon (vessel over 42.45 m3) 577 800 461,600 A Salmon (Indian-owned, reduced 358 20 7,160 fee paid) B Salmon (10 years only) 168 20 3,360 C Groundfish 1,072 10 10,720 D Packer 209 10 2,090 E Abalone 26 200 5,200 H Roe Herring (gillnet) 935 200 187,000 H Roe Herring (seine) 190 2,000 380,000 H Roe Herring (Indian gillnet) 404 10 4,040 H Roe Herring (Indian seine) 56 10 560 K Sable fish 45 10 450 L Halibut 433 10 4,330 S Shrimp (by trawl) 247 10 2,470 T Groundfish (by trawl) 147 10 1,470 One-year Personal Commercial 15,437 10 154,370 Five-year Personal Commercial 1,872 40 74,880 $2,661,300 * These are preliminary figures.

108 -,

.. ,

The FPV Tanu patrol s the coast. Ship Division

Ship Division, one of seven divi­ ible for the management and operation sions within the Support Services of the Fisheries Research Vessels (FRV) Branch, is responsible for providing G. B. Reed and Caligus, based at the Field Services Branch with the vessels Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo. and crews necessary for the effective management of tile Pacific coast FPV Laurier fisheries. The FPV Laurier was removed from active service on April 1, 1982, due to The fleet consists of 31 patrol ves­ a realignment of Regional priorities. sels, ranging in size from 10 - 55 meters. The two headquarters' vessels, Patrol Vessel Replacements Fisheries Patrol Vessels (FPV) Tanu and I n accordance with the Departmental James Sinclai r, are assigned to coast­ Vessel Acquisition Strategy Plan wide patrols. The remainder of the (VASP). a number of inshore patrol ves­ fleet is assigned to various districts sels are to be replaced over the ne'

Contact: Capt. B. Gordon Irving, Chief, Ship Division. The FPV James Sinclair completed its second year of service ill 1982.

110 Table 65 1982 fisheries Patrol Vessels

Vessel Operational Port Masters

Double-crewed Vessels - Multi-tasked Arrow Post Queen Charlotte City J. Robinson R. Paziuk Cililco Post Alert Bay R. Mason R. Maratos Tanu Victoria A. Preston D. Nilssen Double-crewed Vessels - Single tasked James Sinclair Victoria J. Gosse H. Connor Single-crewed Vessels

Anchor Rock Victoria J. Forgie Atlin Post Nanaimo J. Bumpus Babine Post Kitimat L. Helsing l1eaver Rock Prince Rupert J. Christie Bonilla Rock Campbell River R. Davis Brama Westview J. Zitzewitz Cali gus Nanaimo (Research) R. McLaughlin Comox Post Port Aloerni J. Thompson Cutter Hock Prince Rupert D. Prevost r- .0. 202 Tofino E. Arnet Falcon Rock Dawsons Landing R. Skog G.B. Reed Nanaimo (Research) A. Fletcher Gale Hock Bella Coola L. Malo Gull Rock Quatsino Heron Rock Tahsis Kitimat II Prince Rupert W. Wylie North Rock Ki timat Petrel Rock Prince Rupert K. Gale ,Pillar Rock Masset L. Rivest Seal Rock Port Hardy J. Scott Sooke Post Queen Charlotte City K. Harley Star Rock Steveston c. Forbes Stuart Post Steveston R. Harris Surge Rock Bella 8ella E. Wilcox Temple Rock Bella Coola H. Veelbehr Vedder Rock Vancouver Warrior Rock Vancouver K. Cox

H.Q. Relief Victoria R. Myerscough South Rel ief New Westminster B. Murray South Relief New Westminster R. Alton North Relief Prince Rupert F. Jackson

Supervisor Prince Rupert Marine Station P. lloyd Supervisor New Westminster Marine Depot A. Zanatta Supervisor Nanaimo Marine Station J. Brennan

111 Fisheries Development

The Fisheries Development Program experiment, conducted by Northern provides a means for DFO to offer the Operations, involved the study of var­ fishing industry financial and techni­ ious salmon gill net hanging ratios to cal assistance in developing the com­ improve selectivity in a mixed-stock mercial fisheries, in concert with good fishery. Promising results were fisheries management practice. obtained from both projects and the work is expected to continue. Conducted under the terms of the Fisheries Development Act, the program b) Vessel development, to achieve: is administered by the Fisheries Devel­ - energy sav ings opment Division. However, the re­ - improved fish handling methods sources of other DFO branches and divi­ - improved chilling, refrigeration sions are often utilized to carry out and freezing systems the wide variety of projects - better safety. undertaken. In 1982, a two-year project was Projects are carried out in five initiated to study the Pacific fishing major areas: fleet's fuel consumption, as well as methods to reduce consumption. The a) Gear development, to achieve: project, funded by the Economic Policy - better selectivity Branch in Ottawa, is being carried out - reduction of energy consumption by USC's Department of r~echani cal - better quality of catch Engineering. - new gears for new species - improved operating safety Other projects included: live her­ - reduced repair costs. ring transfer, RSW (refrigerated salt water) temperature control and record­ During 1982, a project utilizing the ing system, development of nickel­ remote-controlled underwater vehicle plated copper chillers. MANTA (developed by Sea-I-Research Ltd. of Sidney, B.C.) demonstrated the c) Exploratory fishing, to achieve: excellent potential for the use of this - resource surveys equipment in studying the performance - exploring new grounds of fishing gear and the reaction of - exploring for unLltilized and un- fish to the gear. A video-tape produc­ derutilized species ed from trawling operations has gener­ - developing new fisheries. ated great interest from commercial fishermen. The MANTA can. be used to In 1982, an experimental trap fish­ observe longlining, trapping, trawling, ery operation for octopus in the Clayo­ seining, and trolling operations and quat Sound area was carried out by will be very useful in projects to Simon Fraser University. The project improve the selectivity of these gears. was undertaken by SFU in collaboration with a commercial fisherman, I.i th fund­ Two gear selectivity projects were ing from DFO and the Department of Sup­ conducted in 1982; one experiment ply and Services Unsolicited Proposal involved the MANTA and the M/V Walker Program. Rock to determine the feasibility of using colored, large-mesh panels in the The results of the project indicated bunt of a salmon seine to permit that there is potential for a small escapement of juveniles; the other commercial fishery, which has generated 112 -,

DFO staff collect wind row herring spawn at French Creek; the spawn will be transplanted elsewhere.

considerable interest from commercial An interesting offshoot of the pro­ fishermen. ject surfaced during depuration studies--the ability of magnesium to There were also exploratory fishing gape, or open, oysters. This revela­ for: king crab, octopus, loligo squid tion resulted in commercial field and nail squid. A monitoring program trials to utilize this effect as a of tuna was also undertaken. shucking aid. The trials were success­ ful. Consequently, Esperanza Sea Farms d) Handling and processing improve­ Ltd. applied for a temporary marketing ment, to achieve: authorization to evaluate this tech- ---- improved quality nique in a commercial shucking - quality control operation. - greater efficiency - enerlJY sav ings. e) Mariculture and impoundment, to achieve: A project initiated in 1980 to resource enhancement develop commercial systems for the live - controlled harvesting storage and depuration of shellfish has - more inten!3ive use of available achieved considerable success. At the habitat Fisheries Technology Laboratory, a pro­ - continuity of supply totype live holding tank for prawns has - improved quality. proven successful on a pilot scale and it is now ready for testing on a com­ A roe herring ponding research pro­ mercial scale. ject, started in 1980 at the Pacific 113 Biological Station, achieved very good An informational film on this pro­ results during the 19B2 roe herring ject, entitled Herring Egg Salvage and season. Mature herring were impounded Transplant, has been produced and it is for up to 75 days after capture. Sur­ available from the Communications vival rates were excellent. The fish Branch. The culture of blackcod and were captured in early January; the abalone were also undertaken in 1982. quality of the roe increased to a peak by late March, with 71 - 89 percent at In addition to these projects, three a rating of "No. 1 and No. 2 mature," fishery industry projects were conduct­ and the quality remained high for ed under the Program for Industry/ three weeks or more. A total of 3B.3 Laboratory Projects, funded by the tonnes of roe herring were marketed on National Research Council: a trial basis at $ 1,271 per tonne and the development of a prototype the quality drew favorable comment by temperature-monitoring system for the processor. The roe yield measured freezer vessels by Pulsar Electronics by the standard test averaged 13.7 Ltd. ' percent. - the development of an indust rial prototype of the Fisheries Technology Branch jet-assisted air-lift pump by Shields Industries Ltd. - pilot commercial impoundment and rearing of blackcod in pens by Westerly Fish Farms Ltd.

Contact: Bob McIlwaine, Chief, Fisheries Development Division.

In an experimental herring ponding pro­ ject, roe herring is removed from the pond at Departure Bay and transported to the processor.

Another project of particular inter­ est, which was started during the 19B2 roe herring season, will determine the feasibility of enhancing the herring resource by salvaging windrow eggs from the beaches and transplanting them in suitable habitat to hatch the eggs and rear the larvae to the juvenile stage. The project is being carried out by Tidal Rush Marine Farms Ltd., under the terms of the DSS Unsolicited Proposal Program. The results of the project have so far been encouraging; herring roe was salvaged from French Creek and successfully t ranspl anted and hatched An octopus is caught in a tube trap in at Hidden Sasin, Nelson Island. an experimental fishery. 114 Headquarters Support

Herring Coordinator Licence Appeal Board

The Regional Herring Coordination In 1979, a Licence Appeal Board was Center was formed in 1978 to act as a established in the Pacific Region. The focal point for all matters concerning Board, comprising five voting members the management of B.C. herring stocks. appointed by the Minister, advises on The members of the herring management the granting or refusing of appeals team, such as the fishery managers, concerning licencing that are directed researchers and biologists, and all to the Minister. parts 0 f the fishing industry, such as the fishermen and processing companies Any person whose request for the can bring their concerns to the Center issuance, transfer or reclassification for discussion. Rational management is of a commercial fishing licence has more apt to be achieved with this well­ been refused by the Vessel Licence defined consultative process. Appeal Committee may appeal to the Minister. After interviewing the In 1981, the area licence system was appellant, the Board makes a recommen­ ~nstituted, and in 1982 a more refined dation to the Minister on each appeal. version was adopted. The refinements were specificallY in the process of The guidelines under which the Board selection of areas by fishermen. operates are the same as those issued Although catch goals were not realized by the Licence Appeal Committee--to by the seine sector in 1982, the area review licencing procedures to ensure licence system was used again in 19B3. that regUlations are met. Appeals Prospects for reaching catch goals by usually involve circumstances in which the fleet will be enhanced under the a vessel is lost through sinking or new fixed quota management system accident, or vessels are tied up due to implemented for the 1983 roe fishery. li tigation or illness, death or acci­ This new system involves more manage­ dent suffered by the licensee or a ment input from' the Fisheries Research close relative. Branch than was the case in past years. The Licence Appeal Board can advise In 1982, an experimental boat quota the Minister to grant appeals on system was used in the food and bait grounds of compassion or to use similar fishery to study the rami fications of Ministerial discretion. this method 0 f controllinq this small fishery. The results are not fully In 1982, the Licence Appeal Board analyzed at this time; however, it considered 10B appeals, and approval seems that boat quotas have one advan­ was recommended in 38 of them. tage over the open fishery because absolute control over catch levels are Contact: Phil Murray, possible using the quota system, and Chairman, available surplus can be put more Licence Appeal Board. effectively into higher value fisher­ ies, such as the roe herring fishery.

Contact: Lloyd Webb, A/Herring Coordinator. 115 Table 66 1982 Decisions by licence Appeal Board

Licence Approved Denied Total

Salmon (A) 17 25 42 Salmon (B) 6 6 12 IICU Licence (unrestr icted fisheries) 4 9 13 Roe-on-kelp 2 5 7 Roe herring 5 9 14 Sablefish (blackcod) 1 5 6 Halibut 3 3 Shrimp 3 8 11

38 70 108

The Committee currently consists of three persons: a chairperson and two Licence Appeals members. Most of the routine appeals, where precedent has already been Committee established, are handled and processed solely by the chairperson. The Commit­ Since the implementation of a limi t­ tee chairperson also holds the title of ed entry program for the salmon fishery licence appeals officer. in 1968, there has existed an avenue through which fishermen may appeal In cases where the appeal is unusual decisions made by the Licence Section or controversial, the chairperson on the issuance, renewal and transfer refers the matter to the two Committee of commercial fishing licences. members. The Committee members are drawn from Departmental staff and take The function of the Vessel Licence on the responsibility in addition tD Appeal Committee is to ensure that their regular duties. regulations and guidelines of the licencing procedures have been met. It Appeals received are usually for: reviews the decision made by the - additional time to obtain or com­ Licence Section with respect to the plete a replacement vessel fishermen's initial application and -exemption from the $500 landing investigates all aspects of the requirement for "C" licenced vessels appeal. It may also consider informa­ - change of vessel or area for roe tion and documentation which may not herring licencing. have been available to staff in the Licence Section. The Committee then Often, Canada's eCDnomic situation makes a ruling, based somewhat on is being used, in part, as a basis for precedents. appeals. This is especially true for appeals for additional time to replace If the appeal is denied by the vessels and increases in replacement Committee, the appellants can state vessel lengths and tonnages. Two years their cases by letter, to the Pacific ago, fishermen felt confident they Region Licence Appeals Board. The could afford new vessels. They now Board reports directly to the Minister find that building a vessel is far too of Fisheries and Oceans. costly, and they must locate suitable vessels from within the existing 116 Table 67 1982 Decisions by Vessel Licence Appeal Conunittee

Licence Aeeroved Denied Total

Salmon (A) 90 29 119 Salmon (B) 5 9 14 "e" Licence 60 16 76 Abalone 0 0 0 Geoduck 0 0 0 Roe herring 88 5 93 Sablefish 0 2 2 Halibut 5 8 13 Shrimp 8 1 9 Ground fish (trawl) 4 2 6

Total 260 72 332 fleet. Unlicenced vessels that match their overall length and net tonnage limits are difficult to find. Salmon Coordinator

Another major source of licence The position of Regional salmon appeals are those received from fisher­ coordinator, established in 1981, is ~en Who file late applications for the focal point for salmon management their licences. In 1982, there were 44 matters. The position was filled on appeals arising from late applications, March 1, 1982, and the salmon coordina­ and of these 41 were for herring tor is based at Regional headquarters. licences. During 1982, the coordinator provid­ In 1982, the chairperson assisted ed a link between divisions and head­ the Licence Section on special pro­ quarters and advised the director and jects, including the consolidation and director-general on major developments rev lSlon of the new Licencing in the salmon fisheries. Considerable Regulations. time Was al so spent on the Canada/ U.S.A. salmon negotiations, development Another important aspect of the work of fishing plans for 1983, and longer­ is to interpret Departmental regula­ term planning related to the recommen­ tions, policies and procedures for dations from the Pearse Commission on fishermen, discussing items in detail, Paci fic Fisheries Policy and to SEP' s including the history and rationale of Phase II. rules and regulations. In most cases, it is time well spent. In response to widespread concern regarding CWT (coded-wire tag) mark recovery data, the coordinator reacti­ Contact: Wendy Grider, vated the Regional Mark Recovery Users' Licence Appeals Officer. Committee and also established a new Technical Steering Committee. These committees are optimistic that many of the ongoing problems related to the mark recovery program can be corrected in 1983.

117 The coordinator has a responsibility mation. These data are collated and to provide functional direction to man­ distributed to Fisheries biologists and agement biologists. An attempt was hatchery managers. made in 1982 to address this and other responsibilities by setting up a In 1982, commercial catches of Regional Salmon Management Working chinook, coho, steelhead, chum and pink Group, which comprised representatives salmon were sampled at processing from the Field Services Branch, SEP, plants in Prince Rupert, Namu, Port and the Fisheries Research Branch. The Hardy, Tofino, Ucluelet, Vancouver, and group met only once, as in-season and Steveston. Six crews sampled 1,281,518 post-season activities seemed to take fish; collected heads from 20,781 adi­ priority over additional meetings. The pose marks; recorded 1,676 fin marks need still exists for interaction with­ and collected 61,090 biological in this group, and it is hoped that it samples. These figures indicate a 70 will be active and effective in 1983. percent increase in numbers sampled and a six percent increase in adipose marks Contact: Dave Schutz, over 1981. These increases reflect the Regional Salmon Coordinator. first year that a directed effort has been made in sampling chum salmon coast wide for coded-wire tags. Sample num­ bers for coho also dramatically increased over 1981, reflecting the Salmon Services increased catch of coho.

The Salmon Serv ices and Special Pro­ Voluntary returns of sport recover­ jects Unit receives funding from both ies continued in 1982, but the number FSB and SEP to carry out the prov ince­ of recoveries was down 20 percent from wide Mark Recovery Program and fish the previous year. This decrease may ageing service (Regional Scale Lab). be attributed to a reduction in marking These programs collect data on the size of Canadian coho and to a decline in and age of salmon and recover coded­ fishermen participation. During 1982, wire tags and fin marks from B.C. fish­ the program processed 8,000 heads eries. The Salmon Services Unit also turned in at 160 head depots located at participates in commercial and sport boat docks, tackle shops and Fisheries log-book programs, coordinates the offices throughout B.C. purchase and supply of coded-wire tags for marking, coordinates the reporting Fishermen who turn in the heads of of coded-wire tag snd fin-clip release adipose-only clipped fish receive information to the Pacific t1arine Fish­ information on the orlgln of their eries Commission, and coordinates and fish, a Mark Recovery Program button processes recovery information on Floy and a copy of the Salmonid newsletter. and Petersen disc tagging projects. They are also eligible for eight annual prize draws of one $500 prize and six Mark Recovery Program $50 prizes. In 1982, all $500 winners The Mark Recovery Program samples a were from Vancouver Island, 39 of the portion of all B.C. commercial and $50 winners were from B.C. and 2 were sport fishery catches for salmonids from the United States. Of the fish carrying coded-wire tags (identified by caught by prize winners, 14 were from absence of adipose fin), dissects the Capilano hatchery, seven were from heads of these marked fish and decodes Quinsam hatchery, five were from Big the tags. The program also samples for Qualicum hatchery, 15 were from other fin-marked fish (identified by absence B.C. hatcheries and five were from of fins other than adipose) and col­ American hatcheries. (These fi,~ures do lects biological samples for age infor- not include those from the i~ovember/ December 1982 prize draw.) 118 In addition to the dissection and Biological Sampling tag reading of commercial and sport In 1982, the biological sampling recoveries, the Head Recovery dissec­ program was executed by the Mark tion lab provided support to other Recovery Program, under the direction Fisheries projects by processing heads of the Regional chinook and coho biolo­ from escapement steelhead, chinook and gist. Extra staff was supplied by the coho. Also in 1982, support to Summer Student Youth Employment Pro­ research groups was given by processing gram; they sampled chinook, coho, smol ts from an enumeration project in steelhead and chum for scales, lengths the Quinsam estuary. Other analyses and weights. The students also distri­ included heads from a shaker study, buted commercial troll log-books and heads from a troll observer program and collected the completed log-book sheets an incidental recovery from a hake from the fishermen. fishery trawler. The scales collected were read by Data collected by the I~ark Recovery the Regional Scale Lab. The data pro­ Program was processed by computer. An vided specific age information on com­ on-line entry system enabled the pro­ mercially-caught chinook and added to gram to process the data 3S it was the laboratory's library of scale received. Throughout 1982, in-season in formation. reports were distributed to provide the users with up-to-date information. The Table 69 1980 and 1981 annual reports were re­ formatted and readied for publication. Biological Sampling in 1982

In 1983, improvements to the present system of data entry and retrieval are Species Samples Taken expected. Some special user group reports, such as an annual review of Chinook 32,961 sport recoveries, commercial troll Coho 13,097 newsletters, and summaries of Petersen Steel head 982 disc tagging, may be produced. Data Chum 14,050 from 1980, 1981 and 1982 mark recover­ ies will be published and distributed. Total 61,090

Table 68 Sample Numbers and Mark Recoveries of Petersen Disc and Flay Tagging Each Species Sampled in 1982 The Mark Recovery Program also coordinates information from Petersen Adipose Fin disc and Floy tagging programs. Files Species Sampled Marks Marks are kept on each tagging proj ect, recording where and when the tagging Chinook 279,248 6,776 0 was done, why the tagging was done, Coho 655,907 13,626 0 which species were tagged and the num­ Steel head 8,556 129 0 bers tagged. In addition, fishermen Chum 335,000 250 1,651 who return the tags are notified of Pillk* 2,807 0 25 prize draws and rewards (if appli­ --- cable) and are informed of the project Total 1,281,518 20,781 1,676 for which their tags were used. * Pink salmon were sampled oilly in The International Salmon Tagging Johnstone Strait to assess the contri­ Program (ISTP) conducted under the butions from Bear River, Quillsam and interim U.S./Canada Salmon Interception PUlltledge hatcheries. Agreement, was initiated in 1982. More

119 than 200,000 tags were applied to sock­ Liaison with other agencies--the eye and pink salmon. DFO' s Northern Washington Department of Fisheries, Operations, in conjunction with ISTP, University of Washington's College of applied an additional 3,800 tags to Fisheries, and Alaska Department of sockeye and chinook. A total of 1,525 Fish and Game--provided an opportunity return envelopes, each containing one to exchange information, expertise and to 10 tags, were received from fisher­ scale impressions, in conjunction with men. Participating fishermen became stock separation programs involving eligible for a total of $10,000 in 8.C. and Alaska chinook stocks. Scale prize money through five prize draws impressions from fish from all major held during the season. Recoveries B.C. river systems were made for U.S. from the ISTP were sent to the Pacific files. Biological Station. In addition, lab staff conducted Other tagging projects were conduct­ scale analyses in the field (for ed on the Babine, Nimpl

Contact: Vic Palermo, A display, with hands-on activities Biometrician Programmer; relating to the ageing of fish by Don Bailey, scales, atoll ths and fin rays, Was set Chief, Salmon Services. up at the Arts, Science and Technology Museum in Vancouver.

As in previous years, tours of the Regional Scale laboratory lab were available to both staff and The Fish t~orphology Lab conducts the public. ageing of all species of salmon and certain freshwater fish. Contact: Yvonne Yole, Supervisor, Approximately 410,080 scales, Regional Scale Laboratory. including those from juvenile fish, Were submitted for analysis in 1982. This is an increase of more than 93,000 from 1981. Also received were 4,772 otolith and 1,075 fin clips from spawn­ ing ground chum and sockeye samples.

Due to a shortage of trained person­ nel, 28 percent of all scales received have not been read; only 22 percent of the otoliths and none of the fin clips received have been read.

120 -,,

Appendices

121 Appendix A: Key Field Services Branch Staff

DIRECTOR'S OFFICE, FIELD SERVICES BRANCH

Director Don Wilson 666-1751

Program Planning and Evaluation Frances Dickson 666-1519 Administration Officer Gillian Trushel 666-3284 Herring Coordination Center Bob Humphreys 666-1207 Fisheries Development Division Bob McIlwaine 666-2685 Salmon Coordinator Dave Schutz 666-1497 Regional Chinook and Coho Biologist Ken Pitre 666-3512 Chief, Salmon Services Don Bailey 666-2606

MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISION

Division Chief Alan Gibson 666-1589

Recreational Fisheries Coordinator Bob Wowchuk 666-1419 Recreational Fishing Advisor Lee Straight 666-2768 Regulations and Investigations C.C.CTinker) Young 666-2185 Investigations Tom Mooj al sky 666-2185 Regulations Mel Hart 666-2185

A/Commercial Fisheries Licence t~anager Dick Carson 666-2076 Licencing Unit Administrator Eileen Brady 666-3160 Licence Appeals Wendy Grider 666-1647

SOUTH COAST DIVISION

Division Chief, Nanaimo Dennis Brock 753-1268

Senior Management Biologist, Nanaimo Don Anderson 753-1268 A/Senior Habitat Biologist Bruce Hillaby 753-1268 District Supervisors Port Alberni Don t~cCulloch 724-0195 Nanaimo Kip Slater 754-3257 Campbell Hiver Norm Lemmen 287-2102 Victoria Larry Duke 388-3252

122 FRASER RIVER, NORTHERN B.C. AND YUKON DIVISION

Division Chief Fred Fraser 524-7141 Assistant Area Manager Bob Humphreys 524-7466

Senior Management Biologist Robin Harr ison 524-7143 Senior Habitat Biologist Otto Langer 524-7146 District Supervisors New Westminster Don Aurel 524-7181 Kamloops Grant Scott 374-4322 Whitehorse Gordon Zealand 403-667-2235

NORTHERN OPERATIONS BRANCH

Director, Northern Operations Branch Eric Kremer 624-9137 Area Operations Manager, Prince Rupert Tom Perry 624-9137

Senior Management Biologist, Prince Rupert Paul Sprout 627-8730 Senior Habitat Biologist Denis Rowse 624-9385 District Supervisors Prince Rupert Gus Jaltema 624-9137 Kitimat Willie McKenzie 632-6158 Queen Charlotte Chris Dragseth 559-4413

OFFSHORE DIVISION

Divisian Chief Ed Zyblut 666-3167 Offshore Management Operations Keni Lorette 666-1511 Special Programs and Management Barry Ackerman 666-3991 Offshore Surveillance and Enforcement John Cairns 666-1912 Operations Center Vilma tUller 666-1583 Sport Fishing Information 666-3169 Commercial Openings and Closures 666-1583

123 INSPECTION DIVISION

Division Chief David Bevan 666-1478

Operations Manager Charles Campbell 666-1801 Engineering Ian Devlin 666-1288 Shellfish Coordinator Rudy Chiang 666-3342 Boat Inspection Klaus Schallie 666-6706

Vancouver Laboratory 326 Howe St. Bacteriological Unit Nick Neufeld 666-1552 Chemistry Gin Farn 666-1554 Product Inspection Wil f Gushue 666-6143

Northern Inspection District Prince Rupert Vance McEachern 627-1375

FISHING VESSEL INSURANCE PROGRAM

Regional i~anager Audley Tinglin 666-3719 Assistant Regional Manager Jock Embleton 666-3165 District Managers Prince Rupert Rob Newton 624-9137 Steveston Mac Chettle 274-7217 Nanaimo Neil l~cAra 753-4051 Ladysmith Dav id Hayes 753-4051 Fraser Valley David Dyck 274-7217 Vancouver - Sunshine Coast William Lowe 666-8537 Claims Officer William Guerin 666-2867

HABITAT MANAGEMENT

Di v ision Head Forbes Boyd 666-3282 Chief, Planning & Coordination Tom Bird 666-1017 Chief, Land Use Unit John Payne 666-1356 Chief, Water Quality Unit Mike Nassichuk 666-1209 Chief, Water Use Unit Rod Bell-Irving 666-8667

124 ,

Appendix B: Advisory Committees

The following committees on specific fisheries are sponsored by the Field Services Branch of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Paci,fic Region.

SKEENA ADVISORY COMMITTEE Members Fisheries Association of B.C. 2 Prince Rupert Fishermen's Cooperative 1 United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union (UFAWU) 2 (one seiner, one gillnetter) Northern Trollers' Association 1 Nishga Tribal Council 1 Native Brotherhood of B.C. 1 Provincial Government 1 B.C. Wildlife Federation 1 Pacific Salmon Seiners' Association 1 Pacific Gillnetters' Association 1 Gitskan-Carrier Tribal Council 1 Terms of reference: to provide input into the management plan for the development and management of runs into the Skeena River.

Chairperson: Eric Kremer, Director, Northern Operations Branch, or Gus Jaltema, ~istrict Supervisor

QUEEN CHARLOTTE ADVISORY COMMITTEE Members Seine Vessel Owners* 2 Gillnet Vessel Owners* 2 Troll Vessel Owners* 2 Fisheries Association of B.C. 2 Prince Rupert Cooperative 1 B.C. Wildlife Federation 1 Pacific Salmon Seiners' Association 1 UFAIVU 1 *Residents of Queen Charlotte Islands

Terms of reference: to advise on all fisheries matters re­ lated to the Queen Charlotte Islands. Vessel representa­ tives are local residents.

Chairperson: Eric Kremer, Director, Northern Operations Branch, or Chris Oragseth, District Supervisor

125 CENTRAL COAST ADVISORY COMMITTEE Members UFAWU, Bella Coola Local 2 Bella Coola Band Council 2 Bella Bella Band Council 2 Kitasoo Band Council 2 Sport Fish Advisor 1 Owi keno Band 1 Paci fie Salmon Seiners' Association 1 UFAWU Rivers/Smiths 1 Fishing Vessel Owners of B.C. 1

Terms of reference: to advise on all fisheries matters related to the Central Coast area. Chairperson: Eric Kremer, Director, Northern Operations Branch, or Willy McKenzie, District Supervisor

FRASER RIVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE Members UFAWU 1 Native Fishermen 2 Sport Fishermen 1 Fish & Wildlife Branch 1 Processing Industry 1 Independent Fishermen 7 Terms of reference: provide input into managernent plans for rnanagement and development of salmon runs on Fraser River. Chairperson: Fred Fraser, Area Manager, Fraser River, Northern B. C. and Yukon Division

JOHNSTONE STRAIT-FRASER RIVER CHUM SALMON ADVISORY COMMITTEE Members Pacific Gillnetters' Association 2 UFAWU 3 Native Brotherhood of B.C. 2 Terms of reference: to advise on Johnstone Strait chum salmon management. (The advisors are primarily repre­ senting themselves as fishermen. They represent their organizations only on a secondary basis.)

Co-Chairpersons: Dennis Brock, Area Manager, South Coast Division, Fred Fraser, Area Manager, Fraser River, Northern B.C. and Yukon Division

126 YUKON RIVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE Membership: open to fishermen and processors.

Terms of Reference: the committee represents fishermen and processors of Yukon River and advises on development of the fishery and management of the runs, particularly in the Dawson area. The committee also advises on inter­ national matters.

Chairperson: Gordon Zealand, District Supervisor, Whitehorse, Yukon Territory

STIKINE RIVER ADVISORY COMMITTEE Membership: open to fishermen and processors.

Terms of reference: the committee represents fishermen and processors of the Stikine River and advises on development of the fishery and management of the runs. The committee also advises on international matters. Chairperson: Fred Fraser, Area Manager, Fraser River, Northern B.C. and Yukon Division

SPORT FISHING ADVISORY COMMITTEE Members Amalgamated Conservation Society, Victoria 1 B.C. Wildlife Federation 1 B.C. Wildlife Federation, Lower Mainland 2 BCWF, Northern Interior 1 BCWF, Southern Vancouver Island 1 BCWF, Mid to Northern Vancouver Island 1 BCWF, Southern Interior 1 BCWF, North and Central Coast 1 Unorganized Anglers 5 B.C. Motel, Resorts and Trailer Parks Assoc. 1 Marina Operators 1 Charter Boat Operators 1 Sport Fishing Institute of B.C. 1 General Tourism 1

Terms of reference: to advise on tidal and nontidal sport fish matters and to assist in disseminating information to the general public on matters pertaining to these fisheries.

Chairperson: Ralph Shaw, 1031 Fraser Street, Kamloops, B.C. V2C 3H8

127 HERRING INDUSTRY ADVISORY BOARD Members B.C. Fishermen's Independent Coop. Assoc. 2 B.C. Independent Fish Producers' Assoc. 1 B.C. Seafood Exporters' Assoc. 1 Central Native Fishermen's Coop. 2 Prince Rupert Coop. Fishermen's Guild 3 Economic Development, Ministry of 2 Fisheries Assoc. of B.C. 2 Fishing Vessel Owners' Assoc. of B.C. 3 International Assoc. of Refrig. Warehousers 2 Native Brotherhood of B.C. 2 Pacific Gillnetters' Assoc. 3 Prince Rupert Fish Wholesalers' Assoc. 2 Prince Rupert Fishermen's Coop. Assoc. 2 Pacific North Coast Native Cooperative 1 Prince Rupert Vessel Owners' Assoc. 2 Pacific Trollers' Assoc. 2 Recreation & Conservation, B.C. Ministry of 2 Salt Water Sport Fishing Adv. Committee 1 United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union 2 B.C. Wildlife Federation 1 Pacific Coast Fishing Vessel Owners' Guild 1 Prince Rupert Fish Coop. Guild 1 Deep Sea Trawlers 1

Terms of reference: to provide input into the planning, development and management of the herring fisheries. Chairperson: Don Wilson, Director, Field Services Branch

HERRING SPAWN ON KELP Members Industry 1 Licence Holders 6

Terms of reference: to advise on the planning and development of the herring spawn on kelp fishery. Chairperson: Paul Sprout, Senior Management Biologist, Prince Rupert

GROUNDFISH ADVISORY COMMITTEE Members Prince Rupert Fishermen's Co-op. 1 Northern Industry 1 Southern Industry 2 Trawl Fishermen 3 Marine Resources Branch 1 B.C. Independent Fishermen's Co-op. 1

Terms of reference: to advise on planning and policy development of ground fish , especiallY with respect to fisheries management. Chairperson: Ed Zyblut, Chief, Offshore Division

128 Appendix C: Publications List

Brett, J.R. and Solmie, A. 1982. Roe Harbo, R. 1982. "Diving fishermen," herring impoundment research: Diver Magazine. Vancouver: Report on the 1980/81 studies. Seagraphic Publications, June Can. Tech. Rept. Fish. AquaE. 1982, pp. 20-23. Sci. 1061, 51 pp. Schubert, N. D. 1982. A biD-physical Delaney, P. W. ; Kahl, A. L. ; Olmsted, survey of thirty lower Fraser W.R.; and Pearce, B.C. 1982. Viilley streams. Can. Man. Rept. Studies of chinook salmon Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1644, 130 pp. (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Chilcotin River watershed 1975- Schubert, N. D. 1982. Trapping and 1980. Can. Man. Rept. Fish. coded-wire taggin~ of wild coho Aquat. Sci. 1674, 162 pp. salmon smolts lnhe Salmon Rlver (Langley) 1978-1980. Can. Man. Fedorenko, A. Y. and Pearce, B.C. Rept. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1672, 68 1982. Trapping and coded-wire pp. tagging of wild juvenile chinook salmon in the South Thompson/ Shuswap System 1976, 1979 and 1980. Can. I~an. Rept. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1677.

Fedorenko, A. Y. and Cook, R.J. 1982. Trapping and coded-wire tagging of wild coho juvenile in the Vedder! Chilliwack River, 1976-1979. Can. Man. Rept. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1678, 79 pp.

Fraser, F.J.; Starr, P.J.; and Fedorenko, A.Y. 1982. A review of the chinook and coho salmon of the Fraser River. Can. Tech. Rept. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 1126, 130 pp.

Gillis, D.J.; Whiting, C.A.; Radley, R.A.; Wilcox, J.E.S.; Ross, M.D.; and Jackson, K. 1982. Herring impoundment and pumping opera- tions: F actors affecting the quality of roe herring products. Can. Ind. Rept. Fish. AquaE. Sci. 130, 61 pp.

129 Appendix 0: Field Services Offices

YUKON Oi stri ct Office - Whitehorse Subdistrict Office - Haines Junction

Subdistrict Offices Masset 2 Sandspit 3 Stewart 4 Nass Camp 5 Terrace NORTHERN B.C. 6 Smithers 7 Hazelton 8 Bella Bella 9 Bella Cool a LEGEND 10 Dawsons Landing • Divisional and District Offices 11 Port Hardy ...... -... 12 Alert Bay • District Offices only , ~------\ I , I 13 Tahsis e Subdistrict Offices , I 14 Tofino / I 1'> Comox "3e " , o Pacific Region Headquarters 16 Qualicum Beach '\ 17 Duncan e4 \ e7 \ 1B Sooke \ \ 19 Powell River e5 e6 \ ~ \ 20 Madeira Park ,-... } 21 Squamish Vaueen ,"" .... _- ,, e29 22 Steveston I \ 23 Mission \ 24 Chilliwack \ \ 25 Lil!ooet e28 \1'""'"'" ,/ 26 Salmon Arm I 27 Clearwater \ , 28 Quesnel NORTHERN e9 Pri nee George " '\ 29 OPERATIONS ,,I ,; ------/.~/ e25 • Kamloops ~',\"\,\ e26

\ FRASER RIVER \ \ N.B.C. & YUKON I I SOUTH I .14 16e 20/ COAST Par,t .21 .23 .24 Albernl. Nanaimo • New Westminster ~ "'1'';;'\' 2~Vancouver ~i:a------______~~

130 i