DFD ilii~i~iimr· 02027610 1995 INTEGRATED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN SOUTH COAST COHO SALMON STRAIT OF GEORGIA, WEST COAST VANCOUVER ISLAND AND FRASER RIVER { ' [ I' LIBRARY FISrfERlt:a A''"' oc 2,00. 401 BURRARo~'fNs CANi~o1 \·ANCOUVER B ;J ' [ J 60.i!J.~666-3as 1 ' .C. V6C'3S4 [ [ ' DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND OCEANS IC ,, PACIFIC REGION I SH 349 Integrated Fisheries Management Plan: South Coast coho salmon 7114195 158 1995 DFO Team Responsible for Plan Preparation Team Leader: S. Farlinger (A/Area Manager, South Coast Div. (SCD)) E. Lochbaum (Chief of Harvest Management, SCD) G. McEachen (Inside Troll/Net Manager, SCD) R. Brahniuk (Outside Troll/Area 20 Net Manager, SCD) N. Lemmen (Chief of C&P, SCD) B. Jubinville (C&P, SCD) R. Wilson (C&P, SCD) R. Kadowaki (Stock Assessment Division) INTEGRATED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN SOUTH COAST COHO TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 OVERVIEW OF THE FISHERY ... 1 1.1 Aboriginal Fisheries . ... 1 1.2 Recreational Fisheries .. .. 1 1.3 Commercial Net Fisheries . .. 3 1.4 Commercial Troll Fisheries .. ... 3 2.0 RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS ..... .. .. 4 2.1 Strait of Georgia . ............. 4 2.2 West Coast of Vancouver Island .. ... 5 2.3 Johnstone Strait .. .... ......... 5 3.0 STOCK STATUS ......................... ..... ..... ... 5 3 .1 Prospects for 1995 . 5 3 .1.1 Canadian Stocks . 5 3. 1. 2 U.S. Stocks . 8 3 .1. 3 Expected Abundance in 1995 . 9 3.2 Post-season and In-season Assessment Information . .... ...... .. .. 9 3.2.1 Commercial Catch .... ..... ..... .. ...... .. 9 3. 2. 2 Recreational Catch . 9 3. 2. 3 Aboriginal Catch . 9 3. 3 .4 Spawning Escapement . ... 10 3.2 .5 Exploitation Rate, Marine Survival and Catch Distribution ... 10 3.2.6 Juvenile Coho Sampling Surveys ........ .. ... ..... 10 3. 3 Environment and Habitat . 10 3. 4 Species Interactions . 11 3. 5 Stock Monitoring and Research Issues . 11 3.5.1 Indicator Stocks ............................. 11 3.5.2 Juvenile Surveys .. ..... ............... .. ..... 12 3.5.3 Marine Survival ... .... ........ ........... 12 3.5.4 Marine Distribution . ........... ......... 12 4.0 BIOLOGICAL AND MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES . .... ....... 13 4 .1 Conservation and Sustainability . 13 4.2 International Considerations .. ............... .. .. 14 4.2. l WCVI Troll Fishery Catch Ceiling .............. 14 4.3 Domestic Considerations .......................... 15 4. 3 .1 Aboriginal Fisheries . 15 4.3.2 Recreational Fisheries . .................... 15 4. 3. 3 Commercial Fisheries . 16 5.0 MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND MEASURES .......... ......... 16 5.1 Red Line - Green Line Strategy ... .. 20 6.0 ENFORCEMENT ISSUES AND MEASURES .. 20 6. 1 Strategic Enforcement Plan . 20 6.2 Aboriginal Fisheries ....... 22 6.2.1 Overview ... .... 22 6.2.2 Main Program Activities 22 6.2.3 Enforcement Resources Required . 22 6.2.4 Enforcement Plan Evaluation Criteria . 23 6.3 Recreational Fisheries ...... .. 23 6.3.1 Overview .... ... 23 6.3.2 Main Program Activities .. 23 6. 3. 3 Enforcement Resources . 24 6. 3 .4 Enforcement Plan Evaluation Criteria . 24 6.4 Commercial Net Fisheries . .... 25 6 .4 .1 Overview . 25 6.4.2 Main Program Activities . 25 6 .4. 3 Enforcement Resources . 25 6.4.4 Enforcement Plan Evaluation Criteria . 26 6.5 Commercial Troll Fisheries ... 26 6.5.1 Overview .... 26 6.5.2 Main Program Activities 26 6. 5 . 3 Enforcement Resources . 27 6.5.4 Enforcement Plan Evaluation Criteria . 27 7.0 IN-SEASON ADJUSTMENT MECHANISMS . 28 7. 1 In-season Communications . 28 7 .2. Decision Making Process ... 28 7. 2. 1. Aboriginal Fisheries . 28 7 .2.2. Recreational Fisheries 29 7. 2. 3 . Commercial Fisheries 29 8.0 EVALUATION AND PUBLIC CONSULTATION 30 8. 1 Stock Assessment . .. .. 30 8.2 Fishery Assessments ...... 30 8. 3 Evaluation of the Enforcement Plan . 31 8.4 Post-season Consultation ....... 31 1.0 OVERVIEW OF THE FISHERY Coho salmon in the south coast of British CoI_umbia (DFO Statistical Areas 11 to 29) are caught in aboriginal, recreational and commercial net and troll fisheries. Recent catch levels for each sector are summarized in Table 1. The total recreational and commercial coho catch since 1953 is presented in Figure 1. 1.1 Aboriginal Fisheries In marine areas of the south coast, aboriginal fisheries directed at coho salmon are limited. Coho are taken in "mosquito boat" troll fisheries by some bands on the west coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI). Coho are also taken in net and spear fisheries in, or near, local streams. Coho are also caught incidentally during directed sockeye and chum fisheries. In 1995, 18,850 coho have been allocated to south coast bands (non-Fraser River) through communal licenses. In the Fraser river there are no directed coho fisheries. The catches range from 15,000 to 20,000 during off pink years and 10,000 to 12,000 coho during years of high pink abundance. The total 1995 allocation to Fraser River bands through communal licenses is 6, 185 coho. 1.2 Recreational Fisheries The most intensive recreational fishery for coho in the south coast is concentrated in the Strait of Georgia. In a normal year, the highest catches occur in the upper Strait of Georgia during the period from May to July. In years when the Strait of Georgia coho migrate to the west coast of Vancouver Island, catches can be very low in inside waters. Catches increase in the Sooke and Victoria areas during late August and September when these coho return to streams to spawn. Smaller recreational coho fisheries occur on the west coast of Vancouver Island and in the Johnstone Strait area from May to September. These fisheries are continuing to grow each year. Fall freshwater recreational fisheries are very minor due to low abundances in most streams and numerous stream closures. The ten year average (1985 to 1994) coho catch in the Strait of Georgia creel census area is 603,000 coho. The ten year average coho catch for the south coast including non tidal waters and the Fraser River is approximately 700,000 coho. In the past, tidal water coho fisheries in the south coast have been managed by the use of a daily bag limit of 4 and a two day possession limit of 8, river mouth closures and a minimum size limit of 30 ems. In 1995, as a result of the Strait of Georgia coho rebuilding program, the limit for coho in Area 12 to Area 18 plus a portion of Area 19 has been reduced to a daily bag limit of 2 and a possession of limit of 4. The minimum size limit has also been increased to 41 ems. Non-tidal fisheries will be closed except where stocks warrant a fishing opportunity. The Sport Fishing Advisory Board (SF AB) is the primary advisor to DFO on recreational fishery issues. The SFAB has a South Coast Co-management Committee and a North Coast Co­ management Committee which solicit advice from local geographic advisory groups. The area co-management committees then convey their advice to the SFAB. South Coast Coho Integrated Management Plan, page 1 Table 1. Coho catch for commercial net and troll, recreational and aboriginal fisheries. Note that 1993 aboriginal catch estimates are preliminary and the 1994 estimates are being compiled. Year Troll Net Recreational Aboriginal Total 1985 1669838 427937 730387 67400 2895562 1986 2771227 386772 574559 62844 3795402 1987 2179799 302131 668406 52053 3202389 1988 1997831 183718 1090416 56388 3328353 1989 2120272 505608 542491 52484 3220855 1990 2192030 273566 650210 21295 3137101 1991 1948913 266633 207197 14919 2437662 1992 1973536 185612 633208 23548 2815904 1993 1286490 75248 853053 3281 2218072 1994 1336773 164779 310308 NA 1811860 4 3.5 ..c 3 u 0 1 2.s u ,g _g ! 2 0 u 1.5 0.5 o ~,-,-,-~~..,.--,-,-,-,...,--.--,.....-,-,-,-,-..-r-r..,.--,-,-,-,.....--r-,-,-,-,..,....,-' 53 56 59 62 65 68 71 74 77 80 83 86 89 92 Catch Year I -a- Total Ca1ch --- Minus Ha1chery I Figure 1. Commercial and recreational catch of coho salmon in south coast fisheries. Total catch and total catch minus CWT associated hatchery produced catch. South Coast Coho Integrated Management Plan, page 2 1.3 Commercial Net Fisheries Coho salmon are caught in commercial seine and gillnet fisheries as a by-catch species during fisheries targeted on sockeye, pink and chum salmon. The two main net fisheries harvesting coho are in Johnstone Strait (Areas 11-13) and Juan De Fuca Strait (Area 20) in August and early September during fisheries directed at Fraser River pink and sockeye salmon. Coho salmon are also incidentally caught during late September to early November chum fisheries. The chum fisheries occur in Johnstone Strait and in terminal fishing areas (i.e. Area 14, Area 21 and Area 29). Coho catches during these fisheries are generally very low. The ten year average catch for all net fisheries in south coastal B.C. is 277 ,000 coho (Areas 11 to 29). Incidental catches can be reduced in net fisheries by increased gillnet mesh sizes during chum fisheries, avoiding fisheries in areas and during periods of high coho abundance, release of coho from seine nets, boundary closures and in 1994 a red line/green line approach was implemented for Area 20. The consultative process is carried out through the South Coast Advisory Committee and its subcommittees. 1.4 Commercial Troll Fisheries There area two distinct commercial troll fleets. The inside troll fleet is licensed to fish in Areas 12 to 18 including Area 29 (Johnstone Strait and Strait of Georgia). The outside troll fleet is licensed to fish in the remainder of the coastal waters of British Columbia including a portion of Area 12 which is called the grey zone. The usual fishing pattern for the inside troll fleet over the last ten years was a three month fishery from July 01 to September 30. A minimum size limit of 30 ems was also in effect to prevent the retention of coho grilse in the fall.