PACIFIC REGION DRAFT INTEGRATED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN JUNE 1, 2020 - MAY 31, 2021 SALMON NORTHERN BC Genus Oncorhynchus This Integrated Fisheries Management Plan is intended for general purposes only. Where there is a discrepancy between the Plan and the Fisheries Act and Regulations, the Act and Regulations are the final authority. A description of Areas and Subareas referenced in this Plan can be found in the Pacific Fishery Management Area Regulations, 2007. TABLE OF CONTENTS DEPARTMENT CONTACTS ..................................................................................................... 12 INDEX OF WEB-BASED INFORMATION ............................................................................... 15 GLOSSARY AND LIST OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................. 21 FOREWORD ................................................................................................................................ 24 NEW FOR 2020/2021 .................................................................................................................... 25 1 OVERVIEW .......................................................................................................................... 28 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 28 1.2 History .................................................................................................................................... 28 1.3 Type of Fishery and Participants ........................................................................................ 28 1.4 Location of Fishery................................................................................................................ 29 1.5 Fishery Characteristics ......................................................................................................... 29 1.6 Governance ............................................................................................................................ 31 Policy Framework for the Management of Pacific Salmon Fisheries ............................. 31 First Nations and Canada’s Fisheries ................................................................................. 33 Pacific Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (PICFI) ............................................. 34 Fishery Monitoring and Catch Reporting .......................................................................... 35 1.7 Consultation on 2020/2021 ................................................................................................... 36 1.8 Approval Process .................................................................................................................. 37 2 STOCK ASSESSMENT, SCIENCE AND TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE ............................................................................................................................. 38 2.1 Biological Synopsis ............................................................................................................... 38 2.2 Ecosystem Interactions ......................................................................................................... 41 Environmental Conditions Influencing 2019 Salmon Returns ........................................ 43 2.3 Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge (ATK)/Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) 48 2.4 Stock Assessment .................................................................................................................. 49 2.5 Science Information Sources ................................................................................................ 51 2.6 Precautionary Approach ...................................................................................................... 52 2019/2020 Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plan – Northern BC Page 2 of 417 2.7 Research .................................................................................................................................. 53 3 SHARED STEWARDSHIP ARRANGEMENTS ................................................................ 55 4 ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE .............................................. 58 4.1 Aboriginal Fishery ................................................................................................................ 58 4.2 Recreational Fishery ............................................................................................................. 60 4.3 Commercial Fishery .............................................................................................................. 65 Harvest Sector ........................................................................................................................ 65 Processing Sector ................................................................................................................... 70 4.4 Export Market ........................................................................................................................ 72 5 MANAGEMENT ISSUES ................................................................................................... 77 5.1 Conservation .......................................................................................................................... 77 Wild Salmon Policy ............................................................................................................... 77 5.2 International Commitments ................................................................................................ 77 Pacific Salmon Treaty ........................................................................................................... 77 5.3 Oceans and Habitat Considerations ................................................................................... 80 5.3.1 Oceans Act .............................................................................................................................. 80 5.3.2 Canada’s Marine and Coastal Areas Conservation Mandate ......................................... 80 5.3.3 Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area........................................................... 81 5.3.4 Marine Protected Area Network Planning ........................................................................ 81 5.3.5 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) ......................................................................................... 82 5.3.6 Other Marine Conservation Initiatives ............................................................................... 84 5.3.7 Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife Species Assessments ....................... 88 5.3.8 Species at Risk Act ................................................................................................................. 89 5.3.9 Whale, Turtle and Basking Shark Sightings ...................................................................... 95 5.3.10 Cetacean, Sea Turtle or Basking Shark Sightings .............................................................. 96 5.3.11 Resident Killer Whale ........................................................................................................... 97 5.3.12 Environment Canada Assessing the Impact of Salmon Gill Net Fishing on Local Seabird Populations ........................................................................................................................... 101 5.3.13 Aquaculture Management ................................................................................................. 101 2020/2021 Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plan – Northern BC Page 3 of 417 5.3.14 Salmonid Enhancement Program ..................................................................................... 103 5.3.15 Fishing Vessel Safety........................................................................................................... 105 6 FISHERY MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES FOR STOCKS OF CONCERN ................... 106 6.1 Rivers and Smith Inlet Sockeye ......................................................................................... 106 6.2 Skeena River Sockeye ......................................................................................................... 106 6.3 Nass River Sockeye ............................................................................................................. 107 6.4 North Coast Chum .............................................................................................................. 107 6.5 Skeena and Nass Chinook ................................................................................................. 107 6.6 Northern Coho .................................................................................................................... 108 6.7 West Coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI) Chinook ........................................................ 108 6.8 Skeena Steelhead ................................................................................................................. 109 6.9 Inshore Rockfish .................................................................................................................. 109 7 GENERAL DECISION GUIDELINES, ACCESS AND ALLOCATION ........................ 112 7.1 Allocation Guidelines ......................................................................................................... 112 First Nations – Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) ........................................................ 113