PACIFIC REGION INTEGRATED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN SALMON SOUTHERN B.C. JUNE 1, 2011 TO MAY 31, 2012 Genus Oncorhynchus 1 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.......................................................................................................7 INDEX OF WEB-BASED INFORMATION...........................................................................10 FOREWORD................................................................................................................................13 1. OVERVIEW........................................................................................................................14 1.1. INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................14 1.2. HISTORY.............................................................................................................14 1.3. TYPE OF FISHERY AND PARTICIPANTS..................................................14 1.4. LOCATION OF FISHERY.................................................................................14 1.5. FISHERY CHARACTERISTICS......................................................................15 1.6. GOVERNANCE ...................................................................................................16 1.7. CONSULTATION ...............................................................................................19 1.8. APPROVAL PROCESS......................................................................................20 2. Stock Assessment, Science, and Traditional Ecological Knowledge ..........20 2.1. BIOLOGICAL SYNOPSIS................................................................................20 2.2. ECOSYSTEM INTERACTIONS.......................................................................21 2.3. ABORIGINAL TRADITIONAL KNOWLEDGE (ATK)/TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE (TEK)............................................................................23 2.4. STOCK ASSESSMENT......................................................................................23 2.5. DATA SOURCES ................................................................................................25 2.6. PRECAUTIONARY APPROACH.....................................................................25 2.7. RESEARCH..........................................................................................................26 3. Social, Cultural, and Economic Importance.........................................................26 3.1. ABORIGINAL PARTICIPATION...................................................................27 3.2. RECREATIONAL SECTOR...............................................................................28 3.3. COMMERCIAL SECTOR ..................................................................................30 3.4. PROCESSING SECTOR ...................................................................................31 3.5. EXPORT MARKET .............................................................................................32 4. Management Issues .....................................................................................................33 4.1. CONSERVATION...............................................................................................33 4.2. INTERNATIONAL COMMITMENTS.............................................................33 4.3. OCEANS AND HABITAT CONSIDERATIONS...........................................35 5. OBJECTIVES.....................................................................................................................45 5.1. FISHERY MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES FOR STOCKS OF CONCERN45 6. Access and Allocation...................................................................................................54 6.1 INTERNATIONAL OBJECTIVES ...................................................................54 6.2 DOMESTIC ALLOCATION OBJECTIVES ....................................................55 6.3 FIRST NATIONS OBJECTIVES .....................................................................55 6.4 RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL OBJECTIVES...............................55 6.5 ALLOCATION GUIDELINES ..........................................................................55 6.6 FIRST NATIONS - FOOD, SOCIAL AND CEREMONIAL (FSC) ...........56 6.7 FIRST NATIONS- ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES...................................57 6.8 RECREATIONAL FISHERIES ........................................................................57 Page 2 of 268 2011/2012 Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plan Southern BC 6.9 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES ............................................................................57 6.10 EXCESS SALMON TO SPAWNING REQUIREMENTS FISHERIES .....58 7. DECISION GUIDELINES AND SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT MEASURES ..........58 7.1 GENERAL DECISION GUIDELINES............................................................59 7.2. AABM CHINOOK...............................................................................................61 7.3 ISBM CHINOOK................................................................................................65 7.4. ABM COHO .........................................................................................................72 7.5 FRASER RIVER SOCKEYE DECISION GUIDELINES .............................76 7.6 BARKLEY SOUND SOCKEYE .........................................................................90 7.7 OKANAGAN SOCKEYE ....................................................................................92 7.8 JOHNSTONE STRAIT CHUM .........................................................................93 7.9 FRASER RIVER CHUM ....................................................................................96 7.10 AREA 14 CHUM DECISION GUIDELINES ................................................98 7.11 AREA 16 CHUM DECISION GUIDELINES ..............................................100 7.12 AREA 17 CHUM DECISION GUIDELINES ..............................................101 7.13 AREA 18 CHUM DECISION GUIDELINES ..............................................102 7.14 AREA 19 CHUM DECISION GUIDELINES ..............................................104 7.15 NITINAT CHUM DECISION GUIDELINES..............................................105 7.16 NOOTKA CHUM DECISION GUIDELINES ..............................................108 7.17 NIMPKISH CHUM DECISION GUIDELINES..........................................110 7.18 LIMITED EFFORT TERMINAL CHUM (WCVI) DECISION GUIDELINES111 7.19 FRASER RIVER PINK....................................................................................112 7.20 MAINLAND INLET PINK ..............................................................................114 8. Shared Stewardship Arrangements......................................................................116 9. Compliance Plan...........................................................................................................117 9.1. COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES..........................................117 10. Performance/Evaluation Criteria ..........................................................................120 1 Appendix 1: Advisory Board Memberships ........................................................122 2 Appendix 2: Fishing Vessel Safety ........................................................................124 3 Appendix 3: Rockfish Conservation Areas .........................................................129 4 Appendix 4: POST-SEASON REVIEW 2010........................................................130 4.1 CONSERVATION / SUSTAINABILITY OBJECTIVES...........................130 4.2 FIRST NATION OBJECTIVES......................................................................135 4.3 RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL OBJECTIVES.............................136 4.4 INTERNATIONAL OBJECTIVES .................................................................136 4.5 DOMESTIC ALLOCATION OBJECTIVES ..................................................136 4.6 COMPLIANCE MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES..........................................136 4.7 ENHANCEMENT OBJECTIVES ....................................................................138 5 Appendix 5: SOUTHERN B.C. / FRASER RIVER FIRST NATIONS FISHING PLAN (FSC FISHERIES ONLY)...........................................................................................156 5.1 CATCH MONITORING AND REPORTING INITIATIVES....................156 5.2 SPECIFIC CONSERVATION MEASURES .................................................157 5.3 COMMUNAL LICENCE HARVEST TARGETS ...........................................159 5.4 ABORIGINAL COMMERCIAL FISHING OPPORTUNITIES................160 2011/2012 Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plan Southern BC Page 3 of 268 5.5 DEMONSTRATION FISHERIES..................................................................161 5.6 SPECIAL PROJECTS OR INITIATIVES....................................................167 5.7 TREATY FISHERIES.......................................................................................167 6 Appendix 6: SOUTHERN B.C. / FRASER RIVER RECREATIONAL FISHING PLAN...........................................................................................................................................171