STIKINE RIVER SALMON UPDATE Thursday, July-15-21 Note: This update is intended as a message to fish harvesters. Information provided in this update is preliminary and subject to change. For more information contact the individuals listed at the end of this update. Fisheries Management: Lower Stikine Commercial The lower Stikine River Sockeye salmon commercial fishery is closed for the season based on the preseason forecast of 56,000 Sockeye salmon (28,000 Tahltan, 28,000 mainstem) and a very limited Canadian allowable harvest. Anticipate commercial openings for Coho salmon to begin in late August. Upper Stikine Commercial The upper Stikine River Sockeye salmon commercial fishery is currently closed. Openings contingent on meeting spawning escapement objectives for Tahltan Lake Sockeye salmon and First Nation fishery requirements. Food Social and Ceremonial Fisheries (First Nations Fisheries) Currently open. The beginning of the fishery was delayed to reduce Chinook salmon harvest and to address Tahltan Lake Sockeye salmon conservation concerns. Fishery Actions: Fishery Status Harvest to Comments Date Commercial Closed Sockeye: 0 Commercial Chinook and Chinook: 0 Sockeye salmon fisheries Coho: 0 closed. Chinook No fishing for 2021 Assessment FSC Open Sockeye: 22 (First Nation Chinook: 29 Fishery) large; 112 small Coho: 0 Recreational Restricted NA Tahltan River closed to salmon fishing effective June 01 – August 31. U.S. Fisheries Regular updates on fisheries occurring in U.S. waters can be found on the following website: http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=commercialbyareasoutheast.main Stock Assessment Chinook The pre-season run size of large Chinook salmon was estimated at 9,900 fish. Stock assessment projects are underway to assess in-season run sizes. Current inseason information suggests the inriver Chinook salmon run is consistent with the preseason forecast. Assessment Date Number to Date Comments Program Little Tahltan June 18 to 0 Delayed weir installation as a Chinook August 15 result of high water; video Enumeration counter calibration near complete. Kakwan Chinook May 05 to 210 large tagged; Above average river levels. Tagging July 10 CPUE 40% of average 2021 field component Complete completed by ADFG. Stikine Juvenile April 15 to 62.3k Chinook tagged Targets: 50k Chinook; 10k Tagging May 31 8.7k Coho tagged coho. Met tagging targets in Complete 2021; 2021 field component completed by ADFG Sockeye The preseason terminal run forecast for Sockeye salmon is 56,000 fish. This is well below the 10 year average Stikine River Sockeye salmon terminal run size of approximately 143,000 fish and below the 10 year average of 107,600 excluding the enhanced Tuya Lake fish. Assessment Date Number to Date Comments Program Tahltan Lake July 07 to 0 Weir fish tight: July 07 Sockeye Count September 15 Complete Assessment Program June 20 to Set Net Catch: 180 Delayed start of program due (non-lethal) August 28 Drift Net Catch: 21 to flooding & debris Tahltan Lake Smolt May 04 to Count: 1,860,257 Project completed June 28. Count June 28 (preliminary) Forecast was 1.8 million. Complete Aerial surveys ~September 10 Contacts For questions about the information provided in this update or additional information please contact: Name Title Phone Email Bill Waugh Manager, Transboundary 867-334-1646 bill.waugh@dfo- Rivers Operations mpo.gc.ca Jody Mackenzie- Senior Aquatic Science 867-393-6723 jody.mackenzie- Grieve Biologist [email protected] .