PACIFIC REGION DRAFT INTEGRATED FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN SALMON NORTHERN BC JUNE 1, 2017 - MAY 31, 2018 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 Glossary and List of Acronyms .................................................................................................................. 13 FOREWORD .............................................................................................................................................. 16 New for 2017/2018 ..................................................................................................................................... 17 1 OVERVIEW ....................................................................................................................................... 20 1.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 20 1.2 History ................................................................................................................................... 20 1.3 Types of Fishery and Participants ......................................................................................... 20 1.4 Location of Fishery ............................................................................................................... 21 1.5 Fishery Characteristics .......................................................................................................... 21 1.6 Governance ........................................................................................................................... 23 1.7 Consultation .......................................................................................................................... 26 1.8 Approval Process .................................................................................................................. 27 2 STOCK ASSESSMENT, SCIENCE, AND TRADITIONAL ECOLOGICAL KNOWLEDGE ...... 27 2.1 Biological Synopsis .............................................................................................................. 27 2.2 Ecosystem Interactions ......................................................................................................... 30 2.3 Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge/Traditional Ecological Knowledge: .............................. 32 2.4 Stock Assessment .................................................................................................................. 33 2.5 Science Information Sources ................................................................................................ 34 2.6 Precautionary Approach ........................................................................................................ 35 2.7 Research ................................................................................................................................ 36 3 SHARED STEWARDSHIP ARRANGEMENTS ............................................................................. 37 4 ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL IMPORTANCE ........................................................... 39 4.1 Aboriginal Fisheries .............................................................................................................. 39 4.2 Recreational Sector ............................................................................................................... 40 4.3 Commercial Sector ................................................................................................................ 44 4.4 Processing Sector .................................................................................................................. 48 4.5 Export Market ....................................................................................................................... 48 2017/2018 Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plan – Northern BC Page 2 of 375 5 MANAGEMENT ISSUES ................................................................................................................. 50 5.1 Conservation ......................................................................................................................... 50 5.1.1 Wild Salmon Policy ........................................................................................................... 50 5.2 International Commitments ................................................................................................... 51 5.2.1 Pacific Salmon Treaty ........................................................................................................ 51 5.3 Oceans and Habitat Considerations ...................................................................................... 53 5.3.1 Oceans Act ......................................................................................................................... 53 5.3.2 Pacific North Coast Integrated Management Area ............................................................ 54 5.3.3 Marine Protected Area Network Planning ......................................................................... 55 5.3.4 Marine Protected Areas ...................................................................................................... 55 5.3.5 National Marine Conservation Areas ................................................................................. 57 5.3.6 Marine National Wildlife Areas ......................................................................................... 59 5.3.7 Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife Species Assessments ........................... 59 5.3.8 Species at Risk Act ............................................................................................................ 59 5.3.9 Whale, Turtle and Basking Shark Sightings ...................................................................... 63 5.3.10 Northern and Southern Resident Killer Whales ............................................................ 64 5.3.11 Environment Canada Assessing the Impact of Salmon Gill Net Fishing on Local Seabird Populations ...................................................................................................................................... 67 5.3.12 Aquaculture Management .............................................................................................. 68 5.3.13 Salmonid Enhancement Program .................................................................................. 69 5.3.14 Fishing Vessel Safety .................................................................................................... 71 6 FISHERY MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES FOR STOCKS OF CONCERN .................................. 71 6.1 Rivers and Smith Inlet Sockeye ............................................................................................ 71 6.2 Skeena River Sockeye ........................................................................................................... 72 6.3 Nass River Sockeye .............................................................................................................. 72 6.4 North Coast Chum ................................................................................................................ 72 6.5 West Coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI) Chinook .............................................................. 72 6.6 Skeena Steelhead .................................................................................................................. 73 6.7 Inshore Rockfish ................................................................................................................... 73 7 GENERAL DECISION GUIDELINES, ACCESS AND ALLOCATION ........................................ 74 7.1 Allocation Guidelines ........................................................................................................... 74 7.1.1 First Nations – Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) .......................................................... 75 7.1.2 First Nations Economic Opportunity and Inland Demonstration Fisheries ....................... 75 2017/2018 Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plan – Northern BC Page 3 of 375 7.1.3 Recreational Fisheries ........................................................................................................ 75 7.1.4 Commercial Fisheries ........................................................................................................ 76 7.1.5 Excess Salmon to Spawning Requirements Fisheries ........................................................ 76 7.2 Access and Allocation Objectives ......................................................................................... 77 7.2.1 International Objectives ..................................................................................................... 77 7.2.2 Domestic Allocation Objectives ........................................................................................ 77 7.2.3 First Nations Objectives ..................................................................................................... 77 7.2.4 Recreational and Commercial Objectives .......................................................................... 78 7.3 General Decision Guidelines ...............................................................................................