Terms of Reference

Pre-season Fraser River sockeye abundance forecasts for 2010
Utility of the Albion test fishery to predict the terminal run size and potential escapement of Fraser River Spring and Summer Chinook
Barkley Sound sockeye fishery harvest model
Henderson Lake sockeye stock assessment and advice

Regional Advisory Meeting

16-17 November, 2009

Pacific Biological Station

Nanaimo, BC

Chairperson: Kim Hyatt

Context

The PSARC Salmon Subcommittee meets routinely to conduct peer reviews of scientific information in support of management decision making.  A peer review of four working papers on Pacific salmon are planned for November 2009:  1)  Fraser River sockeye abundance forecasts for 2010; 2) Utility of the Albion test fishery to predict the terminal run size and escapement of Fraser River Spring and Summer  yearling Chinook; 3)   Barkley Sound sockeye harvest model; and 4)  Henderson Lake sockeye stock assessment and advice. 

Objectives

2010 Fraser River sockeye abundance forecasts:

Fraser River sockeye abundance forecasts are requested annually by Fisheries and Aquaculture Management for pre-season fisheries planning activities.  Quantitative abundance forecasts have been produced and peer reviewed annually by DFO since the mid-1990s.  A framework describing the methodology was reviewed by PSARC in 2006.

Utility of the Albion test fishery for predicting Fraser Spring and Summer Chinook:

Review of a methodology for predicting terminal run size and potential escapement of Fraser River Spring and Summer yearling Chinook based on historical Albion Test Fishery Chinook catch information.  This is requested to address management considerations related to First Nations Treaty implementation and negotiation (e.g. abundance based allocations), Wild Salmon Policy implementation and overall improved in-season management of Fraser River Chinook stocks.  Management impacts affect all South Coast fisheries.  

Barley Sound sockeye harvest model

Assessment of a maximum likelihood model to estimate catch by stock in the Barkley Sound mixed-stock fishery.  This is a companion paper of the Henderson Lake sockeye stock assessment under reviewed at this PSARC meeting.

Henderson Lake sockeye stock assessment and advice:

The escapement of sockeye to Henderson Lake has been at low levels for several years. A review of stock status is required to support continued management actions in fisheries encountering this stock.  This assessment review has been planned since 2005.

Products

• CSAS Proceedings document summarizing the discussion (1)
• CSAS Science Advisory Report (3)
• CSAS Research Document (3)

Location and Date

Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, BC, November 16-17, 2009

Participants

Participants will include internal DFO representatives and potentially participants from the Province of British Columbia, academia, First Nations, NGO’s and industry.