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Location: Cariboo-Chilcotin, Churn Creek/Gang Ranch Project Summary
SUMMARY An NSTC Fisheries Department project to measure the abundance and health of migrating adult salmon to the mid/upper Fraser River in-season and is a viable component of an overall Fraser Salmon Management Framework that is vital for the guidance of upper river fisheries management for NStQ fisheries as well as other nations fisheries. OVERVIEW The NSTC Fisheries Department proposes the continuation of a live capture; tagging and sampling platform in the Middle/Upper Fraser River for salmon, where we capture migrating salmon, collect the required information and release them to continue their migration. In addition to the data that being collected, collaboration is a large part of the rationale for the project. This project consists of the collaboration of several groups and provides information to even more. It will promote collaboration with the NSTC catch monitoring program as well as collecting the baseline data required to provide for a reliable estimate of abundance of sockeye, chinook and coho returns to the Upper Fraser River. In 2009, information gained from the fish wheel project was instrumental in informing the conservation closure implemented by the NSTC Fisheries Department for NStQ Fisheries, via observations of abundance. We see this project as a blueprint for in-season stock assessment in-river to also be utilized to inform Initiatives such as PICFI, with the objective of moving a component of commercial fisheries from the mixed stock ocean fishery to inland-terminal fisheries we require data pertinent to those areas where the fishing would occur. We feel that this project will also provide a means to collaborate/unite other continuing projects being proposed on the Fraser River such as the LGL Legacy Project, the UFFCA DIDSON project and others. Collaboration also potentially exists with additional fisheries activities such as spawning area enumerations (boat, foot or enumeration fence) which will provide the means for tag recapture, as well as Food, Social and Ceremonial fisheries upstream of the fishwheel location. In the two years of operation the fishwheel project has evolved considerably. Established in 2008 as a tool for sampling the sockeye salmon run for number, size and timing of the various stocks returning to the mid/upper Fraser the objectives remain the same. The 2008 year saw a total of 411 sockeye caught in the fishwheel in 35 days; 238 sockeye had DNA samples collected, 76 were tagged. The 2009 year saw to improve on the previous year and by implementing recommendations made in the 2008, it did. 2009 saw reduced downtime and improved efficiencies as technicians were well trained and experienced. The 2009 fishwheel project, as with the 2008, accomplished and successfully met and in some cases surpassed its set of objectives. The new site for the fishwheel provided the project with a better opportunity to capture and release salmon, the catch monitoring program was further standardized with the implementation of a fisheries technician position at the Jejeba fishing site to better understand the catch effort of the dipnet fisheries. With the salmon returns being low this year the fishwheel also continued to display its usefulness as a sampling platform with the capture of 692 sockeye (324 sampled for DNA and 77 tagged with T-Bar tags), six chinook (three sampled for DNA and one tagged), one coho and 967 pink (caught in 3 days). All data collected along with the fork lengths of the entire catch were used by NSTC to look at the quality of the run and in the future analyze the composition of the catch. The DNA samples from 2008 and 2009 have been sent to the PSC this year to assess the proportions of species and stocks are migrating through NStQ territories and at what times. The anticipated results would greatly aid the NSTC fisheries department to manage its resources as stewards of the land. This project is also vital to the continued building of the NSTC’s capacity by training, employment and possibly the development of economic opportunities. During the pink migration in 2009 the pink roe and meat was tested in a late fishwheel opening towards the end of September. The 2009 project also looked into the actual methods and required resources for the implementation of tracking the migration of coho with radio tags in cooperation with other coho projects conducted on McKinley Creek in the hopes of incorporating it into the 2010 fishwheel project. The 2009 project saw further exploration into the condition of the salmon reaching the fishwheel and a system was developed for categorizing scarring along with scale loss and would be expanded upon in the following years. OBJECTIVES Objective #1 Further develop and utilize real-time in-river, in-season estimates of the abundance as well as monitor the health of sockeye, chinook and coho runs as they migrate to their natal streams. METHODS The project will be actively sampling for chinook, sockeye and coho to help provide an in-river /in season estimate on stock composition and abundance as they migrate through the Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw Territories from approximately July 20 to September 20, 2010, run size dependant. The initial period will include estimation of abundance or calculation of migration of the Early Stuart Sockeye as they pass the NStQ territories, which are intercepted but not retained by traditional dipnet fishers targeting chinook. The fishwheel will operate on a set schedule to collect the following sample data: DNA via adipose fin clip, scale samples - two per fish to limit sampling time and reduce stress on the fish, T-Bar tag number from tagging efforts, salmon condition (scale loss percentage and scarring), fork length and sex. Along with this information water temperature and flow data will be collected as well.
As salmon stocks have diminished over the years our reliance on the lower river to do all the enumeration leaves middle and upper Fraser salmon management plans with “stale” information on the runs. A lot can happen to a salmon between Mission and the natal streams. Having the NSTC fishwheel in place allows for more up to date information to be available. By incorporating the information gathered from this project into real time monitoring the NSTC has a better grasp on what is happening and how better to manage the resource for its sustainability. Providing information is one of the most compelling reasons for the continuation of this project, it provides opportunity to address Wild Salmon Policy objectives as well as PICFI and others. The more information available, the better the chances are of making clear concise decisions on the management and protection of the salmon stocks that the NStQ rely on. An example of the usefulness as a tool for management comes in 2009. The project guided the NSTC Fisheries Department to take action in addressing a conservation concern with the summer sockeye run in 2009 prior to suggestion to do so by DFO.
The fishwheel project encourages the NStQ community to be involved in fisheries management and more interest is being shown towards the purpose of the project. This is also true of other First Nations who have been and are invited to utilize the information gathered to inform their fisheries. We will continue to engage the NStQ, other First Nations and government agencies through several methods. These methods will be regular updates of collected data through email and the weekly in-season conference calls that provide run information. Complement or implement local and / or regional plans (e.g., recovery plans, watershed plans) This project will complement pre-season fishing plans by the provision of in-season information for the NStQ. It will also complement the implementation of the Wild Salmon Policy, PICFI initiatives and recovery plan goals by providing data pertinent to the objectives of those programs. Value-added aspects This project is vital for the development of Northern Secwepemc capacity in fisheries management. The fishwheel is an excellent training platform for technicians and provides an opportunity to employ members of the NStQ communities during the different phases of development, from construction and operation to fisheries planning. As this project evolves the experience and interest that is gained is used towards other projects and is currently providing a highly trained and dedicated work force. As a management tool for the NSTC Fisheries and others, the information collected at the fishwheel is currently being looked at to develop policy to direct engagement and participation in fisheries management. While not foreseen as a viable option for alleviating the traditional dipnet fishery, the fishwheel methodology is being reviewed as a platform for economic opportunity for some species such as pink salmon.
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