Pacific Region Conservation and Protection 2018 SALMON PROGRAM - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Pacific Region Conservation and Protection 2018 SALMON PROGRAM RESULTS Forum on Conservation and Harvest Planning December 18, 2018

2018 South Coast Area Successes • Significant increase in patrols of beaches and plants to detect and deter illegal or contaminated shellfish entering markets. More focused effort at identifying issues and working with stakeholders to find solutions • Increased patrol presence in marine protected areas 2

2018 Commercial Fisheries • Less Fishery Officer inspections on commercial fisheries than last year when an intensive compliance project occurred. • Effort and catch reporting improved with Fishery Officer presence. • Several plant inspections on Northern Vancouver Island to track fish and ensure compliance. 3

2018 Aboriginal Fisheries • Several joint patrols with Cowichan Tribes Fishery Guardians on Cowichan River and on habitat files • Successful Snuneymuxw ESSR chum fishery on the Nanaimo River. • Several patrols of Johnston strait with good compliance. 4

2018 Recreational Fisheries • Several fines issued for exceeding limit or fishing in closed areas for rockfish • Increased fishery officer inspections and patrols of the recreational fishery (500 hours) • Complexity of regulations and in-season changes is difficult for fishers. • Mandatory court appearances for halibut limits and other measures make enforcement more complicated • Increasing measures to promote catch reporting in WCVI • Compliance high for chinook limits in northern Vancouver island and patrols coordinated with creel observers 5

South Coast Area Patrol Time Results 2015- 2018(hours) Patrol Time Patrol Time Patrol Time Patrol Time 2015 2016 2017 2018 Aboriginal Salmon 482.50 219.75 153.75 150.5 Aboriginal Salmon- EO 157.50 159.75 109.0 44.5 Comm. Salmon - Net 804.25 768.50 1033.75 450.0 Comm. Salmon - Troll 151.00 74.50 112.0 4.50 Rec – Salmon (Non-Tidal) 388.75 309.0 151.25 191.0 Rec – Salmon (Tidal) 2,612.75 2,151.25 1692.75 2180.75 UCAT –Salmon 945.75 642.75 571.75 567.25 (Unlicensed/Closed Area Time) 6

Marine Patrol Program • The CCGS Martin Charles was operational for 278 patrol days in the South Coast and Lower Fraser areas in 2018. The vessel patrolled with a full time contingent of two or three Fishery Officers whose purpose was to support land based detachments by patrolling marine areas. The crew patrolled by rigid hull inflatable boat covering 4617 nautical miles

Marine Patrol Program Results South Coast 2015 2016 2017 2018 Patrol Days 242 226 239 237 Commercial Vessels 191 381 249 157 Inspected Aboriginal Vessels 43 21 96 24 Inspected Recreational Vessels 601 540 666 630 Inspected RCAs Inspected 469 657 425 782 CSSP Closures Inspected 70 350 190 761 Violations 447 596 354 175 Number of Seizures - - 154 115 8

Lower Fraser Area - Howe Sound to Hells Gate 9

2018 Lower Fraser Area Successes Closure patrols on the Fraser River were strategically implemented • during the day and night to protect stocks of concern at peak times. Over 250 illegal gillnets were removed from the Fraser River and tributaries during closure patrols or as a result of unauthorized activity (poaching). Some nets were “lost” or abandoned. Numerous sockeye fisheries (commercial, EO, recreational and FSC) • took place in the Fraser River on returns of summer and late run fish. Most fishers were found in compliance with regulations. For the first time in many years Fishery Officers began ramping up • general compliance inspections at border crossings in addition to those conducted at air cargo terminals. 10

2018 Lower Fraser Area Successes Officers continued to meet with aboriginal groups to discuss issues • such as potential access to resources and illegal harvest. All offices have assigned Officers to liaise with the various FN and fishery advisors. Fishery Officers attended various First Nations meetings and events throughout the year. Squamish FN support for the Squamish Detachment ensured the • office did not close. Localized Fishery Officer presence is to remain part of that community. Officers became more involved in areas of public engagement, • community involvement and education. 11

2018 Lower Fraser Area Challenges Adding to priorities such as those related to CSSP, stocks of concern and • inspections were requirements to provide support for Southern Resident Killer Whale initiatives; to patrol closures such as the mouth of the Fraser, RCA’s and MPA’s (i.e. Sponge Reefs). Timing of closures elicits concerns from user groups. Overall observations • 1) continued high levels of non-compliance within the tidal salmon recreational fishery • 2) commercial fisheries license condition violations such as failure to have an operating revival • tanks 3) a high number of gillnet seizures overall, but especially upstream of Chilliwack (~200) • 4) designation issues in FSC fisheries • 5) Illegal sales • Incidents that generated prolific public relations and media attention: 1) abandoned • nets with dead seals, sturgeon and salmon 2) abandoned fish and high grading in certain fisheries 3) retention of prohibited species 12

Lower Fraser Area Patrol Time Results 2014- 2018 (hours) Patrol Time Patrol Patrol Time Patrol Patrol 2014 Time 2015 2016 Time 2017 Time 2018 Aboriginal Salmon 748 1357.5 785 622.75 624.75 Aboriginal Salmon- 261 83.5 73 65.5 10 EO Comm. Salmon - Net 617.25 167 197.25 131.5 323 Comm. Salmon - 7 0 6 0 0 Troll Rec – Salmon (Non- 1035 1551.50 1080 871.5 723.5 Tidal) Rec – Salmon (Tidal) 268.25 616.75 465.5 434.5 482 UCAT –Salmon 3258.5 4150.25 4180.25 2641.5 1959 (Unlicensed/Closed Area Time) 13

2018 LFA Summary – page 1 of 2 14

2018 LFA Summary – Page 2 of 2 15

The Area makes up 1.3 Million square Km of total area. Described as the Coastal mountain Range on the west and the rockies of Alberta as the east. From the US border in the south up to and including most of the Yukon Territory BC Interior / Yukon 16

BCI Successes • C&P focused on stocks of concern and ensured compliance with closures. • As season progresses summer run fish begin to allow opportunities for ongoing First Nation, commercial and recreational fisheries. • Officers became more involved in Habitat related occurrences resulting in many corrective measures taken to restore fish habitat. • Several Habitat Investigations ongoing that will likely result in over 2 Million dollars in restoration works to be completed. • Mt Polley investigation wrapping up for submission to PPSC 17

BC Interior Challenges • Staff levels and vacancy rates remain a significant pressure for C&P in BC Interior. • Recent renewed departmental direction on habitat protection is focusing C&P effort in this work • BC Wildfires: created reduced or restricted fishing opportunities • Several SARA patrols to Columbia River and Nechako to protect listed white sturgeon and due to long distances really effected patrol coverage 18

BC Interior Yukon operational staff levels NIBC – PG and Williams Lake 4 of 7 staff SIBC- Lillooet Salmon Arm Kamloops 5 of 10 staff Mt Polley investigative team 4+ built out of existing staff 19

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