Independent Conservation Council Urges Continued Vigilance To Preserve Late-Run Fraser River Sockeye, Including World Famous Ada

Roderick Haig-Brown Park, October 17, 2002 - On the banks of the Adams River, the Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (PFRCC) released its 2001-2002 Annual Report drawing particular attention to the plight of the Late-run Fraser River sockeye, which includes the world famous Adams River run. This year's report presents a comprehensive account of Pacific salmon stocks in southern BC and the Okanagan River. While Council experts conclude that there remains a rich diversity and abundance of Pacific salmon throughout much of southern BC, they are deeply concerned about the future well being of Late-run Fraser River sockeye stocks. To obtain a copy of Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council: Annual Report 2001-2002, go to www.fish.bc.ca.

"The Council is delighted in the good news regarding the number of sockeye spawners this year especially as in recent years mortality rates of the late-run sockeye have reached astonishing heights - as high as 90%," said the Honourable John A. Fraser, Council Chairman, who was on the Adams River participating in "Salute to the Sockeye" festivities. "In the opinion of Council experts the factors contributing to the early return of not only the Adams sockeye but other late-run stocks such as the Cultus Lake populations comprise one of the primary conservation problems in BC and if the recent pre-spawning mortality rates become a regular occurrence, the future of the late-run sockeye is in jeopardy."

Joining Mr. Fraser, and echoing his concerns, was Mr. Murray Chatwin, Council member and Vice President of Fisheries Management for Ocean Fisheries Ltd.: "For as long as we have known these fish, the sockeye that comprise the Adams River run have delayed their migration at the mouth of Fraser River before heading into freshwater. This delay of four to six weeks is critical to their survival. But in recent years they are moving up-river too early. That means the time between their entry into freshwater and when they typically spawn has become much longer leading to very high mortality rates before spawning."

The Council notes in its report that while Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Pacific Salmon Commission have begun scientific investigation into the relation between migration timing and mortality, insufficient resources have been devoted to studying the causes of the problem. The Council will continue to put forward advice on this serious matter, as it has in its past two annual reports. In addition, Council experts will continue to press this matter with governments. This year the Council wrote Canada's Minister of Fisheries and Oceans twice to reiterate its concern about the Late-run Fraser River sockeye.

This past year Fisheries and Oceans Canada, with the support of the Pacific Salmon Commission, set very conservative harvest limits on the late-run Fraser sockeye. During the summer, there is no way of knowing the final outcome of the sockeye returning or the number of spawners that may survive. Consequently, the Council supports that objective. This said, fishing adjustments are made during the fisheries based upon in-season sampling; the Council is concerned that the existing complex process of adjusting fishing levels may have in this case resulted in foregone fishing opportunities and at other times may result in risks to conservation objectives. The Council joins with others in a great sense of relief that this year's Adam River return does not appear to be suffering the pre-spawning mortality rates observed in the past several years. But until we know a lot more than we know now, it would not be wise to be complacent.

This year's annual report is the Council's most comprehensive reporting of the state of salmon for southern British Columbia. Subsequent reports will address Pacific salmon stocks in central and northern BC and transboundary rivers including the Yukon River, as well as steelhead and salmon habitat.

Some of the essentials covered in Annual Report 2001-2002 include:

The value of dedicating resources to restore salmon in the Okanagan River.

An historical perspective on the status of Pacific salmon in southern BC and programs used to assess the production of this important resource.

The need for an objective assessment of the net benefit of hatchery production of Pacific salmon and the ecological interactions of hatchery and wild salmon.

Identification of conservation and management concerns with individual salmon stocks, particularly noting issues for Cultus Lake and Sakinaw Lake sockeye salmon that were both recently submitted to COSEWIC (The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) for emergency consideration.

Developing a process for accountability of stock analyses and government actions to conserve Pacific salmon.

Overall the Council noted that after 150 years of development in southern BC, there remains a rich diversity of Pacific salmon and an abundance of salmon in many locations. Frequently news about Pacific salmon stress negative aspects, but it is important to realize that there have been successes in conservation, not just problems. Council members emphasized that while there certainly can be a viable and productive future for Pacific salmon in southern BC, there must also be a strong public commitment and ethic to conservation. Further, Council members caution that as ocean production improves and salmon abundance increases care must be taken to avoid complacency about current habitat conditions and management. Improved assessment systems and habitat restoration will be major components of Pacific salmon conservation in the future.

The Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council was established in 1998. Its role is to provide independent, strategic advice and relevant information to Canada's and British Columbia's fisheries ministers as well as to the Canadian public on the status and long-term sustainable use of wild salmon stocks and their freshwater and ocean habitats.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Brian Riddell
Science Advisor Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council
250-714-5599

Gordon Ennis
Managing Director Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council
604-775-6070
ennis@fish.bc.ca

John Paul Fraser
Media Liaison Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council
604-775-5789
fraser@fish.bc.c

Related Reports:

Annual Report 2001 2002