Stocks Report

This is a report on the proceedings of a conference held at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in June of 2008. Close to 70 participants attended, from universities, private consulting companies, fisheries management organizations, non-governmental environmental organizations and First Nations.1 Several of the participants were graduate students who learned from the conference rather than contributing to discussions. The conference had an atmosphere of intensity, all aware that forward movement on the question of early migrating Late-run sockeye salmon on the Fraser River is critical. 

The PFRCC has released a report on the role that Pacific salmon play in shaping aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The report proposes indicators that might be used to measure this ecosystem role and future work needed to eventually guide policy makers on how to incorporate ecosystem values in their mangement considerations. This is in support of strategy 3 of DFO's Wild Salmon Policy.

A one day workshop, hosted by the PFRCC had a focus on: "What is the most alarming potential impact of climate change on salmon stocks?" and "What is the best strategy to adopt?

(Background paper authored by Richard Routledge and Ken Wilson, June 1999) Abstract: Canada's management and protection of freshwater coho habitat leaves much to be desired. The effect of loss and degradation of freshwater coho habitat in the decline of southern BC coho is complex.

(Background Paper authored by Richard Routledge and Ken Wilson, June 1999) This paper detailed historical trends regarding Fraser River sockeye runs.

(Background Paper by Carl Walters and Josh Korman, June 1999) Providing a broad species by species overview of stock status and trends for BC as a whole.

This report looked at all available information from British Columbia on whether large spawning populations that exceeded “normal”, target or historical numbers, were followed by stock collapses. There was evidence that there was a levelling-off of salmon production for runs having a high escapement, but there was no evidence of over-escapement causing stock collapse.

This report was prepared by Dr. Brian Riddell to inform the PFRCC and the public about the status and prospects of salmon stocks and habitat in the northern and central coastal regions of British Columbia. It chronicles the serious problems of inadequate information, and helps to inform the current discussion about how wild salmon stocks can be effectively managed in the absence of adequate records, sufficient data or valid scientific evidence in many cases.