JOINT CHUM TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

Joint Chum Technical Committee. Final 1989 Post Season Summary Report. TCCHUM (91)-1. February 1991.

Introduction

This Joint Chum Salmon Technical Committee report presents a review of fishery management activity, and details of catch and escapement for 1989 chum salmon in southern British Columbia and Washington, as required in Chapter 6 of Annex IV of the Pacific Salmon Treaty (PST). Detailed information may be found in the Canadian and United States agency reports appended to this report.

Status of Treaty Requirements

Chum stocks and fisheries in southern B.C. and in U.S. Areas 4B, 5, 6C, 7, and 7A are managed under the terms set out in the Pacific Salmon Treaty. The following provides a brief synopsis of the PST chum annex provisions (italics) and of Canadian and United States management actions in 1989.

1. The Parties shall maintain a Joint Chum Technical Committee to review stock status, develop new methods for stock management and report on management and research findings.

Reports published in 1989 are listed under 1989 Technical Committee Publications.

2. Canada was to manage its Inside fisheries to provide rebuilding of depressed naturally spawning stocks and minimize increased interceptions of U.S. chum.

In 1988, the gross escapement of Inside chum totaled 1,053,000. Wild escapement totaled 877,000 which was 44% of the Clockwork goal of 2,000,000. The Fraser River wild escapement was 465,000 or 66% of the 700,000 goal. Although stock compositions samples were taken, the technical Committee has not agreed on a method for determining whether increased interceptions were minimized.

The only terminal area fishery scheduled by Canada to harvest specific stocks with identified surpluses was mid Vancouver Island (Area 14). This fishery was managed to limit interceptions of U.S. origin or other non-targeted stocks. In Addition, a one day coho directed fishery was scheduled in Area 20.

3. In 1989, Canada was to manage its Johnstone Strait Clockwork harvest to set levels dependent on the run size entering Johnstone Strait as determined in-season. The catch level of chum salmon in U.S. fishing Areas 7 and 7A was determined by the catch of chum salmon in Johnstone Strait. In addition, the traditional proportion of effort and catch between Areas 7 and 7A was to be maintained.

The in-season estimate of Johnstone Strait run size was 3,000,000 providing for a harvest of 20% or 600,000 chum. Post-season, the run size was 1,775,000 chum resulting in an overall harvest rate of 31.5% for clockwork assessment purposes. The Clockwork Harvest Plan was reviewed after the end of the 1988 fishing season; no subsequent changes were incorporated for 1989.

The total allowable catch for U.S. Areas 7 and 7A was 120,000, however, this was increased by a 2,300 chum underage from the U.S. fishery in 1988. The total catch for this fishery in 1989 was 81,000 chum, resulting in a significant shortfall to be applied in future years. The U.S. catch in Areas 7 and 7A was disproportionately harvested in Area 7. The traditional proportion is an even distribution of catch between the two areas.

4. In 1989, the U.S. was to maintain the limited effort nature of its chum fishery in U.S. Areas 4B, 5, and 6C to minimize increased interceptions of Canadian chum. In addition, the U.S. was to monitor this fishery for increasing interceptions of Canadian chum.

The U.S. chum fishery in the Strait of Juan de Fuca (Areas 4B, 5, and 6C) was limited, as it has been in past years, to participation by gillnet fishermen from the four Tribes that fish in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It opened nine days later than normal and closed in mid-November, as usual. The catch of 52,400 chum was below the 1988 catch level. GSI samples were taken to determine whether this catch resulted in higher interception of Canadian chum.

5. When the catch of chum salmon in U.S. Areas 7 and 7A fails to achieve the specified ceiling, the ceiling in subsequent years will be adjusted accordingly.

The U.S. fishery in Areas 7 and 7A in 1989 fell 42,300 chum short of the 123,300 ceiling for 1989.

6. Catch compositions in fisheries covered by this chapter were to be estimated post-season using methods agreed upon by the Joint Chum Technical Committee.

The appropriate fisheries, covered by this chapter, were sampled, however, methods for estimating stock composition are under review by the Committee.

7. In 1989, Canada was to manage the Nitinat net chum fishery to minimize the harvest of non-targeted stocks.

The boundaries of the Nitinat fishery were the same as in 1988. Canada conducted GSI sampling to quantify the incidence of interceptions of passing stocks.

8. In 1989, Canada was to conduct GSI sampling of the West Coast Vancouver Island troll fishery (Areas 121-124) if catch levels were predicted to reach levels similar to those in 1985 and 1986.

Early season catch information from the West Coast Vancouver Island troll fishery did not indicate that the season's total chum catches would reach 1985/86 levels. As a result, Canada did not conduct GSI sampling of this fishery.