JOINT CHUM TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

Joint Chum Technical Committee. Final 1992 Post Season Summary Report. TCCHUM (94)-1. May, 1994.

Introduction

This Joint Chum Salmon Technical Committee report presents the appropriate information for 1992 chum salmon stocks and fisheries in southern British Columbia and Washington, as required by Chapter 6 of Annex IV of the Pacific Salmon Treaty (PST). In addition, paragraph six of the Pacific Salmon Treaty Letters of Transmittal, dated May 17, 1991, provided for an amendment to Chapter 6 of Annex IV of the PST. Detailed information may be found in the United States and Canadian agency sections of 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 1992.

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

The Joint Chum Technical Committee convened on three separate occasions during the year to address various assignments. The following reports were published: Final 1990 Post-Season Summary Report, TCCHUM (92)-1; Accuracy and Precision of Genetic Stock Identification for Estimating the Stock Composition of Mixed-Stock Chum Salmon Fisheries in Northern Puget Sound and Southern Georgia Strait, TCCHUM (92)-2; Update of Research Needs for Southern British Columbia and Washington Chum Salmon, TCCHUM (92)-3.

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 1992, the gross escapement of Inside chum totaled 2,031,000. Escapement to natural spawning areas totaled 1,790,000 which was 10% below the Clockwork goal of 2,000,000. The Fraser River escapement was 682,000, or 97% of the 700,000 goal.

Terminal area commercial fisheries scheduled by Canada to harvest specific stocks with identified surpluses included; mid Vancouver Island (Area 14), Jervis Inlet (Area 16), Nanaimo (Area 17), Cowichan (Area 18), and Fraser River (Area 29). These fisheries were managed to limit interceptions of U.S. origin or other non-targeted stocks. Stock composition samples were taken, but the technical committee has not addressed the issue of "minimizing increased interceptions".

3. In 1992, 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 Clockwork Harvest Plan was reviewed and revised after the end of the 1991 fishing season. The threshold level for harvest at 30% was increased from 3.7 million to 3.9 million. No further changes were incorporated in 1992. The in-season estimation of the Johnstone Strait run size was 4,400,000 providing for a harvest rate of 30% or 1,320,000 chum. Post-season, the Clockwork run size was estimated at 4,317,000 chum. The actual Clockwork harvest was 1,479,000, resulting in a harvest rate of 34%.

The total allowable chum catch for U.S. Area 7 and 7A was 140,000, based on a total Johnstone Strait chum harvest which exceeded 640,000 fish. The target harvest was reduced to 122,000 fish due to a 18,000 fish over-harvest in these areas in 1991. The total catch for the Area 7 and 7A fishery in 1992 was 119,000 chum. This fishery was managed to maintain a traditional fishing pattern with both areas opened simultaneously. The final catch distribution between Area 7 and Area 7A was 46% and 54%, respectively.

4. In 1992, 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. The commercial catch of 58,000 chum was 3% higher than the 1985-1991 average Strait harvest. Genetic Stock Identification (GSI) samples were taken. However, the technical committee has not addressed the issue of "minimizing increased interceptions".

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. Area 7 and 7A catch fell short of the 1992 ceiling by 2,400 fish. This deficit will be added to a future year's allowable catch (Table 1).

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.

Fisheries covered by this chapter were sampled, and stock composition estimates were provided to the Joint Interceptions Committee. Methods for estimating stock composition are under continuing review by the committee.

7. In 1992, Canada was to manage the Nitinat chum net fishery to minimize the harvest of non-targeted stocks.

A gillnet only fishing area, used during combined gear fisheries only, was reduced in size by 50% in 1992 relative to 1991. In addition, the start of the Nitinat fishery was delayed by two weeks, to late September, to reduce the interception of non-target stocks. Canada conducted GSI sampling to quantify the incidence of interceptions of non-target stocks in Area 121. Additional GSI samples were not collected from Area 20-1. The technical committee has not addressed the issue of "minimizing the harvest of non-target stocks".

8. In 1992, 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 the 1985 and 1986 levels. As a result, Canada did not conduct GSI sampling of this fishery. The total catch for this fishery was 45,500 chum salmon.

Table 1. Summary of U.S. Treaty chum allocations and catches for Areas 7 and 7A, 1986-1992.

1. Takes into account underages or overages from previous years.

2. 1990 accumulated U.S. shortfall foregone through PSC agreement.