JOINT NORTHERN BOUNDARY TECHNICAL COMMITTEE

Joint Northern Boundary Technical Committee. U.S./Canada Northern Boundary Area 1992 Salmon Fisheries Management Report and 1993 Preliminary Expectations. TCNB (92)-1. November, 1992.

This report reviews: 1) catch, effort, and management actions in the 1992 Boundary Area pink, chum, and sockeye salmon fisheries of southern Southeast Alaska Districts 101-106 and northern British Columbia Areas 1, 3, 4, and 5; 2) management performance relative to Treaty requirements; 3) historical catches and escapements; and 4) preliminary 1993 expectations and fishing plans.

Returns of sockeye salmon were exceptionally strong in the Northern Boundary Area in 1992. Fisheries in southern Southeast Alaska harvested a record 1,797,000 sockeye; well above the 1985 to 1991 average of 1,028,000 fish. In northern British Columbia, the 723,000 sockeye harvested in Area 3 was the second only to 1991's record harvest and harvests in Areas 1, 4, and 5 were all above the 1985 to 1991 averages. Sockeye escapements appeared strong in southern Southeast Alaska although programs to directly estimate escapements are in place only at Hugh Smith and McDonald Lakes. The weir count of 65,732 sockeye at Hugh Smith is the highest on record; well above ADF&G's informal 27,000 escapement target. The escapement of 115,123 sockeye into McDonald Lake was over the 70,000-85,000 escapement goal for the third year in a row. The record sockeye escapement of over 600,000 to Canadian Area 3 is three times the 200,000 escapement target. Almost 575,000 were counted past the Meziadin fishway in the Nass system. The preliminary sockeye escapement estimate in Area 4 of 1.3 million is above the management target of 1.0 million. The contribution of enhanced sockeye to fisheries in the Northern Boundary Area has not been estimated.

Returns of pink salmon were moderate in the Northern Boundary Area in 1992. The harvest of 19.0 million pink salmon in southern southeast Alaska was 10.0 million below the 1985-1991 average but 5.0 million above the 1960-1991 average. The Canadian Area 3 pink salmon harvest of 1.4 million was 60% of the 1985-1991 average while the Area 4 harvest of 1.2 million was just below the 1985-1991 average. Pink salmon catches and escapements in Area 1 were below recent even-year averages. The escapement index for southern Southeast Alaska pink salmon exceeded the 6.0 million target by 1.0 million. Index escapements were above goal in Districts 101, 102, and 103, but below goals in Districts 105, 106, and 107. Pink salmon escapements were close to targets in Canadian Areas 3 and 4.

Returns of summer and fall run chum salmon were good in southern Southeast Alaska but poor in northern British Columbia. Alaskan fisheries harvested a record 2,180,000 chum salmon while Canadian harvests were below 1985-1991 averages in all areas. Escapements of summer and fall run chum salmon were generally good in southern Southeast Alaska although ADF&G does not have a directed program to index chum escapements. Escapements to Fish and Marx Creeks at the head of Portland Canal were well above 1990 and 1991 levels. Chum salmon escapements to northern British Columbia systems were poor again in 1992.

The Pacific Salmon Treaty limits the Alaska District 104 (Noyes Island) purse seine fishery to a four-year total catch (1990-1993) of 480,000 sockeye salmon prior to Statistical Week 31. Under terms of the agreement, when the annual catch reaches 160,000 sockeye salmon, no further daily fishing periods are allowed prior to week 31. The 1992 sockeye salmon harvest in District 104 prior to week 31 was 79,643 fish. Combined with the 1990 and 1991 pre-week 31 catches, a total of 348,169 sockeye have been caught, leaving a permissible harvest of 131,831 in 1993 under the 480,000 limit.

In the Alaska District 101-11 (Tree Point) drift gillnet fishery, the catch of sockeye salmon since 1985 has been limited to an annual average of 130,000 by the Pacific Salmon Treaty. Catch of sockeye salmon in 1992 was 244,649, bringing the 1985 to 1992 average to 143,591.

Under the Pacific Salmon Treaty the outside portions of Statistical Areas 3 and 5 are to be managed such that an average annual pink harvest of 900,000 is achieved. In 1992, 927,052 pinks were harvested in Management Units 3(1-4) and 5-11 combined. The current average annual pink harvest from 1985-1992 in the treaty area is 2,064,223.

The Area 1 pink troll fishery is managed to an annual ceiling of 1.95 million pinks with a cumulative ceiling of 5.125 million pink salmon for the period 1990-1993. In addition, the area adjacent to the Canada-U.S. boundary in the northern portion of Area 1 closes to pink retention if the pink catch reaches 300,000 in this area, or by July 22, should this sub-ceiling not be met. In 1992, the pink catch in the A-B line area reached only 71,000 and closed to pink retention July 22. Preliminary saleslips indicate an Area 1 troll catch of 760,269, providing a cumulative catch from 1990-1992 of 3,571,640.

Good returns are forecast for Northern Boundary Area pink salmon in 1992. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game's preliminary forecast for pink salmon returning to all of Southeast Alaska in 1993 is approximately 80-85 million pink salmon. Individual forecasts of returns for northern and southern sections are not being made officially this year but it is anticipated that 30-40 million pink salmon will be harvested in southern Southeast Alaska in 1993. The 1983-1992 average harvest in southern southeast Alaska is 27.5 million pink salmon.

The odd-year pink run to the Queen Charlotte Islands is not expected to provide a surplus in 1993. Average sockeye fisheries are anticipated in Area 3 in 1993, while higher than average pink catches, surpluses from both Areas 3 and 4 are forecast. Skeena returns are predicted to provide an Area 4 commercial net catch of 1,000,000 pinks and 1,000,000 sockeye.