Fraser River Panel

fraser

The Fraser River Panel was created in 1985 and uniquely has special responsibility for in-season regulation of Fraser River-origin sockeye and pink salmon fisheries within the area designated as the Fraser River Panel Area in southern British Columbia and northern Puget Sound. The Panel assumed Fraser sockeye and pink management responsibilities from the PSC’s predecessor organization, the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission. While many issues are of concern to the Fraser River Panel, the early upstream migration of late-run sockeye and the resulting high mortality rate are significant. In addition, the Panel remains concerned about the en route losses experienced by Fraser River sockeye due to high water levels and high temperatures in recent years.

The Fraser River Panel is supported by the Fraser River Technical Committee and PSC Secretariat scientific staff who provide technical information and advice concerning Fraser River sockeye and pink salmon harvest and are actively involved in the day-to-day regulation of sockeye and pink fisheries throughout the Fraser River Panel area of jurisdiction.

Mr. Les Jantz (Chair)
Mr. Chris Ashton
Mr. Michael Frost
Mr. Mike Griswold
Grand Chief Ken Malloway
Mr. Aaron Murray

Alternates:

Mr. Shaun Hollingsworth
Mr. Darrel McEachern
Mr. Matt Mortimer
Mr. Tony Roberts Jr.
Mr. Marcel Shepert
Mr. Greg Witzky

Mr. Jason Gobin (Vice-Chai)
Mr. Mark Baltzell
Mr. James Dixon
Mr. Robert F. Kehoe

Alternates:

Mr. Ronald G. Charles
Mr. Jack R. Giard
Mr. Tony Siniscal

How it Works

Prior to the fishing season, the Fraser River Panel recommends a fishery regime and a management plan for Panel area fisheries to the Parties. The plan is based on:

  • abundance and timing forecasts and escapement targets for Fraser River sockeye and pink salmon stocks provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO);
  • international catch allocation goals set by the agreements between the Parties;
  • domestic catch allocation goals of each country;
  • management concerns for other stocks and species also identified by each country; and
  • historic patterns of migration and fisheries dynamics.

The objectives that guide the Panel’s decision-making are:

  • to achieve the spawning escapement targets,
  • to meet international catch allocation goals, and
  • to meet domestic catch allocation objectives.

Any conservation concerns of the Parties for other salmon species and stocks are addressed throughout the process.