In 2014, an exploitation rate cap on Interior Fraser River (IFR) coho in Canadian fisheries was increased from 3% to 16% in response to improved status and rebuilding of these stocks as well as fishery needs. Pre-season predicted fishery impact on IFR coho was generally determined using historic (1986-97) exploitation and coded wire tag (CWT) recovery rates scaled by current effort, which have changed over time, so current CWT recoveries do not provide a measure of fishery impact. Instead, DNA will be used to estimate the number of ‘wild’ unmarked IFR coho caught in fisheries which would provide an independent estimate of exploitation rate.
