Exploitation rate estimation for coho salmon in south coast marine fisheries using genetic stock identification

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.