Genetic Stock Identification of Chinook Salmon Caught in Northern British Columbia Troll Fisheries

This project consists of the collection and analyses of genetic samples of Chinook salmon caught by the Northern British Columbia Troll fishery each season. The troll fishery typically has the largest annual catch of Chinook salmon in Northern British Columbia, and is managed within the aggregate abundance based management (AABM) regime described in the Pacific Salmon Treaty (1999). The Haida Gwaii (QCI) sport fishery is included within the regime. The sport fishery receives a priority allocation, but the troll fishery typically harvests more Chinook salmon than the sport fishery when operating in the absence of domestic constraints. Genetic samples of Northern BC Troll Chinook catch are a key component of Canada’s domestic fishery management to avoid stocks of concern. Genetic analyses of tissues collected from this fishery allow for estimates of stock specific impacts and comparison to coded wire tag estimates of stock contributions to this fishery. These data are useful to the assignment of Chinook mortalities for the purposes of specific stock management (e.g. WCVI Chinook or local concerns for Yakoun River or Kwinamass River Chinook) and for accounting of Nisga’a Treaty entitlements. The data are also used to generate escapement and terminal run size estimates for stocks or stock groups with representative coded wire tagged components.