Science Advisory Report  2011/019

Optimum Escapement Goals for Chinook Salmon in the Transboundary Alsek River

Summary

• The Alsek River Chinook stock is considered a single Conservation Unit under the Wild Salmon Policy. Management of this stock is conducted bilaterally through the Pacific Salmon Treaty.
• The Salmon Standing Committee of the Centre for Science Advice Pacific (CSAP) was presented with updated analysis and results conducted by the Alaskan Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) regarding the optimal escapement goal for Alsek River Chinook.
• Escapement analysis incorporated stock assessment data from 1976 to 2007, and included seven years of radio-telemetry and mark-recapture studies. Data and methods in the current analysis are considered an improvement over methods employed previously, and take into account known sources of uncertainty.
• Overall, this analysis represents an improvement over methods used previously to determine escapement goals for these stocks and is endorsed for the provision of advice for the establishment of escapement goals for the Alsek and Klukshu Rivers.
• Escapement goal ranges of 3,520 to 5,280 adults for the Alsek River and 800 to 1,200 adults for the Klukshu River were recommended. These escapement ranges represented a 90-98% chance of achieving at least 90% of Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) from these stocks.
• Given the incorporation of uncertainty in stock assessment data and the robust approach used to provide advice on the establishment of escapement goals, it is recommend that the methods used in this assessment be considered when providing escapement goal advice for other Canadian systems, where appropriate given the data available.

This Science Advisory Report has resulted from a Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat Pacific Regional Advisory Process of October 18-19, 2010 on Assessment of Escapement Goals for Alsek River Chinook and Sockeye and Taku River Chinook and Coho. Additional publications resulting from this process will be posted as they become available on the DFO Science Advisory Schedule.

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