Science Response 2014/033

Assessment of the potential to re-open Great Slave Lake Closure Zones A and B

Context

Inconnu are classified as bycatch in the Great Slave Lake (GSL) commercial Lake Whitefish fishery because there is no directed quota for them. However they are sold to the local fish processing plant. The Buffalo River Inconnu stock was depleted in the 1970s and has not fully recovered. Inconnu spawn in the Buffalo River or its tributaries in the fall and then migrate back to GSL. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has prohibited commercial fishing for all species in several areas along the south shore of GSL to protect the Buffalo River Inconnu stock. Zone A is closed year-round, while Zone B (encompassing the Buffalo River) is closed April 1 through September 30, annually.

The Great Slave Lake Advisory Committee (GSLAC) was established by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans to provide advice and recommendations regarding the fisheries of Great Slave Lake. The committee reports to DFO and is comprised of members of the three First Nations and the Métis group on the lake. It also has members from the commercial fishing sector, sport fishing, as well as lodges and outfitters. In 2013, GSLAC made a recommendation to DFO that Zones A and B be re-opened from September 1 - October 31, annually, to allow for the targeted inshore harvest of Lake Whitefish. DFO Resource Management has requested advice from Science by May 12, 2014 on whether or not the closure zones can be safely opened in the fall to allow for a Lake Whitefish fishery with minimal impacts to the Buffalo River Inconnu stock.

A review of all available information showed that while Inconnu harvests decrease in September and October in Area 1E of GSL (compared to summer catches), it is still possible to catch Inconnu near, and likely in, Zones A and B. If the closure areas were opened in September and October, some spawning individuals might still be caught and there is the potential to harvest the post-spawning out-migration of Inconnu from the Buffalo River which occurs in a concerted run in October. The exact dates of the out-migration vary annually and it is possible to capture large numbers of Inconnu in a short amount of time. In 2013, the total harvest of Inconnu in Area 1E alone was over double the recommended maximum removal for the entire west basin. As a result of these factors, Zones A and B should remain closed, as failure to restrict fishing in these areas could result in a high risk to Buffalo River Inconnu sustainability.

This Science Response Report results from the Science Response Process of May 1, 2014 on the Assessment of the Potential to Re-Open Great Slave Lake Closure Zones A and B.

Complete document (PDF, 935  KB)

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