Terms of Reference

Regional Advisory Meeting

Cultus Lake Sockeye Stock Status - 2010 Barkley Sound Sockeye Forecast - 2010 West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook Abundance Forecast - Fraser River Sockeye Spawning Initiative

26-27 May, 2010

Pacific Biological Station
Nanaimo, BC

Chairperson: Michael Chamberlain

Context

The CSAP Salmon Standing Committee meets routinely to conduct peer reviews of scientific information and advice related to stock assessments, harvest advice, assessment methodologies and management frameworks for salmon, as requested by Fisheries and Aquaculture Management  (FAM) and Oceans, Habitat and Enhancement Branch (OHEB) in support of management decision making. 

Objectives 

This Regional Advisory Process will review and provide advice based on the assessments and analyses on the following four working papers.

Cultus Lake Sockeye Stock Status

The objective of this working paper is to determine and document the current status of the Cultus Lake Sockeye salmon stock, evaluate how this stock has responded to recovery actions to date (measured against Conservation Strategy objectives) and provide advice regarding the prospects for the recovery of this stock.  Specifically, an evaluation of the utility of each recovery action undertaken (e.g. captive breeding, harvest control and predator removal) will be made.  Recommendations as to the projected benefits of continuing recovery actions, and in what form, this will continue.

2010 Barkley Sound Sockeye Abundance Forecast & Stock Status Indicators Update

Barkley Sound Sockeye abundance forecasts are requested annually by Fisheries and Aquaculture management for pre-season fisheries planning activities. Quantitative abundance forecasts have been produced annually by DFO.  The last review was conducted by PSARC in 2005.  This interim assessment update will be based on a previously CSAS approved methodology, and will be presented as a Science Advisory Report.  A technical working paper will not be presented.

2010 West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook Abundance Forecast & Stock Status Indicators Update

West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook abundance forecasts are requested annually by Fisheries and Aquaculture management and the Pacific Salmon Commission Chinook Technical Committee for pre-season fisheries planning activities.  Quantitative abundance forecasts have been produced annually by DFO since 1996.   A framework describing the methodology was last reviewed by PSARC in 2002.  This interim assessment update be based on a previously CSAS approved methodology, and will be presented as a Science Advisory Report.  A technical working paper will not be presented.

Fraser River Sockeye Spawning Initiative

The Fraser River Sockeye Spawning Initiative is a multi-year, collaboration planning process to develop a long term escapement strategy for Fraser River sockeye stocks.  The objective of this working paper is to review the appropriateness of the methods developed and the simulations models used to evaluate alternate control rules associated with setting total allowable mortality targets, at different levels of abundance, for Fraser River Sockeye stocks.

Products

• CSAS Proceedings document summarizing the discussion (1)
• CSAS Science Advisory Report (4)
• CSAS Research Document (2)

Location and Date

Pacific Biological Station, Nanaimo, BC, 26-27 May 2010

Participants

Participants will include internal DFO representatives and potentially participants from the Province of British Columbia, academia, First Nations, NGO’s and the fishing industry.