Research Document - 1999/182

Status of anadromous Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) of the Hornaday River, Northwest Territories, as assessed through community-based sampling of the subsistence fishery, August-September 1990-1998.

By L. Harwood

Abstract

Anadromous (searun) Arctic charr spawn and over-winter in the Hornaday River. This stock has been subject to subsistence fishing since the 1940's, a commercial fishery between 1968-1986, and a sport fishery between 1972-1978. The estimated annual harvest averaged 1 800 charr (4 200 kg) between 1968-1974 (includes subsistence, commercial and sport fisheries), 3 800 charr (8 700 kg) between 1975-1986 (includes subsistence, commercial and sport fisheries), and 2 400 charr (5 600 kg) between 1987-1998 (subsistence fishery only). A standardized, long-term monitoring program has been in place since 1990, during which catch and biological data were collected by the community charr monitors. Downturns in mean age, mean length, and catch-per-unit-effort that were observed during the 1995-1997 period were thought to be indications that the stock was being over-fished. This prompted the community to prepare and implement their five year Paulatuk Charr Management Plan, which closed part of the river to fishing and limits the total take to 1 700 charr per year, or 11.3% of the estimate of stock size from 1986. Since the Plan was put in place, catch-per-unit-effort, age and length data have been encouraging but continued monitoring of this fishery is needed to further evaluate trends in the stock and monitor compliance with the Management Plan.

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