Research Document - 2000/151

By D.A. Nagtegaal, B. Riddell, S. Lehmann, D. Ewart, and B. Adkins

Abstract

The development and assessment of effective management strategies for the rebuilding of chinook salmon stocks to historical levels requires accurate estimates of escapement as well as estimates of the relative contribution of hatchery and natural production to that escapement. In 1984, various "key streams" were chosen including the Campbell/Quinsam River system. The key stream program was designed as a means of monitoring escapement parameters in specific spawning areas and initiated in response to objectives set out in the Canada-U.S. Pacific Salmon Treaty. The goal for these selected streams was to use the escapement and exploitation information from these stocks as an indicator of harvest and exploitation rates for neighbouring stocks. The Quinsam/Campbell was chosen to represent Upper Georgia Strait/Johnstone Strait chinook.

Interim escapement goals for British Columbia chinook stocks were established by the Chinook Technical Committee (Pacific Salmon Commission 1986). Goals for natural and enhanced stocks were double the 1979-82 base period or, for key streams, double the 1984 escapement. The interim escapement goal for the Quinsam/Campbell was set at 5,970. Since 1989, chinook returns to the Campbell/Quinsam system initially continued to decline but in recent years have rebounded. However, the escapement goal has only been reached once (1999), even with substantial enhancement efforts.

The Campbell River was historically one of the most important producers of chinook in the Strait of Georgia.Three over-riding key aspects were identified to have contributed to the decline of the Campbell River chinook stock. Hydroelectric development and associated construction of dams and water diversions are suggested to have significantly contributed to the decline of salmon stocks. Major changes in river discharge and flow regimes are known to have considerable detrimental effects to both the adult and juvenile life stages. Secondly, the estuary has been used extensively by industry and for urban development which has also been documented to have had a considerable impact on the rearing capacity for juveniles. And finally, high exploitation of this stock in previous years at non-sustainable levels has obviously been detrimental to the natural chinook stock in the Campbell River.

Reduction in exploitation by approximately 50% since the late 70's and up to 500% improvements in marine survival in recent years should contribute substantially to the rebuilding process. In 1999 there were double the number of natural spawners in the Campbell River compared to the previous 5 years.

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