Science Response 2008/016

Assessment of the impact of snagging on the Sylvia Grinnell River arctic char population

Context

Over the past two years, there has been increasing concern expressed by residents of Iqaluit regarding the number of char being snagged and discarded at the falls area of the Sylvia Grinnell River (Figure 1). This area is fished heavily once char start to stage before migrating back to Sylvia Grinnell Lake in late July to late August. Char are typically netted using gillnets in the estuary, but also by snagging directly below the falls, when they are concentrated in a small pool. Large treble hooks with weights attached to the shaft of the hook are cast into the pool below the falls and dragged back to shore where any char caught on the hooks are removed. Angling gear can also be used to snag fish. Char of an undesirable size are either returned back to the river where their survival is unknown or they are discarded amongst the rocks. Snagged char are not always landed and may escape as they are being pulled to shore.

The Amarok Hunters and Trappers Association (AHTA) in Iqaluit asked Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to prepare a report about snagging below the falls, potential impacts to the fishery and recommended management measures. On September 4, 2008, Fisheries and Aquaculture Management (FAM) requested advice from Science on the issue of snagging char in the Sylvia Grinnell River to be included in the material presented to the AHTO at their upcoming meeting on October 16, 2008.

Science was specifically asked:

1) Would the documented discard rate of 285 snagged char, sizes ranging from 180 mm to 580 mm, every two days, over approximately a 3 week period, in addition to subsistence and sportfishing removals cause a conservation concern for the Sylvia Grinnell Arctic char population?

2) Which of the following management measures would have the greatest benefit in protecting the char population: ban snagging or close fishing at the falls for the month of August?

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