Terms of Reference

Assessment of Interior Fraser River Coho Salmon Conservation Units’ Benchmarks and Status

Regional Peer Review Process – Pacific Region

November 6-7, 2014
Nanaimo, BC

Chairperson: Bruce Patten

Context

Interior Fraser River (IFR) Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kistuch), which include North Thompson, South Thompson, Lower Thompson, Fraser Canyon and Middle Fraser Conservation Units (CUs), have experienced repeated years of low returns and there is a high degree of uncertainty about their longer term abundance and productivity.  During the 1990s, declines in the abundance of IFR Coho Salmon prompted Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to implement several measures to significantly reduce the harvest of these stocks.  In 2002, IFR Coho Salmon were designated by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) as endangered (COSEWIC, 2002).  In 2006 DFO published a conservation strategy outlining recovery objectives for IFR Coho Salmon.

In accordance with Canada’s Policy for the Conservation of Wild Pacific Salmon (WSP) Strategy 1 Canada is required to assess the biological status of WSP Conservation Units (CUs) for Pacific salmon.  Fisheries Resource Management Branch has requested that Science Branch provide advice respecting the biological benchmarks, consistent with the Wild WSP, and to assess the biological status of the IFR Coho CUs.  Results of the assessment, and advice arising from this Regional Peer Review process, will be used by Fisheries Management.

This Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS), Regional Peer Review (RPR) will utilize the data reviewed during CSAS RPR held February 2014, and approaches developed to assess WSP biological status for Fraser River Sockeye and Southern B.C. Chinook Salmon, to provide advice about WSP biological benchmarks and status for Interior Fraser River Coho CUs.

Objectives

The following working paper will be reviewed and provide the basis for discussion and advice on the specific objectives outlined below.

Parken, C. et al. Assessment of the Interior Fraser River Coho Salmon Conservation Units, Benchmarks and Status.  CSAP Working Paper 2014/15 SAL12.

1. Develop WSP biological benchmarks for IFR Coho Salmon CUs.
2. Determine WSP biological status for each IFR Coho Salmon CUs.
3. Provide advice on an approach that would trigger a re-assessment of IFR Coho Salmon CUs benchmark(s) and status.

Expected Publications

• Science Advisory Report
• Proceedings
• Research Document(s)

Participation

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) (Science, Fisheries Management, and Salmonid Enhancement Program)
• First Nations
• Commercial and Recreational Fishing Representatives
• Environmental Non-government Organizations
• Academia

References

Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 2005. Canada's Policy for Conservation of Wild Pacific Salmon. Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Vancouver, BC. 34 p.

Grant, S.C.H., MacDonald, B.L., Cone, T.E., Holt, C.A., Cass, A., Porszt, E.J., Hume, J.M.B., and Pon, L.B. 2011. Evaluation of uncertainty in Fraser Sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka) Wild Salmon Policy status using abundance and trends in abundance metrics. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2011/087. viii + 183 p.

Holt, C.A. 2009a. Evaluation of benchmarks for Conservation Units in Canada's Wild Salmon Policy: technical documentation. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2009/059. xii + 50 p.

Holt, C.A., Cass, A., Holtby, B., and Riddell, B. 2009b. Indicators of status and benchmarks for Conservation Units in Canada's Wild Salmon Policy. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2009/058. vii + 74 p.