Terms of Reference

Evaluation of Marine Recreational Coho Mark Selective Fisheries in British Columbia, including an evaluation of the Canadian marine fishery exploitation model for Interior Fraser Coho

Regional Peer Review Process – Pacific Region

March 3-5, 2015
Nanaimo, British Columbia

Chairperson: Jeffrey Lemieux

Context

Declines in the abundance of southern British Columbia Coho Salmon populations, in particular Interior Fraser River Coho (IFR) Salmon, through the 1990’s, resulted in harvest restrictions for Coho Salmon in all sectors beginning in 1998.  Following the initial harvest restrictions, fisheries management measures were implemented that would allow for some fishing while addressing the need to protect IFR and other wild Coho Salmon stocks.

In 1999, a pilot Coho mark-selective fisheries (MSF) program was implemented in select areas, allowing the harvest of marked (adipose fin clipped) hatchery produced Coho with release of wild, non-marked, fish.  Over about five years, Coho MSF were expanded to include all southern British Columbia (B.C.) recreational salmon fisheries with non-retention of wild Coho, as well as the West Coast Vancouver Island (WCVI) troll fishery at some times of year (e.g., September).

These MSF were implemented under a domestic operational target exploitation rate (ER) ceiling for IFR Coho Salmon of 3%. This management objective was in place through 2013.  In 2014, after a review of IFR Coho Management Unit status relative to recovery objectives (DFO 2014), the ER objective was adjusted to permit impacts up to 16% in Canadian domestic fisheries.  Currently, Canadian marine exploitation rates are forecasted and estimated for IFR Coho using a model based on the relationship between effort and measured exploitation in the 1987 – 1997 base period.  IFR Coho fresh water fishery impacts in the Fraser River are estimated using a separate model which is not included in this review.  Neither the model has been evaluated or peer reviewed.

The Coho MSF and the associated ER estimation approaches have not been evaluated.  Fisheries Management and the Salmon Enhancement Program have requested that Science Branch conduct a review of both the IFR Coho ER models and the Coho MSF program to evaluate their effectiveness and utility as management tools.

This Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Regional Peer Review (RPR) will address the marine aspects of the request, evaluating the marine ER modelling for IFR Coho and the effect of the MSF on marine fisheries.  The assessment will include the compilation, analysis and reporting of data collected through the Recreational Creel, Mark Recovery, escapement monitoring, Salmon Enhancement and other MSF survey programs, focusing on key catch and effort metrics, before and after the implementation of IFR Coho conservation measures.

An evaluation of the freshwater IFR Coho ER Model, and the effect of the MSF on catch, effort and estimated exploitation rates in the freshwater fisheries will be conducted in a separate RPR, and together with this review, will facilitate the overall evaluation of the MSF to meet the stated objectives for this program.

It is recognized that there are several confounding factors and uncertainties, such as the changes in the abundance and distribution of Coho and other species of salmon that would have influenced directed and non-directed fishing behaviour of the recreational sector.  As a result, drawing conclusions about responses in recreational fishing effort as a result of MSF regulations, for example, will be challenging and may only allow for qualitative conclusions

This assessment, and advice arising from this Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Regional Peer Review (RPR), will be used to inform the overall evaluation of the MSF program, the development of Integrated Fisheries Management Plans (IFMPs) for southern BC salmon and future production and marking strategies of the Salmonid Enhancement Program.

Objectives

The objectives of this RPR are to: a) describe and document methods, evaluate the implications of the assumptions and base-period data used to parameterize the marine IFR ER model, report uncertainties and limitations in modeling and estimate IFR Coho ER for recreational and commercial marine fisheries; and, b) examine the effect of the MSF on catch, effort and estimated exploitation rates in the marine fisheries from 1998 through 2014.

The following two working papers will be reviewed to provide the basis for discussion and advice to address the two objectives stated above.  Specific for each working paper, the following outputs are to be reviewed:

Interior Fraser River Coho Exploitation Rate Estimation Methods.  CSAP Working Paper 2013SAL005a

1. Document the methods used to estimate exploitation rate (ER) for IFR Coho for marine fisheries in Canadian waters south of Cape Caution, including the base period data and assumptions required to parameterize the model, and implications of those data and assumptions on estimated ER’s. 
2. Update estimates of the total exploitation rate on IFR Coho in all marine fisheries in Canadian waters south of Cape Caution, as well as the exploitation rate on hatchery produced Coho Salmon by the marine recreational fishery, up to and including 2014.
3. Describe the sources of uncertainty related to the model (e.g., inside – outside distribution, change in fishery patterns, fisher behaviour, changes in gear, etc.), based on sensitivity analysis where possible.

Evaluation of Marine Recreational Coho Mark Selective Fisheries. CSAP Working Paper 2013SAL005b

4. Document the objectives of the MSF and the management measures undertaken to implement IFR Coho conservation starting in 1998 through 2014, with a focus on recreational marine fisheries in Canadian waters south of Cape Caution.
5. Compile, analyze and report on recreational catch and effort metrics, Coded Wire Tag (CWT) data, salmon enhancement and marking programs relevant to the assessment of the MSF objectives.   Data prior to (pre 1998) and during the implementation of MSF, up to 2014, should be considered.
6. Assess the effect of the MSF on catch, effort and estimated exploitation rates in the marine recreational fishery from 1998 through 2014. Include commercial.
7. Provide a summary of MSF evaluations conducted in other jurisdictions (e.g. Washington State: Hoffman & Pattillo 2007) and consider relevant comparisons with this assessment.
8. Consider the limitations, confounding factors and uncertainty in the results of this evaluation, including but not limited to the monitoring programs, assessment programs, and compliance with regulations.

Expected Publications

• CSAS Science Advisory Report
• CSAS Proceedings Document
• CSAS Research Document (2)

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

DFO. 2014. Assessment of the Interior Fraser River Coho Salmon Management Unit. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2014/032

A. Hoffman & P.L. Pattillo. 2007. The Practical Application of Mark-Selective Fisheries.  American Fisheries Society Symposium 49: 587 – 595.