Management Scenarios: Thompson and Chilcotin Steelhead

Table of Contents

• 1.0 GENERAL MANAGEMENT MEASURES
  • 1.1 New Measures under “Do Not List” and “List” Scenarios
• 2.0 HABITAT DEGRADATION
  • 2.1 Currently Implemented Measures
  • 2.2 New Measures under “Do Not List” and “List” Scenarios
• 3.0 SCIENCE & CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES
  • 3.1 Currently Implemented Measures
  • 3.2 New Measures under “Do Not List” and “List” Scenarios
  • 3.3 Currently Implemented Measures
  • 3.4 New Measures under “Do Not List” and “List” Scenarios
• 4.0 RECREATIONAL SALMON FISHERIES
  • 4.1 Currently Implemented Measures
  • 4.2 New Measures under “Do Not List” and “List” Scenarios
• 5.0 COMMERCIAL SALMON FISHERIES
  • 5.1 Currently Implemented Measures
  • 5.2 New Measures under “Do Not List” and “List” Scenarios
• 6.0 Food, Social, and Ceremonial (FSC) FISHERIES
  • 6.1 Currently Implemented Measures
  • 6.2 New Measures under “Do Not List” and “List” Scenarios
• Appendix A: List Scenario 60-Day Rolling Window Closure Details
• Appendix B: Do Not List Scenario – Salmon Management Measures

1.0 GENERAL MANAGEMENT MEASURES

1.1 New Measures under “Do Not List” and “List” Scenarios

2.0 HABITAT DEGRADATION

2.1. Currently Implemented Measures

The Fisheries Act prohibits serious harm to fish. DFO reviews projects near water, assesses activities likely to cause serious harm, and provides advice to avoid and mitigate effects of activities on fish and fish habitat resulting from habitat degradation or loss or alteration of fish passage and flow. Authorizations related to works, undertakings, or activities where there are residual impacts from serious harm may be issued. DFO manages habitat occurrences, supports fish habitat restoration and enhancement programs, and develops regulatory partnerships where appropriate.

The Province of British Columbia develops Best Management Practices where appropriate (in collaboration with DFO), and regulates: changes in and about a stream, forest and range practices on BC Crown land, applications for new major mines and major expansion projects, agricultural waste management, water licences, and release of deleterious substances. BC, DFO, Indigenous groups, and industry are working to develop a new operating rule curve for Nicola Lake Dam, to enhance flow conditions to benefit Chinook, Coho and Steelhead.

2.2. New Measures under “Do Not List” and “List” Scenarios

3.0 SCIENCE & CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES

3.1. Currently Implemented Measures

DFO issues Fisheries Act licences for scientific, experimental, educational, public display, or aquatic invasive species control purposes. The Department’s Resource Restoration Unit supports restoration, conservation and fish habitat enhancement programs, including education and federal contribution program initiatives. DFO also conducts research relating to stock assessment activities, for example: helicopter-based counts, fishway sampling, mark-recapture, resistivity counters, and numerous test fisheries.

The Province of BC issues fish collection permits for scientific and other non-recreational purposes. BC also conducts research relating to stock assessment activities, including visual and helicopter-based counts.

3.2. New Measures under “Do Not List” and “List” Scenarios

PROVINCIALLY MANAGED RECREATIONAL FISHERIES

3.3. Currently Implemented Measures

The recreational fishery for wild Thompson and Chilcotin Steelhead is exclusively catch and release; retention of hatchery Steelhead is only permitted in Region 2 (Lower Mainland). Size limits, daylight, bait, and gear restrictions, and specific closures also exist depending on the location. In general, known holding or spawning areas are closed to all angling during periods typically inhabited by Steelhead; specific closures are as follows:

Fraser River mainstem

• Region 2 (Lower Mainland), upstream of the CPR Bridge at Mission: No fishing east of Landstrom Bar to Croft Island from May 1 – October 31
• Region 3 (Thompson-Nicola):
  • No fishing between the fishing boundary signs posted approx. 6.5 km downstream of Boston Bar to signs 2.8 km downstream of Hell’s Gate
  • No fishing from the lower entrance of the fish ladder at Bridge River rapids to the BC railway bridge approximately 2km north of Lillooet from March 31 – June 20
  • November 1 – May 31: No Fishing from the confluence with Thompson River to the CNR bridge approximately 1 km downstream
• Region 5 (Cariboo): No Fraser River mainstem angling closures

Thompson River

• General Restrictions (Region 3): No fishing in any stream in Region 3 from January 1 to June 30
• Thompson River downstream of the signs at the outlet of Kamloops Lake (all parts except the water set out in item below): November 1 to May 31
  • If the Albion test fishery indicates a return of the Interior Fraser Steelhead aggregate greater than 650 spawners the Thompson Steelhead catch and release fishery may remain open until December 31 (as opposed to November 1)
• Thompson River downstream of the signs at the outlet of Kamloops Lake from the CNR bridge immediately downstream of Deadman River to the CNR bridge immediately upstream of Bonaparte River: November 1 to April 30
  • If the Albion test fishery indicates a return of the Interior Fraser Steelhead aggregate greater than 650 spawners the Thompson Steelhead catch and release fishery may remain open until December 31 (as opposed to November 1)
• Tributary - Bonaparte River: No Fishing downstream of falls at Bonaparte fishway
• Tributary - Coldwater River: No Fishing January 1 - September 30
• Tributary - Nicola River: No Fishing downstream of Nicola Lake, March 1 - September 30
• Tributary - Deadman River: No angling closures

Chilcotin River

• General restrictions (Region 5): No fishing from April 1 to June 30
• Chilcotin River downstream of Chilko no fishing from October 1 through June 10
• Closed to fishing for Steelhead year-round
• Tributary - Chilko River: No Fishing November 1 - June 10

3.4. New Measures under “Do Not List” and “List” Scenarios

4.0 RECREATIONAL SALMON FISHERIES

4.1. Currently Implemented Measures

All recreational salmon fishing requires Steelhead non-retention and single barbless hooks. Particular areas relevant to Thompson and Chilcotin Steelhead are subject to the following restrictions:

1. Chilcotin Watershed: closed, except for an opening in July and August in specific zones
2. Thompson River (downstream of Kamloops Lake): closed January 1 – December 31, unless opened by Variation Order (typically in August); bait ban / selective gear during Interior Fraser Coho window closure^{Footnote 3}
3. Bonaparte, Coldwater, Nicola, and Deadman rivers: closed January 1 to December 31
4. Fraser River mainstem (downstream of Thompson confluence): closed January 1 – December 31, unless opened by Variation Order; bait ban / selective gear during Interior Fraser Coho window closure ^{Footnote 4}

4.2. New Measures under “Do Not List” and “List” Scenarios

5.0 COMMERCIAL SALMON FISHERIES

5.1. Currently Implemented Measures

Commercial salmon fisheries potentially intercepting Steelhead exist in the Lower Fraser River, Strait of Georgia, Juan de Fuca Strait, Johnstone Strait, and West Coast Vancouver Island (including Nitinat); a Sockeye and Pink Salmon demo fishery also exists in the Chilko River. Various gears are employed in different areas including seine, gillnet, and troll, for which the following measures apply:

1. All of these fisheries require Steelhead non-retention, and the majority require revival boxes and various types of gear restrictions
2. The majority of seine fisheries require brailing and sorting
3. Localized area closures exist in the Johnstone Strait, Strait of Georgia, and West Coast Vancouver Island (Nitinat Area)
4. Delayed/limited openings occur in the Lower Fraser and Nitinat areas
5. Gillnetting in the Strait of Georgia and Nitinat areas, and seining in the Johnstone Strait are restricted to daylight only
6. Gillnetting in the Lower Fraser and Johnstone Strait require short soak times
7. Individual Transferable Quota and/or Individual Transferable Effort management is employed in the Johnstone Strait seine and troll
8. Reduced area and effort limitation in the Nitinat area
9. Limited observer coverage in the Johnstone Strait gillnet fishery
10. Chilko River (Sockeye & Pink Demo Fishery; completed before Steelhead are present):
    • Selective gear only
    • Mandatory release of all non-target species

5.2. New Measures under “Do Not List” and “List” Scenarios

6.0 Food, Social, and Ceremonial (FSC) FISHERIES

6.1. Currently Implemented Measures

Steelhead FSC fisheries exist in the Thompson and Chilcotin watersheds, and Steelhead are potentially also caught in FSC fisheries for species other than salmon (not under federal or provincial licence). Steelhead are incidentally caught in FSC Salmon fisheries, for which the following measures apply:

Chilcotin Watershed

• Virtually no salmon FSC fishing outside of August – September (fisheries are completed before Steelhead are present)

Thompson Watershed

• Steelhead non-retention
• Gillnet fisheries closed during Interior Fraser Coho window closure;^{Footnote 6} FSC fisheries during closure are selective gear only

Fraser River (mainstem downstream of Chilcotin River confluence)

• Steelhead non-retention
• Gillnet fisheries closed during Interior Fraser Coho window closure;^{Footnote 7} FSC fisheries during closure are selective gear only

Marine waters

• Steelhead retention not specifically authorized by Communal Licence
• The following is required for seining:
  • revival boxes
  • brailing and sorting where non retention of salmon species (and Steelhead) is required
  • West Coast Vancouver Island: amended Harvest Document (Maa-nulth) or Supplemental Licence (non-Treaty Nations)

6.2. New Measures under “Do Not List” and “List” Scenarios

Appendix A: List Scenario 60-Day Rolling Window Closure Details

Appendix B: Do Not List Scenario – Salmon Management Measures