Salmon: Wild Pacific B.C.

Sockeye (Red, Blueback salmon), Chinook (King, Spring salmon), Chum (Dog salmon), Coho (Silver salmon), Pink (Humpback salmon)

Sake

2010 Synopsis

Forecasted returns for B.C. salmon in 2010 are low across much of the province, with very few strong returns expected and serious concerns remaining for many populations, particularly coho, sockeye, chum and chinook. Salmon returns in 2009 were lower than expected for many stocks, particularly Fraser River sockeye salmon that had one of their poorest overall returns on record.

Wild Pacific salmon are available for purchase as fresh or processed product. Pacific salmon products available in Canada may be from other countries, such as the United
States or Russia.

2010 Better Alternatives

Sockeye Salmon – Skeena River – beach seine, dip net, weir
Sockeye Salmon – Barkley Sound – seine
Pink Salmon – Skeena River – beach seine, dip net, weir

2010 Worse Alternatives

Sockeye Salmon – Fraser River – seine, troll, gill net
Coho Salmon – South Coast – troll
Chinook Salmon – South Coast – troll

Salmon have natural reproductive traits that imply a biological resilience to overfishing. They are relatively short-lived animals (two to five years on average) that release large numbers of eggs when spawning, indicating a high potential reproductive rate. Apart from populations in Alaska, the overall inherent vulnerability of Pacific salmon to overfishing is considered moderate because of the potential for negative interactions with anthropogenic activities in freshwater spawning sites(i.e., logging, dams, pollution, introduced species, hydroelectric facilities etc.).

Individual stocks and populations of Pacific salmon vary considerably year to year. The 2010 synopsis is as follows:

Sockeye: Of the 29 different sockeye management units in the 2010 fishing plan, 14 are identified as “low” or “stock of concern.” Two sockeye stocks (Sakinaw Lake and Cultus Lake) have been officially listed as endangered by a federal scientific body, but are not given legal protection under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA). Under the federal Pacific Wild Salmon Policy the current draft number of “conservation units” of sockeye salmon that the government has committed to protecting is 242, which is considerably more than the 29 management units considered in the fishing plan.

Pink Salmon: Of the nine different pink management units in the 2010 fishing plan, six are identified as “low” or “stock of concern” and three have insufficient data to assess. Pink salmon usually live for two years and the populations that return in odd years are separated from those that return in even years. Under the federal Pacific Wild Salmon Policy the current draft number of “conservation units” of even-year pink salmon that the government has committed to protecting is 13, which is higher than the nine management units considered in the fishing plan.

Chum Salmon: Of the 11 different chum management units in the 2010 fishing plan six are identified as “low” or “stock of concern.” Under the federal Pacific Wild Salmon Policy the current draft number of “conservation units” (CUs) of chum salmon that the government has committed to protecting is 38, which is more than the 11 management units considered in the fishing plan. These 38 CUs include over 1200 separate chum spawning systems.

Coho Salmon: Of the 19 different coho management units in the 2010 fishing plan, 11 are identified as “low” or “stock of concern” and six have insufficient data. One coho stock (Interior Fraser) has been officially listed as endangered by a federal scientific body, but is not given legal protection under SARA. Under the federal Pacific Wild Salmon Policy the current draft number of “conservation units” of coho salmon that the government has committed to protecting is 43, which is more than the 19 management units considered in the fishing plan. These 43 CUs include over 1400 separate coho spawning systems.

Chinook salmon: Of the 25 different chinook management units in the 2010 fishing plan 19 are identified as “low” or “stock of concern.” One chinook stock (Okanagan) has been officially listed as endangered by a federal scientific body, but not given legal protection under SARA. Under the federal Pacific Wild Salmon Policy the current draft number of “conservation units” of chinook salmon that the government has committed to protecting is 68, which is more than the 24 management units considered in the fishing plan. These 68 CUs include over 500 separate chinook spawning systems.

The capture of birds and weak stocks of salmon along with stronger stocks are the main bycatch concern surrounding Pacific salmon fisheries in Canadian waters. There is a general management failure to take initiatives to control this problem. Consequently several smaller endangered stocks are at risk of further decline due to commercial fisheries. It is estimated that each year the salmon gillnet fishery captures approximately 12,000 seabirds based on extrapolations from observed test fisheries. The most commonly caught bird species are common murres, rhinoceros auklets, and marbled murrelets. Less than 5% of the birds caught are returned alive.The marbled murrelet is a ‘threatened’ species under the federal Species At Risk Act.

Salmon are caught commercially by seine (~50%), gillnet (~25%) and trolling (~25%). These gears operate in mid-water, so habitat damage from fishing practices is considered minimal. Spawning Pacific salmon provide far ranging ecosystem values resulting from the transfer of nutrients to marine and terrestrial plants and animals. Salmon fisheries management has not yet accounted for the broader ecosystem values of salmon. Many freshwater habitats have been degraded or lost through forestry, agriculture, or development which, when combined with narrow geographic areas for unique stocks, is cause for concern.

Commercial salmon fisheries are managed using restricted area, gear, and time openings. Harvest is generally regulated to manage impacts to stock aggregates. Enforcement and in-season management adjustments are used to ensure different management measures are met. However, many of these management measures do not yet protect weak stocks or consider the ecosystem role of returning salmon to other organisms. The recreational fishery for salmon is substantial in many areas and is inadequately monitored. Although Fisheries and Oceans Canada has a “Wild Salmon Policy” intended to protect salmon diversity and support ecosystem values, it has not yet been effectively implemented. Maintaining genetic diversity is considered necessary to allow salmon to adapt to predicted environmental changes associated with climate change (e.g., increased stream temperatures). Intensive fisheries present an unknown threat to this diversity.

Is this wild or farmed salmon?

Was this salmon harvested legally?

What salmon species is this?

What river/run did this salmon come from?

No health advisory at this time

Yes. A portion of the BC sockeye salmon (Onchorhyncus nerka) fishery was certified by the MSC in July 2010.

The Skeena, Nass, Barkley Sound, and Fraser River watershed sockeye salmon fall under this certification. Gear includes seine, gillnet, troll, beach seine, fish wheels, weirs and dip nets.

BC Pink Salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) was certified by the MSC in July 2011. The certification covers North and Central Coast inside fisheries, West Coast Vancouver Island, and Fraser river fisheries using seine, troll, and gillnet gears.