NISGA'A FISHERIES PROGRAMNISGA'A FISHERIES PROGRAM 20092009The Nisga’a Approach to Salmon ManagementThe Nisga’a Approach to Salmon Management

DFO – POST SEASON REVIEW MEETINGDFO – POST SEASON REVIEW MEETING4 DECEMBER 20094 DECEMBER 2009

Healthy Stocks and Sustainable Fisheries !Healthy Stocks and Sustainable Fisheries !

Nisga’a Fisheries Program 1992-2009Nisga’a Fisheries Program 1992-200918th year of program18th year of program

Hands on Stock Assessment

Team Work Leadership

Dedication

CURRENT CORE PROGRAM CURRENT CORE PROGRAM PRIORITY ACTIVITIESPRIORITY ACTIVITIES

Monitoring of Nass Monitoring of Nass salmon escapementsalmon escapement

Monitoring of harvests Monitoring of harvests in Nisga’a fisheriesin Nisga’a fisheries

Determination of factors Determination of factors limiting the production limiting the production of Nass salmon and of Nass salmon and non-salmon speciesnon-salmon species

Nisga’a capacity Nisga’a capacity building (training)building (training)

Project activities - 2009Project activities - 2009 Assessment Programs:

Fishwheel & Meziadin Program (NLG Funded)

Gingit Creek Sockeye AUC Surveys (DFO)

Damdochax Creek Sockeye Enumeration (DFO)

Kwinageese River Sockeye Enumeration (NLG Funded)

Upper Nass Chinook Escapement Surveys (DFO Funded)

Upper Nass Chinook Sentinel Program –Biometrics & Kwinageese Weir (PSC Funded)

Lower Nass Coho AUC Surveys (NLG Funded)

Kincolith Chinook Mark-recapture – (SEP Funded)

Lower Nass Chum DNA and habitat monitoring (NLG Funded)

Catch Monitoring:

Salmon Catch (NLG Funded)

Sale Fishery Marine Patrols (NLG Funded)

Abalone Patrols (Habitat Stewardship Protection Program)

Eulachon Catch (NLG Funded)

Kincolith River Sport Catch Monitoring (NLG Funded)

Training:

MED3 & SVOP Training (NLG Funded)

Habitat Programs & Other:

Kincolith Hatchery Revitalization Project (SEP)

Biotoxicity Program (DFO Funded)Food fish and IS sale permittingMarine Conservation Youth Program (HSP Funded)

Management& Technical advisorsHarry Nyce Sr.Cheryl StephensBlair StewartRichard AlexanderBob BockingMegan MatthewsRichard BussanichStephen Kingshott

AdministrationTanya ClaytonTerry Morven Reggie RobinsonBen MunroeKris StewartApril AngusNiva PercivalNLG Finance Dept.

Catch MonitoringNicole Morven – dataBen Gonu SrStephanie AzakBrenden McKayCharlie Max LincolnEve Leeson

Upper Nass Chinook SurveysTim AngusBrian AdamsLeonard Squires

FishwheelsTim AngusBarry Stevens Ben Gonu Jr. Kirby GunoShawn DucharmeSimon GunoLeonard SquiresIsaac GunoBen MunroeBrian AdamsNiva PercivalAndrew NyceBertram McKaySimon HaldaneRod GriffinGary GonuMartin McKayRebecca McMillanBen Gonu Sr.

Wildlife & Marine Mammal StudiesNicole MorvenBen Gonu Jr (Grizzly)Isaac Guno (Grizzly)

Lower Nass Coho StudiesTim AngusBen Gonu Jr.Andrew NyceBrian AdamsGary Gonu

Sockeye StudiesKirby GunoBrian AdamsBen MunroeAndrew NyceTim AngusWade Kennedy (Meziadin)

Kwinageese WeirApril AngusLeonard SquiresSimon HaldaneAndrew NyceReggie RobinsonTerry MorvenBen MunroeDean Miller

Kincolith HatcheryRaymond StewartCharlie Max LincolnGeorge StevensApril Angus Leonard SquiresTerry Morven

Marine Patrol & Biotoxin StudiesAlfred McKayWilliam McKayMax Lincoln

Abalone/EulachonNicole MorvenBertram McKayRebecca McMillan

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF STAFF

NISGA’A FISHWHEEL PROGRAM

GITWINKSIHLKW FISHWHEELS – FW 1 & 2

Nass Fishwheel Salmon Catches 2009Nass Fishwheel Salmon Catches 2009

Numbers of each species of salmon caught and tagged at six fishwheels on the Nass River, 1 June to 12 September 2009.

Chinook Sockeye Coho Steelhead Pink ChumLocation Catch Catch Catch Catch Tagged or Catch Catch

FW Adults a Jacks Tagged Adults a Jacks Tagged Adults a Jacks Tagged Adults a punched Adults Adults

Gitwinksihlkw (GW)1 340 29 309 4,888 795 3,209 3,166 63 2,557 52 49 11,453 252 993 89 904 10,498 1,576 7,184 3,182 86 2,502 410 393 12,551 49

sub-total 1,333 118 1,213 15,386 2,371 10,393 6,348 149 5,059 462 442 24,004 74

Grease Harbour (GH)3 1,519 151 0 6,518 1,183 0 1,339 82 0 104 97 3,436 104 185 40 0 4,229 1,618 0 2,719 106 0 120 111 3,309 45 2,439 162 0 10,796 2,903 0 6,534 233 0 521 507 8,179 176 1,660 147 0 6,497 2,079 0 3,330 129 0 481 460 3,192 3

sub-total 5,803 500 0 28,040 7,783 0 13,922 550 0 1,226 1,175 18,116 34

Grand Total 7,136 618 1,213 43,426 10,154 10,393 20,270 699 5,059 1,688 1,617 42,120 108

Nass Fishwheel Salmon Catches – 1992 to 2009Nass Fishwheel Salmon Catches – 1992 to 2009NISGA'A FISHWHEEL PROGRAM - 2009

Chinook FW Catch

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Num

ber

HarvestUntaggedTagged

Sockeye FW Catch

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Num

ber

HarvestUntaggedTagged

Coho FW Catch

02,0004,0006,0008,000

10,00012,00014,00016,00018,00020,00022,00024,000

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Num

ber

HarvestUntaggedTagged

Steelhead FW Catch

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Num

ber

Untagged

Tagged

Pink FW Catch

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,00019

9219

9319

9419

9519

9619

9719

9819

9920

0020

0120

0220

0320

0420

0520

0620

0720

0820

09

Num

ber

Harvest

Untagged

Chum FW Catch

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Num

ber

RecapsUntaggedPunched

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Num

ber

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Num

ber

Coho Jack Catch - 389

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Num

ber

Nass River Sockeye Test Fishery Annual Error using Historical Catch Indices & Mark-recapture Techniques at

Gitwinksilkw Fishwheels - 1994-2009

-60.0%

-40.0%

-20.0%

0.0%

20.0%

40.0%

60.0%

80.0%

100.0%

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

% E

rror

Sockeye Chinook Coho280,161 31,781 227,951

In-season estimate to GW fishwheels 259,981 23,879 166,277% Difference of in-season to post-season -7% -25% -27%

Net Escapement Estimate Above Gitwinksihlkw 243,826 28,038 215,898

Post- Season EstimateRun size estimate to Gitwinksilkw (GW) fishwheels

2009:

SUMMARY OF NISGA’A FISHERIES SALMON ASSESSMENT DATA:

2009

Area SummerSystem Method Sockeye Chinook Coho Chum Pink SteelheadMeziadin Fishway count 168,404 339 5,430 0 0 18Kwinageese Weir count 105 910 62 0 0 35Kwinageese NF survey 100 764 58Tseax NF survey 12 296Gingit AUC Estimate 9,314Zolzap NF surveys 2070Ansedegan NF surveys 1180Ginlulak NF surveys 880Diskangieq NF surveys 5300Ksedin NF survey 51 2,989

Meziadin FishwayMeziadin Fishway

MEZIADIN ADULT SOCKEYE RETURN 2009 – 166,847 MEZIADIN ADULT SOCKEYE RETURN 2009 – 166,847 (Escapement goal – 160,000)(Escapement goal – 160,000)

0

40,000

80,000

120,000

160,000

200,000

240,000

280,000

320,000

360,000

400,000

440,000

480,000

520,000

560,000

600,000

640,00019

8519

8619

8719

8819

8919

9019

9119

9219

9319

9419

9519

9619

9719

9819

9920

0020

0120

0220

0320

0420

0520

0620

0720

0820

09

Non-Meziadin Sockeye Research –

Gingit Creek

Nass Sockeye Escapement - Gingit and Non-Meziadin2000-2007

01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,0009,000

10,000

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

Gin

git E

scap

emen

t

-

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000N

on-M

ezia

din

Esc

apem

ent

Gingit Sockeye

Non-Meziadin Sockeye

Nass Sockeye Escapement - Kwinageese and Non-Meziadin1992 to 2009

02,0004,0006,0008,000

10,00012,00014,00016,00018,000

92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Kw

inag

eese

Esc

apem

ent

-

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

Non

-Mez

iadi

n E

scap

emen

t

Kwinageese Sockeye

Non-Meziadin Sockeye

NON-MEZIADIN AGGREGATE ADULT SOCKEYE RETURN 2009 - 75,422

(Preliminary escapement goal – 40,000)(Preliminary escapement goal – 40,000)

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

100,000

110,000

120,000

130,000

140,000

150,000

160,00019

8519

8619

8719

8819

8919

9019

9119

9219

9319

9419

9519

9619

9719

9819

9920

0020

0120

0220

0320

0420

0520

0620

0720

0820

09

Nass Sockeye Total Stock Nass Sockeye Total Stock SizeSize

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

2200

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Tho

usan

ds o

f fis

h

Alaska MarineBC MarineIn-River CatchEscapement (target=200,000)

--------------------- NISGA'A FISHERIES PROGRAM ----------------------

Preliminary Alaska & Marine

catches & esc.

Nass Sockeye Forecasting – Age Predictions Nass Sockeye Forecasting – Age Predictions

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

95 96 97 98 99 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Jacks

Age 42Age 52

High forecast of 4 year

olds

Nass Sockeye Forecasting – TRTC Return Nass Sockeye Forecasting – TRTC Return PredictionsPredictions

0100,000200,000300,000400,000500,000600,000700,000800,000900,000

1,000,0001,100,0001,200,0001,300,0001,400,000

95 96 97 98 99 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Predicted TRTCActual TRTC

2010:865,000 Total

Run665,000 TRTC

NASS CHINOOK SENTINEL STOCK ASSESSMENT PROGRAM 2009

KWINAGEESE WEIR - 2009

PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS OF NASS PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS OF NASS CHINOOK STUDY:CHINOOK STUDY:

Population EstimatesPopulation Estimates1.1. Achieved a CV of 13% for the MR Achieved a CV of 13% for the MR

estimate, all sizes pooled;estimate, all sizes pooled;2.2. CV of 15% was partially achieved for CV of 15% was partially achieved for

size-stratified estimates:size-stratified estimates: 14% for larges14% for larges 35% for mediums (but R = 6)35% for mediums (but R = 6)

3.3. Pooled and stratified estimates were Pooled and stratified estimates were virtually identical (27,332 and 27,972) virtually identical (27,332 and 27,972) with mediums accounting for 28% of with mediums accounting for 28% of populationpopulation

Nass Chinook Total Return to Nass Chinook Total Return to CanadaCanada

05,000

10,00015,000

20,00025,00030,00035,000

40,000

45,00050,000

55,000

60,000

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Ret

urn

to N

ass

Riv

er

Other Canadian Catch

Nisga'a Catch

Net Escapement

Fishery Officer Estimates

[Escapement Goal = 15,000]

--------- Nisga’a Fisheries Program ----------

Nass Area Coho Total Return to Nass Area Coho Total Return to CanadaCanada

0255075

100125150175200225250275300325350375400425

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Tho

usan

ds o

f fis

h

Other Canadian CatchNisga'a CatchFishery Officer Escapement Escapement - Lower and Coastal Nass (target = 25,000)Escapement - Middle & Upper Nass (target = 60,000)

Coast-wide“crash” of coho

stocks

------------- Nisga’a Fisheries Program -------------

Nass Pink Total Return to CanadaNass Pink Total Return to Canada

0100200300400500600700800900

1,0001,1001,2001,3001,4001,5001,6001,7001,8001,900

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Tho

usan

ds

Other Canadian Catch

Nisga'a Catch

Net Escapement (target=225,000)

Nass Chum Total Return to CanadaNass Chum Total Return to Canada

020406080

100120140160180200220240260280300

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Tho

usan

ds

Other Canadian Catch

Nisga'a Catch

Escapement (target ~45,000)

In-season

Min Esc. Goal

30,000

Upper Nass Summer-run Steelhead ReturnUpper Nass Summer-run Steelhead Return

01,0002,0003,0004,0005,0006,0007,0008,0009,000

10,00011,00012,00013,00014,00015,00016,00017,00018,00019,00020,000

86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Ret

urns

to N

ass

Riv

er (a

bove

Gitw

inks

ihlk

w) Nisga'a Catch

Run Size

-Catch Index Estimates-(92-96)

--Tagging Study-- Estimates

(97-00)

Catch Index Estimates

(01-03)

Tagging Study

(04 & 07)

Catch Index

(05-06)

Catch Index

(08-09)

NO ESTIMATES

------------Nisga’a Fisheries Program ----------

Min. run size goal (4,000)

SUMMARY OF NISGA’A HARVESTS:2009

Estimates of Nisga'a harvests of salmon in 2009. Italic numbers are historical averages.

Area/Village Gear Sockeye Chinook Coho Pink Chum Steelhead

Gingolx gillnet 25,214 757 808 23,669 125 30angling 0 221 18 80 0 0

Lakalzap gillnet 5,047 413 445 190 1 38angling 0 20 30 10

Gitwinksihlkw gillnet 11,022 983 1,038 329 4 38angling 0 10 10 0fishwheel 0

Gitlakdamix gillnet 19,901 1,724 1,106 217 9 127angling 0 30 0 10fishwheel 8,262 1,031 10,340

Unmonitored harvest estimates 2 0 194 0 87 0 0

Total 1 69,446 5,383 13,795 24,572 139 253Total FSC 1 23,904 3,786 3,389 3,677 139 253Total Sales 1 45,542 1,597 10,406 20,895 0 0

1 Source of data from Nisga'a Fisheries Catch Monitoring Program (Nisga'a Fisheries 2010).2 Unmonitored catch correction for Chinook in the Lakalzap stratum when no boat surveys could be conducted and for Pink in the Gingolx stratum

during one of the individual-sale fisheries.

SUMMARY OF TRTC & NISGA’A ENTITLEMENT:

2009 (PRELIMINARY DATA)Sockeye Pink Chinook Coho Chum

Canadian CatchCanadian Commercial 89,748 96,030 1,590 24,812 7,729Nisga'a Harvest 69,446 24,572 5,383 13,795 139Gitanyow Harvest 8,172 0 148 327 0Sport - Saltwater 0 2,330 2,573Sport - Freshwater 0 1,000 510

Catch Total 167,366 120,602 10,451 42,017 7,868

EscapementUpper Nass River 234,512 26,694 204,270Middle & Lower Nass River 9,314 1,344 67,289Outside Nass River 0 1,624 78,848

Escapement Total 243,826 872,998 29,662 350,408 32,352

Total Return to Canada 411,192 993,599 40,113 392,425 40,220

Return to CanadaPre-Season Forecast 511,000 1,053,000 48,000 119,000 56,000Post-Season (Estimate) 411,192 993,599 40,113 392,425 40,220

Min. Escapement 100,000 150,000 10,000 40,000 30,000Escapement Goal 200,000 225,000 15,000 60,000 45,000

Nisga'a AllocationTreaty Entitlement 43,175 5,962 8,424 19,200 3,218Harvest Agreement 21,842 114,396Adjustment for Overharvesting6 0 0 0 0 0Total Allocation 65,017 120,357 8,424 19,200 3,218

050,000

100,000150,000200,000250,000300,000350,000400,000450,000500,000550,000600,000650,000700,000750,000800,000850,000900,000950,000

1,000,0001,050,000

Sockeye Pink

Tot

al A

lloca

tion

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

160,000

Chinook Coho Chum

Foregone CatchUnderageOverageNisga'a Harvest

Nisga’a Salmon Cumulative Allocation Nisga’a Salmon Cumulative Allocation SummarySummary ( (2000-2009)2000-2009)

(10.5 % & 13 %) (0.6 % & 15 %) (21 %) (8 %) (8 %)

Nisga’a FisheriesNisga’a Fisheries Conservation, Management,& Conservation, Management,& Outreach Program 2009: Outreach Program 2009:

Experiences, Sense of Place, Discovering TalentExperiences, Sense of Place, Discovering Talent

Summary of Summary of Accomplishments:Accomplishments:

18 years of successful programs conducted with public 18 years of successful programs conducted with public recognition for excellence in fisheries management recognition for excellence in fisheries management (Pacific (Pacific Fisheries Resource Conservation Council Brochure 2009)Fisheries Resource Conservation Council Brochure 2009);;

Protection of Nass fisheries stocks with accurate in-season Protection of Nass fisheries stocks with accurate in-season management, tracking of salmon runs both in Canada and management, tracking of salmon runs both in Canada and Alaska, and making all escapement goals in 2009;Alaska, and making all escapement goals in 2009;

Continued training and development of Nisga’a people in Continued training and development of Nisga’a people in technical and biologist positions;technical and biologist positions;

Developing sustainable fishery management practices Developing sustainable fishery management practices where conservation and food fish needs are priority over where conservation and food fish needs are priority over economic opportunities ; andeconomic opportunities ; and

Active participation in the stewardship of the Nass River Active participation in the stewardship of the Nass River watershed to protect fisheries & wildlife resources and watershed to protect fisheries & wildlife resources and habitat.habitat.