Print Version
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
August 01, 1997
Contact: Jeff Weathersby, (360) 902-2256
New fishing seasons expected to yield few fish
SEATTLE -- Because the largest component of the Fraser River sockeye run is
expected to migrate to its spawning grounds only in Canadian waters, American fish
managers today set commercial fisheries that begin tomorrow morning and continue
through Wednesday.
The American managers are scheduled to meet again Tuesday with members of
the Pacific Salmon Commission's technical staff and Canadian managers to obtain
updated information about the size and migration route of the so-called "summer"
sockeye run before making new fishing decisions.
Dennis Austin, who chairs the American section of the Fraser River Panel, noted
more than 75 percent of the summer component of the Fraser run is expected to
approach the river via Johnstone Strait east of Vancouver Island. Biologists anticipate
the run may have more than 15 million sockeye, of which 12 million can be harvested
by Americans and Canadians while still meeting Canada's spawning goals.
Austin explained the season was opened for non-Indian commercial fishing in
the San Juans and Point Roberts areas because the fleets need every opportunity they
can get since so few sockeye are expected to migrate through the Strait of Juan de
Fuca.
"This is a conservative fishery that may produce few sockeye. But we had to give
U.S. fishers some opportunity," Austin said. He noted that any sockeye caught by
American fishers are not needed to meet Canada's spawning goals.
The Indian and non-Indian managers today set the following non-Indian
schedule:
- Purse seiners: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow and Sunday
- Gillnetters: 7:10 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. Monday and Tuesday
- Reef netters: 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. tomorrow through Wednesday
Indian fishers will continue to fish in the Strait of Juan de Fuca through Aug. 10.
They began fishing July 27.
Reports indicate the small number of Indian fishers who have been fishing for
sockeye in the Strait of Juan de Fuca have caught few salmon.
Canadian managers in today's meeting confirmed conservative American fishing
seasons for earlier components of the Fraser River sockeye run -- the early Stuarts and
early summers -- helped them exceed their spawning goals.
|
