nSHERIES MANAGEMENT 39 



V) Evaluating the results of the programs to measure 

 their effectiveness and to provide improved informa- 

 tion on which future management programs can be 

 built. 



These five elements provide a framework for evaluat- 

 ing existing fisheries management programs and identify- 

 ing opportunities for improvements. The first of these is 

 dealt with in Chapter 6. There I explain the deficiencies 

 in the data required for analyzing stocks, particularly for 

 salmon where research in support of management has 

 recently deteriorated. Here I merely note that unless the 

 mformation base is adequate, the fishenes cannot be 

 effectively managed. The remainder of this chapter 

 assesses the provisions for the other elements of manage- 

 ment. 



LONG-TERM PLANNING 



Management, like other aspects of fisheries policy, 

 needs to be directed toward well-defined, long-term 

 objectives. Specific targets for fish production cannot 

 usually be specified with certainty, but it is important to 

 set them, nevertheless, in order to guide managers and 

 provide a context for designing short-term fishing plans. 

 And through expenence, the targets can be contmuously 

 reevalutated and adjusted. At present, the Department 

 lacks such explicit long-term objectives for most species, 

 and while the deficiency cannot be corrected immedi- 

 ately, it should be given high priority. Accordingly — 



\. The DcpartiiienI should fomiiilate and publish long- 

 term plans and objectives for managing each of the 

 major species and for ensuring the nM>st beneficial 

 utilization of the resources. TlK>se objectives sliould 

 include quantitative targets for prtxluction b> species 

 and management regioas. 



Salmon 



For salmon, because of their importance and complex- 

 ity, such long-term plans and objectives are especialK 

 urgent. Moreover, with the exception of the Salmonid 

 Enhancement Program di.scussed in Chapter 5, no long- 

 term objectives or strategies have been adopted for 

 salmon management. In the late 1970s, the Pacific region 

 established resource boards to plan and coordinate the 

 important Pacific coast fisheries; and I understand that 

 two years ago the Salmon Resource Board produced a set 

 of objectives for levels of salmon production to be 

 attained through improved fisheries management, habitat 

 protection and enhancement. But its report is still being 

 reviewed internally. A new attempt is being made by the 

 Department to pursue the board's initiative by develop- 

 ing a long-term salmon management plan. Thus, while 

 some effort has apparently been directed toward plan- 

 ning, no proposals have yet been adopted. 



The considerable opportumties for developing the 

 salmon fisheries call for long-term planning that encom- 

 passes and integrates all the activities associated with 

 salmon production and harvesting, including stock man- 

 agement, habitat protection and enhancement. Major 

 changes in fishenes organization and in management 

 approaches will be necessarv; and this will require the 

 involvement and cooperation of the fishing community 

 and the general public. To begin this process, the status 

 of stocks, the problems associated with managing the 

 salmon fisheries and options for future management 

 should be identified and explained in more specific detail 

 than has been possible in this report. This should be done 

 regardless of the government's response to this Commis- 

 sion's other recommendations. I therefore recommend — 



2. To provide the backgroimd information needed to for- 

 mulate long-term plaas for saluKHi. t\w DepartuK'nt 

 should prepare and publish within 12 niontlis a salmon 

 reMHirce analysis, documenting tlie condition of the 

 stocks. iIk' opportunities for developing them and an 

 outliiK' of tlie options for future management of the 

 sahiMHi fisheries. The docuuK'nt should include — 



i) An a.s.sessmcnt of the state of the salmon stocks 

 in as much detail as infoniuition allonv and an 

 appraisal of tlK' adequacy of this information. 



ii) A review of the problems arising from current 

 hshing patterns. 



ill) Alternative pn)posals for improving coasenation 

 through nKtdifving fishing and management prac- 

 tices. 



i>) A review of tlK> implications of enliancement 

 plans for effective fislieries manageuK'nt tech- 

 niques. 



The last of these arises from the problems as.sociated 

 with salmonid enhancement reviewed in the next chapter. 



This resource analysis will provide the basis for 

 informed consultation with the Pacific Fishenes Council 

 (proposed in Chapter 17) and others with a view toward 

 designing a long-term salmon management plan. Thus — 



3. By 1985. in anticipation of the regional reorganization 

 of the conunercial salmon fleet (reconuiiended in 

 Qiapter 9). the Department sliould formulate and 

 publish a long-term plan for salmon fisheries manage- 

 ment. This plan should contain quantitative targets for 

 salmon production by species and management 

 regioas based on full utilization of the existing produc- 

 tive capacitv of the natural habitat and enhancement 

 opportunities. 



Preparation of these documents should, of course, take 

 advantage of the preparatory work already undertaken 

 b\ the Salmon Resource Board. 



