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In the SEAK and northern B.C. fisheries, impacts on the early run Skeena River coho 

 (Canadian-origin) have been of particular concern. For the past five years, Canadian 

 conservation actions have not been effective in achieving increased escapement to the 

 Upper Skeena River (DFO, 1994b). Escapement levels for this stock were at record 

 lows in 1992 and 1993. Since approximately half of the ocean catch of early Skeena 

 River stock is taken by Alaskan fisheries, Canada has voiced the need for Alaska to 

 restrict their harvest (DFO, 1994a). 



Increased production of Skeena sockeye through enhancement projects has also 

 increased pressure to harvest that stock. However, harvest rates which reflect the 

 productivity of the sockeye run would further impact the Skeena coho run, which is 

 bycaught in the fishery. While enhancement activities directed at Skeena River 

 sockeye stocks have resulted in record high returns, concerns for the depressed coho 

 and steelhead populations (and to a lesser extent, weak sockeye stocks) in the Skeena 

 have constrained the sockeye harvest (Dragseth, pers. comm.). As a result, Skeena 

 sockeye escapement in 1993 was nearly 1 million fish in excess of the escapement 

 goal. For 1994, Canada has implemented additional conservation measures for the 

 Skeena coho. This includes troll fishery closures in selected areas, harvest rate 

 management in terminal gillnet fisheries, and reduced recreational bag limits. 



* In order to meet escapement goals for the weak coho stock, controls on 

 Canadian coastal and terminal areas fisheries are also possible. In coastal areas, 

 Skeena River coho are widely distributed and intermixed with sockeye salmon 

 from the same river. Nevertheless, there is a slight separation in the peak run 

 timing between the two runs; Skeena sockeye peak about two weeks before 

 Skeena coho. Hence, more precise targeting on the stronger sockeye stock 

 (resulting in less bycatch of the weak coho stock) may be possible. 



* EDF recommends the establishment of an abundance-based TAG for Skeena 

 sockeye, allocated as percentage shares according to a negotiated initial allocation 

 formula. As Skeena early run coho abundance continues to constrain harvest 

 opportunities for Skeena sockeye in terminal fisheries, harvest quotas for sockeye 

 could be traded, leased, or sold to other fisheries, where the bycatch of sensitive 

 coho stocks is minimal (e.g. the Noyes Island seine fishery in Southeast Alaska). 



West Coast of Vancouver Island 



As negotiated, the West Coast of Vancouver Island (WCVI) commercial troll harvest is 

 limited to an annual ceiling of 1.8 million coho. The contribution of U.S. -origin coho 

 to this fishery is significant. Over the years, the contribution of U.S. -origin coho to 

 this fishery has been as high as 80% (CTC, 1994). In recent years, this figure has 

 declined towards 50% as a result of declining abundance in Puget Sound and 



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