Transboundary Rivers. The provisions of this Chapter shall apply for the period 2009 through 2018. 1. Recognizing the desirability of accurately determining exploitation rates and spawning escapement requirements of salmon originating in the Transboundary Rivers, the Parties shall maintain a joint Transboundary Technical Committee (the “Committee”) reporting, unless otherwise agreed, to the Transboundary Panel and to the Commission. The Committee shall, inter alia: (a) assemble and refine available information on migratory patterns, extent of exploitation and spawning escapement requirements of the stocks; (b) examine past and current management regimes and recommend how they may be better suited to achieving escapement goals; (c) identify existing and/or future enhancement projects that: (i) assist the devising of harvest management strategies to increase benefits to fishermen with a view to permitting additional salmon to return to Canadian waters; (ii) have an impact on natural transboundary river salmon production. 2. The Parties shall improve procedures for coordinated or cooperative management of the fisheries on transboundary river stocks. To this end, the Parties affirm their intent to continue to implement and refine abundance-based management regimes for Transboundary Chinook in the Taku and Stikine Rivers, sockeye in the Taku and Stikine Rivers, and coho salmon in the Taku River. Further, the Parties affirm their intent to continue to fully develop and implement abundance-based management regimes for Chinook and sockeye in the Alsek River and coho in the Stikine River during the Chapter period. 3. Recognizing the objectives of each Party to have viable fisheries, the Parties agree that the following arrangements shall apply to the United States and Canadian fisheries harvesting salmon stocks originating in the Canadian portion of: (a) the Stikine River:
Appears in 1 contract
Sources: Agreement Amending Annex Iv of the Treaty Concerning Pacific Salmon
Transboundary Rivers. The provisions of this This Chapter shall apply to the period from 2019 through 2028 (“Chapter Period”). Subject to the availability of funds, the United States (U.S.) shall make $2.4 million dollars available on an annual basis to U.S. management agencies for the period 2009 through 2018specific purposes identified in this Chapter. Every year, Canada is responsible for adequately resourcing implementation of its responsibilities as specified in this Chapter within this Chapter Period.
1. Recognizing the desirability of accurately determining exploitation rates and spawning escapement requirements of salmon originating in the Transboundary RiversCanadian portions of transboundary rivers, the Parties shall maintain a joint Transboundary Technical Committee (the “Committee”) reportingthat is composed of their respective representatives. The Committee shall report, unless the Parties otherwise agreeddecide, to the Transboundary Panel (the “Panel”) and to the Commission. The Committee shall operate in a bilateral manner and provide all reports and recommendations to the Panel and to the Commission. If the Committee is unable to reach a decision, it shall refer the matter to the Panel or Commission, with supporting information, for decision. The Committee shall, inter alia:
(a) assemble and refine available information on migratory patterns, extent of exploitation exploitation, and spawning escapement requirements of the stocks. It is paramount that the Parties are transparent and share available information;
(b) examine past and current management regimes and recommend how they may be better suited to achieving escapement goals;
(c) identify existing and/or and future enhancement projects that:
(i) assist the devising of harvest management strategies to increase benefits to fishermen with a view to permitting additional salmon to return to Canadian waters;,
(ii) have an impact on natural transboundary river rivers salmon production;
(d) review, develop, design, implement, report on, and explore expanded joint U.S. / Canada salmon assessment programs for Stikine, Taku, and Alsek River salmon stocks;
(e) work cooperatively and share available information in order to develop bilaterally agreed-to in-season salmon abundance estimates based on the best available information;
(f) provide the Panel by February 1 of each year for Canadian-origin Stikine, Taku, and Alsek River salmon stocks the following information:
(i) number of salmon harvested in U.S. and Canadian fisheries in the preceding season,
(ii) estimated spawning escapement for the preceding season,
(iii) post-season run reconstruction for the preceding season,
(iv) pre-season forecasts of abundance for the upcoming season,
(v) assessment programs to determine in-season run abundance or escapement estimates for the upcoming season;
(g) ensure that an exchange of information required to complete post-season run reconstruction of transboundary salmon stocks occurs by December 1 of each year;
(h) complete joint stock assessment and fishery management plans by April 15 of each year that include a list of escapement objectives bilaterally approved by the Parties for Canadian-origin salmon stocks in the Stikine, Taku, and Alsek Rivers.
2. The Parties shall intend to improve procedures for coordinated or and cooperative management of the fisheries on transboundary river stocksmanagement. To this end, the Parties affirm their intent to continue to implement and refine abundance-abundance- based management regimes for Transboundary Chinook salmon in the Taku and Stikine Rivers, sockeye salmon in the Taku and Stikine Rivers, and coho salmon in the Taku River. Further, the Parties affirm their intent to continue to fully develop and implement abundance-based management regimes for Chinook and sockeye salmon in the Alsek River and coho salmon in the Stikine River during River. Both Parties shall take the Chapter periodappropriate management actions to ensure that the necessary escapement objectives defined in the annual management plan are achieved.
(a) To determine in-season abundance of salmon stocks, assessment fisheries may be implemented as a component of any bilateral U.S. / Canada assessment program. The Parties shall complete the accounting of the harvest in assessment fisheries as follows:
(i) Any expected salmon mortality shall be accounted for prior to the determination of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for assessment fisheries undertaken as recommended by the Committee and endorsed by
(ii) Any salmon mortality of target species shall not count towards either Parties’ Allowable Catch (AC) for assessment fisheries undertaken as recommended by the Committee and endorsed by the Panel,
(iii) The non-target species of salmon captured and retained shall not be included in determination of TAC or either Parties AC for assessment fisheries undertaken as recommended by the Committee and endorsed by the Panel,
(iv) Salmon captured and retained in an assessment fishery undertaken in absence of a recommendation from the Committee and endorsement from the Panel shall be considered as directed harvest and count towards a Party’s AC.
3. Recognizing the objectives of each Party to have viable fisheries, the Parties agree that the following arrangements shall apply to the United States U.S. and Canadian fisheries harvesting salmon stocks originating in the Canadian portion of:
(a) the Stikine River:
(i) Sockeye Salmon: the following provisions apply to U.S. in-river, subsistence, and District 106 and 108 drift gillnet fisheries, and Canadian in-river fisheries:
(A) The Parties shall assess the annual run of Stikine River sockeye salmon as follows:
(i) the Committee shall produce a pre-season forecast of the Stikine River sockeye salmon run prior to February 1 of each year. The Committee may modify this forecast prior to the opening of the fishing season;
(ii) in-season estimates of the Stikine River sockeye salmon run and the TAC shall be made under the guidelines of the annual management plan, using a forecast model developed by the Committee. Both U.S. and Canadian fishing patterns shall be based on current weekly estimates of the TAC. At the beginning of the season and up to an approved date, the weekly estimates of the TAC shall be determined from the pre-season forecast of the run strength. After that date, the TAC shall be determined from the in-season forecast model;
(iii) modifications to the annual management plan and forecast model may be made prior to June 1 of each year upon approval of the Parties. If the Parties are unable to approve modifications, the model and parameters applied the previous year shall be used;
(iv) estimates of the TAC may be adjusted in-season only by concurrence of both Parties’ respective managers. Reasons for the adjustments shall be provided to the Committee.
(B) The Parties desire to maximize the harvest of Tahltan Lake, Tuya Lake and other enhanced sockeye salmon in their existing fisheries, while considering the conservation needs of wild salmon runs. The Parties shall manage the returns of Stikine River sockeye salmon to ensure that each country obtains 50% of the TAC in their existing fisheries. Canada shall endeavour to harvest all of the fish surplus to escapement objectives and broodstock needs returning to the Stikine River as defined in the annual management plan.
(C) The Parties shall continue to develop and implement joint enhancement programs:
(i) The Committee shall prepare an annual Stikine Enhancement Production Plan (SEPP), designed to produce 100,000 returning sockeye salmon per year by February 1. The SEPP shall summarize planned projects for the coming year and expected production of identifiable enhanced sockeye salmon from all planned enhancement activities, including expected production from site specific egg takes and fry releases, access improvements, and all other enhancement activities outlined in the annual SEPP. The Committee shall use these data to prepare an enhancement production forecast based on the best available information.
(ii) The Panel shall review the annual SEPP and make recommendations to the Parties concerning the SEPP by February 28.
(iii) The Committee shall annually review and document joint enhancement projects and activities undertaken by the Parties, including returns, and present the results to the Panel during the annual post-season review.
(iv) The Parties’ performance relative to a SEPP shall be evaluated by the Panel two years after adoption of that SEPP.
(v) An annual SEPP becomes final upon the Panel’s approval two years after its initial adoption.
(vi) The Parties affirm their intent to renew or develop new enhancement projects (comparable to the Tuya Lake enhancement project) in the Stikine River drainage, as identified in the SEPP, designed to annually produce 100,000 returning sockeye salmon by 2024.
(vii) Harvest shares shall be 53% U.S. / 47% Canada from 2019 through 2023. If the final 2017 or 2018 SEPP provides an expected production of 100,000 returning sockeye salmon, the harvest shares shall be 50% U.S. / 50% Canada in 2022 or 2023.
(viii) Beginning with the final 2019 SEPP and subsequent years, if expected production is 100,000 returning sockeye salmon, the harvest shares three years later shall be 50% U.S. / 50% Canada. Otherwise, the harvest share for the Party that failed to implement enhancement projects designed to annually produce 100,000 returning sockeye salmon shall be reduced by 7.5% and reallocated to the other Party.
(ix) If either Party fully terminates or does not continue its participation in the joint enhancement program, that Party’s harvest share shall be reduced to 35%, and the harvest share adjustment shall be reallocated to the other Party for the subsequent fishing season(s).
(D) Harvest of sockeye salmon in the Stikine River U.S. subsistence fishery shall be managed as a component of the U.S. directed fishery for Stikine River sockeye salmon. All sockeye salmon harvested in the U.S. Stikine River subsistence fishery shall count towards the U.S. AC.
(ii) Coho salmon: the following provisions apply to U.S. in-river, subsistence, and Districts 106 and 108 drift gillnet fisheries, and Canadian in-river fisheries:
(A) The Parties shall develop and implement an abundance-based approach to managing coho salmon on the Stikine River. Assessment programs need to be further developed before a biologically based escapement goal can be established. By 2024, the Parties shall review the progress on this obligation.
(B) In the interim, the U.S. management intent is to ensure that sufficient coho salmon enter the Canadian section of the Stikine River to meet the agreed spawning objective, plus an annual Canadian catch of 5,000 coho salmon in a directed coho salmon fishery.
(i) The catch limit of 5,000 coho salmon for the Canadian fishery in the Stikine River may be exceeded provided that in-season run assessments indicate that salmon passage into Canada exceeds or is projected to exceed the specified 5,000 fish Canadian harvest limit plus the agreed spawning objective.
(C) Harvest of coho salmon in the Stikine River U.S. subsistence fishery shall be managed as a component of the U.S. directed fishery for Stikine River coho salmon. All coho salmon harvested in the U.S. Stikine River subsistence fishery shall count towards the U.S. AC.
(iii) Chinook salmon: the following provisions apply to Chinook salmon that originate from the Canadian portion of the Stikine River (“Stikine River Chinook”) with a mid-eye to fork length of 660 mm or greater (“large”):
(A) Both Parties shall take the appropriate management actions to ensure that the escapement objectives for Chinook salmon bound for the Canadian portion of the Stikine River are achieved. The Parties agree to share the responsibility for conservation. Fishing arrangements must take biodiversity and eco-system requirements into account.
(B) Consistent with paragraph 2, management of directed fisheries shall be abundance-based through an approach developed by the Committee. The Parties shall implement assessment programs in support of the abundance-based management regime.
(C) Unless otherwise approved by the Parties, directed fisheries on Stikine River Chinook salmon shall occur only in the Stikine River drainage in Canada and in District 108 in the U.S.
(D) Harvest of Chinook salmon in the Stikine River U.S. subsistence fishery shall be managed as a component of the U.S. directed fishery for Stikine River Chinook salmon. All Chinook salmon harvested in the U.S. Stikine River subsistence fishery shall count towards the U.S. AC.
(E) Management of Stikine River Chinook salmon shall take into account the conservation of specific stocks or conservation units when planning and prosecuting the Parties’ respective fisheries. To avoid over-harvesting of specific components of the run, the Committee shall develop weekly harvest guidelines or other management measures by apportioning the allowable harvest of each Party over the Chinook salmon run based on historical weekly run timing.
(F) The Parties reaffirm their interest in continued monitoring of Little Tahltan River Chinook salmon to investigate factors that may be influencing productivity and long-term health.
(G) The Parties shall implement, through the Committee, a Chinook salmon genetic stock identification (GSI) program approved by the Parties to assist the management of Stikine River Chinook salmon. The Parties agree to continue the development of joint GSI baselines.
(H) The Parties shall periodically review the above-border Stikine River Chinook salmon spawning escapement goal that is expressed in terms of large fish.
(I) The Committee shall produce a pre-season forecast of the Stikine River Chinook salmon terminal run3 size by December 1 of each year.
(J) Directed fisheries may be implemented based on pre-season forecasts only if the pre-season forecast terminal run size equals or exceeds the spawning objective as defined in the annual management plan in addition to the combined Canada and U.S. base level catches (BLCs) and assessment fishery catches of Stikine River Chinook salmon. The pre-season forecast shall only be used for management until bilaterally approved in-season projections become available.
(K) For the purposes of determining whether to allow directed fisheries using in-season information, such fisheries shall not be implemented unless the projected terminal run size exceeds the spawning objective as defined in the annual management plan in addition to the combined Canada and U.S. BLCs and assessment fishery catches of Stikine River Chinook salmon. The Committee shall determine when in-season projections can be used for management purposes and establish the methodology for in-season projections and update them weekly or at other approved intervals.
(L) The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for directed fisheries shall be calculated as follows:
(i) Base Terminal Run (BTR) = Spawning Objective +Assessment Fishery + U.S. BLC + Canadian BLC;
(ii) Terminal Run – BTR = TAC.
(M) Definitions include the following:
(i) U.S. BLC: 3,400 large Chinook salmon4; 3 Terminal run = total Stikine Chinook run size minus the U.S. troll catch of Stikine Chinook salmon outside of District 108. 4 Includes average combined U.S. gillnet, troll and sport catches of Stikine Chinook salmon in District 108.
(ii) Canadian BLC: 2,300 large Chinook salmon5;
(iii) Assessment fishery: up to 1,400 large Chinook salmon.
(N) Harvest sharing and accounting of the TAC shall be as follows:
(i) 50% is allocated to the U.S.;
(ii) 50% is allocated to Canada;
(iii) If the pre-season TAC forecast exceeds 30,000 Chinook salmon, the Panel shall review and recommend potential harvest share adjustments to the Parties.
(O) With consideration for the Southeast Alaska (SEAK) Chinook salmon terminal exclusion and provisions of Chapter 3, U.S. harvest of Stikine River Chinook salmon up to 3,400 fish and non- Stikine River Chinook salmon harvested in District 108 will be accounted for in Chapter 3.
(P) The Parties shall determine the domestic allocation of their respective harvest shares.
(Q) When the terminal run is insufficient to provide for the Parties’ Stikine River Chinook salmon BLC and the lower end of the escapement goal range, the reductions in each Party’s base level fisheries, i.e. the fisheries that contributed to the BLCs, shall be proportional to the Stikine BLC shares. In this situation, the Committee may recommend details for an alternate assessment program. Following the Panel’s approval, an
Appears in 1 contract
Sources: Treaty
Transboundary Rivers. The provisions of this This Chapter shall apply to the period from 2019 through 2028 (“Chapter Period”). Subject to the availability of funds, the United States (U.S.) shall make $2.4 million dollars available on an annual basis to U.S. management agencies for the period 2009 through 2018specific purposes identified in this Chapter. Every year, Canada is responsible for adequately resourcing implementation of its responsibilities as specified in this Chapter within this Chapter Period.
1. Recognizing the desirability of accurately determining exploitation rates and spawning escapement requirements of salmon originating in the Transboundary RiversCanadian portions of transboundary rivers, the Parties shall maintain a joint Transboundary Technical Committee (the “Committee”) reportingthat is composed of their respective representatives. The Committee shall report, unless the Parties otherwise agreeddecide, to the Transboundary Panel (the “Panel”) and to the Commission. The Committee shall operate in a bilateral manner and provide all reports and recommendations to the Panel and to the Commission. If the Committee is unable to reach a decision, it shall refer the matter to the Panel or Commission, with supporting information, for decision. The Committee shall, inter alia:
(a) assemble and refine available information on migratory patterns, extent of exploitation exploitation, and spawning escapement requirements of the stocks. It is paramount that the Parties are transparent and share available information;
(b) examine past and current management regimes and recommend how they may be better suited to achieving escapement goals;
(c) identify existing and/or and future enhancement projects that:
(i) assist the devising of harvest management strategies to increase benefits to fishermen with a view to permitting additional salmon to return to Canadian waters;,
(ii) have an impact on natural transboundary river rivers salmon production;
(d) review, develop, design, implement, report on, and explore expanded joint U.S. / Canada salmon assessment programs for Stikine, Taku, and Alsek River salmon stocks;
(e) work cooperatively and share available information in order to develop bilaterally agreed-to in-season salmon abundance estimates based on the best available information;
(f) provide the Panel by February 1 of each year for Canadian-origin Stikine, Taku, and Alsek River salmon stocks the following information:
(i) number of salmon harvested in U.S. and Canadian fisheries in the preceding season,
(ii) estimated spawning escapement for the preceding season,
(iii) post-season run reconstruction for the preceding season,
(iv) pre-season forecasts of abundance for the upcoming season,
(v) assessment programs to determine in-season run abundance or escapement estimates for the upcoming season;
(g) ensure that an exchange of information required to complete post-season run reconstruction of transboundary salmon stocks occurs by December 1 of each year;
(h) complete joint stock assessment and fishery management plans by April 15 of each year that include a list of escapement objectives bilaterally approved by the Parties for Canadian-origin salmon stocks in the Stikine, Taku, and Alsek Rivers.
2. The Parties shall intend to improve procedures for coordinated or and cooperative management of the fisheries on transboundary river stocksmanagement. To this end, the Parties affirm their intent to continue to implement and refine abundance-abundance- based management regimes for Transboundary Chinook salmon in the Taku and Stikine Rivers, sockeye salmon in the Taku and Stikine Rivers, and coho salmon in the Taku River. Further, the Parties affirm their intent to continue to fully develop and implement abundance-based management regimes for Chinook and sockeye salmon in the Alsek River and coho salmon in the Stikine River during River. Both Parties shall take the Chapter periodappropriate management actions to ensure that the necessary escapement objectives defined in the annual management plan are achieved.
(a) To determine in-season abundance of salmon stocks, assessment fisheries may be implemented as a component of any bilateral U.S. / Canada assessment program. The Parties shall complete the accounting of the harvest in assessment fisheries as follows:
(i) Any expected salmon mortality shall be accounted for prior to the determination of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for assessment fisheries undertaken as recommended by the Committee and endorsed by
(ii) Any salmon mortality of target species shall not count towards either Parties’ Allowable Catch (AC) for assessment fisheries undertaken as recommended by the Committee and endorsed by the Panel,
(iii) The non-target species of salmon captured and retained shall not be included in determination of TAC or either Parties AC for assessment fisheries undertaken as recommended by the Committee and endorsed by the Panel,
(iv) ▇▇▇▇▇▇ captured and retained in an assessment fishery undertaken in absence of a recommendation from the Committee and endorsement from the Panel shall be considered as directed harvest and count towards a Party’s AC.
3. Recognizing the objectives of each Party to have viable fisheries, the Parties agree that the following arrangements shall apply to the United States U.S. and Canadian fisheries harvesting salmon stocks originating in the Canadian portion of:
(a) the Stikine River:
(i) Sockeye Salmon: the following provisions apply to U.S. in-river, subsistence, and District 106 and 108 drift gillnet fisheries, and Canadian in-river fisheries:
(A) The Parties shall assess the annual run of Stikine River sockeye salmon as follows:
(i) the Committee shall produce a pre-season forecast of the Stikine River sockeye salmon run prior to February 1 of each year. The Committee may modify this forecast prior to the opening of the fishing season;
(ii) in-season estimates of the Stikine River sockeye salmon run and the TAC shall be made under the guidelines of the annual management plan, using a forecast model developed by the Committee. Both U.S. and Canadian fishing patterns shall be based on current weekly estimates of the TAC. At the beginning of the season and up to an approved date, the weekly estimates of the TAC shall be determined from the pre-season forecast of the run strength. After that date, the TAC shall be determined from the in-season forecast model;
(iii) modifications to the annual management plan and forecast model may be made prior to June 1 of each year upon approval of the Parties. If the Parties are unable to approve modifications, the model and parameters applied the previous year shall be used;
(iv) estimates of the TAC may be adjusted in-season only by concurrence of both Parties’ respective managers. Reasons for the adjustments shall be provided to the Committee.
(B) The Parties desire to maximize the harvest of Tahltan Lake, Tuya Lake and other enhanced sockeye salmon in their existing fisheries, while considering the conservation needs of wild salmon runs. The Parties shall manage the returns of Stikine River sockeye salmon to ensure that each country obtains 50% of the TAC in their existing fisheries. Canada shall endeavour to harvest all of the fish surplus to escapement objectives and broodstock needs returning to the Stikine River as defined in the annual management plan.
(C) The Parties shall continue to develop and implement joint enhancement programs:
(i) The Committee shall prepare an annual Stikine Enhancement Production Plan (SEPP), designed to produce 100,000 returning sockeye salmon per year by February 1. The SEPP shall summarize planned projects for the coming year and expected production of identifiable enhanced sockeye salmon from all planned enhancement activities, including expected production from site specific egg takes and fry releases, access improvements, and all other enhancement activities outlined in the annual SEPP. The Committee shall use these data to prepare an enhancement production forecast based on the best available information.
(ii) The Panel shall review the annual SEPP and make recommendations to the Parties concerning the SEPP by February 28.
(iii) The Committee shall annually review and document joint enhancement projects and activities undertaken by the Parties, including returns, and present the results to the Panel during the annual post-season review.
(iv) The Parties’ performance relative to a SEPP shall be evaluated by the Panel two years after adoption of that SEPP.
(v) An annual SEPP becomes final upon the Panel’s approval two years after its initial adoption.
(vi) The Parties affirm their intent to renew or develop new enhancement projects (comparable to the Tuya Lake enhancement project) in the Stikine River drainage, as identified in the SEPP, designed to annually produce 100,000 returning sockeye salmon by 2024.
(vii) Harvest shares shall be 53% U.S. / 47% Canada from 2019 through 2023. If the final 2017 or 2018 SEPP provides an expected production of 100,000 returning sockeye salmon, the harvest shares shall be 50% U.S. / 50% Canada in 2022 or 2023.
(viii) Beginning with the final 2019 SEPP and subsequent years, if expected production is 100,000 returning sockeye salmon, the harvest shares three years later shall be 50% U.S. / 50% Canada. Otherwise, the harvest share for the Party that failed to implement enhancement projects designed to annually produce 100,000 returning sockeye salmon shall be reduced by 7.5% and reallocated to the other Party.
(ix) If either Party fully terminates or does not continue its participation in the joint enhancement program, that Party’s harvest share shall be reduced to 35%, and the harvest share adjustment shall be reallocated to the other Party for the subsequent fishing season(s).
(D) Harvest of sockeye salmon in the Stikine River U.S. subsistence fishery shall be managed as a component of the U.S. directed fishery for Stikine River sockeye salmon. All sockeye salmon harvested in the U.S. Stikine River subsistence fishery shall count towards the U.S. AC.
(ii) Coho salmon: the following provisions apply to U.S. in-river, subsistence, and Districts 106 and 108 drift gillnet fisheries, and Canadian in-river fisheries:
(A) The Parties shall develop and implement an abundance-based approach to managing coho salmon on the Stikine River. Assessment programs need to be further developed before a biologically based escapement goal can be established. By 2024, the Parties shall review the progress on this obligation.
(B) In the interim, the U.S. management intent is to ensure that sufficient coho salmon enter the Canadian section of the Stikine River to meet the agreed spawning objective, plus an annual Canadian catch of 5,000 coho salmon in a directed coho salmon fishery.
(i) The catch limit of 5,000 coho salmon for the Canadian fishery in the Stikine River may be exceeded provided that in-season run assessments indicate that salmon passage into Canada exceeds or is projected to exceed the specified 5,000 fish Canadian harvest limit plus the agreed spawning objective.
(C) Harvest of coho salmon in the Stikine River U.S. subsistence fishery shall be managed as a component of the U.S. directed fishery for Stikine River coho salmon. All coho salmon harvested in the U.S. Stikine River subsistence fishery shall count towards the U.S. AC.
(iii) Chinook salmon: the following provisions apply to Chinook salmon that originate from the Canadian portion of the Stikine River (“Stikine River Chinook”) with a mid-eye to fork length of 660 mm or greater (“large”):
(A) Both Parties shall take the appropriate management actions to ensure that the escapement objectives for Chinook salmon bound for the Canadian portion of the Stikine River are achieved. The Parties agree to share the responsibility for conservation. Fishing arrangements must take biodiversity and eco-system requirements into account.
(B) Consistent with paragraph 2, management of directed fisheries shall be abundance-based through an approach developed by the Committee. The Parties shall implement assessment programs in support of the abundance-based management regime.
(C) Unless otherwise approved by the Parties, directed fisheries on Stikine River Chinook salmon shall occur only in the Stikine River drainage in Canada and in District 108 in the U.S.
(D) Harvest of Chinook salmon in the Stikine River U.S. subsistence fishery shall be managed as a component of the U.S. directed fishery for Stikine River Chinook salmon. All Chinook salmon harvested in the U.S. Stikine River subsistence fishery shall count towards the U.S. AC.
(E) Management of Stikine River Chinook salmon shall take into account the conservation of specific stocks or conservation units when planning and prosecuting the Parties’ respective fisheries. To avoid over-harvesting of specific components of the run, the Committee shall develop weekly harvest guidelines or other management measures by apportioning the allowable harvest of each Party over the Chinook salmon run based on historical weekly run timing.
(F) The Parties reaffirm their interest in continued monitoring of Little Tahltan River Chinook salmon to investigate factors that may be influencing productivity and long-term health.
(G) The Parties shall implement, through the Committee, a Chinook salmon genetic stock identification (GSI) program approved by the Parties to assist the management of Stikine River Chinook salmon. The Parties agree to continue the development of joint GSI baselines.
(H) The Parties shall periodically review the above-border Stikine River Chinook salmon spawning escapement goal that is expressed in terms of large fish.
(I) The Committee shall produce a pre-season forecast of the Stikine River Chinook salmon terminal run3 size by December 1 of each year.
(J) Directed fisheries may be implemented based on pre-season forecasts only if the pre-season forecast terminal run size equals or exceeds the spawning objective as defined in the annual management plan in addition to the combined Canada and U.S. base level catches (BLCs) and assessment fishery catches of Stikine River Chinook salmon. The pre-season forecast shall only be used for management until bilaterally approved in-season projections become available.
(K) For the purposes of determining whether to allow directed fisheries using in-season information, such fisheries shall not be implemented unless the projected terminal run size exceeds the spawning objective as defined in the annual management plan in addition to the combined Canada and U.S. BLCs and assessment fishery catches of Stikine River Chinook salmon. The Committee shall determine when in-season projections can be used for management purposes and establish the methodology for in-season projections and update them weekly or at other approved intervals.
(L) The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for directed fisheries shall be calculated as follows:
(i) Base Terminal Run (BTR) = Spawning Objective +Assessment Fishery + U.S. BLC + Canadian BLC;
(ii) Terminal Run – BTR = TAC.
(M) Definitions include the following:
(i) U.S. BLC: 3,400 large Chinook salmon4;
(ii) Canadian BLC: 2,300 large Chinook salmon5;
(iii) Assessment fishery: up to 1,400 large Chinook salmon.
(N) Harvest sharing and accounting of the TAC shall be as follows: 3 Terminal run = total Stikine Chinook run size minus the U.S. troll catch of Stikine Chinook salmon outside of District 108. 4 Includes average combined U.S. gillnet, troll and sport catches of Stikine Chinook salmon in District 108. 5 Includes average combined Canadian Aboriginal, commercial, and sport catches of Stikine Chinook salmon.
(i) 50% is allocated to the U.S.;
(ii) 50% is allocated to Canada;
(iii) If the pre-season TAC forecast exceeds 30,000 Chinook salmon, the Panel shall review and recommend potential harvest share adjustments to the Parties.
(O) With consideration for the Southeast Alaska (SEAK) Chinook salmon terminal exclusion and provisions of Chapter 3, U.S. harvest of Stikine River Chinook salmon up to 3,400 fish and non- Stikine River Chinook salmon harvested in District 108 will be accounted for in Chapter 3.
(P) The Parties shall determine the domestic allocation of their respective harvest shares.
(Q) When the terminal run is insufficient to provide for the Parties’ Stikine River Chinook salmon BLC and the lower end of the escapement goal range, the reductions in each Party’s base level fisheries, i.e. the fisheries that contributed to the BLCs, shall be proportional to the Stikine BLC shares. In this situation, t
Appears in 1 contract
Sources: Treaty
Transboundary Rivers. The provisions of this This Chapter shall apply to the period from 2019 through 2028 (“Chapter Period”). Subject to the availability of funds, the United States (U.S.) shall make $2.4 million dollars available on an annual basis to U.S. management agencies for the period 2009 through 2018specific purposes identified in this Chapter. Every year, Canada is responsible for adequately resourcing implementation of its responsibilities as specified in this Chapter within this Chapter Period.
1. Recognizing the desirability of accurately determining exploitation rates and spawning escapement requirements of salmon originating in the Transboundary RiversCanadian portions of transboundary rivers, the Parties shall maintain a joint Transboundary Technical Committee (the “Committee”) reportingthat is composed oftheir respective representatives. The Committee shall report, unless the Parties otherwise agreeddecide, to the Transboundary Panel (the “Panel”) and to the Commission. The Committee shall operate in a bilateral manner and provide all reports and recommendations to the Panel and to the Commission. If the Committee is unable to reach a decision, it shall refer the matter to the Panel or Commission, with supporting information, for decision. The Committee shall, inter alia:
(a) assemble and refine available information on migratory patterns, extent of exploitation exploitation, and spawning escapement requirements of the stocks. It is paramount that the Parties are transparent and share available information;
(b) examine past and current management regimes and recommend how they may be better suited to achieving escapement goals;
(c) identify existing and/or and future enhancement projects that:
(i) assist the devising of harvest management strategies to increase benefits to fishermen with a view to permitting additional salmon to return to Canadian waters;,
(ii) have an impact on natural transboundary river rivers salmon production;
(d) review, develop, design, implement, report on, and explore expanded joint U.S. / Canada salmon assessment programs for Stikine, Taku, and Alsek River salmon stocks;
(e) work cooperatively and share available information in order to develop bilaterally agreed-to in-season salmon abundance estimates based on the best available information;
(f) provide the Panel by February 1 of each year for Canadian-origin Stikine, Taku, and Alsek River salmon stocks the following information:
(i) number of salmon harvested in U.S. and Canadian fisheries in the preceding season,
(ii) estimated spawning escapement for the preceding season,
(iii) post-season run reconstruction for the preceding season,
(iv) pre-season forecasts of abundance for the upcoming season,
(v) assessment programs to determine in-season run abundance or escapement estimates for the upcoming season;
(g) ensure that an exchange of information required to complete post-season run reconstruction of transboundary salmon stocks occurs by December 1 of each year;
(h) complete joint stock assessment and fishery management plans by April 15 of each year that include a list of escapement objectives bilaterally approved by the Parties for Canadian-origin salmon stocks in the Stikine, Taku, and Alsek Rivers.
2. The Parties shall intend to improve procedures for coordinated or and cooperative management of the fisheries on transboundary river stocksmanagement. To this end, the Parties affirm their intent to continue to implement and refine abundance-abundance- based management regimes for Transboundary Chinook salmon in the Taku and Stikine Rivers, sockeye salmon in the Taku and Stikine Rivers, and coho salmon in the Taku River. Further, the Parties affirm their intent to continue to fully develop and implement abundance-based management regimes for Chinook and sockeye salmon in the Alsek River and coho salmon in the Stikine River during River. Both Parties shall take the Chapter periodappropriate management actions to ensure that the necessary escapement objectives defined in the annual management plan are achieved.
(a) To determine in-season abundance of salmon stocks, assessment fisheries may be implemented as a component of any bilateral U.S. / Canada assessment program. The Parties shall complete the accounting of the harvest in assessment fisheries as follows:
(i) Any expected salmon mortality shall be accounted for prior to the determination of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for assessment fisheries undertaken as recommended by the Committee and endorsed by
(ii) Any salmon mortality of target species shall not count towards either Parties’ Allowable Catch (AC) for assessment fisheries undertaken as recommended by the Committee and endorsed by the Panel,
(iii) The non-target species of salmon captured and retained shall not be included in determination of TAC or either Parties AC for assessment fisheries undertaken as recommended by the Committee and endorsed by the Panel,
(iv) Salmon captured and retained in an assessment fishery undertaken in absence of a recommendation from the Committee and endorsement from the Panel shall be considered as directed harvest and count towards a Party’s AC.
3. Recognizing the objectives of each Party to have viable fisheries, the Parties agree that the following arrangements shall apply to the United States U.S. and Canadian fisheries harvesting salmon stocks originating in the Canadian portion of:
(a) the Stikine River:
(i) Sockeye Salmon: the following provisions apply to U.S. in-river, subsistence, and District 106 and 108 drift gillnet fisheries, and Canadian in-river fisheries:
(A) The Parties shall assess the annual run of Stikine River sockeye salmon as follows:
(i) the Committee shall produce a pre-season forecast of the Stikine River sockeye salmon run prior to February 1 of each year. The Committee may modify this forecast prior to the opening of the fishing season;
(ii) in-season estimates of the Stikine River sockeye salmon run and the TAC shall be made under the guidelines of the annual management plan, using a forecast model developed by the Committee. Both U.S. and Canadian fishing patterns shall be based on current weekly estimates of the TAC. At the beginning of the season and up to an approved date, the weekly estimates of the TAC shall be determined from the pre-season forecast of the run strength. After that date, the TAC shall be determined from the in-season forecast model;
(iii) modifications to the annual management plan and forecast model may be made prior to June 1 of each year upon approval of the Parties. If the Parties are unable to approve modifications, the model and parameters applied the previous year shall be used;
(iv) estimates of the TAC may be adjusted in-season only by concurrence of both Parties’ respective managers. Reasons for the adjustments shall be provided to the Committee.
(B) The Parties desire to maximize the harvest of Tahltan Lake, Tuya Lake and other enhanced sockeye salmon in their existing fisheries, while considering the conservation needs of wild salmon runs. The Parties shall manage the returns of Stikine River sockeye salmon to ensure that each country obtains 50% of the TAC in their existing fisheries. Canada shall endeavour to harvest all of the fish surplus to escapement objectives and broodstock needs returning to the Stikine River as defined in the annual management plan.
(C) The Parties shall continue to develop and implement joint enhancement programs:
(i) The Committee shall prepare an annual Stikine Enhancement Production Plan (SEPP), designed to produce 100,000 returning sockeye salmon per year by February 1. The SEPP shall summarize planned projects for the coming year and expected production of identifiable enhanced sockeye salmon from all planned enhancement activities, including expected production from site specific egg takes and fry releases, access improvements, and all other enhancement activities outlined in the annual SEPP. The Committee shall use these data to prepare an enhancement production forecast based on the best available information.
(ii) The Panel shall review the annual SEPP and make recommendations to the Parties concerning the SEPP by February 28.
(iii) The Committee shall annually review and document joint enhancement projects and activities undertaken by the Parties, including returns, and present the results to the Panel during the annual post-season review.
(iv) The Parties’ performance relative to a SEPP shall be evaluated by the Panel two years after adoption of that SEPP.
(v) An annual SEPP becomes final upon the Panel’s approval two years after its initial adoption.
(vi) The Parties affirm their intent to renew or develop new enhancement projects (comparable to the Tuya Lake enhancement project) in the Stikine River drainage, as identified in the SEPP, designed to annually produce 100,000 returning sockeye salmon by 2024.
(vii) Harvest shares shall be 53% U.S. / 47% Canada from 2019 through 2023. If the final 2017 or 2018 SEPP provides an expected production of 100,000 returning sockeye salmon, the harvest shares shall be 50% U.S. / 50% Canada in 2022 or 2023.
(viii) Beginning with the final 2019 SEPP and subsequent years, if expected production is 100,000 returning sockeye salmon, the harvest shares three years later shall be 50% U.S. / 50% Canada. Otherwise, the harvest share for the Party that failed to implement enhancement projects designed to annually produce 100,000 returning sockeye salmon shall be reduced by 7.5% and reallocated to the other Party.
(ix) If either Party fully terminates or does not continue its participation in the joint enhancement program, that Party’s harvest share shall be reduced to 35%, and the harvest share adjustment shall be reallocated to the other Party for the subsequent fishing season(s).
(D) Harvest of sockeye salmon in the Stikine River U.S. subsistence fishery shall be managed as a component of the U.S. directed fishery for Stikine River sockeye salmon. All sockeye salmon harvested in the U.S. Stikine River subsistence fishery shall count towards the U.S. AC.
(ii) Coho salmon: the following provisions apply to U.S. in-river, subsistence, and Districts 106 and 108 drift gillnet fisheries, and Canadian in-river fisheries:
(A) The Parties shall develop and implement an abundance-based approach to managing coho salmon on the Stikine River. Assessment programs need to be further developed before a biologically based escapement goal can be established. By 2024, the Parties shall review the progress on this obligation.
(B) In the interim, the U.S. management intent is to ensure that sufficient coho salmon enter the Canadian section of the Stikine River to meet the agreed spawning objective, plus an annual Canadian catch of 5,000 coho salmon in a directed coho salmon fishery.
(i) The catch limit of 5,000 coho salmon for the Canadian fishery in the Stikine River may be exceeded provided that in-season run assessments indicate that salmon passage into Canada exceeds or is projected to exceed the specified 5,000 fish Canadian harvest limit plus the agreed spawning objective.
(C) Harvest of coho salmon in the Stikine River U.S. subsistence fishery shall be managed as a component of the U.S. directed fishery for Stikine River coho salmon. All coho salmon harvested in the U.S. Stikine River subsistence fishery shall count towards the U.S. AC.
(iii) Chinook salmon: the following provisions apply to Chinook salmon that originate from the Canadian portion ofthe Stikine River (“Stikine River Chinook”) with a mid-eye to fork length of 660 mm or greater (“large”):
(A) Both Parties shall take the appropriate management actions to ensure that the escapement objectives for Chinook salmon bound for the Canadian portion of the Stikine River are achieved. The Parties agree to share the responsibility for conservation. Fishing arrangements must take biodiversity and eco-system requirements into account.
(B) Consistent with paragraph 2, management of directed fisheries shall be abundance-based through an approach developed by the Committee. The Parties shall implement assessment programs in support of the abundance-based management regime.
(C) Unless otherwise approved by the Parties, directed fisheries on Stikine River Chinook salmon shall occur only in the Stikine River drainage in Canada and in District 108 in the U.S.
(D) Harvest of Chinook salmon in the Stikine River U.S. subsistence fishery shall be managed as a component of the U.S. directed fishery for Stikine River Chinook salmon. All Chinook salmon harvested in the U.S. Stikine River subsistence fishery shall count towards the U.S. AC.
(E) Management of Stikine River Chinook salmon shall take into account the conservation of specific stocks or conservation units when planning and prosecuting the Parties’ respective fisheries. To avoid over-harvesting of specific components of the run, the Committee shall develop weekly harvest guidelines or other management measures by apportioning the allowable harvest of each Party over the Chinook salmon run based on historical weekly run timing.
(F) The Parties reaffirm their interest in continued monitoring of Little Tahltan River Chinook salmon to investigate factors that may be influencing productivity and long-term health.
(G) The Parties shall implement, through the Committee, a Chinook salmon genetic stock identification (GSI) program approved by the Parties to assist the management of Stikine River Chinook salmon. The Parties agree to continue the development of joint GSI baselines.
(H) The Parties shall periodically review the above-border Stikine River Chinook salmon spawning escapement goal that is expressed in terms of large fish.
(I) The Committee shall produce a pre-season forecast of the Stikine River Chinook salmon terminal run3 size by December 1 of each year.
(J) Directed fisheries may be implemented based on pre-season forecasts only if the pre-season forecast terminal run size equals or exceeds the spawning objective as defined in the annual management plan in addition to the combined Canada and U.S. base level catches (BLCs) and assessment fishery catches of Stikine River Chinook salmon. The pre-season forecast shall only be used for management until bilaterally approved in-season projections become available.
(K) For the purposes of determining whether to allow directed fisheries using in-season information, such fisheries shall not be implemented unless the projected terminal run size exceeds the spawning objective as defined in the annual management plan in addition to the combined Canada and U.S. BLCs and assessment fishery catches of Stikine River Chinook salmon. The Committee shall determine when in-season projections can be used for management purposes and establish the methodology for in-season projections and update them weekly or at other approved intervals.
(L) The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for directed fisheries shall be calculated as follows:
(i) Base Terminal Run (BTR) = Spawning Objective +Assessment Fishery + U.S. BLC + Canadian BLC;
(ii) Terminal Run – BTR = TAC.
(M) Definitions include the following:
(i) U.S. BLC: 3,400 large Chinook salmon4; 3 Terminal run = total Stikine Chinook run size minus the U.S. troll catch of Stikine Chinook salmon outside of District 108. 4 Includes average combined U.S. gillnet, troll and sport catches of Stikine Chinook salmon in District 108.
(ii) Canadian BLC: 2,300 large Chinook salmon5;
(iii) Assessment fishery: up to 1,400 large Chinook salmon.
(N) Harvest sharing and accounting of the TAC shall be as follows:
(i) 50% is allocated to the U.S.;
(ii) 50% is allocated to Canada;
(iii) If the pre-season TAC forecast exceeds 30,000 Chinook salmon, the Panel shall review and recommend potential harvest share adjustments to the Parties.
(O) With consideration for the Southeast Alaska (SEAK) Chinook salmon terminal exclusion and provisions of Chapter 3, U.S. harvest of Stikine River Chinook salmon up to 3,400 fish and non- Stikine River Chinook salmon harvested in District 108 will be accounted for in Chapter 3.
(P) The Parties shall determine the domestic allocation of their respective harvest shares.
(Q) When the terminal run is insufficient to provide for the Parties’ Stikine River Chinook salmon BLC and the lower end of the escapement goal range, the reductions in each Party’s base level fisheries, i.e. the fisheries that contributed to the BLCs, shall be proportional to the Stikine BLC shares. In this situation, the Committee may recommend details for an alternate assessment program. Following the Panel’s approval, an a
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