| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
This report was compiled by Gordon and Associates Ltd. in the spring of 2003 in support of the North Coast Land and Resource Management Planning process. Information about fish and fish habitat in the North Coast is housed with a number of provincial and federal agencies, as well as First Nations and community level organizations. The intent of the report is to bring together available information about the various types of fish and fish habitat in the North Coast plan area and summarize information about current management. The report provides a summary of the life histories of the fish species known to inhabit the area. Escapement data for Pacific salmon is summarized as is distribution and information about other freshwater fish. Trends in salmon escapement over the period of record (1950-2001) were identified using DFO data on salmon escapement for streams in the plan area. A total of 543 individual stocks have been documented in the area. Data analysis indicates that salmon escapement across the landbase is in substantial decline. Specifically: • 75% of known chinook stocks appear to be ďPotentially threatenedĒ or ďOf Some ConcernĒ • 69% of known chum stocks appear to be ďPotentially threatenedĒ or ďOf Some ConcernĒ • 72% of known coho stocks appear to be ďPotentially threatenedĒ or ďOf Some ConcernĒ • 31% of known pink stocks appear to be ďPotentially threatenedĒ or ďOf Some ConcernĒ • 45% of known sockeye stocks appear to be ďPotentially threatenedĒ or ďOf Some ConcernĒ. Of the 167 known salmon streams, only 26 do not have salmon stocks identified as ďPotentially ThreatenedĒ or ďOf Some ConcernĒ. This analysis of escapement data is preliminary. Further analysis of the data, including referral to local people familiar with the area is recommended to confirm whether the DFO escapement data are reflecting actual escapements. All escapement data have been summarized in a database, portions of which are printed out as Appendix I. The complete database has been provided to MSRM as a project deliverable. The cause of this decline has not been identified in this report. However, it can be speculated that land use practices do not appear to be the leading cause as many of the watersheds where stock decline is apparent have not been subject to resource development activities. Existing data on freshwater resident species was also reviewed, and incorporated into a database. Such information was often limited to presence/absence and local knowledge. Watershed scale inventory information is extremely limited. Dolly Varden char and cutthroat trout appear to be the most widely distributed fish species in the plan area. 263 streams are listed in the database of which 117 (44.5%) are known to have cutthroat trout, and 172 (57%) are known to have Dolly Varden. The Community Fisheries Development Centre was sub-contracted through this work to summarize 4 years of coho rearing data that was collected through their organization. Local fisheries specialist Bart Proctor wrote the summary report, and provided an Overall Index of Rearing Productivity for the 79 streams assessed. The top three areas for rearing coho were identified as the lower Skeena, Grenville and Kincolith. Streams in the lower Skeena area include Kwinitsa, Antigonish, Aberdeen, Marigonish, Inver, Basalt, Stapledon, and Valley (Khyex). Proctor hypothesizes that streams in the lower Skeena serve as a temporary refuge area for out-migrating coho juveniles prior to them entering the ocean. The Grenville area also includes streams near the mouth of the Skeena River and the Kincolith area includes streams near the mouth of the Nass River. Proctorís report has been previously submitted to the GTT for circulation to the table. The report also includes a summary of existing legislation that is intended to provide protection to fish and riparian areas (with respect to fish habitat). A brief overview of current forestry practices being used to protect fish and fish habitat is provided, as well as reference to the MoF/MoE Resource Management Plan initiated in 2000 that identifies priority watersheds for restoration, and notes the stage of completion attained for restoration activities. The report does not provide a summary or review of non fish riparian values (ie, tailed frog, wildlife, biodiversity, etc.). This report was extensively reviewed by MSRM and LRMP staff, and was provided to the Government Technical Team and DFO for review. A summary of review comments and how or whether they were integrated into the report is also provided. |
