Water Stewardship Information Sources
| ID | 1235 |
|---|---|
| Citation | Mathews, M, Bocking, B, Glova, G and Sampson, T. 2007. Development of an Annual Salmonid Productivity Assessment Program for the Nicola River Watershed. Prepared for Nicola Tribal Association. |
| Organization | Nicola Tribal Association |
| URL | http://www.thinksalmon.com/reports/FSWP_07_D2_NTA_FINAL_REPORT.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords | This report provides a review of current state of knowledge of juvenile salmonid production, exploitation, adult returns and enhancement of coho, Chinook and steelhead stocks of the Nicola/Coldwater system. ﾕ Relative to historical data records, there is evidence that these fish stocks have declined appreciably over time. ﾕ The Coldwater River is the most significant contributor of these salmonids to the Nicola watershed. ﾕ Within the last 20 years, hatchery releases have contributed significantly to smolt production in the Nicola watershed. ﾕ Wild coho smolt output from the Coldwater has ranged from 7,000 to 16,800 fish in the early 1980s and from 16,134 to 26,651 fish between 2002 and 2006. ﾕ Similarly, Chinook smolt output has ranged from 1,840 to 49,600 fish (wild only) in the early 1980s, and from 22,968 to 104,325 fish (wild and hatchery combined) in the early 2000s. ﾕ Steelhead smolt historically ranged from 6,000 to 10,700 fish, and in recent times from 2,499 to 10,017 fish. ﾕ At current habitat capacity, coho smolt production for the Coldwater is limited to approximately 60,000 fish. ﾕ Exploitation of interior Fraser coho has declined markedly in the last decade from a peak 88% in 1993 to 13% at present (the latter mainly of by catch). ﾕ Exploitation data for Chinook are limited to the Nicola watershed (1982-present), and range from 12.7 to 42.9% and from 18.5 to72.7% for the Nicola and Coldwater, respectively. ﾕ Estimated total fishing mortality (by catch, sport and First Nations catches) of Fraser River summer run steelhead, of which the Nicola stock is a major contributor, historically has been as high 80% and reduced to 10-20% within the last decade. ﾕ For the period of data record (1975 to present), adult returns for these salmonids for the Nicola watershed have ranged from 598 to 11,455 for coho, 1,211 to 16,400 for Chinook and from 549 to 3,284 for steelhead. ﾕ Enhancement of these stocks has occurred within the last two decades (mainly on coho and Chinook) comprising hatchery releases of fry and smolts in the Nicola watershed, and has contributed significantly to smolt production and adult returns. Key information gaps needed to be filled for improved management of these stocks include: 1. Improved reliability of wild coho and Chinook smolt population estimates 2. Improved understanding of early life histories (migration and rearing) for Coldwater coho, Chinook and steelhead. 3. Estimates of marine survival of wild coho and Chinook. A research strategy is proposed to help close these information gaps, involving improved coho and Chinook mark/recapture smolt estimates and determination of relative contributions of the different rearing components in the migration corridor between the Coldwater and the sea to adult returns. |
| Information Type | report |
| Regional Watershed | Nicola |
| Sub-watershed if known | Nicola River, Coldstream River, Spius Creek, Maka Creek, Prospect Creek, Spahomin Creek, Quilchena, Guichon, Nuaitch, Shakan, Skuhun |
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| Comments | |
| Project status | complete |
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