front row (left to right):
Wayne Jacob, Craig Orr, Milo Adkison, Terry Glavin,

second row (left to right):
Josie Osborne, Marla Maxwell, Ron Kadowaki, Blair Holtby, Bill Harrower,
Randall Peterman, Jim Irvine, Dick Beamish, Laurie Weitkamp

third row (left to right):
Mike Bradford, Jim Woodey, Al Wood, Jim Thomas, Mike Galesloot, Bryan Nass,
John Davis, Tim Slaney, David Levy, Bill Tweit, Gary Morishima, Art Tautz,
Don Hall, Patricia Gallaugher, Carl Walters, Rick Routledge
(fingers unknown)

missing:
Paul LeBlond

 

CONSENSUS REACHED BY
U.S. AND CANADIAN FISH SCIENTISTS

The following consensus was reached at the
Simon Fraser University conference,
Speaking for the Salmon, Summit of Scientists,
June 18, 1998.

 

 Coastal overview:

Wild coho stocks are depressed throughout much of the southern part of their North American range, with conservation risks generally greater for more southerly and more inland stocks.

There have already been major extinction events. Native coho are now extinct in the Upper Columbia/Snake rivers, as are over half the stocks for which we have data in central California.

Several genetically important stock complexes face serious conservation risks, particularly those occupying the California and Oregon coasts and the Thompson and Upper Skeena rivers in B.C.

Exploitation rates have not been sufficiently reduced to reflect the decrease in marine survival rates and habitat degradation.

Stock complexes of special concern:

  • Central California Coast: Widespread local extinctions. Declared threatened in 1996 under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).
  • Northern California and Southern Oregon Coasts: Declared threatened in 1997.
  • Oregon Coast: Under review for threatened status.
  • Lower Columbia River and Southwest Washington: Candidate for listing under the ESA.
  • Upper Columbia River: Native population extinct.
  • Washington Coast and Puget Sound: Disquieting downward trends in fecundity, and body size. Marine survival rates have declined recently in Puget Sound.
  • Thompson River: Severe downward abundance trends. Recruitment below replacement level.
  • Strait of Georgia/Johnstone Strait: Downward trends in marine survival, spawning escapement and abundance. Change to high distribution outside the Strait of Georgia.
  • British Columbia Central Coast: Status largely unknown, but there are indications that concern is warranted.
  • Upper Skeena: severely depressed with declines beginning in the early 1970s.


Important knowledge gaps:

  • causes and mechanisms for recent declines in marine survival fecundity and body size and changes in the sex ratio;
  • identification of genetically important stock complexes;
  • inadequate long-term stock assessment capability in many parts of B. C.;
  • determination of assessment and management units;
  • impacts of enhancement on wild coho stocks;
  • life history and ecology of interior coho;
  • criteria for deciding when stocks are in trouble with prespecified steps for corrective action;
  • how to deal with uncertainty and risk;
  • review of historical databases;
  • improved selective fishing strategies for coho conservation;
  • role of enhancement and gene banking for severely depressed populations.

 

Management principle:

We support a precautionary approach to fisheries, which in the face of uncertainty, would cause us to respond on the side of conservation. Examples of ways of doing this are described in the 1995 FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization, U.N.) Fisheries Technical Paper 350/1.

Representatives of each of the following organizations participated in the summit: Science Branch, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Salmon Commission, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (U.S.), University of Alaska, Juneau, University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Owekeeno Indian Band, Shuswap Native Fisheries Commission, B.C., private environmental consultant firms.

 

CONTACT:

Patricia Gallaugher, 291.4653/5466
Rick Routledge, Institute of Fisheries Analysis, 291.4478
Bruce Mason, Media/PR, 291.3035

 

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