Nootka Sound & Esperanza Inlet - Area 25 - Chinook Sampling.

Title: Nootka Sound & Esperanza Inlet - Area 25 Chinook Sampling

Background and Objective of Work: The Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Pacific Fisheries Management Area (PFMA) initiated a Chinook reference fishery in Area 25 in 2024 to evaluate the potential for implementing a Mark Selective Fishery (MSF) for Chinook salmon encompassing Nootka Sound and Esperanza Inlet, in British Columbia (BC).

The objective of the reference fishery is to independently verify creel estimates including catch (number of Chinook caught and released at sea by size class), mark rate (the proportion of hatchery-marked Chinook encountered by the fishery), and stock composition (particularly for unmarked stocks that would otherwise be released at-sea in a pure MSF).

Scope: The sampling protocol was established to emulate typical recreational fishing trips targeting Chinook salmon including the normal fishing areas, depths, and gear types for that region and season. Recreational fishing guides will be hired to facilitate the sampling, maximize catch per unit effort, and contribute their knowledge of the local fishery to ensure sampling emulates a typical recreational fishing trip in the area. Guides will be instructed to conduct reference fishery trips as they would a normal chartered fishing trip, determining fishing locations and departure times based on their expertise. For each day of sampling two boats will be leaving Tahsis, BC each with DFO trained samplers on board. One boat will be traveling to Esperanza Inlet and the other to Nootka Sound to sample. The DFO trained sampler will sample each Chinook encountered during the 8 hour charter and will keep detailed records of the sampling effort and any other species encountered during the trip. The guides duties include transportation to and from the fishing grounds, facilitate fishing for Chinook using recreational gear, and help with sampling when necessary.