Test Fishing and In-season Management

In the spring, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Fraser River Panel collaborate to agree on a forecast for sockeye and pink salmon. The forecast is a useful tool that gives the Fraser Panel a good starting point but there is still a lot of uncertainty. Once sockeye start migrating back, the Pacific Salmon Commission (PSC) conducts test fishing in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Johnstone Strait, and the lower Fraser River to get a better estimate of the number salmon returning. Data from test fishing is used to update the in-season estimate of run-size. This is why the run size can change throughout the season. To see the test fishing data click the links below.