Banner year for Chinook

South Coast Area Stock Assessment biologist Nicholas Brown says improved ocean survivability rates are helping local salmon populations.

“It seems like we’re in a bit of a period of respite from the general pattern that we’re expecting to see from climate change,” he said. “The big factor has been a recent La Niña that seems to be possibly reestablishing in the coming year.”

Anglers will be happy the run is expected to peak around September 1st according to Brown.

“It’s a fairly early Labour Day this year, which tends to be a little bit better for success of fishers during the derby because it happens a little bit closer to the peak of the Chinook run and closer to when the Chinook are further up the inlet rather than in closer to the mouth of the river, so hopefully it’ll be a bit of a better successful Labour Day derby than years past,” he said.

Last year, the forecast was for 114,000 chinook, but almost 200,000 ended up returning.

Robertson Creek requires 15,000 chinook for their 7.1 million egg take at the hatchery.

Brown says fresh water is being held back at Great Central Lake to ensure consistent water levels in the river to assist salmon in case of a drought.

by David Wiwchar

Banner year for Chinook

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