Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board (GRRB)

Fisheries Management

The GRRB works with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Renewable Resource Councils ( RRCs) and adjacent land claim co-management boards (Inuvialuit – FJMC; Sahtu – SRRB) to prepare fisheries management plans. Management plans lay out research goals and harvesting guidelines to protect fish stocks for future generations. As most fish do not respect political boundaries, it is important to develop management plans that include all stakeholders.

Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for Dolly Varden char (Salvelinus malma malma)

May 2011 update: The Rat River char population increased in size during the voluntary fishing closure from 2006 to 2008. This was partly due to the voluntary closure but also largely due to good survival of one year class of fish. As a result, we saw population estimates increase in 2007 as these fish matured and entered the monitor fishery (estimate: between 8,488 and 14,886 char). The majority of these fish matured in 2009 and are becoming a smaller component of the population as they die off from natural causes and fishing mortality. As these fish die off, younger fish should be replacing them. However, this does not appear to be happening in large numbers as there has been little indication of recruitment in the population as evidenced by the seine captures at the fish holes in late fall (the majority of the char caught in the fall seine are adult fish, a change from past years). In the 2010 monitor fishery, there was some evidence of a younger cohort of fish in the population, but these fish were not observed at the overwintering holes in late September. As a result, the population estimates for 2009 and predicted population size for 2010 are quite low (2009 estimate: between 4,186 and 5,792 char). The Rat River Working Group (RRWG) took these numbers into consideration and made a Recommendation that 300 char be allocated to the 2011 fishery as follows: 50 for each char monitor (3 monitors x 50 char = 150) and 150 char divided between the community harvesters (75 Ft McPherson & 75 Aklavik ).

Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma malma) of the Gwich’in Settlement Area and Inuvialuit Settlement Region Northwest Territories and Yukon North Slope 2011 – 2015

VOLUME 1: THE PLAN
VOLUME 2 : APPENDICES

Rat River Char Fishing Plan
This plan is an agreement between the Aklavik Renewable Resource Council, the Fort McPherson Renewable Resource Council, and the Aklavik Hunters and Trappers Committee. The goals of the plan are threefold:

To maintain a healthy stock of Dolly Varden char in the Rat River system
To maintain and manage the Rat River Dolly Varden char fishery for the continued use and enjoyment by the residents of Aklavik and Fort McPherson
To encourage co-operation among all users to ensure sound management of the Rat River char stock

1st Rat River Char Fishing Plan – June 1996
2nd Rat River Char Fishing Plan – March 1997
3rd Rat River Char Fishing Plan – March 1998

	Rat River Fishing Plan - March 1998

4th Rat River Char Fishing Plan – March 1999
5th Rat River Char Fishing Plan – March 2000
6th Rat River Char Fishing Plan – April 2001
7th Rat River Char Fishing Plan – February 2004 - 2006

	Rat River Fishing Plan - February 2004 - 2006

Rat River Dolly Varden (DFO Stock Status Report)

8th Rat River Char Fishing Plan –2010 to 2013 (DRAFT)

2009 RAT RIVER UPDATE

Available data (mark-recapture, monitoring, and community observation) suggest that the Rat River char population is rebounding. The GRRB and RRWG, in consultation with the affected communities, decided to allow a voluntary allocation between the user groups. The voluntary harvest allocation for 2009 is 1225 fish to be distributed among the user communities and groups and the harvest monitors. The Rat River fishery continues to be monitored by the Gwich’in as has happened for 20 years.

Pre-COSEWIC assessment prompted the creation of an Integrated Fisheries Management Plan by cooperating representatives of several governing bodies. This plan determines co-management regulations in the GSA and ISR and may be adopted as an existing management strategy if char are listed under SARA. Community input is being sought on the draft Plan during consultations in early 2010.

More fish were tagged this year. Another updated population estimate will be available in the fall of 2010.

2007-2008 RAT RIVER UPDATE

The GRRB, in consultation with the affected communities and the RRWG, decided to reinstate the voluntary closure for an additional 2 years (3 years total).

Declines in char populations have prompted the federal Committee On the Status of Endangered Wildlife In Canada (COSEWIC) to consider listing northern form Dolly Varden char under the Species at Risk Act (SARA).

2006 RAT RIVER UPDATE

In March 2006, a new DFO estimate placed the population of Rat River char at ~3,500 fish, down from ~ 12,000 in 2002. Given this rapid decline, the GRRB, in consultation with the affected communities, moved to close the Rat River Char fishery to all fishing during the upstream migratory run from August 1st, to September 15th (inclusive). This was a voluntary closure. The fishery was open to three monitors under a scientific licence whose total combined catch was not to exceed a 5% safe harvest level.

Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for Coney (Stenodus leucichthys) – December 2000 with working plans for 2000 - 2005
This plan is an agreement between the Sahtu Renewable Resources Board, the Fisheries Joint Management Committee, the Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans ( Canada). The goals of the plan are:

To determine the current stock size and health
To maintain or enhance the size of coney stocks through management practices (such as using closed seasons, closed areas of quotas)
To identify, protect and manage critical coney habitats
To protect and maintain traditional fishing activities and areas
To encourage conservation, efficient and responsible fishing practices for coney
To work to increase the knowledge of coney ecology by promoting research and exchanging traditional and scientific knowledge
To ensure that management decisions and study results are communicated back to communities and other users/groups in a timely manner and in a meaningful way
To ensure that all decisions that may affect the status of coney stocks and their habitats, and thus the well being of those who utilize coney, are based on the best available information

Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for Coney

Mackenzie River Inconnu (DFO Stock Status Report 1998)

Proceedings of the Regional Advisory Process Meeting on Mackenzie River Inconnu