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OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT INFORMATION FOR 2008:

Fishwheel Assessment data: 5 June to 6 September (closed for
season)
Meziadin Fishway data:  1 July to 8 October (closed for
season)
Kincolith weir data:  11 June to 22 October (preliminary
data; closed for season)
Seaskinnish Weir data:  28 July to 7 September (preliminary
video data; continues to November)  

GITWINKSIHLKW (GW) FISHWHEELS (NASS TEST FISHERY - 15TH
YEAR): 

Fishwheels 1 and 2 were started on 5 June for tagging and
historical catch index assessments for salmon and steelhead. 
Fishwheels 1 and 2 were shutdown for the season on Saturday 6
September.  All fish caught in the GW fishwheels were released
alive. 

GREASE HARBOUR (GH) FISHWHEELS: 

Three fishwheels operated at Grease Harbour for in-season mark recapture
tag recoveries in 2008.  The fishwheel start-up dates were: 11
June (fw5), 12 June (fw6) and 13 June (fw3).  All
three Grease Harbour fishwheels were shutdown for the season on Saturday
6 September.  All fish caught in the GH fishwheels
were released alive. 

NASS SOCKEYE SALMON:

The in-season Nass sockeye run-size estimate (191,861) to
Gitwinksihlkw at the end of fishwheel operation on 6 September was
below average (279,000) based on the mean run size to
Gitwinksihlkw of 281,000 from 1994 to 2007.  However, the
preliminary post-season Nass sockeye run-size estimate
(235,126) to Gitwinksihlkw is ~18% higher than the
in-season estimate and would account for any sockeye that passed after
the operations of the fishwheels.  Based on the preliminary
post-season estimate, the in-season run-size target (~225,000) for
Nass Sockeye to the Gitwinksihlkw fishwheels was reached in 2008.

The post-season run size and escapement estimates are based on
preliminary mark-recapture results from tag recovery data collected at
Meziadin Fishway (tags released at GW=9,297; tag loss rate estimate=18%;
150,396 sockeye examined; and 5016 tags recovered), harvests above
Gitwinksihlkw (17,051), and escapement estimates between Gitwinksihlkw
and Grease Harbour (3392 that include an escapement estimate at Gingit
Creek in 2008).

The in-season net escapement estimate for Nass sockeye to end of
fishwheel operation was 174,841.  The preliminary
post-season net escapement estimate is 218,075 above GW
based on mark-recapture results to date.  Based on current
post-season estimates for Nass sockeye, the net escapement aggregate
target (200,000) was reached in 2008.  However, escapement to
Meziadin River (150,396) was just short of it’s target
(160,000) whereas the non-Meziadin aggregate escapement estimate
(67,679) was estimated to have exceeded it’s target
(40,000).

Meziadin fishway opened on 1 July for escapement counts to river. 
Total counts of sockeye at Meziadin Fishway to the end of operations on
8 October were:  150,396 adults (5016 tags) and 2946
jacks.  The 2008 cumulative adult count was below average based
on mean counts (170,000) at the Meziadin Fishway from 1994 to
2007.  The fishway counts of adult sockeye represented 69% of
the preliminary net escapement estimate  for 2008 which is average
based on 1994 to 2007 returns (94-07 mean=68%; range 51% to 85%). 

The Total Return to Canada (TRTC) for Nass sockeye in 2008 was projected
to be below average (350,000 vs. 666,000) based on a pre-season
sibling model of TRTC return data from 1982 to 2007.  Nisga'a
Fisheries used a TRTC estimate for Nass sockeye of between
~315,000 (in-season) and 350,000 (pre-season) for tracking
and managing the Nisga'a entitlement of Nass sockeye during the season
that ranged between 43,000 and 52,000 sockeye. 

The preliminary post-season TRTC and Nisga’a entitlement
estimates for Nass sockeye are 316,991 and 44,166,
respectively.  The preliminary TRTC estimate for Nass sockeye
includes preliminary post-season estimates of escapement (218,075) and
harvests in commercial (44,101) and in-river (54,815) fisheries.

The Nisga’a catch estimate (45,409) of Nass sockeye in 2008 is
currently over (~1243 sockeye) the preliminary post-season entitlement
amount.  The catch estimate is based on the results from the Nisga’a
catch monitoring program that operated from 4 May to 23 August.  The
total catch estimate for 2008 includes an estimate of sockeye caught
after the end of the catch monitoring program based on average catches in
years when monitoring was conducted after 23 August.  The total
catch estimate for 2008 includes FSC (domestic) catch (27,681) and
individual marine sale fishery catch (17,728).  The FSC catch
of sockeye in 2008 was just above average from the mean catch from 2000
to 2007 (26,000). 

A total of four Nisga'a individual sale fisheries occurred in 2008
(16-17 July [17 boats]; 17-18 July [17 boats]; 23-25
July [17 boats]; 30 July - 1 August [~21 boats]) in Area
3-12.  Total catches in the Nisga'a marine sale fisheries
were:   17,728 sockeye; 3,438 pink; 793 coho and 276 chum.

Area 3 DFO commercial fisheries conducted in 2008 were 7
gillnet [24 June (170 boats); 1 July (209 boats); 7 July (174 boats);
14 July (179 boats); 15 July (5 boats); 21 July (16) and 27 July (33)]
and 4 seine (14 July (13 boats); 15 July (5 boats); 21 July (13
boats) and 29 July (7 boats)) fisheries.  Total commercial harvest
estimates in Area 3 are:   38,886 sockeye; 17,972
pink; 14,135 chum and 405 Chinook (source of data is from DFO Prince
Rupert fisheries management).  An additional 5,225 Nass
sockeye are currently estimated to have been harvested in fisheries
conducted in Areas 4 and 5 using average historical stock proportion
data.  Final commercial catch (and TRTC) estimates of Nass sockeye
in 2008 will be available in the fall of 2009 after Northern Boundary
sockeye run reconstructions are finalized by the Pacific Salmon Treaty
technical committee.

TRTC returns of Nass sockeye are influenced by Alaskan catches which were
below average for 2008.  Alaskan gillnet fisheries in Districts
101 (Tree Point) and 106 (Sumner and Upper Clarence) began
on 15 June and 8 June, respectively.  Alaskan seine
fisheries opening dates were:   Districts 101 (Lower
Clarence/Revilla) opened on 6 July; 102 (Middle
Clarence) opened on 22 June; 103 (Cordova) opened on
24 July; and 104 (Noyes/Dall) opened on 6
July.

The total in-season catch estimate of sockeye in southeast Alaskan
fisheries in 2008 was 127,703 based on data on the Alaskan
Department of Fisheries and Game’s website.  The average catch of
sockeye in southeast Alaskan fisheries is 714,000 sockeye from
1999 to 2007. 

Of the total Alaskan catch of sockeye in 2008, Nisga'a Fisheries is
estimating ~35,500 are Nass sockeye based on average stock % data
(1982-98) and was below average.  The average catch of Nass sockeye
in Alaskan fisheries is ~165,000 from 1999 to 2007.

NASS CHINOOK SALMON:

The in-season Nass Chinook run-size estimate (14,178) to
Gitwinksihlkw to the end of fishwheel operation on 6 September was
below average (22,000) based on the mean run size to Gitwinksihlkw
of 22,000 from 1994 to 2007.  However, the preliminary
post-season Nass Chinook run-size estimate (20,001) to
Gitwinksihlkw is ~29% higher than the in-season estimate and would
account for any Chinook that passed before and after the fishwheel
operated.  Based on the preliminary post-season estimate, the
in-season run-size target (~17,000) for Nass Chinook to the
Gitwinksihlkw fishwheels was reached in 2008.

The post-season run size and escapement estimates are based on
preliminary mark-recapture results from tag recovery data collected at
Meziadin Fishway, Kwinageese and Damdochax tributaries (tags released at
GW=801; tag loss rate estimate=24%; 731 Chinook examined; and 24 tags
recovered), harvests above Gitwinksihlkw (2063), and escapement estimates
between Gitwinksihlkw and Grease Harbour (860 that include preliminary
escapement estimates for Tseax and Seaskinnish in 2008). The Tseax and
Seaskinnish estimates are preliminary and will be finalized in
mid-December after the completion of the Tseax and Seaskinnish projects
conducted by Nisga’a Fisheries.

The in-season net escapement estimate for Nass Chinook to end of
fishwheel operation was 12,968.  The preliminary
post-season net escapement estimate is 17,938 above GW
based on mark-recapture results to date.  Based on current
post-season estimates for Nass Chinook, the net escapement aggregate
target (15,000) was reached in 2008.

Total counts of Chinook at Meziadin Fishway from 1 July to 8
October were:  518 adults (17 tags) and 62 jacks. 
The 2008 cumulative adult count was above average based on mean counts
(480) at the Meziadin Fishway from 1994 to 2007.  The fishway
counts of adult Chinook represented 2.9% of the preliminary net
escapement estimate in 2008 which was just above average based on 1994 to
2007 returns (94-07 mean=2.5%; range 1.4% to 4.5%). 

The Total Return to Canada (TRTC) for Nass Chinook in 2008 was projected
to be below average (21,000 vs. 36,000) based on a
pre-season sibling model of TRTC return data from 1992 to 2007. 
Nisga'a Fisheries used a preliminary TRTC estimate for Nass Chinook of
between 21,000 (pre-season) and up to ~28,000 (in-season)
for tracking and managing the Nisga'a entitlement of Nass Chinook in 2008
that ranged between ~4000 and 6000 Chinook during the
season.  Uncertainty of marine catches (commercial and recreational)
and escapement estimates to coastal Area 3 areas for Nass Chinook made it
difficult to estimate in-season TRTC and entitlement estimates for Nass
Chinook.

The preliminary post-season TRTC and Nisga’a entitlement
estimates for Nass Chinook are 28,202 and 5924,
respectively.  The preliminary TRTC estimate for Nass Chinook
includes preliminary post-season estimates of escapement (20,813) and
harvests in marine (1485) and in-river (5910) fisheries.  The TRTC
estimate includes estimates of preliminary coastal escapement (2876) and
marine catches (recreational tidal (875) and commercial (610)) that will
not be finalized until mid-December 2008.

The Nisga’a catch estimate (4402; including angling harvests on
the Kincolith River) of Nass Chinook in 2008 is currently under (~1500
Chinook) the preliminary post-season entitlement amount.  The catch
estimate is based on the results from the Nisga’a catch monitoring
program.  The total catch estimate for 2008 includes an estimate of
Chinook caught after the end of the catch monitoring program based on
average catches in years when monitoring was conducted after 23
August.  The FSC catch of Nass Chinook in 2008 was below average
from the mean catch from 2000 to 2007 (6700).  No Chinook
were permitted for sale in any of the Nisga’a individual sale fisheries
that were conducted in 2008.

The Kincolith video-counting fence began operation on 11 June for
collecting escapement data for the Kincolith River and providing an index
of escapement to coastal streams in Area 3.  Preliminary net
upstream counts from 11 June to 22 October (now closed for season)
are:  895 Chinook (852 large >50 cm NF; 43 small <50 cm
NF; 180 AFC and 39 broodstock); 1285 pink; 265 coho (244 large
>40 cm NF; 21 small <40 cm NF); and 24 chum.  Other
weir counts were: 13 steelhead (5 up  & 8 down) and 7
cutthroat/rainbow trout (5 up & 2 down between July and October;
<50 cm and sea run; final id confirmed at end of season). 
The count of Chinook passing the Kincolith weir in 2008 was below the
average count (1126) from past operations (2001, 2002,
2005-2007).  However, Nisga'a Fisheries projected that the
escapement goal (700) would be reached during the season using a
run size forecast method.  A preliminary estimate of 1111 Chinook
was harvested in the Kincolith River in 2008 by Nisga’a (587) and
non-Nisga’a (524) fishers.

NASS COHO SALMON:

The in-season Nass coho run-size estimate (89,176) to
Gitwinksihlkw to the end of fishwheel operation on 6 September was
above average (71,000) based on the mean run size to Gitwinksihlkw
of 76,000 from 1994 to 2007.  However, the preliminary
post-season Nass coho run-size estimate (86,145) to
Gitwinksihlkw is ~4% lower than the in-season estimate.  The
post-season estimate would be conservative (i.e., not account for all
coho that passed the fishwheels after operation) as the current
mark-recapture estimates are based on Meziadin tag recoveries only which
ended operations on 8 October.  Based on the preliminary post-season
estimate, the in-season run-size target (~50,000) for Nass coho to
the Gitwinksihlkw fishwheels was reached in 2008.

The post-season run size and escapement estimates are based on
preliminary mark-recapture results from spaghetti-tag recovery data
collected at Meziadin Fishway only to date (tags released at GW=4138; tag
loss rate estimate=14%; 3861 coho examined; and 167 tags recovered),
harvests above Gitwinksihlkw (891), and escapement estimates between
Gitwinksihlkw and Grease Harbour (4013 that include preliminary
escapement estimates for Seaskinnish, Tseax, Chemainuk and Gish
tributaries in 2008). The escapement estimates are preliminary and will
be finalized in December after the completion of the Seaskinnish weir
project conducted by Nisga’a Fisheries for finalizing all mark recovery
data for generating population estimates.

Preliminary net upstream counts from the Seaskinnish weir from 26 July
to 8 September (still in operation) are:  505 coho (483
large >40 cm NF; 22 small <40 cm NF; 26 spaghetti tags; 17
operculum tags); 433 Chinook (371 large >50 cm NF; 62 small
<50 cm NF; 14 operculum tags); 26 steelhead (2 adipose fin
marked – 1 hole punch and 1 clip); 8 pink; 8 sockeye (3
tagged); and 56 adult trout species (i.e., rainbow, cutthroat,
Dolly Varden, etc.).

The in-season net escapement estimate for Nass coho to end of
fishwheel operation was 88,630.  The preliminary
post-season net escapement estimate is 85,254 above GW
based on preliminary mark-recapture results to date.  Based on
current post-season estimates for Nass coho, the net escapement aggregate
target (40,000) was reached in 2008.

Total counts of coho at Meziadin Fishway from 1 July to 8 October
(now closed) were:  3861 adults (167 spaghetti tags; 131
operculum tags) and 55 jacks.  The 2008 cumulative adult count
was above average based on mean counts (3600) at the Meziadin
Fishway from 1994 to 2007.  The fishway counts of adult coho
represented 4.5% of the preliminary net escapement estimate in
2008 which was below average based 1994 to 2007 returns (94-07 mean=5.8%;
range 1.9% to 10.2%).  However, the fishway operations ended
approximately one week earlier than past years while coho were still
passing and the overall stock proportion would be higher.

The Total Return to Canada (TRTC) for Nass coho in 2008 was projected to
be below average (104,000 vs.162,000) based on the minimum return
in the past five years.  Nisga'a Fisheries used a preliminary TRTC
estimate for Nass coho of between 104,000 (pre-season) and
~173,000 (pre-season) for tracking and managing the Nisga'a
entitlement of Nass coho in 2008 that ranged between ~8000 and
13,800 coho during the season.  Uncertainty of marine catches
(commercial and recreational) and escapement to the Lower Nass and
coastal Area 3 tributaries for Nass coho made it difficult to estimate
in-season TRTC and entitlement estimates for Nass coho.

The preliminary post-season TRTC and Nisga’a entitlement
estimates for Nass coho are 150,427 and 12,034,
respectively.  The preliminary TRTC estimate for Nass Coho includes
preliminary post-season estimates of escapement (115,635) and harvests in
marine (31,099) and in-river (3693) fisheries.  The TRTC estimate
includes preliminary estimates of escapement to the Lower Nass (26,728),
coastal Area 3 tributaries (2754) and marine catches (recreational tidal
(1414) and commercial (29,685)) that will not be finalized until December
2008.  Escapement surveys are still being conducted in the Lower
Nass.

The Nisga’a catch estimate (3109) of Nass coho is currently under
(~8900 coho) the preliminary post-season entitlement amount and is based
on the results from the Nisga’a catch monitoring program.  The total
catch estimate for 2008 includes an estimate of coho caught after the end
of the catch monitoring program based on average catches in years when
monitoring was conducted after 23 August.  The total catch estimate
of coho for 2008 includes FSC (domestic) catch (2316) and
individual marine sale fishery catch (793).  The FSC catch of
coho in 2008 was just below average from the mean catch from 2000 to 2007
(2400). 

NASS PINK SALMON:

The fishwheel catch of pink salmon (1932 total; 1357 GW
fishwheels) to the end of the fishwheel operation was well below
average (16,000 total; 12,000 GW fishwheels) for even-year
returns from 2000 to 2007. 

The Total Return to Canada (TRTC) for Nass pinks in 2008 was originally
projected to be above average (569,000 vs. 524,000) for the
even-year return based on the five year average of TRTC even-return data
from 1998 to 2006.  Nisga'a Fisheries downsized the pre-season TRTC
estimate to ~285,000 (~1/2 of pre-season estimate) on 15
August for Nass pinks based on data from DFO (poor abundances
detected in stream walk surveys in Area 3), below average numbers at the
fishwheels and extremely low numbers at the Kincolith weir (average
return of even-yr pinks is 9,000).  As a result of
downsizing, the in-season Nisga’a entitlement of Nass pink was capped at
~10,000 and was much smaller than the pre-season entitlement
estimate (54,000). 

Note that pre-season and in-season forecasting of Nass area pinks are
poorly developed for Area 3 currently.  Nisga’a Fisheries is
developing in-season methods with DFO for better predicting the magnitude
of returns in the future based on fishwheel mean catches, Kincolith weir
counts and any stream survey information that can be collected during the
season to aid in managing Nass area pinks to reach escapement goals and
tracking the Nisga’a entitlement. 

The preliminary post-season TRTC and Nisga’a entitlement
estimates for Nass pink are 67,667and 0,
respectively.  Escapement and harvest data are not final as
surveys/assessments continue but based on the preliminary results suggest
that the minimum escapement goal (150,000) may not have been reached for
Nass Area pinks in 2008 and that no entitlement harvest would have been
permitted due to conservation concerns.  The preliminary TRTC
estimate for Nass pinks includes preliminary post-season estimates of
escapement (60,287) and harvests in commercial (2977) and Nisga’a (4404)
fisheries.  The poor escapement estimate is based on preliminary
survey data from Dogfish, Stagoo and Kwinamass tributaries.  The
weir count of pinks (1285 vs. 9000 average) on the Kincolith River also
supports the current data of the poor return of Nass Area pinks in 2008.

The Nisga’a catch estimate (4404) of Nass pinks is currently over
(4404) the preliminary post-season entitlement amount if the minimum
escapement goal was not reached.  The catch estimate is based on the
results from the Nisga’a catch monitoring program.  The total catch
estimate for 2008 includes an estimate of pinks caught after the end of
the catch monitoring program based on average catches in years when
monitoring was conducted after 23 August.  The total catch estimate
of pink for 2008 includes FSC (domestic) catch (966) and
individual marine sale fishery catch (3438) in late July. 
The FSC catch of pink in 2008 was below average from the mean catch from
2000 to 2007 (2600).

NASS CHUM SALMON:

The fishwheel catch of chum (52 total; 38 GW fishwheels) when the
fishwheels ended on 6 September was well below average (148
total; 113 GW fishwheels) for returns from 2000 to 2007.

The Total Return to Canada (TRTC) for Nass chums in 2008 was originally
projected to be above average (90,000 vs. 74,000) based on the
dominant brood return from 2004.  However, Nisga'a Fisheries
downsized the pre-season TRTC estimate to ~21,000 (low return
estimate from 2007) on 15 August for tracking Nass chum
entitlement based on data from DFO (poor abundances detected in stream
walk surveys at Stagoo Creek in early August), below average numbers at
the fishwheels and extremely low numbers that passed the Kincolith
weir.  As a result of downsizing, the in-season Nisga’a entitlement
of Nass chum was capped at ~1650 and was much smaller than the
pre-season entitlement estimate (7000). However, if the in-season
TRTC remained below the minimum escapement goal (30,000) for Nass area
chums then no entitlement would be permitted due to conservation
concerns.

Note that pre-season and in-season forecasting of Nass area chums are
poorly developed for Area 3 currently.  No reliable methods are
currently available to estimate escapement during the season, track the
status of the run or the Nisga’a entitlement.  However, observations
of abundances at Stagoo Creek, Kincolith River, and at the fishwheels
help in providing some indication of run strength to determine an
in-season entitlement target for Nass chum.  

The preliminary post-season TRTC and Nisga’a entitlement
estimates for Nass chum are 4984 and 0, respectively. 
Escapement and harvest data are not final as surveys/assessments continue
but based on the preliminary results suggest that the minimum escapement
goal (30,000) may not have been reached for Nass Area chums in
2008 and that no entitlement harvest would have been permitted due to
conservation concerns.  The preliminary TRTC estimate for Nass chums
includes preliminary post-season estimates of escapement (3936) and
harvests in commercial (553) and Nisga’a (495) fisheries.  The poor
escapement estimate is based on preliminary survey data from Stagoo and
Kshwan tributaries.  The weir count of chums (24 vs.110 average) on
the Kincolith River also supports the current data of the poor return of
Nass Area chums in 2008.

The Nisga’a catch estimate (495) of Nass chums is currently over
(495) the preliminary post-season entitlement amount if the minimum
escapement goal was not reached in 2008.  The catch estimate is
based on the results from the Nisga’a catch monitoring program.  The
total catch estimate for 2008 includes an estimate of chum caught after
the end of the catch monitoring program based on average catches in years
when monitoring was conducted after 23 August.  The total catch
estimate of chum for 2008 includes FSC (domestic) catch (219) and
individual marine sale fishery catch (276) in late July.  The
FSC catch of chum in 2008 was below average from the mean catch from 2000
to 2007 (429).

NASS SUMMER-RUN STEELHEAD:

In-season and post-season run size estimates that are provided for Nass
steelhead are only for summer runs (i.e., do not include any estimates
for winter or spring run steelhead).  In-season estimates provide
return information from June to September when the fishwheels typically
operate.  Post-season estimates correct for the difference in the
fishwheel in-season estimate to final escapement estimate including an
estimated proportion of summer-run steelhead that passed Gitwinksihlkw
after the fishwheel operations based on results from steelhead
mark-recapture studies conducted in the past. 

The fishwheel catch of summer-run steelhead (851 total; 293 GW
fishwheels) when the fishwheels were shutdown on 6 September
was above average (779 total; 218 GW fishwheels) based on
fishwheel operations conducted between 2000 and 2007. 

The in-season Nass steelhead run-size estimate (4926) to
Gitwinksihlkw to the end of fishwheel operation was below average
(5800) on 6 September based on the mean run size to
Gitwinksihlkw of 7800 from 1994 to 2007.  However, the
preliminary post-season Nass steelhead run-size estimate
(6497) to Gitwinksihlkw is currently ~24% higher than the
in-season estimate.  Based on the preliminary post-season estimate,
the run-size target (~4200) for Nass steelhead to the
Gitwinksihlkw fishwheels was reached in 2008. The in-season net
escapement estimate for Nass steelhead to end of fishwheel operation was
4892.  The preliminary post-season net escapement
estimate is 6463 above GW based on preliminary results to
date.  Based on the current post-season estimate for Nass summer-run
steelhead, the net escapement aggregate target (4000) was reached
in 2008.

The post-season run size and escapement estimates for Nass summer-run
steelhead are based on preliminary mark-recapture results from
spaghetti-tag recovery data collected for Nass coho salmon at Meziadin
Fishway to compute capture efficiencies at the Gitwinksihlkw fishwheels
for calculating steelhead abundance passing at both fishwheels. 
More accurate capture efficiencies can be computed for the Gitwinksihlkw
fishwheels using coho tag recoveries because of the high number of tags
applied to coho and recovered in tag recovery operations than for
steelhead.  Based on the preliminary capture efficiency data for
coho at the fishwheels (i.e., 4% at FW1 and 2% at FW2) and
steelhead catches at both fishwheels (57 FW 1; 232 FW 2)
after 1 July, the preliminary average abundance estimate of summer-run
steelhead to pass the fishwheels during operation is 6497 (i.e.,
average of 1435 (FW1) and 11,559 (FW2)) in 2008. The
abundance estimates calculated by this method have on average represented
~77% of the final escapement estimate based on mark recapture
studies conducted on summer-run steelhead in 1997-2001, 2004-2005 and
2007, and accounts for differences in the abundance-estimate technique
and steelhead passing after fishwheel operation to the final escapement
estimate.  Based on those past mark-recapture results for Nass
steelhead, the total estimate of summer-run steelhead to pass
Gitwinksihlkw in 2008 is currently ~8400 (i.e., 6497 divided by
77%).  The escapement estimate is preliminary and will be finalized
in mid-December after the completion of the Seaskinnish weir project
conducted by Nisga’a Fisheries for finalizing all mark recovery data for
generating population estimates.

The total count of steelhead at Meziadin Fishway from 1 July to
8 October (now closed for season) was:  29 (2 fin marked
fish – 1 adipose punch from GW and 1 adipose clip from GH
fishwheels).  The 2008 cumulative count of steelhead was just below
average (29 vs. 33) when the fishway operation ended on 8 October. 
The mean count at the Meziadin Fishway from 1994 to 2007 was 50 but
typically the operations extend into mid-to-late October. 

The total count of steelhead at the Seaskinnish weir from 26
July to 8 September (operation will continue into November) is: 
26 (2 fin marked fish – 1 adipose hole punch from GW and 1 adipose
clip from GH fishwheels).

The Nisga'a catch estimate of Nass steelhead in 2008 was
157.  A total of 26 steelhead were also released alive
during the marine individual sale fisheries conducted between 16 July and
1 August.  The total catch estimate includes an estimate of
steelhead caught after the end of the program based on average catches in
years when monitoring was conducted after 23 August.  The average
harvest of Nass steelhead in Nisga'a fisheries is 400 from 1994 to
2007.

The final Nass stock assessment update from the Nisga’a Fisheries and
Wildlife Department is planned for, Monday, 1 December and will
include any further updates to post-season estimates of Nass escapement,
TRTC and Nisga’a entitlement amounts.

Richard Alexander, RPBio
Nisga'a Fisheries Stock Assessment Management Biologist
Nisga'a Lisims Government - Fisheries & Wildlife Department
PO Box 228, New Aiyansh, BC, V0J 1A0
Phone:  (250) 633-2617
Fax:       (250) 633-2971
Cell:       (250) 857-5129
Nisga'a Fisheries (website:

http://nisgaalisims.ca/?q=fisheries-and-wildlife)
LGL Limited (website:
http://www.lgl.com )