Species at Risk Act management scenarios summary for Coho Salmon: Interior Fraser population (Interior Fraser Coho)

No person shall kill, harm, harass, capture, take, possess, collect, buy, sell, or trade IFR Coho (s. 32); and, no person shall damage or destroy the residence of IFR Coho (s. 33).

Activities affecting a listed species, any part of its critical habitat, or the residence of its individuals may be permitted (s. 73/74) subject to meeting certain purposes, pre-conditions, and/or exception/exemption (s. 83) requirements set out in SARA, including that the activity will not jeopardize survival or recovery of the species.

Decisions for permits and exemptions will be made following a listing decision and will be guided by best available information.

No SARA recovery processes.

IFR Coho are prescribed as a major fish stock and subject to the Fish Stocks provisions under Fisheries Act. If a prescribed stock is found to be below its limit reference point (LRP), then a plan to rebuild the stock must be developed within 24 months. IFR Coho is above its LRP so a plan to rebuild the stock is not currently required.

Development of a SARA recovery strategy within two years of listing (s. 37), and action plan if recovery is deemed feasible (s. 40 and 47).

Critical habitat identification to the extent possible (s. 41[c][c.1]) and protection (s. 58[4], [5]).

If SARA listed, an FSP rebuilding plan is not required.

Continued management according to Chapter 5 of the Pacific Salmon Treaty.

Continued DFO management as per the Southern Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plan^{Footnote 1} . IFR Coho are managed to limit the Canadian exploitation rate to 3-5%, which is below the PST Canadian fishery mortality cap of 10%. The specific maximum between 3-5% depends on the fisheries for other salmon species that are operating in any given year and their potential incidental impacts to IFR Coho.

DFO implements a rolling fisheries window closure in the Fraser River and Thompson River watersheds designed to protect at least 90% of the IFR Coho migration from exposure to non-selective fishing gear. The closure typically spans about 5-6 weeks, starting at the end of the Labour Day weekend in the lower Fraser River through to December in the Thompson River.

Based on science advice (Interior Fraser Coho Salmon Recovery Potential Assessment), achieving the recovery target is likely possible under current environmental conditions and variability, so long as human-induced mortality is minimal and assuming impacts from the identified threats are mitigated.

Fisheries that operate within the allowable harm threshold may be eligible for permits or exemptions and could remain open under a List scenario. Anticipated fisheries measures are outlined in the sections below.

Regardless of impact level, fisheries may not retain IFR Coho for sale purposes, as listed species cannot be bought or sold under s. 32(2).

Food, social, and ceremonial (FSC) fisheries and treaty domestic use fisheries that encounter IFR Coho would require permits, exceptions, or exemptions to continue.

It is anticipated that all FSC and treaty domestic use fisheries that encounter IFR Coho will meet the requirements for permits or exemptions.

Additional restrictions or closures to FSC and treaty domestic use fisheries are not anticipated.

Recreational salmon fisheries that encounter IFR Coho would require permits or exemptions to continue.

It is anticipated that all recreational fisheries that encounter IFR Coho will meet the requirements for permits or exemptions.

Additional restrictions or closures to recreational fisheries are not anticipated.

The following closures to commercial fisheries are anticipated:

• Five Nations Rights-Based Sale fishery for coho in PFMA 124 to 126 during times when IFR Coho are expected to be present (typically before September 15)

Commercial fisheries that encounter IFR Coho as bycatch would be unable to retain coho for sale purposes and would require permits or exemptions to continue.

The enhanced salmon monitoring program that began in September 2022 was funded until March 31, 2025. Future funding opportunities are being assessed.

A new salmon bycatch management plan was implemented for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 groundfish Option A trawl fishery, including a Chinook bycatch cap of 9,500 pieces. While not a specific target of this cap, coho are likely to benefit via reduced effort.

Research and monitoring activities that benefit IFR Coho conservation may be exempted from SARA prohibitions via their inclusion within a recovery strategy or action plan (s. 83[4]), or through the issuance of permits (s. 73/74) or exemptions (s. 83).

The sale component of test fisheries that encounter IFR Coho would be restricted to comply with SARA prohibitions preventing listed species from being bought, sold, or traded (s. 32[2]).

DFO would need to consider SARA prohibitions in regulatory review decisions, including for SARA permits or Fisheries Act authorizations that also act as SARA permits for some activities (s. 73[2][b], [c]).

DFO would monitor for contraventions of the SARA general prohibitions (for example, s. 32 and 33) and critical habitat protections (s. 58), and enforce SARA as appropriate with respect to listed aquatic species.

Parks Canada would support management and recovery planning for listed species that occur within aquatic areas under the jurisdiction of the Minister responsible for Parks Canada (s. 2[1][a]). IFR Coho may migrate through the waters of Fort Langley National Historic Site (NHS); Fort St. James NHS; Gulf Islands National Park Reserve (NPR); Pacific Rim NPR; and Gwaii Haanas NPR, National Marine Conservation Area, and Haida Heritage Site.