Reconstruction of Harvest Rates and Stock Contribution in Gauntlet Salmon Fisheries: Application to British Columbia and Washington Sockeye (Oncorhynchus nerka)

Abstract

We describe a run reconstruction method in which information on migration paths and travel speeds is combined with catch and escapement data to estimate harvest rate by fishery and catch by stock for Pacific salmon. Reconstruction is shown to provide comparable estimates to direct stock identification from scales in the example given. Methods of annual reconstruction are shown to be less reliable than weekly or half-weekly period reconstructions when exploitation rates change during the season. Equations are provided for incorporating differential vulnerability of stocks, and Monte Carlo methods for calculating confidence limits on harvest rate estimates are explored.