Pacific Region Commercial Salmon Catch Estimates from Fishery Logbooks

Fisheries and Oceans Canada provides post-season commercial salmon catch estimates derived from mandatory logbook reports. The data, collected since 1998 with fleet-wide participation mandatory from 2001, excludes test fishing, recreational, and First Nations catches. All catch estimates are reported in pieces (numbers of fish) and combine adults and jacks.

Use Cases

• Analyze annual catch estimates in pieces to track salmon stock trends for specific management areas.
• Model fishery effort and catch relationships using data from the mandatory Commercial Salmon Logbook program.
• Compare reported logbook data with other sources like overflight observations to validate post-season estimates.

Strengths

• Data originates from a mandatory reporting program with fleet-wide participation since 2001, ensuring systematic collection.
• Estimates are calculated by Fishery Managers using multiple data sources, including logbooks and overflights.
• The dataset is maintained in the centralized Fishery Operations System (FOS) database established in 2001.

Limitations

• The dataset is limited to commercial catch estimates and excludes recreational, test fishing, and First Nations data.
• A portion of the source logbook data contains protected fisher personal information and is not released.
• Catch estimates combine adults and jacks, preventing separate analysis of these life stages.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region

Collection Method

Data is collected through the mandatory Commercial Salmon Logbook program, where fishers report daily catch and effort to a service provider.

Time Range

Data collection began in 1998, with mandatory participation from 2001 onward.

Freshness

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Geography

Pacific Region of Canada, as defined by DFO management areas.