This report provides summary fish health data collected by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) from randomly selected licensed marine facilities culturing salmon in British Columbia (BC). Results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening are provided, as well as a list of the bacterial pathogens isolated by culture, and whether a pathogen or disease has been confirmed by histopathology (microscopic examination). DFO veterinarians provide a farm-level diagnosis and identify any conditions of note based on these laboratory findings and any other information collected during the fish health audit or reported by companies as a condition of licence. The terminology used in the report’s column headings can be found in the terminology file below. DFO Science is engaged in numerous active research projects examining issues such as fish diseases, wild-cultured species interactions and habitat impacts related to aquaculture. Information on some of these projects, as well as on aquaculture research occurring in other regions, is available on our [website](http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/science-eng.html"website"). Related links: + Infographic: [Monitoring fish health from hatchery to harvest](https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/about-notre-sujet/publications/infographics-infographies/hatchery-ecloserie-eng.html) + Infographic: [How DFO inspects fish health at BC aquaculture sites](http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/aquaculture/publications/infographics-infographie/health-sante-eng.html)

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) has been conducting surface water trawl surveys since 1992 in the coastal waters of British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and Alaska and in the high seas of the Gulf of Alaska. These surveys initially focused on determining the migratory patterns (1992-2002) and on the growth and physiology (2003-2016) of juvenile Pacific Salmon. Since 2016, these surveys have been broadened to monitor the whole pelagic ecosystem, retaining a focus on juvenile Pacific Salmon. Surveys have been conducted on the continental shelf of north and west Vancouver Island, included associated sounds and inlets since 1992 and are ongoing. These data are for tows conducted in the continental shelf area for depths shallower than 400 meters.

Salmon escapement data constitute important corporate knowledge which must be adequately maintained and accessible. The Salmon Escapement Database (NuSEDS) is the DFO Pacific Region’s central database that stores individual spawner survey data records, spawner abundance estimates and the linkages between the two. Annual abundance estimates are maintained by population, as defined by freshwater location and run timing. Each population is referenced to the location of the stream mouth. The watershed-coding system provides unique stream identification and incorporates the natural organization, direction, and hierarchical nature of stream channels and their tributaries. The NuSEDS database currently reports salmon spawning observations for 9100+ individual populations but escapement estimates (all levels of survey intensity) are available for 9800+ populations. This database contains historic population data starting in the 1920’s (older data for some rivers exists in other formats). Prior to 1995 a standardized form (BC-16) was used to summarize the estimate of the spawning population size, but the historical database lacked the capacity to describe the number of observations, individual counts or methods used to estimate the abundance of the population. In 1995, responsibility for salmon enumeration was moved to the DFO Science section. At that time, the database was re-written to include descriptive information for each abundance estimate, providing underlying data and the estimation method(s). Many of the historic estimates prior to 1995 are labeled Unspecified Returns because the database was limited to storing one estimate for any given stock. As time and resources permit these data are being replaced with more accurate categorization. With the introduction of the Wild Salmon Policy (2005), individual populations within NuSEDS can now be grouped by Conservation Unit.

Annual data are collected as part of smolt trapping operations using fish trapping methods. Traps collect emigrating salmon smolts to identify cohort bio-characteristics, run timing information, as well as enumerating migrating fish.

The Fishery Operations System (FOS) is the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) centralized Oracle database that holds commercial salmon fishery catch, effort and biological data. The FOS database was built in 2001 and continues to be the current repository for all data pertaining to DFO’s Pacific Region Commercial Salmon Logbook program. The Commercial Salmon Logbook program was initiated in 1998 with fleet wide participation made mandatory during the 2001 season. The program requires all commercial salmon fishers to record their daily catch and effort information in a harvest logbook and to subsequently report it to DFO using a service provider within deadlines defined in the conditions of licence. A portion of the information collected from the logbook program contains fisher personal information and is therefore protected and un-releasable. Fishery Managers use the fisher reported catch and effort, in addition to information collected from other sources such as overflights, to calculate post-season catch estimates. NOTES: This report contains ONLY commercial catch estimates; it DOES NOT include test fishing, recreational or First Nations data. Consult the applicable Fishery Manager or Biologist as to the status of particular catch estimates. All catch estimates are reported in pieces (numbers of fish). Catch estimates include adults and jacks combined. DFO Salmon Catch Statistics and Logbook Reports: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/stats//smon/index-eng.html DFO Integrated Fisheries Management Plans (IFMP): http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/ifmp-eng.html DFO Management areas - Pacific Region: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/maps-cartes/areas-secteurs/index-eng.html

Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) National Biofouling Monitoring Program (BMP) has conducted annual field surveys to monitor the introduction, establishment, spread, species richness, and relative abundance of native and non-indigenous species (NIS) since 2006. Standardized monitoring protocols employed by DFO-Maritimes, -Gulf, and -Quebec Regions include biofouling collector plates deployed from May to October at intertidal and shallow subtidal, geo-referenced sites, including public and private docks, aquaculture lease sites, public and private marinas and yacht clubs. Initially in the Maritimes Region (2006-2017) collectors consisted of 3, 10 cm by 10cm PVC plates deployed in a vertical array and spaced approximately 40-cm apart with the shallowest plate hung at least 1 m below the surface to sample shallow subtidal and intertidal species (Sephton et al. 2011, 2017). Two replicate arrays were deployed at least 5 m apart per site. Since 2018, collector arrays were modified to enhance statistical replication, including 10 individual collectors deployed per site at 1 m depth and at least 5 m apart (as above) from May to October. The percent cover of AIS on all collectors was determined by visual examination and scored as follows; (i) ‘0’ = absent, (ii) ‘1’ = ≤25 % cover, (iii) ‘2’ = 25 to ≤50 %, (iv) ‘3’ = 50–75% , and (v) ‘4’ = >75%. Average percent cover is provided for all NIS observed annually per site. Presence-absence indicates that an NIS was observed on at least one collector plate. One additional rocky intertidal species (Asian shore crab; Hemigrapsus sanguineus) was assessed via beach surveys as permitted by time and resources following its initial siting in St Mary’s Bay (Nova Scotia) in April 2020. Rapid assessment surveys conducted in the Fall of 2020 and 2021 were employed to delineate H. sanguineus’ distribution and relative abundance. Areas deemed suitable and at high risk for spread were targeted, including exposed rocky intertidal habitat in southwest regions of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Each rapid assessment consisted of 30-minute beach surveys per site conducted by 2 or 3 people (modified from Stephenson et al. 2011). During each survey, crabs were collected under rocks and seaweed in preferred cobble/boulder habitat (Lohrer et al. 2000). Count data was standardized for each site as the number of crabs collected per 30-min search per person. Cite as: DFO-Maritimes Biofouling Monitoring Program. Published October 2018, Updated December 2023. Coastal Ecosystems Science Division, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, NS Citations: Sephton D, B Vercaemer, JM Nicolas, J Keays (2011) Monitoring for invasive tunicates in Nova Scotia, Canada (2006-2009) Aquatic Invasions 6: 391-403. Sephton D, B Vercaemer, A Silva, L Stiles, M Harris, K Godin (2017) Biofouling monitoring for aquatic invasive species (AIS) in DFO Maritimes Regions (Atlantic shore of Nova Scotia and southwest New Brunswick): May-November, 2012-2015. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3158: 72 pp. Stephenson EH, RS Steneck, RH Seeley (2009) Possible temperature limits to range expansion of non-native Asian shore crabs in Maine. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 375: 21–31. doi:10.1016/j.jembe.2009.04.020

The Fishery Operations System (FOS) is the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) centralized Oracle database that holds commercial salmon fishery catch, effort and biological data. The FOS database was built in 2001 and continues to be the current repository for all data pertaining to DFO’s Pacific Region Commercial Salmon Logbook program. The Commercial Salmon Logbook program was initiated in 1998 with fleet wide participation made mandatory during the 2001 season. The program requires all commercial salmon fishers to record their daily catch and effort information in a harvest logbook and to subsequently report it to DFO using a service provider within deadlines defined in the conditions of licence. A portion of the information collected from the logbook program contains fisher personal information and is therefore protected and un-releasable. Fishery Managers use the fisher reported catch and effort, in addition to information collected from other sources such as overflights, to calculate in-season catch estimates. NOTES: - This report contains ONLY commercial catch estimates; it DOES NOT include test fishing, recreational or First Nations data. - These figures are preliminary in-season catch estimates and are subject to change. - Consult the applicable Fishery Manager or Biologist as to the status of particular catch estimates - All catch estimates are reported in pieces (numbers of fish). - Catch estimates include adults and jacks combined. ---------------------------------------------------------- Pacific Fishery Management Areas (PFMAs): https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/maps-cartes/areas-secteurs/index-eng.html ---------------------------------------------------------- DFO Integrated Fisheries Management Plans (IFMP): http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/ifmp-eng.html ---------------------------------------------------------- DFO Salmon Catch Statistics and Logbook Reports: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/stats//smon/index-eng.htm ---------------------------------------------------------- Pacific Region Commercial Salmon Fishery Post-Season Catch Estimates, 1996 - 2004: https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/82c7eaa7-7078-4d38-a880-25d53f00c579 ----------------------------------------------------------

PURPOSE: Estimation of Atlantic salmon smolt abundance in the Restigouche watershed. DESCRIPTION: Each spring (May-June), DFO installs a Rotary Screw Trap (RST; smolt wheel) on the Kedgwick river, a tributary of the Restigouche River. The number of individuals of each species of fish caught in the trap is recorded, and length and weight are measured for a portion of Atlantic salmon smolts captured. All Atlantic salmon smolts captured in the RST are tagged with uniquely-numbered polyethylene streamer tags and released upstream of the trap with the intention of using their rate of recapture to estimate the efficiency of the trap and the abundance of smolts (Capture-Mark-Recapture experiment). PARAMETERS COLLECTED: species counts (ecological); point (spatial); capture-mark-recapture data for Atlantic salmon smolts (ecological) NOTES ON QUALITY CONTROL: The data is stored in a relational database and therefore benefits from referential integrity between tables and observations. The database also defines data types for columns of the tables, ensuring a degree of consistency across observations. The field data sheets are also entered into a web app which provides an additional layer of quality control. USE LIMITATION: To ensure scientific integrity and appropriate use of the data, we would encourage you to contact the data custodian.

WDFW combined Sport/ Commercial/ Treaty salmon harvest data.