From: on behalf of Panel Registry Subject: FW: TNG registration of ...

Taseko River drainages were extremely important and as such have invested a great deal of time
and funding in the monitoring and assessment of these runs. The following Table 9 shows sockeye
and Chinook escapement data for the Chilko River. 60 The trend is further evidence that these stocks
are
in decline. It should be noted that the 2009 Chinook escapement is from the 2004 brood year
that
saw 16,287 adult Chinook return to spawn.
Table 9: Salmon (Sockeye and Chinook) escapement to the Chilko River 1993­2009.
Year Sockeye Chinook Year Sockeye Chinook
1993 555226 6343 2001 668783 10891
1994 450745 5665 2002 382814 11027
1995 534559 10461 2003 608321 21625
1996 974349 17000 2004 91909 16287
1997 985827 16272 2005 535967 7668
1998 879017 14549 2006 468947 5201
1999 891922 8920 2007 305853 4366
2000 758941 9171 2008 249863 5186
2009 217572
(preliminary)
Source:
Data provided by Fisheries and Oceans biologist Linda Stevens of Williams Lake.
How climate change impacts fish
8548
(preliminary)
While there are many negative influences on both anadromous and non‐anadromous fish stocks,
including over‐fishing, climate change is now considered to be one of the greatest threats to fish
stocks throughout the world, including British Columbia and the Pacific Ocean. In its
comprehensive
Fourth Assessment Report in 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
( IPPC) states: “There is high confidence, based on substantial new evidence, that observed changes in
marine and freshwater biological systems are associated with rising water temperatures, as
well as related changes in ice cover, salinity, oxygen levels and circulation. These include:
shifts in ranges and changes in algal, plankton and fish abundance in high­latitude
oceans; increases in algal and zooplankton abundance in high­latitude and highaltitude
lakes; and range changes and earlier fish migrations in rivers [emphasis
added]. While there is increasing evidence of climate change impacts on coral reefs,
separating the impacts of climate­related stresses from other stresses (e.g. overfishing and
pollution) is difficult. {WGII 1.3, SPM}” (IPCC²).
The Panel’s statement reflects the impact climate change will very likely have on both freshwater
and marine aquatic environments. Additionally, climate change is projected to not only affect
anadromous species such as salmon, but also non anadromous species, such as rainbow trout, Dolly
Varden, Bull Trout, and Kokanee, all of which currently provide food for the Xeni Gwet’in
community from lakes and streams
in their Caretaker Area.
60 Data provided by Fisheries and Oceans biologist Linda Stevens of Williams Lake.
45