The purpose of this Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) is to identify the main objectives and requirements for the northwestern British Columbia and southwestern Yukon salmon fishery, as well as the management measures that will be used to achieve these objectives. This document also serves to communicate the basic information on the fishery and its management to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO, the Department) staff, legislated co-management boards, First Nations, harvesters, and other interested parties. This IFMP provides a common understanding of the basic “rules” for the sustainable management of the fisheries resource.

The IFMP covers the period of April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2022 for stocks originating in the Alsek, Stikine and Taku rivers in southwestern Yukon and northwestern British Columbia and provides a broad context to the management of the Pacific salmon fishery in the Pacific Region and the interrelationships of all fishing sectors involved in this fishery. Section 1 provides a general overview of the fisheries, governance and overarching policies, frameworks and practices that guide fisheries management. Section 2 considers stock assessment, science and traditional knowledge. Section 3 summarizes shared stewardship arrangements to ensure long term sustainability. Section 4 reviews the economic, social and cultural importance of salmon to various sectors. Section 5 provides an overview of regional management issues and significant initiatives to address them. Broader objectives for fisheries management are outlined in Section 6 including conservation, international and domestic allocation objectives. Section 7 outlines the components of decision guidelines and how they are established through preseason planning. Section 8 summarizes the compliance plan of the Conservation and Protection program. Section 9 provides some insight into performance and evaluation criteria used in the eventual review of the effectiveness of this plan. Appendices 1 to 3 of this IFMP provide the specific integrated fishing plans for each of the Transboundary River systems in addition to providing other information such as run outlooks, spawning escapement goals, decision guidelines and a post season review.