The Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ in-season estimate for the Sockeye return in the Skeena Watershed is currently 550,000.
That’s a slight difference from the preseason estimate of 590,000 that prompted a recreational fishing closure.
The return this year is considered the worst on record, and for the fishery to open for Sockeye, the DFO says there needs to be a forecasted return of 800,000.
This year’s numbers are blamed on the 2013 run that had a return of 490,000.
As of Wednesday, the total escapement of sockeye at the mouth of the Skeena was a little over 210,000.
The DFO says that number fluctuates in-season and is updated as the run progresses.
They say based on average run timing, 32 per cent of the sockeye run should be past the Tyee by now.