Photo: Contributed

Early predictions for 2016 Fraser River sockeye salmon returns are not promising.

Fisheries and Oceans Lower Fraser area director Jennifer Nener says about 2.27-million sockeye are expected this year.

That's comparable to 2015, when just over two-million sockeye reached Fraser River spawning grounds.

Nener estimates late-run sockeye returns will also be low, at around 100,000 fish.

She says returns will be monitored closely and harvest levels will be adjusted, if required.