Fishery Notice

Category(s):
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net
Subject:
FN0896-COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill net - Area E - Areas 29 - Fraser River Sockeye - Opening - August 27, 2014


Gill nets open for 12 hours from 08:00 hours to 20:00 hours Wednesday, August 
27, 2014 in Subareas 29-11 to 29-17 and portions of Subareas 29-3, 29-4, 29-6, 
29-7, 29-9 and 29-10 known as the Fraser River Mouth.  

The Fraser River Mouth is described as those waters off the mouth of the Fraser 
River bounded on the west by a line from a fishing boundary sign on Point Grey 
on the mainland, thence northerly to the Point Grey bell buoy, thence westerly 
to the navigation buoy west of Point Grey, thence southwesterly to the 
navigation buoy west of Sand Heads, thence southeasterly to the most westerly 
point of the International boundary between Canada and the United States of 
America in the Strait of Georgia, thence easterly along the International 
Boundary to the mainland; and bounded on the east by a line commencing at a 
fishing boundary sign located near the entrance to Canoe Passage, thence true 
north to a fishing boundary sign on Westham Island, thence following the 
shoreline of Westham and Reifel Island to the intersection of a line true north 
and south through the navigation light at the westerly end of the Woodwards 
Training Wall, thence true north to a fishing boundary sign on the shore of 
Lulu island, thence following along the southerly shore of Lulu Island to Garry 
Point, thence following the westerly shoreline to the most northwesterly point 
of Lulu Island, thence to the most southwesterly point of Sea Island, thence 
following the shoreline to the Iona Island Road, thence following the Iona 
Island Road Causeway to the shoreline of Iona Island, thence following the 
southerly and westerly shoreline of Iona Island and the North Arm Jetty to the 
most westerly navigation light on the west end of the North Arm Jetty, thence 
northeasterly to a boundary sign on Point Grey (the point of commencement). 

A maximum net length of 100 fathoms is in place for this opening.  This means 
that a maximum aggregate net length of 100 fathoms (approximately 187.5 metres) 
is on the drum of the vessel(note: spare nets on board a vessel actively 
fishing are to be kept in a stowed condition). 
Maximum mesh size is 140 mm (approximately 5.5 inches). Maximum depth 60 
meshes.  Maximum hang ratio 3:1.  Maximum corkline to web distance 45 cm. 
 
The target species in this fishery is sockeye salmon although retention of 
chinook, chum and pink salmon is permitted.  There is a mandatory non-retention 
of all coho, steelhead, and sturgeon.  

All gillnet vessel masters are reminded that a Start Fishing Report must be 
filed to announce their intention to fish as early as possible prior to 
beginning fishing by phoning AMR at 1-888-387-0007.  Start fishing reports are 
critical for the proper management of the fishery to help determine the number 
of gillnet vessels participating in an opening. As such, gillnet vessel masters 
may be requested by Fisheries Officers to provide the Trip Identification 
Number received after completing the Start Fishing Report.

Vessel masters are reminded that at the end of each fishing day prior to 08:00 
hours of the next day, the vessel master must report their catch by 
calling AMR at 1-888-387-0007. 

The next update on the progress of Fraser River sockeye runs and fishing 
opportunities will be available on Friday, August 29, 2014 following the 
Fraser River Panel meeting. 

Recorded updates for Area E fleet are available at (604) 666-2828.


V.O. # 2014-STN-GN-004


Catch Monitoring Pilot:

As outlined in Fishery Notices 0385, 0594, and 0718, a catch monitoring pilot 
will be implemented in Area E Gill Net fisheries targeting Fraser sockeye in 
2014. Key new elements of the catch monitoring pilot will include:

- 20 percent independent validation of landed catch
- All fish must be landed at designated landing sites (including 
designated packer vessels).
- Prior to each landing, all catch must be recorded in the paper or electronic 
harvest log.
- The vessel master must record a Landing (Offload) Report in the Comments 
section of the paper harvest log with the landing location or name and VRN of 
packer vessel, the company buying the fish, and date and time of landing.  
- Vessel masters will be required to provide the Landing Observer Service 
Provider (including Fishery Officer or Fishery Guardian) access to their 
vessel, logbook and fish holds.
- A licence holder will be issued stickers (tabs) as part of their 
participation in the catch monitoring program; the stickers (tabs) must be 
displayed on each side of the vessel so that they are clearly visible from the 
water.

Area E Gill Net licence eligibility holders, are reminded that if they intend 
to fish in fisheries directed on Fraser River sockeye, they need to register 
with the Landing Observer Service Provider that was chosen by the Area E 
harvest committee to perform the required 20 percent catch validation in this 
fishery. The Landing Observer Service Provider, J.O. Thomas and Associates can 
be reached at 1-866-930-4000.

Primary designated landing sites will include:
Vancouver: Canfisco Plant, Aero Trading Plant, West pine Fisheries, World Wide 
Fisheries, and South Side Seafoods
Richmond: Canfisco Plant, Blundell Seafoods, Orca Seafoods, Grand Hale Seafoods 
Steveston: Steveston Seafood Auction, 7th Avenue Wharf
Delta: Lions Gate Fisheries, and SM Products 
Albion/Maple Ridge: Sea Fresh Fish

Designated Packers will include the following vessels:
(Vessel Name, VRN, and Company)		

Canfisco:
Chiller-90094		
Slush-90093			
Big Mike-90125		
Delta Queen V-90158		  	
Canoe Pass Co-op-90645		
Backlash-91144
Pacifica-311465
Nimpkish Producer-20532
Hesquiat-90388

French Creek Seafoods:
Elva M II-90714		
Avisa-90555		  	
Western Mist-24388
Katlin-90616

Silver Totem-27234 (Sea Fresh Fish Ltd)	
Ryan D-24737 (Sea Fresh Fish Ltd)	

Grand Hale Seafood:		
Autumn Winds				
Centurion 3-90963 			
Vanishing Breed-90674

Sable Lady-26018(S&S Seafood Canada)

Wespak-90633 (Areo Trading Co. Ltd)
Ocean Mistress-23265 (Areo Trading Co. Ltd)
Kanaka Bay-25632 (7seas)
North Wind-910782 (7seas)
Supreme No 1-91078(Shearer Seafood Products Ltd)
Chilco Lake-910692 (SeafoodClub.com)

Packer vessels must be able to facilitate an observer from the Landing Observer 
Service Provider J.O. Thomas and Associates so they can perform the 
catch validation required in this fishery.  Packer vessels not willing to take 
an observer onboard will be removed from the designated packer list.  

Secondary designated landing sites will include:
Ladner: 3383 River Road West
Ladner: 3437 River Road West
Ladner: Ladner Harbour Authority, Fisherman's Wharf
Westham Island:  4858 Savage Road (unloading dock)
Delta: Gunderson Slough in Annieville
Delta: Westham Island Net Shed, 3350 Westham Island Road
Delta: Westham Island, 4835 Kirkland Road
Delta: 9300 Alaska Way 

Pitt River (Mouth): dock at 1101 Pitt River Road
Maple Ridge: Kanaka Wharf at South end of McKay Avenue, Albion Wharf at South 
end of 240th Avenue
Maple Ridge: 23970 River Road
Langley (East):  McIvor's Landing
Mission: Net Float at foot of Donnateli Avenue (North side of Fraser River, 
approx. ½ mile upstream from mouth of Stave River)
Gibson's Landing: 1397 Robert's Creek
Steveston: Shed 39, Dyke Road


NOTE:
1.  Fishermen must be aware of the requirements set forth in the Conditions of 
2014-15 Salmon Area E licence. It is the responsibility of the licence holder 
and vessel master to review their current conditions of licence and to be aware 
of all the requirements that are set forth.

2. Fishermen are reminded that they are required to complete Fishing Activity 
Reports as per the 2014-2015 Conditions of Area E Commercial Salmon Licence. 
Fishing activity reports must be recorded in the harvest log and reported to 
the Catch Reporting Service Provider (AMR at 1-888-387-0007). Vessel masters 
using electronic harvest logs must submit this information by digital 
transmission to the Salmon Fishery Database in a properly encoded electronic 
mail message.  

3.  Within 24 hours of the end of a fishing trip and prior to commencing a 
subsequent fishing trip, the vessel master shall phone in an End Fishing 
Report. Should a vessel master decide not to fish after having obtained a Trip 
Identification Number the vessel master shall phone in a Trip Cancellation 
Report. 
 
4.  Fishers are requested to retain all dead birds which are entangled and to 
release live and unharmed birds by placing them in the water.  Please check all 
birds for metal bird bands (rings) on the leg.  If a bird is banded please 
contact Laurie Wilson with the band number and capture date and location at 1-
866-431-2473 (BIRD) or by the email below.  Handle birds with gloves, double 
bag dead birds and label each bird with date, time, and location and store them 
on ice.  Please call your local charter patrol to organize pick-up or drop them 
off at a local DFO office.  Alternatively, please send photographs of birds 
with a reference object such as a coin, and the date, time and location to 
laurie.wilson@ec.gc.ca.  Your names and vessel names do not need to be 
identified or included.

5.  Fisheries and Oceans Canada is interested in reports of sea turtles in BC 
waters.  By documenting sightings we are able to learn more about how, when, 
and where these turtles are using our waters.  If you see or entangle a sea 
turtle, please call this toll-free phone number: 1-866-I SAW ONE (1-866-472-
9663).  Please include information such as the type of sea turtle seen (i.e. 
leatherback), the location, and time of sighting and if entanglement has 
occurred.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Barbara Mueller, Resource Manager, Lower Fraser Area (604)666-2370 

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0896
Sent August 26, 2014 at 1610