Fishery Notice

Mid Vancouver Island Chum Update (Areas 14 to 19)

Thursday November 6, 2014

Area 14 

Escapement estimates to date are as follows:  

Puntledge River - 18,000 chum - Target Escapement 60,000.  
Big Qualicum River - 18,000 chum - Target Escapement 85,000.
Little Qualicum River - no new chum information - Target Escapement 85,000. 

Assessment on the Little Qualicum is incomplete as water levels remain too high 
for assessment. All systems in Area 14-16 have high and murky water conditions.

At this time no commercial fishing opportunities are anticipated in the 
upcoming week. If new escapement information becomes available that suggests 
the potential for a commercial opportunity the Area Manager will contact the 
Harvest Committee for Areas B and D for planning purposes.   

Areas 15 and 16 

No assessment information.
 
Commercial fishing opportunities are not expected in 2014 due to low forecast 
levels of abundance.

Areas 17, 18, and 19

Escapement estimates to date are as follows: 

Nanaimo River - 35,000 chum - Target Escapement 40,000. 
Cowichan River - 145,000 chum - Target Escapement 160,000.
Goldstream River - 16,000 chum - Target Escapement 15,000.

The Didson data for the Nanaimo is preliminary and only to October 31. The 
Cowichan/Saanich test fishery was active November 3 and 4. On November 3 six 
sets were made in Area 18 for a catch of 380 chum. On November 4 two sets were 
made in Area 19 which caught 0 chum. There was not an identified build-up of 
fish in the approach areas. The test boat has been stood down for the remainder 
of the season. An Area E gillnet fishery started on November 5 in Area 18 and 
had approximately 60 gill nets fishing. Preliminary estimates of catch for 
November 5 is approximately 6,000 chum. The gill net fishery in Area 18 re-
opened on November 6. No preliminary catch information is available. A Cowichan 
Fisheries Roundtable meeting is scheduled to occur Monday, November 10 and 
details from the meeting will be made available to the Harvest Committee. 
Assessment continues. 

No further commercial fisheries are anticipated for Area 17, 18 or 19 this 
week, however, there is the potential for a commercial fishery in the Cowichan 
area next week. A conference call to discuss Area 18 is set up for Monday 
November 10, 2014 at 11:00 hours.


The next Mid Vancouver Island Chum Update will be Thursday November 13, 2014.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Terry Palfrey  250-756-7158

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1218
Sent November 6, 2014 at 1404

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