Fishery Notice

Gill nets open Monday July 13, 2015 from 06:00 hours to 22:00 hours (16 hours) 
and Tuesday July 14, 2015 from 06:00 hours to 22:00 hours (16 hours) in a 
portion of the following areas:

Outside of Area 3:

In the portions of Subarea 3-3 north and east of a line that begins at 
Maskelyne Point on Maskelyne Island, thence west to 54 degrees 39 minutes north 
latitude and 130 degrees 37 minutes west longitude, thence true north to the 
International Boundary. 

A portion of 3-7 south of a line from the southern-most point of Pearse Island 
east to the northern most point of Truro Island thence due east to the mainland 
shore.

Maximum mesh 137 millimeters. Maximum depth 60 meshes, Maximum hang ratio 3:1, 
Corkline to web distance minimum 0 centimeters maximum 45 centimeters; or, 
maximum depth 90 meshes, maximum hang ratio 3:1, corkline to web distance 
minimum .8 meters to a maximum 1.5 meters.

The target species in Area 3 is Nass sockeye

Outside Area 3 possession rules: 

Sockeye, pink, chum and coho retention permitted but non-possession and non-
retention of steelhead. This species may not be aboard a vessel that is engaged 
in fishing unless they are being revived in the revival tank immediately prior 
to release. 

There are a number of weak chinook stocks in Area 3 that are currently in the 
rebuilding phase. Fishers are requested to release all live chinook to the 
water with the least possible harm. Operating revival tanks are mandatory and 
may be used to revive fish prior to release.

Variation Order number: 2015-NCSAL-29
Variation Order number: 2015-NCSAL-30

Inside of Area 3: 
 
A portion of subarea 3-7 north of line from Crag Pt. southeast to Nob Islet. 
thence due east to mainland shore. Southeast of 0.5 nautical mile off the shore 
of Pearse Island (this is a one 0.5 nautical mile ribbon boundary off of Pearse 
Island.

A portion of subarea 3-12 southeast of 0.5 nautical miles of the shore of 
Pearse Island (this is a 0.5 mile ribbon boundary off Pearse Island).

Maximum mesh 137 millimeters. Maximum depth 60 meshes, Maximum hang ratio 3:1, 
Corkline to web distance minimum 0 centimeters maximum 45 centimeters; or, 
maximum depth 90 meshes, maximum hang ratio 3:1, corkline to web distance 
minimum .8 meters to a maximum 1.5 meters.

The target species in Area 3 is Nass sockeye. 

Inside Area 3 possession rules:

Sockeye, pink and coho retention permitted but non-possession and non-retention 
of chum and steelhead. These species may not be aboard a vessel that is engaged 
in fishing unless they are being revived in the revival tank immediately prior 
to release. 

There are a number of weak chinook stocks in Area 3 that are currently in the 
rebuilding phase. Fishers are requested to release all live chinook to the 
water with the least possible harm. Operating revival tanks are mandatory and 
may be used to revive fish prior to release.

Variation Order number: 2015-NCSAL-31
Variation Order number: 2015-NCSAL-32

Harvesters are required to offload before moving from the chum retention area 
to the chum non-retention area. Future chum retention opportunities are 
dependent on fleet compliance.

New for 2015:

Please note that all Salmon Gill Net fisheries have new requirements for 
recording and reporting.  See FN0580 outlining these changes for Area C 
fishers.  Refer to your 2015/2016 conditions of licence for complete changes.

Start Fishing Reports:

All gillnet vessel masters are reminded of their conditions of licence that 
requires them to file a Start Fishing Report prior to beginning fishing by 
either phoning in to Archipelago Marine Research Ltd., which is the Catch 
Reporting Service Provider for 2015, or submitting the start fishing report 
through their e-log system. 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 that they 
received after completing their Start Fishing Report.

Mark Recovery Program

J.O. Thomas will be conducting coho and chinook sampling at selected landing 
sites.  Fishers are asked to cooperate with samplers when requested.

Area C Catch Monitoring Program:

A Catch Monitoring Program will be in place for the 2015 Area 3, 4 and 5 
gillnet fishing season.  The Area C Harvest Committee has selected Ecotrust 
Canada (250-624-4191) as the certified service provider to provide catch 
monitoring services for the 2015 season. 

Landed Catch Validation:

For 2015, as a condition of licence, vessels that offload directly to shore-
based landing sites will need to complete their Daily Catch Report prior to 
landing. Vessels that offload directly to packers will have 24 hours from the 
completion of the fishery opening to complete their Daily Catch Report as in 
past years. Please see your conditions of licence for more details.

Should the vessel master be requested by the Service Provider, an offload 
observer shall be present during offloading of all catch to record the number 
of each species of fish delivered.

The vessel master shall provide an Offload Observer, a fishery officer or 
fishery guardian attending the landing, safe access to the vessel, the vessel's 
fish holds, freezers and other fish storage areas at any time during the 
landing and at the conclusion of the landing.

As per the gill net Conditions of License, harvesters may only deliver to 
designated landing sites.  Companies that have designated landing sites will be 
required to participate in the catch monitoring program.  Failure to 
participate fully will result in a loss of designation and harvesters will be 
unable to offload at your facility.  

The list of designated landing sites is as follows:
Aero Trading, 1080 Skeena, Port Edward, BC V0V 1G0
Canfisco Oceanside, 181 George Hills Way, Prince Rupert, BC , V8J 1A3
Canfisco Seal Cove, PO Box 550, Prince Rupert, BC, V8J 3R5
Canfisco Port Hardy, Jensen Road, Port Hardy, BC, V0N 2P0
Coast Tsimshian Fish Plant, 100 Shashaak St, Lax Kw'alaams, BC, V0V 1H0
Grand Hale Marine Products, 293 Bayview Dr, Port Edward, BC, V0V 1G0 
Prince Rupert Seafoods, 245 Cow Bay Road, Prince Rupert, BC 
Tenerife Packing Company, 870 Skeena, Port Edward, BC V0V 1G0

The list of designated packers is as follows:
Westpak, Aero Trading
Ocean Mistress, Aero Trading
Born Free, Canfisco
Do-Boy Carrier, Canfisco
Pacific Nomad, Canfisco 
Western Commander, Canfisco
Katlyn, French Creek Seafoods / Tenerife Packing Company
Diligence, Tenerife Packing Company / Lions Gate
Sable Lady, Coast Tsimshian Fish Plant / North Delta Fisheries
Vanishing Breed, Grand Hale Marine Products Co. Ltd.
Splendor, Grand Hale Marine Products Co. Ltd.
Western Mist, Grand Hale Marine Products Co. Ltd.

In order to maintain a packer vessel designated status, packer skippers must 
phone in their catch to the Service Provider prior to landing (Ecotrust Canada -
 250-624-4191).

Companies/packer vessels wishing to be a designated landing site for sockeye 
gill net fisheries occurring in Areas 3, 4, and 5, or anyone wishing more 
information, should contact Mark Potyrala at mark.potyrala@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or 
(250) 627-3457. 

At-Sea Observers:

As a part of the 2015 pilot catch monitoring program, at-sea observers will be 
deployed into the Area 3, 4, and 5 sockeye directed gillnet fisheries. All 
vessels are required to take on board an at-sea observer, when requested. 
Please see your conditions of licence for further detail. Conservation and 
Protection staff will be enforcing this regulation in-season.
NOTICE TO ALL GILL NET FISHERS:

Vessel operators are reminded to keep wake and wash to a minimum in Prince 
Rupert Harbour, Porpoise Harbour and Venn Passage, and specifically the Digby 
Island and Metlakatla dock areas.

Vessel operators are reminded to display proper navigation lights and have them 
turned on from sunset to sunrise.  Failure to display proper navigation lights 
is a contravention of the Collision Regulations.

Throughout the fishery opening, on-ground sampling technicians will be randomly 
collecting salmon bio-samples for stock assessment purposes.  Your cooperation 
is appreciated.

Fishers are reminded that a mandatory logbook and phone-in program is in place. 
Note that a phone report is required before starting to fish 
and for all fishing activity even if no fish are caught. Failure to report zero 
catches may result in over estimation of total catch. See your conditions of 
licence for more information.

Environment Canada (EC) is monitoring seabird by-catch to determine potential 
impact on bird populations under current fishing effort and bird numbers. 
Fishers are requested to submit all dead birds entangled in nets to EC for 
species confirmation and DNA analysis to determine the colony of origin. Please 
call your local charter patrol to organize pick-up, drop carcasses off at a 
local DFO office, or contact EC directly by calling the EC Reporting Line 1-866-
431-2473 (BIRD). Label birds with date, time, location and vessel name (Skipper 
name isn't needed). Handle birds with gloves, double bag dead birds, store on 
ice. Questions: contact Laurie Wilson (laurie.wilson@ec.gc.ca, 604-862-8817). 

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 a sea turtle, please call 
this toll-free phone number: 1-866-I SAW ONE (1-866-472-9663), e-mail 
sightings@vanaqua.org or online reporting at www.wildwhales.org. Please include 
information such as the type of sea turtle seen (e.g. leatherback), the 
location, and time of sighting. 

The 24 hour toll-free phone-in line for North Coast fisheries information is 1-
866-431-3474.


FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

Corey Martens - 250 627-3404

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0652
Sent July 10, 2015 at 1554

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