Fishery Notice

The involvement of the Area B seine fleet in the Alberni Inlet sockeye fishery 
is dependent on the Area B Seine Harvest Committee developing and implementing 
a fishing plan that limits the harvests of sockeye to weekly target 
allocations. This fishing opportunity is possible due to the cooperation 
between Fisheries Management staff and the Area B Harvest Committee to actively 
manage this weekly fishing plan. 

As a result, Area B vessel masters and vessels must have a valid 2017 Area B 
Seine Licence and also be designated by their representative Working Group body 
and subsequently by the Area B Harvest Committee to participate in this 
fishery.  

This fishery will not proceed should undesignated seine vessels attend or 
attempt to participate in this fishery.

The target catch for this opening is 11,580 sockeye; extensions are possible.

On July 13, 2017, Department staff met with the Area 23 Harvest Committee to 
discuss fishery planning for Area 23 Somass Sockeye. The attendees at this 
meeting were representatives from the Tseshaht, Hupacasath and Maa-nulth First 
Nations and stakeholders from commercial and recreational fishery committees.  

The pre-season forecast for Somass sockeye was 172,000. A run reforecast was 
provided of 350,000 which is up 50,000 from last week. A conservative 50% run 
timing date of June 22 was adopted based on the continued low proportion of 4 
year old fish returning.

Area 23 - Alberni Inlet

The seine fishery will open from 10:00 hours July 16 to 14:00 hours July 16, 
2017 or until the target catch is reached whichever occurs first, in the 
following areas:

In that portion of Subarea 23-1 bounded in the north by a line from Polly Point 
to Stamp Point and in the south by a line from Dunsmuir Point light to a point 
located at 49 degrees 09.660 minutes North, 124 degrees 47.720 minutes West on 
the east side of Alberni Inlet north of China Creek;

In that portion of Subarea 23-2 bounded on the north by a line from the Light 
at Hocking Point then drawn easterly 90 degrees true to a point on the opposite 
shore located at 49 degrees 05.260 minutes north and 124 degrees 49.158 minutes 
West and, bounded on the south by a line beginning at the navigational light at 
Bilton Point then westerly across the inlet to the opposite shore to a point 
located near Coleman Creek at 49 degrees 00.346 minutes North and 124 degrees 
51.495 minutes West.

The seine fishery will open from 14:00 hours July 16 to 18:00 hours July 19, 
2017 or until the target catch is reached whichever occurs first, in the 
following areas: 

In that portion of Subarea 23-1 bounded in the north by a line from Polly Point 
to Stamp Point and in the south by a line from Arden Creek (49 degrees 08.489 
minutes North, 124 degrees 48.725 minutes West) to a point on the opposite 
shore south of Underwood Cove (49 degrees 08.575 minutes North, 124 degrees 
47.533 minutes West); and

In that portion of Subarea 23-2 bounded on the north by a line from the Light 
at Hocking Point then drawn easterly 90 degrees true to a point on the opposite 
shore located at 49 degrees 05.260 minutes north and 124 degrees 49.158 minutes 
West and, bounded on the south by a line beginning at the navigational light at 
Bilton Point then westerly across the inlet to the opposite shore to a point 
located near Coleman Creek at 49 degrees 00.346 minutes North and 124 degrees 
51.495 minutes West.

Minimum bunt mesh size is 70 mm. The minimum net length is 270 metres and a 
minimum depth of 20 metres. The maximum net length is 400 metres and a maximum 
depth of 52 metres. The target species is sockeye. Coho, pink, chum, chinook 
and steelhead may not be retained.

All catch must be brailed and the use of power skiffs is approved.

Variation Order No. 2017-SAL-23-SN-01, 2017-SAL-23-SN-02  


Notes:
For 2017 there are mandatory logbooks and dockside monitoring for all sockeye 
seine openings in Alberni Inlet.  Please contact JO Thomas and Associates to 
arrange for dockside monitoring at 1-866-930-4000 and phone 1-877-280-3474 to 
obtain a Logbook. Fishers must hail their catch to a service provider within 24 
hours of the closure of the fishery.

A large recreational fleet is expected to be fishing in and near the areas open 
to seine fishing. Vessel masters are requested to avoid fishing near 
concentrations of recreational vessels and to travel at slow speed to minimize 
wake height when transiting through the recreational fishery.

Please note that all salmon seine fisheries have requirements for recording and 
reporting. See FN0565 and FN0580 outlining these changes for Area B fishers. 
Refer to your 2017/2018 Area E conditions of licence for complete changes.

Please note changes to transporting of salmon.  Please see FN0157 and Part III 
of your Conditions of Licence for additional details.  Instructions for the 
Salmon Transfer Log may be found on our web page in section 'Additional 
Licensing Services Forms' at:http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/licence-
permis/licence-commercial-eng.html.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) 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 ECCC 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 ECCC directly by calling the Wild Bird 
Mortality Reporting Line 1-866-431-2473 (BIRD). Handle birds with gloves, 
double bag dead birds. Label bag with date, time, location, fishery opening and 
vessel name (Skipper name isn't needed). Alternatively, please send photographs 
of birds with a reference object such as a coin, and the date, time, location, 
fishery opening and vessel name to laurie.wilson@canada.ca. Questions: contact 
Laurie Wilson (laurie.wilson@canada.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).  Please 
include information such as the type of sea turtle seen (i.e. leatherback), the 
location, and time of sighting. 
          
Fishers should be advised that whales can be encountered in the fishing area. 
Fishers should take precautionary measures to avoid fishing near whales to 
avoid potential contact with fishing gear. If a whale becomes entangled in 
fishing gear, fishers should immediately call the Observe, Record, Report (ORR) 
line at 1-800-465-4336. Fishers are advised not to attempt to free the whale of 
the fishing gear as this can pose a serious threat to the safety of the fisher 
and the animal. 

Fishers are advised to notify local DFO managers or patrol vessels to report 
abandoned, lost, or entangled gear.

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


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Peter Hall, Resource Manager, Port Alberni (250) 720 4445

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0658
Sent July 14, 2017 at 1129

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