Fishery Notice

The Area G troll annual winter fishing period is from October 1 until March 15. 
Area G troll has been open in Areas 123 to 127 and portions of Areas 23 to 27 
daily since October 3, 2014.  Catch and effort has been low.  The current catch 
estimate from October 3, 2014 to February 18, 2015 is 623 chinook. 

As part of the annual fishing plan, Area 123 and Area 124 will close to 
commercial troll fishing effective 23:59 hours Saturday February 28, 2015. 

The following areas will remain open until 23:59 hours Sunday March 15, 2015: 

-Areas 125, 126, 127 and; 

-Area 23 - Subareas 23-3 excluding Uchucklesit Inlet, 23-4, 23-5, 23- 6 
excluding Effingham Inlet, 23-7, 23-8, 23-9, and 23-10 excluding Pipestem Inlet 
and Sub-area 23-11 excluding Ucluelet Inlet;

-Area 24 - Subareas 24-6, 24-8, 24-9 and that portion of sub area 24-2 seaward 
of a line commencing at Starling Point Light then heading 270ºTrue to the 
opposite shoreline of Sydney Inlet;
 
-Area 25 - Subareas 25-6, 25-7, 25-15 and that portion of subarea 25-13 seaward 
of a line commencing from a point(49 50.020 N, 126 57.906 W)at the northeast 
entrance of Rosa Harbour continuing to a point(49 51.577 N, 126 59.640 W) at 
the western entrance of Port Eliza; 

-Area 26 - Subareas 26-1, 26-2, 26-6, and 26-7;

-Area 27 - Subareas 27-1, 27-2, 27-3, 27-4, 27-7, and 27-9.

The target species is chinook.  Incidentally caught chum and pink salmon may be 
retained.  Coho, sockeye and steelhead may not be retained. The minimum size 
limit for Chinook is 55 cm fork length (head on), and 44 cm (head off). 


Variation Order No. 2015-G-TR-WCVI-002

Coho and chinook sub-legal by-catch releases will be monitored and the fishery 
will be shaped to avoid areas of high encounters. 
This fishery could close on short notice based on:
-catch information, including coho encounter rates;
-the number of vessels operating; 
-poor compliance with catch reporting requirements (directed and 
incidental catch which is released) or other conditions of licence

Harvesters are reminded that: 
- commercial trolling is not permitted in Rockfish Conservation Areas. These 
closures are listed at the website address http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-
gp/maps-cartes/rca-acs/index-eng.htm or can be accessed at DFO district offices.
- sampling for coded wire tags from retained chinook is essential. In order to 
facilitate sampling, fishers are asked to call J.O. Thomas and Associates 24 
hours in advance toll-free at 1-866-638-6301 before they land their catch with 
the following information:

Landing location.
Estimated date and time of landing.
Processor/company.
Area(s) fished.
Number of chinook onboard.

Note that calls to this number between Monday and Friday during office hours 
(08:00 to 16:00) will be answered in person. Calls made after office hours and 
on weekends will be directed to a voicemail box where this information can be 
left.

- Freezer vessels are required to retain ALL heads from chinook salmon caught 
and retained. These heads must be delivered at the time of off-loading of the 
salmon catch and be made available for examination by representatives of the 
Department. Contact J.O. Thomas and Associates Ltd. at 1-866-638-6301 between 
08:00 hours and 16:00 hours for instructions relating to these heads. 

Note: Chinook head bags and labels will be provided at no cost by the 
Department, and can be picked up at the following DFO offices between 0800 
hours and 1600 hours:

Commissionaire, 2nd floor reception, 200 - 401 Burrard St, Vancouver;
Commissionaire, main entrance, 3190 Hammond Bay Rd., Nanaimo;
Front Counter, main entrance, 4706 Tebo Ave., Port Alberni;
Front Counter, main entrance, 8585 Wollason Rd, Port Hardy;
Front counter, 417 2nd Ave W, Prince Rupert; 
Front Counter, 137 Bay St, Queen Charlotte City; and 
Front Counter, 4250 Commerce Circle, Victoria

Alternative arrangements for receiving or picking up packages can be arranged.  
Phone DFO toll-free at 1-866-483-9994 for more information.

As an alternative to retaining the whole head from retained chinook, fishers 
can opt to keep the upper jaw and head, from the tip of the nose back to 1 cm 
behind the eye. These "snouts" must be cut from the top of the head, with the 
cut travelling one centimetre posterior (behind) the eye, to the back corner of 
the mouth. There is no need to retain the lower jaws or gill plates.

- 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. 


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Bryan Rusch 250-756-7294

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0115
Sent February 20, 2015 at 1028

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on August 27, 2026 at 0722