Fishery Notice

Category(s):
COMMERCIAL - Invertebrates: Clam - Intertidal
Subject:
FN0092-COMMERCIAL - Invertebrates: Clams - Intertidal - Manila and Native Littleneck Clams - Area F - Portions of Areas 23 to 25 - Opening February 11 to 14, 2017.


The following areas will open for commercial Manila and Native Littleneck clams 
by hand picking from 13:00 hours February 11, 2017 to 03:00 hours February 14, 
2017 - three tides in the following areas:

In Area 23:
Subareas 23-3 to 23-5, Subarea 23-6 except that portion northeast of a line 
drawn from a point of land at 48°58.47' north latitude and 125°04.92' west 
longitude to a point of land at 48°58.61' north latitude and 125°05.05' west 
longitude, known as Useless Inlet.
Subarea 23-10.

In area 24:
Subareas 24-3, 24-9, 24-13, 24-14 except Food Social Ceremonial (FSC), 
recreational and park closures as described on pages 17 to 21 of Appendix 1 of 
the 2016/2018 Intertidal Clam Management Plan: Whiskey Jenny Beach, Bawden Bay, 
Whitepine Cove, Stockham Island, Hesquiat Harbour, Pacific Rim National Park, 
Grice Bay, McBey Islets and Dinner Island.

In Area 25:
Subareas 25-3, 25-4, 25-6, 25-7, 25-11, 25-15 except FSC, recreational and park 
closures as described on pages 17-21 of Appendix 1 of the 2016/2018 Clam 
Management Plan: Queen Cove Beach.

Variation Order: 2017-116.

The following areas and subareas remain closed:
Subareas 23-1, 23-2, 23-7, 23,8, 23,9, 23-11;
Subareas 24-1, 24-2, 24-4, 24-5, 24-6, 24-7, 24-8, 24-10 to 24-13;
Subareas 25-5, 25-8, 25-9, 25-10, 25-12, 25-13, 25-14;
Area 26;
Area 27.

Notes:

Harvesting is prohibited in all sanitary contamination closures.

This fishery will only take place provided Biotoxin levels and water quality 
remain acceptable. Harvesters are responsible for checking Fishery Notices for 
the Bivalve Shellfish Marine Biotoxin Updates, as recommended by the Canadian 
Food Inspection Agency and issued by DFO. Areas that are closed as a result of 
the Biotoxin notice subsequent to this notice are not open to this fishery. 
Fishers are advised to contact the local fishery office or check Fishery 
Notices prior to this fishery to confirm the opening.

For descriptions of sanitary and biotoxin closures see the DFO website at
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/contamination/biotox/index-eng.htm 

Shellfish harvesters are advised to monitor weather conditions and warnings and 
to plan their harvesting activities accordingly.

Harvesters should contact their respective buyers and processors prior to the 
fishery to ensure their product will be purchased.

Harvesting on shellfish aquaculture tenures is prohibited without explicit 
authorization of the tenure holder.

All harvesters are requested to be off the beaches by closing time and all 
buyers are requested to conduct buying activities within 12 hours of the 
closure.

Harvesters are also advised to be aware of Olympia oyster populations in 
various locations on the WCVI and to try to avoid impacts to this species while 
harvesting.

Harvesters are also advised to be aware Green Crab in various locations on the 
WCVI and ensure the green crab does not end up in product harvested.

Harvesters are reminded that they need a 2017 Fisher's Registration Card and a 
2017 commercial clam licence to participate in openings must carry valid photo 
identification along with their Fishing licences and meet the Conditions of 
that licence.

This includes:
Wear a high visibility vest with licence number marked on it. 
All containers holding clams shall be marked or tagged with the following 
information:
Licence number, Harvest date, Licence holder's name, beach or location where 
harvesting occurred and the Pacific Fisheries Management Subarea. Tags shall be 
waterproof and information shall be written in water resistant ink. No 
container of clams shall remain untagged during transport to market sale or a 
wet storage location in preparation for market sale.

Fishers should consult the 2016/2018 Intertidal Clams Integrated Fisheries 
Management Plan and a local Fisheries and Oceans Canada office for descriptions 
of closed areas and contact numbers for further information.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dan Clark
250-756-7327.
Dan.clark@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0092
Sent February 13, 2017 at 1346