Fishery Notice

Area G troll has been open in Areas 123 to 127 and portions of Areas 23 to 27 
daily since January 1, 2017 for the winter fishing period.  Catch and effort 
has been low.  The current catch estimate from January 1 to February 20, 2017 
is 164 chinook. 

As part of the annual fishing plan, Area 123 and Area 124 will close to 
commercial troll fishing effective 23:59 hours February 28, 2017. 

The following areas will remain open until 23:59 hours March 15, 2017 or until 
the winter fishery TAC of 1,500 chinook has been harvested: 

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 (49 23.647 N, 126 13.849 W) then 
heading 270 degrees true West to the opposite shoreline of Sydney Inlet (49 
23.646 N, 126 15.742 W).
 
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 - Sub-areas 26-1, 26-2, 26-6, and 26-7

Area 27 - Sub-areas 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. 2017-G-TR-WCVI-002


For the winter fishery between January 1 and March 15, 2017, a maximum catch of 
1,500 chinook has been established at the advice of the Area G harvest 
committee.

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.html or can be accessed at DFO district 
offices.

Sampling for coded wire tags from landed chinook is essential. In order to 
facilitate sampling during the winter fishery, fishers with catch of 30 or more 
fish 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 hours) 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 08:00 
hours and 16:00 hours:

Commissionaire, 2nd floor reception, 200 - 401 Burrard St, Vancouver;
Commissionaire, main entrance, 3190 Hammond Bay Rd., Nanaimo;
Front Counter, main entrance, 940 Alder St, Campbell River;
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;
Front Counter, 12551 No. 1 Road, Richmond; 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@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), 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 - FN0131
Sent February 21, 2017 at 1608

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on July 5, 2024 at 0827