Fishery Notice

Shrimp Management Area (SMA) PRD will open April 1, 2017 under an amendment to 
the current 2016 S or FS licence. All other North Coast SMAs will close 23:59 
hours March 31, 2017.

The early opening is allowed as enough catch ceiling (> 30%) remains to provide 
for an early fishing opportunity as set out in previous Management Plans. Any 
trip started prior to April 1 must be completed prior to 23:59 hours March 31 
and catch hailed to the service provider.

The shrimp by trawl fishery opens 00:01 hours April 1, 2017 for all species of 
shrimp, excluding prawns, by shrimp beam trawl and otter trawl gear, in the 
following North Coast areas:

1. Subareas 3-1 to 3-4 and Area 103.

2. Subareas 4-1 to 4-15 and Area 104 except for the Stephens Island, Hodgson 
Reefs, Gull Rocks, Dunira and Porcher Peninsula RCA Closures.

3. Subareas 5-1, 5-2 and 5-23 except for the West Banks Island, Porcher 
Peninsula, Goschen Island and North Danger Rocks RCA Closures.

Areas and Subareas are described in the Pacific Fishery Management Area 
Regulations. This action is consistent with the 2015/16 Shrimp Trawl IFMP.

Variation order 2017-197 will be in effect. 


Notes:
This notice applies to the Shrimp Trawl fishery in Areas 1 to 10 and offshore 
Areas 101 to 111, 130 and 142 inclusive.

Refer to the South Coast fishery notices for Areas 11 to 29 and offshore Areas 
121, and 123 to 127 inclusive.

In order to participate in these openings, confirmation from the service 
provider is required indicating that arrangements for fishery monitoring 
services (management fees paid) has been made and a valid 2016 "S" licence is 
in effect. Fish harvesters/Licence Holders/vessel owners will use the online 
system (https://fishing-peche.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/) to view, pay for and print their 
commercial fishing licences, licence conditions and/or receipts. 

Prior to annual application for this amended licence, please ensure:
a) Any Ministerial conditions placed on the licence eligibility are met.
b) Any conditions of the previous year's licence such as submission and 
approval of Shrimp Trawl Harvest Logbooks to February 28 and Hail Reports to 
March 31 (all landings reported) have been met.

To confirm logbook approval status please contact the Shellfish Data Unit at 
250-756-7022 or 250-756-7306.

To make arrangements for hails, fishery monitoring and at-sea observer services 
call Archipelago Marine Research at 1-866-377-1400 (08:00 to 17:00 hours, 
Monday to Friday only).

The mandatory by-catch reduction large mesh will be continued for all Otter 
trawl nets to reduce eulachon and other by-catch: the top (hood or upper belly) 
of an otter trawl net shall be comprised of a minimum 4.4 square meter (48 
square foot) panel of plastic lattice with minimum 4 cm square openings, such 
as is found in snow fencing, or large mesh netting hung on the square.

Fish slips (sale slips) are required for all fish and shellfish caught and must 
be submitted within seven days of offloading.

Prior to commencing fishing and at least 24 hours prior to leaving port, the 
vessel master shall obtain a Fishing Hail Number by contacting the service 
provider at 1-866-377-1400 (08:00 to 17:00 hours, Monday to Friday only). 
Earlier arrangements to pick up at-sea observers before leaving port may be 
necessary.

Hails can be made into one Shrimp Management Area only. Other required reports 
(such as to obtain a landing hail number prior to landing) can be made to 1-866-
377-1200, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

Vessels fishing in an area open to prawn retention are restricted to an 
incidental, legal size, possession limit of 100 individual prawns (Pandalus 
platyceros) whole in the shell. When areas open to prawn retention, all prawns 
with eggs shall be released immediately and unharmed to the waters from which 
they were caught.

Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) Closures to fishing with shrimp trawl nets are 
in place coast-wide. Fish harvesters are advised to familiarize themselves with 
these closures, contact the local DFO office or the DFO web site for more 
information. 

Refer to 2016/17 Shrimp by Trawl Integrated Fishery Management Plan for further 
details and management changes for this season or for further information 
contact:
Shrimp Trawl Manager: Dan Clark 250-756-7327
North/Central Coast: Coral Keehn (250) 627-3021
Conservation and Protection: Dale Hunt 250-339-5073
Fraser River: Anna Magera 604-916-6743

Shrimp Information Line: 1-888-978-7888  

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0254
Sent March 21, 2017 at 1549

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Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on July 2, 2024 at 2311