Fishery Notice

The Area G Harvest Committee met May 2, 2017 to discuss fishing plans for the 
ongoing chinook fishery.  It was decided that the majority of Area 123 with the 
exception of Zone 16 will remain closed.  That portion of Zone 16 within Area 
123 will open effective 00:01 hours May 7, 2017 as described below. Depending 
on catch levels and abundance, consideration may be given for opening 
additional portions of Area 123 later in May.  

Effective 00:01 hours May 7, 2017 and until further notice, the Area G chinook 
fishery is open in the following areas:

Area 123 - That portion of Area 123 known as Troll Zone 16 bounded by the 
following coordinates:  
48 51.671'N and 125 47.741'W
48 46.241'N and 125 44.649'W
48 42.302'N and 125 59.530'W

Areas 124, 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, 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 - Subareas 26-1, 26-2, 26-6, 26-7

Area 27 - Subareas 27-1, 27-2, 27-3, 27-4, 27-7, and 27-9The target species is 
chinook.  Incidentally caught chum, pink may be retained.  All 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-005


Fishers are reminded that conservation measures to further protect Fraser River 
Spring and Summer chinook will likely be in effect. These measures include no 
Area G fisheries in June and monthly boat day limits during the April/May 
fishing period.  The Area G Harvest Committee has developed fishing plans 
assuming that there will be no fishery in June and the 650 boat days assigned 
to the June fishery will be transferred to the April and May fisheries.  As a 
result, the April/May fishery will be limited to a maximum of 1,900 boat days 
or the catch target of approximately 34,000 chinook.

Fishers are reminded that the dockside catch validation pilot program 
implemented in the past three seasons will continue in 2017 from April 19 until 
September 30.  All fish caught under the authority of an Area G licence must be 
delivered to designated landing sites.  Please refer to your 2017-18 Area G 
Conditions of Licence for details.  This program will operate in conjunction 
with the Coded Wire Tag sampling program and will be conducted by JO Thomas and 
Associates.  The ability to utilize the JO Thomas's CWT sampling crew to 
collect catch validation data create efficiencies which help minimize 
validation costs.

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 landed 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 on-board

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 and coho 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 and 16:00 hours for instructions relating to these heads. 

Note: Chinook/coho 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 and 
16:00 hours:

Mail Room, 2nd floor reception, 200 - 401 Burrard St, Vancouver
Front counter, main entrance, 315 - 940 Alder St. Campbell River
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 
Front counter, 12551 No. 1 Road, Richmond
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 and coho, 
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 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.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Bryan Rusch 250-756-7294

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0411
Sent May 2, 2017 at 1436

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