Fishery Notice

Category(s):
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net
Subject:
FN0495-COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net - Chinook - Area 8 - Opening June 5, 2017


The gill net fishery will open for 24 hours, from 18:00 hours Monday, June 5 to 
18:00 hours Tuesday, June 6 in the Bella Coola Gill Net Area, described as: 
Subareas 8-10, 8-11, a portion of 8-12 north of Bensins Island; a portion of 8-
13 north of a line from 52 degrees 00.134 minutes north latitude and 127 
degrees 39.073 minutes west longitude to 52 degrees 00.13 minutes north 
latitude and 127 degrees 41.50 minutes west longitude (formally a boundary sign 
on the southernmost Point of Restoration Bay due west to a boundary sign on 
King Island); and subarea 8-15.  

Minimum Mesh 203mm.  Maximum Depth 60 Meshes.  Maximum Hang Ratio 3:1, Corkline 
to Web Distance Minimum 0 cm, Maximum 45 cm.  

V.O. # 2017-CCSAL-001 


The target species in this fishery is Atnarko chinook. This gill net fishery is 
being conducted with non-retention and non-possession of steelhead and coho.  
Fishers are required to release all steelhead and coho to the water with the 
least possible harm. Fishers are requested to release all live sockeye to the 
water to assist in addressing concerns over a trend to low returns of sockeye.
 
Operating revival boxes are mandatory and all prohibited species captured 
incidentally must be either revived in the revival tank and released, or 
released directly to the water with the least possible harm.

Fishers are reminded that a mandatory monitoring program is in place which 
includes harvest logs and an in-season reporting program. Note that you are 
required to make in-season reports on all fishing activity including a start 
fishing report and a zero catch report if no fish are caught. Failure to report 
zero catches may result in over estimation of total catch. See your conditions 
of licence for more information.

Please note that all salmon gill net fisheries have requirements for recording 
and reporting.  Please refer to your 2017/2018 Conditions of Licence for 
complete changes. There will be a subsequent fishery notice released outlining 
all these changes for fishers.

Please note changes to transporting of salmon.  Please see FN0157 and Part III 
of your Conditions of Licence for additional details.  Instructions for the 
Salmon Transfer Log, and the Salmon Transfer Log may be found on our web page 
in section 'Additional Licensing Services Forms' at:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/licence-permis/licence-commercial-eng.html.


Area C Catch Monitoring Program:

Start Fishing Reports:

Similar to previous years, all gill net vessel masters are reminded of their 
Conditions of Licence that requires them to file a Start Fishing Report prior 
to beginning fishing by either phoning in to Archipelago Marine Research Ltd., 
which is the Catch Reporting Service Provider for 2017, or submitting the start 
fishing report through their e-log system. Start fishing reports are critical 
for the proper management of the fishery to help determine the number of gill 
net vessels participating in an opening. As such, gill net vessel masters may 
be requested by Fisheries Officers to provide the Trip Identification Number 
that they received after completing their Start Fishing Report.

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.

The 24 hour toll-free phone-in line for fisheries notices is 1-866-431-3474.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jeff Radford - 250-799-5345


Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0495
Sent June 1, 2017 at 1253