Fishery Notice

The Area G troll plug fishery will open on 00:01 hours July 27, 2017 in 
portions of Areas 125 to 127 described below. The fishing area may be extended 
August 1 to include portions of Areas 123 and 124 depending on remaining catch. 
The fishery will remain open until the catch target for the July/August fishery 
has been achieved.  

A catch update will be provided as available and the fishery may close on short 
notice. Harvesters are reminded that the WCVI inshore commercial troll 
conservation boundary line will be in effect as described below to protect 
returning WCVI chinook stocks. 

The target catch for this fishery is 16,500 chinook. This target may be amended 
following review of recreational AABM catch to the end of July and may result 
in additional TAC for Area G August fisheries if recreational catch is lower 
than expected.

Effective 00:01 hours July 27, 2017 and until further notice, the Area G 
chinook plug fishery is open in the following areas:

Those portions of Areas 125, 126 and 127 shoreward of a line commencing: at a 
point located at, 50° 47.114' North, 128° 29.024' West (approximately 2.0 
nautical miles west of Cape Scott) then continuing to,
50 degrees 43.895 North, 128 degrees 28.072 West then continuing to,
50 degrees 41.443 North, 128 degrees 25.906 West then continuing to,
50 degrees 38.787 North, 128 degrees 24.879 West then continuing to,
50 degrees 35.258 North, 128 degrees 20.671 West then continuing to, 
50 degrees 31.321 North, 128 degrees 15.760 West then continuing to, 
50 degrees 18.630 North, 128 degrees 01.400 West then continuing to,
50 degrees 05.739 North, 127 degrees 59.339 West then continuing to,
50 degrees 04.812 North, 127 degrees 57.981 West then continuing to,
50 degrees 02.763 North, 127 degrees 48.844 West then continuing to,
49 degrees 59.856 North, 127 degrees 48.844 West then continuing to,
50 degrees 00.322 North, 127 degrees 45.077 West then continuing to,
50 degrees 01.894 North, 127 degrees 42.323 West then continuing to,
49 degrees 56.536 North, 127 degrees 33.396 West then continuing to,
49 degrees 47.509 North, 127 degrees 13.664 West then continuing to,
49 degrees 41.352 North, 127 degrees 04.383 West then continuing to,
49 degrees 32.911 North, 126 degrees 54.415 West then continuing to,
49 degrees 29.735 North, 126 degrees 41.109 West then continuing to,
49 degrees 21.890 North, 126 degrees 40.163 West then continuing to,
49 degrees 20.255 North, 126 degrees 39.268 West then continuing to,
49 degrees 19.124 North, 126 degrees 37.537 West.

Harvesters are reminded that this fishery is a plug fishery only - with the 
following troll gear restrictions: plugs equipped with one single, barbless 
hook. The plug size shall be no smaller than 6 inches (15.2 cm) as measured 
from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail of the plug (excluding the 
hook).

The target species is chinook, incidental catch of chum and pink may be 
retained. Sockeye, coho 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-006


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 08:00and 
16:00 hours:

Mailroom, 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 - FN0663
Sent July 14, 2017 at 1536

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