Fishery Notice

Area 6

Gill nets open 06:00 hours to 22:00 hours on August 1, 2017 in that portion of 
Subarea 6-1 inside a line that begins at Emsley Point, thence to Clio Pt Light, 
thence southerly along the shore to a boundary sign opposite Coste Island, 
thence westerly to Coste Point, thence along the shore of Coste Island to Louis 
Point, thence eastward to Legeak Point, thence along the shore to Hopkins 
Point, thence to Kersey Point Light, thence along the shore of Maitland Island 
to 53 degrees 44' 219"N and 128 degrees 58" 482" south of Emilia Island, thence 
to Emilia Island Light, thence along the shore of Emilia Island to the most 
eastern point, thence to Point Ashton, thence northward along the mainland 
shore to Emsley Point. 

Minimum mesh is 149 mm, maximum mesh is 165 mm, maximum depth is 60 meshes, 
maximum hang ratio is 3:1, and the corkline to web distance is minimum 0 cm and 
maximum 45 cm.

Variation order number: 2017-NCSAL-035


NOTICE TO ALL GILL NET FISHERS:

Gill nets in the areas described above are allowed to retain chum, pink, 
chinook and coho.

All gill net fisheries are being conducted with non-retention non-possession of 
sockeye and steelhead. Fishers are required to release all sockeye and 
steelhead to the water with the least possible harm. Operating revival boxes 
are mandatory and may be used to revive fish prior to release.

Fishers are requested to ensure they have an agreement with a processor to take 
their catch, before embarking on this opportunity.

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 fishery officers to provide the Trip Identification Number that 
they received after completing their Start Fishing Report.

Mark Recovery Program

J.O. Thomas will be conducting coho and chinook sampling at selected landing 
sites.  Fishers are asked to cooperate with samplers when requested.

Landed Catch Validation:

For 2017, as a condition of licence, vessels that offload directly to shore-
based landing sites will need to complete their Daily Catch Report prior to 
landing. Vessels that offload directly to packers will have 24 hours from the 
completion of the fishery opening to complete their Daily Catch Report as in 
past years. Please see your conditions of licence for more details.

Should the vessel master be requested by the service provider, an offload 
observer shall be present during offloading of all catch to record the number 
of each species of fish delivered.

The vessel master shall provide an offload observer, a fishery officer or 
fishery guardian attending the landing, safe access to the vessel, the vessel's 
fish holds, freezers and other fish storage areas at any time during the 
landing and at the conclusion of the landing.

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


NOTICE TO ALL GILL NET FISHERS:

Vessel operators are reminded to keep wake and wash to a minimum in Prince 
Rupert Harbour, Porpoise Harbour and Venn Passage, and specifically the Digby 
Island and Metlakatla dock areas.

Vessel operators are reminded to display proper navigation lights and have them 
turned on from sunset to sunrise.  Failure to display proper navigation lights 
is a contravention of the Collision Regulations.

Throughout the fishery opening, on-ground sampling technicians will be randomly 
collecting salmon bio-samples for stock assessment purposes.  Your cooperation 
is appreciated.

Fishers are reminded that a mandatory logbook and phone-in program is in place. 
Note that a phone report is required before starting to fish and for all 
fishing activity even 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.

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:

Corey Martens - 250 627-3404

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0752
Sent July 31, 2017 at 1605

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on July 4, 2024 at 0842