Fishery Notice

The gill net fishery opens from 06:00 hours to 21:00 hours, August 15, 2017 in 
the following areas:

Fisher/Fitz Hugh Net Area: Subarea 8-3, a portion of Subarea 8-4 east of a line 
from Daedalus Point at 51 degrees 47.93 north latitude and 128 degrees 00.41 
west longitude, to Hergest Point at 51 degrees 49.02 north latitude and 128 
degrees 01.18 west longitude.

Bella Coola Gill Net Area: Subarea 8-10, a portion of 8-11 west of a line from 
52 degrees 23.25 minutes north latitude and 126 degrees 50.68 minutes west 
longitude to 52 degrees 22.24 minutes north latitude and 126 degrees 49.75 
minutes west longitude, that portion of Subarea 8-12 north of a line at 52 
degrees 13.05 minutes north latitude (north of Bensins Island), and subarea 8-
15.  

Minimum mesh is 149 mm. Maximum depth is 60 meshes.  Maximum Hang Ratio 3:1, 
Corkline to Web Distance is minimum 0 cm, maximum 45 cm.  

The target species in this fishery is Bella Coola River chum. 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.
 
Variation Order Number 2017-CCSAL-025


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. 

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 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 
Condition 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.

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 - FN0812
Sent August 15, 2017 at 0937

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on July 4, 2024 at 0900