Fishery Notice

Soft-shell Area 10, (McIntyre Bay) opens to the commercial harvesting of 
Dungeness and Red Rock crab as of 08:00 hours September 1, 2017. 

Upon this date all of Area "A" excluding Naden Harbour and permanent closure 
areas are open for Area "A" commercial harvesting.

Soft-shell Area 10, (McIntyre Bay) is described as those portions of Subareas 1-
5 and 101-4 to 101-10 that lie:
east of the meridian passing through 132°04' west longitude, and west of the 
meridian passing through 131°30' west longitude, 
except for that portion of Subarea 101-10 that lies southeasterly of a line
that begins at	54°09' N	131°40' W	[Rose Spit]
then to		54°12' N	131°38' W
then to		54°14.9' N	131°30.7' W.

Variation Order 2017-416 in effect.


Crab Area "A" remains closed in the following areas:


Soft-shell Management Area 12: Naden Harbour (PFMA 1-4)

Those waters of Naden Harbour and adjacent waters lying southerly of a line 
that begins at 54°02.830'N 132°34.166'W [Mary Point] then to 54°03.010'N 132°
32.731'W [Deepwater Point].

First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closures:

Subarea 2-1
Those waters of Skidegate Inlet and adjacent waters lying westerly of a line 
that begins at 53°25.854'N 131°54.640'W [Lawn Point] then southerly following 
the surfline to 53°15.632'N 131°46.232'W [surfline] then true west to 53°
15.632'N 131°49.290'W [Spit Point] and easterly of the meridian passing through 
132°16.966'W at McLellan Point.

Subarea 2-2
Those waters inside a line that begins at 53°15.632'N 131°49.290'W [Spit Point] 
then true east to 53°15.632'N 131°46.232'W [surfline] then southerly following 
the surfline to 53°06.533'N 131°38.748'W [Gray Point] then northerly following 
the shoreline to the beginning point.

Subarea 2-3
Those waters of Cumshewa Inlet and adjacent waters lying westerly of a line 
that begins at 53°06.533'N 131°38.748'W [Gray Point] then southerly following 
the surfline to 52°57.832'N 131°32.897'W [surfline] then true west to 52°
57.832'N 131°36.199'W [Skedans Point] and easterly of the meridian passing 
through 131°50.320'W at Conglomerate Point.

Sub-area 2-4
Those waters of Cumshewa Inlet and adjacent waters lying westerly of the 
meridian passing through 131°50.320'W at Conglomerate Point and easterly of a 
line that begins at 53°01.476'N 131°57.690'W [near Barge Point] then to 53°
00.859'N 131°55.969'W [Louise Island].

Subarea 2-63
Those waters of Buck Channel and adjacent waters inside a line that begins at 
53°09.121'N 132°37.757'W [surfline] then true east to 53°09.121'N 132°35.137'W 
[Tcenakun Point] then following the southerly shoreline of Chaatl Island to 53°
07.576'N 132°24.043'W [Chaatl Island] then true east to 53°07.576'N 132°
23.622'W [Demariscove Point] then westerly following the shoreline to 53°
05.732'N 132°34.496'W [Buck Point] then northerly following the surfline to the 
beginning point.

Subarea 2-64
Those waters of Skidegate Channel inside a line that begins at 53°10.603'N 132°
33.832'W [Ells Point] then southeasterly following the shoreline to 53°09.163'N 
132°30.818'W [Mercer Point] then to 53°08.687'N 132°29.959'W [Newton Point] 
then true south to 53°07.704'N 132°29.959'W [Chaatl Island] then following the 
northerly shoreline to 53°09.121'N 132°35.137'W [Tcenakun Point] then to the 
beginning point.

Subarea 2-65
Those waters of Dawson Inlet and Dawson Harbour lying northerly of a line that 
begins at 53°09.163'N 132°30.818'W [Mercer Point] then to 53°08.687'N 132°
29.959'W [Newton Point].

Subarea 2-66
Those waters of Skidegate Channel lying easterly of the meridian passing 
through 132°29.959'W at Newton Point and westerly of a line that begins at 53°
07.576'N 132°24.043'W [Chaatl Island] then true east to 53°07.576'N 132°
23.622'W [Demariscove Point] then true north to 53°08.316'N 132°23.622'W 
[Graham Island].

Subarea 2-67
Those waters of Skidegate Channel and adjacent waters lying easterly of the 
meridian passing through 132°16.966'W at McLellan Point and westerly of the 
meridian passing through 132°23.622'W at Demariscove Point.

Subarea 2-77
Those waters of Shields Bay inside a line that begins at 53°20.424'N 132°
26.568'W [Dawson Head] then true north to 53°21.050'N 132°26.569'W [Graham 
Island] then following the shoreline of Shields Bay to 53°19.419'N 132°27.322'W 
[Graham Island] then true north to 53°19.476'N 132°27.322'W [Shields Island] 
then following the westerly shoreline of Shields Island to the beginning point. 

Bowie Seamount:
Area bounded by a series of rhumb lines drawn from a point 53°03207.63 N, 135°
50225.93 W, to a point 53°16220.93 N, 134°59255.43 W, then to a point 53°392
49.23 N, 135°17204.93 W, then to a point 53°39218.03 N, 135°53246.53 W, then to 
a point 53°52216.73 N, 136°30223.13 W, then to a point 53°49219.63 N, 136°472
33.13 W, then to a point 53°40202.53 N, 136°57203.53 W, then to a point 53°132
59.23 N, 136°10200.03 W, then back to the point of commencement as laid out in 
the Bowie Seamount Marine Protected Area Regulations (Marine Protected Area).

Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site:

(1) Burnaby Narrows
Those waters of Subareas 2-13 and 2-16 inside a line commencing at 52°23.049 
minutes N and 131°23.438 minutes W east to 52°23.077 minutes N and 131°22.908 
minutes W, following the southern shoreline of Kat island east to 52°23.107 
minutes N and 131°22.274 minutes W, then east to 52°23.295 minutes N and 131° 
21.34 minutes W, following the western shoreline of Burnaby Island south to 52° 
20.951 minutes N and 131°20.509 minutes W, then west to 52°20.733 minutes N and 
131°21.072 minutes W, and then north following the eastern shoreline of Moresby 
Island back to the point of commencement. 

(2) Louscoone Estuary
Those waters of Subareas 2-33 and 2-34 north of a line drawn from 52°11.836 
minutes N and 131°15.658 minutes W east to 52°12.271 minutes N and 131°14.594 
minutes W. 

(3) Flamingo Estuary
Those waters of Subarea 2-37 north of a line drawn from 52°14.456 minutes N and 
131°22.234 minutes W southeast to 52°14.246 minutes N and 131°21.489 minutes W. 

(4) Gowgaia Estuary
Those waters of Subarea 2-41 east of a line drawn from 52°24.944 minutes N and 
131°32.138 minutes W southeast to 52°24.238 minutes N and 131°32.024 minutes W 
[Gowgaia Estuary].

(5) Cape Saint James
Those waters of Subareas 2-19, 102-3, 130-3 and 142-1 inside a line commencing 
at 51°56.523 minutes N and 131°01.522 minutes W, southwest to 51°55.627 minutes 
N and 131°02.574 minutes W, then southeast to 51°52.5 minutes N and 130°57.919 
minutes W, then south to 51°51.676 minutes N and 130°57.805 minutes W, the 
southeast to 51°50.349 minutes N and 130°56.442 minutes W, then northeast to 51°
51.062 minutes N and 130°54.717 minutes W, then north to 51°53.888 minutes N 
and 130°55.608 minutes W, then northwest to 51°58.671 minutes N and 130°59.464 
minutes W, and then west to 51°58.743 minutes N and 131°00.606 minutes W, and 
then following the southern shore of Kunghit Island west to the point of 
commencement.

(6) SGang Gwaay
Those waters of Subareas 2-31 and 142-1 inside a 3km radius from the centre 
point on Anthony Island located at 52°05.655 minutes N and 131°13.178 minutes 
W. 

Hecate Strait Queen Charlotte Sound Glass Sponge Reef Areas:

Areas closed are as laid out in the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound 
Glass Sponge Reefs Marine Protected Area Regulations and are described as 
follows:

Northern Reef Area described as;

bounded by a series of rhumb lines drawn from a point 53º11'52.9" North 
latitude and  130º19'47.2" West longitude, to a point having coordinate values 
of 53º09'22.0" North latitude and  130º18'53.0" West longitude, then to a point 
having coordinate values of 53º02'54.5" North latitude and  130º25'16.2" West 
longitude, then to a point having coordinate values of 53º03'06.9" North 
latitude and  130º30'35.6" West longitude, then to a point having coordinate 
values of 53º07'17.8" North latitude and  130º42'03.2" West longitude, then to 
a point having coordinate values of 53º07'44.5" North latitude and  
130º46'26.5" West longitude, then to a point having coordinate values of 
53º13'28.7" North latitude and  130º47'28.7" West longitude, then to a point 
having coordinate values of 53º19'20.0" North latitude and  130º54'24.2" West 
longitude, then to a point having coordinate values of 53º24'05.4" North 
latitude and  130º48'37.8" West longitude then to a point having coordinate 
values of 53º23'40.7" North latitude and  130º42'52.2" West longitude then to a 
point having coordinate values of 53º18'42.5" North latitude and  130º38'09.3" 
West longitude, then to a point having coordinate values of 53º15'20.6" North 
latitude and  130º33'01.3" West longitude, then back to the point of 
Commencement EXCEPT those waters below a depth greater than 100m from the 
surface inside the line delineating the Northern Reef Core Protection Zone 
which is closed to all commercial, recreational and aboriginal fishing (as 
described above).

Central Reefs Area described as;

bounded by a series of rhumb lines drawn from a point 52º00'24.4" North 
latitude and  129º14'12.6" West longitude, to a point having coordinate values 
of 51º55'50.5" North latitude and  129º18'13.8" West longitude, then to a point 
having coordinate values of 51º51'32.5" North latitude and  129º36'37.4" West 
longitude, then to a point having coordinate values of 51º53'00.7" North 
latitude and  129º44'03.4" West longitude, then to a point having coordinate 
values of 52º05'14.1" North latitude and  129º36'14.1" West longitude, then to 
a point having coordinate values of 52º08'46.0" North latitude and  
129º33'33.5" West longitude, then to a point having coordinate values of 
52º15'42.6" North latitude and  129º44'12.3" West longitude, then to a point 
having coordinate values of 52º29'35.4" North latitude and  129º52'32.7" West 
longitude, then to a point having coordinate values of 52º32'05.4" North 
latitude and  129º53'06.2" West longitude, then to a point having coordinate 
values of 52º34'05.6" North latitude and  129º47'51.4" West longitude, then to 
a point having coordinate values of 52º25'42.7" North latitude and 129º35'12.2" 
West longitude, then to a point having coordinate values of 52º20'02.8" North 
latitude and  129º29'51.7" West longitude, then to a point having coordinate 
values of 52º09'52.3" North latitude and  129º25'29.5" West longitude, then 
back to the point of Commencement EXCEPT those waters below a depth greater 
than 120m from the surface inside the lines delineating the Central Reef Core 
Protection Zone A and Central Reef Core Protection Zone B which are closed to 
all commercial, recreational and aboriginal fishing (as described above).

the Southern Reef Area described as;

bounded by a series of rhumb lines drawn from a point 51º24'44.2" North 
latitude and  128º47'58.3" West longitude, to a point having coordinate values 
of 51º18'32.5" North latitude and  128º40'35.6" West longitude, then to a point 
having coordinate values of 51º14'57.6" North latitude and  128º47'01.2" West 
longitude, then to a point having coordinate values of 51º14'33.9" North 
latitude and  128º55'45.5" West longitude, then to a point having coordinate 
values of 51º17'42.3" North latitude and  129º00'29.0" West longitude, then to 
a point having coordinate values of 51º19'24.5" North latitude and 129º00'53.6" 
West longitude, then back to the point of Commencement EXCEPT those waters 
below a depth greater than 146m from the surface inside the line delineating 
the Southern Reef Core Protection Zone which is closed to all commercial, 
recreational and aboriginal fishing (as described above).

All closures described are in accordance with the 2017/18 Crab IFMP.

5.  BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES

" For several years now, a voluntary ferry lane closure between Prince Rupert 
and Skidegate has been in effect year-round, (see map in appendix 7.2 of the 
Crab IFMP). This closure was developed in cooperation with the Area "A" Crab 
Association, the B.C. Ferries Corporation and the Department. To ensure 
continued participation success, Ecotrust Canada (the Area A electronic 
monitoring service provider) also provides immediate software feedback to 
harvesters deploying traps within this closure and further notifies them with 
monthly vessel compliance summary updates.

" Buoy lines should be appropriate for water depth and tide cycles.

" Keep crab buoys brightly painted and in accordance with licence conditions.

" Minimize wake in harbours, particularly at boat launches, marinas and other 
wharves.

" If commercial harvesters are replacing active crab traps with ones that have 
been inactive for more than 18 days they must transfer the RFID chip from the 
active trap to the replacement trap. This RFID replacement activity will help 
minimize violation errors associated with over-soak and trap allocation 
calculations.

6.  Management Measures - Reminders

It is unlawful to commercially set and or commercially haul crab traps prior to 
the Area A Crab opening.  Fishing in a closed time or area may result in 
charges.  

It is unlawful to retain any species that are not permitted on licence 
conditions.  By-catch must be immediately returned to the water using the least 
amount of harm.  

Escape Holes 
Vessel masters are reminded that all traps fished must now have two 105 mm 
escape holes located not more than 100 mm below the top of the frame. 

Soft-Shell Crab
Soft-shell crab may not be retained or possessed in the commercial crab 
fishery.  This prohibition also applies to crab buyers and processors. "Soft-
shell crab" means a crab whose shell is not fully hardened, and yields to 
finger pressure.  A crab with a durometer measurement of 70 units or less is 
defined as a soft-shell crab.

Electronic Monitoring
All vessels must have installed an electronic monitoring (EM) system or provide 
100% observer coverage

The service provider for Area A is Ecotrust Canada (250-624-4191) 
This service provider can provide EM coverage, trap tags, enter logbook and 
hail data, and conduct biological sampling with designated observers.

Service providers may require additional information as part of their agreement 
with licence eligibility holders to ensure that observers can locate the active 
vessels for the on-board biological data collection requirement and to ensure 
proper delivery of the electronic monitoring program.

Trip Hails
The vessel master shall provide oral reports to the service provider as per the 
2016 Conditions of Commercial Crab Licence. 

Harvest Logs
The vessel master must maintain a crab harvest log of all harvest operations 
and provide this information in both hard (paper) copy and electronic copy to 
the Department. 

Catch information must be recorded in the harvest log by midnight of the day of 
fishing. The logbook must be kept aboard the licenced vessel.  Logbooks must be 
produced for examination on demand of a fishery officer, or guardian.

Licence holders are reminded that the completed harvest log pages (original 
copy) and electronic copies of the harvest log must be forwarded within 28 
days, following the end of each month in which fishing occurred to:

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Shellfish Data Unit
Pacific Biological Station
3190 Hammond Bay Road
Nanaimo BC V9T 6N7
Tel: (250) 756-7022 or (250) 756-7306

Fish slips Vessel masters are reminded to submit fish slips not later than 
seven days after landing.  Slips must be mailed to:

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Regional Data Unit
Suite 200 - 401 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 3S4 

Further information and requirements are documented in the 2017/18 Crab 
Integrated Fisheries Management Plan and the 2017 Conditions of Licence that 
can be obtained upon request by phoning or emailing Jen Gordon.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jen Gordon
Biologist Biologiste
BC North Coast Area Secteur Côte Nord de la C.-B.
Fisheries & Oceans Canada Pêches et Océans Canada
417-2nd Avenue West 417, deuxième avenue ouest
Prince Rupert, BC V8J 1G8 Prince Rupert, (C.-B.) V8J 1G8
Tel: / Tél: (250) 627-3477
Fax: / Télécopieur: (250) 627-3427
E-mail/ Courrier électronique: jennifer.gordon@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0840
Sent August 21, 2017 at 1231

Return to Main Menu

Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on July 4, 2024 at 0918