Fishery Notice

Gill nets open for 10 hours, commencing 20:00 hours Tuesday August 29 until 
06:00 hours Wednesday August 30, 2017 in the following areas:
A portion of Subarea 23-1, south of a line drawn from the Clock Tower at 
Harbour Quay westerly across the Inlet to a point located at 49 degrees 13.662 
minutes north and 124 degrees 50.249 minutes west; and a portion of Subarea 23-
2, north of a line from the light at Hocking Point then drawn easterly 90 
degrees true to a point on the opposite shore located at 49 degrees 05.260 
minutes north and 124 degrees 49.158 minutes west.
(Hocking Point to the Clock Tower)

The maximum mesh sizes of 165 mm (6.25") will be permitted to have a maximum 
depth of 90 meshes.  Gill nets with minimum mesh sizes of 171 mm (6.75 inches) 
will be permitted to have a maximum depth of 60 meshes. All gill nets are 
required to be a maximum of 183 m long (600 feet), a maximum hang ratio of 3:1, 
and a cork-line to web distance minimum of 0 cm and maximum of 2.0 m.

The target species is chinook incidentally caught coho, sockeye and pink may be 
retained. Chum and steelhead may not be retained.

Variation Order No. 17-Sal-23-GN-14


Somass/Robertson Creek Hatchery chinook: 
The forecast terminal return of adult Stamp/RCH chinook to Barkley Sound and 
Alberni Inlet in 2017 is approximately 79,000 (range 58,000 to 100,000).  The 
predicted adult age composition is 57% 3 year old, 29% 4 year old and 14% 5 
year old fish.  With this expected age composition, the escapement target is 
approximately 30,000.  Directed chinook fisheries are expected in the terminal 
Alberni Inlet area for all sectors.  However, in-season information from 
escapement monitoring and fishery assessment programs may be used to modify run 
size expectations and adjust fishing plans.

Further fisheries are possible and will be discussed at the next weekly Harvest 
Committee meeting Thursday August 31, 2017.
Fishers participating in this fishery should read their licence conditions 
carefully.

Please note the following Area 23 specific licence condition change from 2016 
that is being continued for 2017: In order to avoid collisions with gill nets 
by transiting vessels, four (4) additional buoys (floats) that are white or 
yellow in colour and at least 60 cm in circumference must be attached to the 
gill net equidistantly between the buoy(s) marking either end of the gill net. 
Please refer to your 2017/2018 conditions of licence for complete requirements. 
Fishery Notice FN0558 outlines activity and catch reporting changes for Area D 
licences conditions in 2017-18. 

Please note that all salmon gill net fisheries have requirements for recording 
and reporting.   See FN0558 and FN0580 outlining these changes for Area D 
fishers.  Refer to your 2017/2018 Area D 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.

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. A local diver has volunteered to remove the 
nets at no charge.

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


FOR MORE INFORMATION:
 
Mike Spence, Resource Manager, Port Alberni (250) 720 4440

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0858
Sent August 25, 2017 at 0955

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on July 2, 2024 at 0603