Fishery Notice

Gill nets open for 2.0 hours, commencing 20:00 hours to 22:00 hours Friday 
September 8, 2017 in the following areas:

-A portion of Subarea 23-1, south of a line drawn from Stamp Point easterly 
across the Inlet to the navigation light on Polly Point; 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 Polly Point).

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-15


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") 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'), 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 catch for this opening is 1,760 pcs of chinook.  Extensions and 
boundary changes are possible and will be announced on the grounds by DFO 
management on 78A.

Somass/Robertson Creek Hatchery chinook: 
On September 6, 2017 Department staff met with the Area 23 Harvest Committee to 
discuss fishery planning for Area 23 Somass chinook. The attendees at this 
meeting were representatives from the Tseshaht, Hupacasath and Maa-nulth First 
Nations and stakeholders from commercial and recreational fishery committees.  
The run size remains at 70,000. 

Further fisheries are possible and will be discussed at the next weekly Harvest 
Committee meeting Tuesday September 12, 2017.
Fishers participating in this fishery should read their Conditions of Licence 
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 
licence 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 2016/2017 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, 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.

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 - FN0912
Sent September 7, 2017 at 1302

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on July 2, 2024 at 0549