Fishery Notice

Salmon - Area B Seine Opening - Area 18 - Cowichan Chum 

The Cowichan River Didson escapement estimate total as of October 29 is 
approximately 100,000 chum with a median forecast above the escapement target 
of 160,000. 

At this time the Area B opening is targeting 45,000 chum salmon.

The seine fishery will open on Thursday November 2, 2017, from 08:00 hours to 
12:00 hours, in the following Areas and Subareas: 

A portion of Subarea 18-7 north-westerly of a line from Hatch Point on 
Vancouver Island, to Cape Keppel on Salt Spring Island and south-easterly from 
a line from a Point on Saltspring Island at 48 degrees 45.210 minutes north 123 
degrees 33.237 minutes west, to Separation Point on Vancouver Island to Cherry 
Point on Vancouver Island. 

There is a 1/2 mile radius boundary in effect at Cherry Point.

Minimum bunt mesh size, 100 mm.  All catch must be brailed and sorted.  
The use of power skiffs is not permitted in Area 18. 

There is the possibility of an extension pending catch rate and vessels 
operating.  Details will be discussed at 10:00 hours Thursday November 2 with 
the subcommittee of the Cowichan Harvest Roundtable. 

The fishery is directed at harvesting chum salmon.  There will be non-retention 
of sockeye, pink, coho, chinook and steelhead.  Fishers are required to take 
measures to ensure that their fishing activities avoid impacts on steelhead as 
per their conditions of licence.  Any steelhead encountered must be released 
with the least possible harm.
  

Variation Order No. 2017-SAL-18-SN-01


NOTE:

Seine vessel masters are reminded that logbooks, operating revival tanks and 
brailing are mandatory as condition of their licence and are legal requirements.

The mandatory logbook and phone-in program will be in effect similar to the 
Johnstone Strait sockeye and pink fisheries.  Vessel masters are reminded to 
provide start and end fishing reports to the catch reporting service provider 
by phoning Archipelago Marine Research Limited (AMR) at 1-888-387-0007.  Vessel 
masters are also reminded that within 48 hours of stopping fishing, or within 
two (2) hours of completing landing of catch from the fishery, whichever comes 
first, to provide an offload catch report to the catch reporting service 
provider with the weight by species (in pounds) of fish landed.  Note that a 
phone report is required for all fishing activity even if no fish are caught. 

Failure to report zero catches may result in the over estimation of total 
catch.  Vessel masters using E-logs must digitally transmit this information 
using a properly encoded electronic mail message.

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 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 is not 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.


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Terry Palfrey (250) 756-7158

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1157
Sent October 30, 2017 at 1554

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 September 28, 2024 at 0805