Fishery Notice

The 2017/2018 Food and Bait Commercial Plan was approved on November 7, 2017. 

 
OPEN AREAS:

As per Variation Order No. 2017-587, the 2017/2018 Food and Bait Fishery will 
open to fishing by seine from 18:00 hours on November 7, 2017 to 23:59 hours 
February 12, 2018 in the following areas:

Strait of Georgia Licensed ZM Vessels: 

Area 13 - Subareas 13-7 to 13-10, excluding that portion of Subarea 13-7 inside 
a line from a fishing boundary sign at Separation Head to a fishing boundary 
sign at the northwesterly entrance to Deepwater Bay;

Area 14 - Subareas 14-1 to 14-13, and 14-15;

Area 17 - Subareas 17-1, 17-2, 17-3 excluding that portion northeasterly of a 
line from Cayetano Point on Valdes Island to Alcala Point on Galiano Island, 17-
4, 17-5 excluding that portion westerly of a line from Coffin Point on 
Vancouver Island to Yellow Point on Vancouver Island, 17-6, 17-8, 17-9, 17-10 
and 17-17 excluding those portions of the Subareas bounded by a line from 
Dibuxante Point on Valdez Island, thence following the northerly shore of 
Valdez Island to Cordero Point on Valdez Island, thence to the most southerly 
tip of Breakwater Island, thence following the westerly shore of Breakwater 
Island to the most northerly point on Breakwater Island, thence due west to 
Gabriola Island, thence following the southerly shore of Gabriola Island to the 
point of land located at 49 degrees 07.777 minutes N  123 degrees 43.045 
minutes W, thence in a straight line southerly to the point of commencement at 
Dibuxante Point, 17-13, 17-15, 17-16, 17-18, 17-19 and 17-21;

Area 18 - Subareas 18-1, 18-2 excluding that portion northeasterly of a line 
from Collinson Point on Galiano Island to Enterprise Reef Buoy to Crane Point 
on Mayne Island, 18-3, 18-4, 18-5, 18-6, 18-9, 18-11; and, 

Area 29 - Subarea 29-5 only.



QUOTAS:

The initial coast wide quota for the Food and Bait fishery is 4,000 short tons 
in Strait of Georgia (SoG).  Food and Bait access to the Prince Rupert District 
(PRD) area will be provided at the time of roe area selection, when roe seine 
licence holders will have the option to select harvest in the SoG or PRD Food 
and Bait fisheries, instead of the roe seine fishery.  The area selection 
process is anticipated to commence in December 2017.  The SoG and PRD Food and 
Bait allocations would increase after the roe seine licence holders have 
completed their applications and area selections, and opt to harvest in the 
Food and Bait fishery.  The SoG and PRD roe fishery allocations would be 
reduced by the same amount that the Food and Bait fisheries are increased.  Roe 
seine licence holders who choose the Food and Bait fishery option would not be 
eligible to participate in the 2018 roe herring fishery season.


LICENSING:

The overall quota for Strait of Georgia licenced ZM vessels (252 licences) is 
4,000 short tons (0.3968 percent per licence; 15.87 short tons). 

Licence holders and vessel masters are advised to review the licence conditions 
that are issued with respect to the ZM license.


IN SEASON QUOTA MANAGEMENT - South of Nanaimo:

New**  For the 2017/2018 season the in-season quota management will continue.  
There is a reduction in the catch cap from the 2,000 tons level in the 
2016/2017 season to 1,000 short tons for the 2017/2018 season in the area 
described as the waters south of Dodd Narrows near Nanaimo and westerly of the 
Gulf Islands.  The catch cap area includes Subareas 17-1 to 17-9; that portion 
of Subarea 17-16 southerly of a line at Dodd Narrows from Joan Point on 
Vancouver Island easterly to Purvis Point on Mudge Island; Subarea 17-17; and 
Pacific Fishery Management Area 18 (all subareas).  If the catch cap from these 
areas is achieved prior to the scheduled closure date of February 12, 2017 the 
Subareas will be closed for the balance of the season.  Notice of a closure 
would be provided by way of a fishery notice. 

New**  For the 2017/2018 season there will be an additional fishery catch cap 
of 4,000 short tons in Subarea 29-5.

Fishery participant conference calls will be held weekly, the first in-season 
call was held November 1, 2017.  The second in-season call will be held 
November 10, 2017 at 13:00 hours.  All remaining in-season calls will occur 
Thursdays at 14:00 hours beginning November 16, 2017. Please contact the 
resource manager listed below to be added to the call distribution list. 


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Christine Bukta 250 286-5888 or christine.bukta@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1191
Sent November 7, 2017 at 1641

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on June 27, 2024 at 2220