Fishery Notice

The Area G troll fishery will open effective 00:01 hours January 5, 2018 for 
the winter fishery in the following Areas and Subareas: 

Areas 123, 124, 125, 126, 127; and, 

Area 23 - Subareas 23-3 excluding Uchucklesit Inlet, 23-4, 23-5, 23- 6 
excluding Effingham Inlet, 23-7, 23-8, 23-9, and 23-10 excluding Pipestem Inlet 
and Subarea 23-11 excluding Ucluelet Inlet;

Area 24 - Subareas 24-6, 24-8, 24-9 and that portion of Subarea 24-2 seaward of 
a line commencing at Starling Point Light (49 degrees 23.647 minutes N, 126 
degrees 13.849 minutes W) then heading 270 degrees true West to the opposite 
shoreline of Sydney Inlet (49 degrees 23.646 minutes N, 126 degrees 15.742 
minutes W);
 
Area 25 - Subareas 25-6, 25-7, 25-15 and that portion of Subarea 25-13 seaward 
of a line commencing from a point(49 degrees 50.020 minutes N, 126 degrees 
57.906 minutes W)at the northeast entrance of Rosa Harbour continuing to a point
(49 degrees 51.577 minutes N, 126 degrees 59.640 minutes W) at the western 
entrance of Port Eliza;

Area 26 - Subareas 26-1, 26-2, 26-6, and 26-7; and, 

Area 27 - Subareas 27-1, 27-2, 27-3, 27-4, 27-7, and 27-9.

The target species is chinook.  Incidentally caught chum and pink may be 
retained.  Sockeye, coho and steelhead may not be retained. The minimum size 
limit for chinook is 55 cm fork length (head on), and 44 cm (head off).


Variation Order No. 2018-G-TR-WCVI-001


NOTES:

For the winter fishery between January 1 and March 15, 2018, a maximum catch of 
1,000 chinook has been established at the advice of the Area G harvest 
committee.  Of the 1,000 chinook, up to 500 may come from Area 23.

Coho and chinook sub-legal bycatch releases will be monitored and the fishery 
will be shaped to avoid areas of high encounters. 
This fishery could close on short notice based on:

Catch information, including sublegal chinook or coho encounter rates;
The number of vessels operating; and, 
Poor compliance with catch reporting requirements (directed and incidental 
catch which is released) or other conditions of licence.

Harvesters are reminded that commercial trolling is not permitted in Rockfish 
Conservation Areas.  These closures are listed at the website address: 
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/maps-cartes/rca-acs/index-eng.htm 
or can be accessed at DFO district offices.

Sampling for coded wire tags from landed Chinook is essential.  In order to 
facilitate sampling during the winter fishery, fishers with catch of 30 or more 
fish are asked to call J.O. Thomas and Associates 24 hours in advance toll-free 
at 1-866-638-6301 before they land their catch with the following information:

Landing location;
Estimated date and time of landing;
Processor/company;
Area(s) fished; and, 
Number of chinook on board.

Note that calls to this number between Monday and Friday during office hours 
(08:00 to 16:00) will be answered in person.  Calls made after office hours and 
on weekends will be directed to a voicemail box where this information can be 
left.

Freezer vessels are required to retain ALL heads from chinook salmon caught and 
retained.  These heads must be delivered at the time of off-loading of the 
salmon catch and be made available for examination by representatives of the 
Department.  Contact J.O. Thomas and Associates Ltd. at 1-866-638-6301 between 
08:00 hours and 16:00 hours for instructions relating to these heads. 

Note: Chinook head bags and labels will be provided at no cost by the 
Department, and can be picked up at the following DFO offices between 08:00 
hours and 16:00 hours:

Mail Room, 2nd floor reception, 200 - 401 Burrard St, Vancouver;
Front counter, main entrance, 315 - 940 Alder St. Campbell River;
Commissionaire, main entrance, 3190 Hammond Bay Rd., Nanaimo;
Front counter, main entrance, 4706 Tebo Ave., Port Alberni;
Front counter, main entrance, 8585 Wollason Rd, Port Hardy;
Front counter, 417 2nd Ave West, Prince Rupert;
Front counter, 137 Bay St, Queen Charlotte City; 
Front counter, 12551 No. 1 Road, Richmond; or, 
Front counter, 4250 Commerce Circle, Victoria. 

Alternative arrangements for receiving or picking up packages can be arranged.  
Phone DFO toll-free at 1-866-483-9994 for more information.

As an alternative to retaining the whole head from retained chinook, fishers 
can opt to keep the upper jaw and head, from the tip of the nose back to 1 cm 
behind the eye.  These "snouts" must be cut from the top of the head, with the 
cut travelling one centimetre posterior (behind) the eye, to the back corner of 
the mouth.  There is no need to retain the lower jaws or gill plates.

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 is not required).  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:

Bryan Rusch 250-756-7294

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1301
Sent December 20, 2017 at 1552

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