Fishery Notice

DATE: March 13  

Test Boat Currently in Area 23

March 7 Herring spawn flight was conducted covering Area 23 - 25.  No new spawn 
reported.  The next possible overflight is Monday March 12 (weather dependent).
March 12 Herring spawn flight was conducted covering Area 23 - 25. Spawn 
reported in Nootka Area 25.  The next possible overflight is Wednesday March 14
(weather dependent). 

The shore based dive team aboard the M/V Seaveyor 1 is in Area 27 surveying 
spawn in Forward Inlet.

Dive Vessel Double Decker assessing spawn in Area 25.  
First Nation contractors continue to conduct Herring spawn reconnaissance, 
supplemental surface spawn surveys and FSC catch monitoring on the west coast 
of Vancouver Island in:
Area 23;
Area 24;
Area 25.


AREA 23 - Barkley Sound
3000 tons 

From Cabbage Rocks to St Innes (Test Vessel)
March 8 - Test Boat returned to Area 23
March 12 - Test vessel proud Canadian charter complete.
TEST 1: Feb 20 on 800 tons at Cabbage Rocks: 3.0%; 19.5cm; 62m:55f;13-2-41-2-6 
(24.2g:79.8g)
TEST 2: Feb 20 on 300 tons at Cabbage Rocks: 7.5%; 20.0cm; 48m: 44f;25-3-16-0-1 
(29.7g:107.7g)
TEST 3: Feb 20 on 300 tons at St Ines: 5.8%;20.8cm;50.7m:39f;18-2-18-0-1
(31.4g:110.7g)
TEST 4: Feb 21 on 1000 tons at Food Islets: 5.3%;20.2cm;48m:52f;21-4-27-0-1 
(24.9g:99g)
TEST 5: Feb 21 on 500 tons at David Island: 7.7%;20.5cm;58m:40f;28-3-9-0-1 
(27.7g:100.7g)
Test 19: Mar 09 on 50 ton at Forbes Island; 9.8%;19.5cm;64m:57f;49-4-4-1-9 
(19.9gm:76gm)
Test 20: Mar 11 on 300 ton at Food Islets;7.5%;19.3cm;73m:45f;41-0-4-0-2 
(18.6gm:83.4gm)


AREA 24 - Clayoquot Sound
5000 tons (Test vessel estimate)

Fish located mostly near Sydney Inlet
March 5 - Some smaller fish showing in Area 24 ( possibly new fish)
MARCH 12- Spawn reported in Hesquiaht Harbour
Test 6: Feb 24 on 200 ton at Hootla Kootla :2.7%; 21cm; 37m:47f;7-6-35-0-0 
(36.5gm
TEST 7: Feb 24 on 800 tons at Starling Point: 4.8%; 21.3cm; 47m:43f;13-7-23-0-0 
(37.4g:113.6g)
TEST 8: Feb 24 on 1000 tons at Starling Point: 5.4%; 21.1cm; 42m:45f;16-5-24-0-
0 (34.0g:115.7g)
Test 17: Mar 6; on 400 tons at Baseball Bay; 11%; 20.6cm; 43m;41f;38-2-1-0-0 
(29.3:114.3)


AREA 25 - Nootka Sound
15,000 tonnes (estimated by test vessel)

March 12- Dive vessel Double decker surveying Spawn at southern tip of Strange 
Island dive halted due to active spawn in area.  There was also active spawn 
near the northern tip of Strange Island.
March 12 spawn reported by flight on northern and southern tip of strange 
Island and at McKay bay near friendly Cove.
March 13 local charter reports spawn at Jewitt Cove in Tahsis Inlet.
Dive vessel Double Decker in area assessing spawn. 
TEST 9: Feb 25 on 3000 tons at Saavedra Islands: 3.8%; 21.5cm; 42m:45f;11-6-26-
2-0 (38.3gm:120gm) 
TEST 10: Feb 25 on 5000 tons at Nootka Cannery: 4.7%; 20.8cm; 37m:53f;14-9-30-1-
0 (35gm: 111gm)
Test 15: Mar 4 on 600 tons at San Rafael Island: 12.2; 21.2;38m:41f;37-2-3-0-0 
(33gm 125gm) 


AREA 25 - Esperanza Inlet
4500 tons (estimated by test vessel)

March 5 - 4 nautical miles of spawn observed by spawn flight in Nuchatlitz.
March 7 - survey dive vessel Double Decker assessing spawn in Nuchatlitz area.
March 11 - Spawn survey in Nuchatlitz complete.  
Test 11: Feb 26 on 1000 tons at Centre Island 10.5 % 20.8 cm 40m 46f;36-1-9-4-2
(29.4gm:111gm)
Test 12: March 2 on 300 ton at Double Island 10.7% 20.9 cm 40m 43f;40-1-3-1-0 
(27.4gm:118gm)
Test 13: March 2 on 300 ton at Flower Islets 10.8% 21.0 cm 43m 44f;39-1-3-2-0 
(27gm:114gm)


AREA 27 - Quatsino Sound

March 12- Vessel based Dive survey in Area 27.
March 6 - spawn reported in Brooks Bay Rockfish Closed Area  
No Spawn on Kelp operating in area 27 this year.

TOTAL WCVI: 27,500 tons

PLEASE NOTE: The primary objective of the Herring test seine vessel program is 
to collect herring biological samples from Areas 23-25 for stock assessment 
purposes (e.g. size of fish, age distribution of fish in each sample).  Herring 
stock locations and estimates are collected as part of the stock assessment 
program to locate herring stocks.  It is part of the sampling process to 
collect biological samples, and do not cover all areas.  The tonnage of stocks 
for each area provided in this notice are in season estimates only, and do not 
reflect the biomass of stocks in the area.  The estimates of stock biomass will 
be provided in the analysis which will be undertaken in the post season period, 
following the collection of biological samples as well as herring spawn 
distribution and abundance data. 
The vessel selected to collect biological samples for Herring stock assessment 
in 2018 is the F/V Proud Canadian with skipper Philip Dupuis.  The test vessel 
will operate on WCVI for 20 days in 2018.  No fish will be retained for sale. 

ROE TEST CODE:Date;Location;roe yield;fish size;males:females;#1-#2-#3-#spawned-
#juvenile;(roe weight gm:fish weight gm)

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Mike Spence DFO Port Alberni 250 720 4448

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0184
Sent March 13, 2018 at 1102

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on April 18, 2026 at 0217