Fishery Notice

North Coast Herring Update
Area 4 - Big Bay
March 19, 2019: 

Two more test sets were completed today.  Active spawning observed around Burnt 
Cliff Island, South Isle and Bellitti Pt.  Herring moved over the bar from 
Pearl Harbour south to Big Bay.  Using the drone today, small and medium 
schools were observed in the shallows between Burnt Cliff Island and Bellitti 
Pt.  Spot prawn were observed at Belletti Pt.  The vessel will continue with 
sounding from Tree Bluff to Tugwell Island.

Observations:
West of Tree Bluff/Red Canbouy: March 16, estimated 750 t. 
West of Tree Bluff: March 17, 40 to 50 fm broken schools estimated 6000 t, 
broken scratches out deep. 
Tugwell Island: March 17, broken scratches.
Trenham Pt./Hogan,s Ledge: March 16, 1500 t 40-50 fm.
West of Hogan,s Ledge: March 19, estimated 6500 t.
West of Trenham Pt./South Passage: March 17, broken schools estimated 1500 t 40 
to 50 fm. 
Slippery Rock (along 60 fm edge): March 16, NFF.
Big Bay west of South Passage: March 16, estimated 1000 t.
Big Bay Proper: March 18, birds working surface scratches. 
Big Bay Proper: March 19, several small schools moving south toward Big Bay 
from Pearl Harbour.
Cunningham Pass (south): March 16, broken scratches.
Cunningham Pass: March 18, NFF.
Rushbrook Passage: March 18, NFF.
East of Gordon Pt./North End of Finlayson Island: March 16, estimated 400 t.
Sparrowhawk Rock: March 18, estimated 75 t.
Harbour Reefs west of Lax Kw'alaams: March 17, estimated 600 t.
South of Flat Top Island: March 19, estimated 150 t.
Between Flat Top and Mist Island: March 20, Scratches.
West of Pearl Harbour: March 18, NFF.
Between Flewin Pt. and north end of Bernie Island/Haida Bay: March 19, 
estimated 1200 t.

Total estimate: 10,000 t.

Test Sets: 
March 16; west of Tree Bluff;8.7%;183mm;62:60;41-5-14-0-0;(roe 867g:21.25g)
March 17; west of Escape reefs/South Passage;9.3%;183mm;62:57;44-3-10-0-1;(roe 
933g:84.9g)
March 18; West of Haida Bay, 4%;168mm;72:78;29-11-38-0-4(13.65g:65g)
March 19; 1 mile west of Burnt Cliff Island, 12.2%;188mm;50:62;54-3-5-0-0
(22.68g:89.22g)
March 19; West of Escape Reefs, 11%;189mm;51:46;42-2-2-0-0(26.11g:103.14g)

The next notice will be March 21.  

Definitions:
Scratches - Herring present in small schools 1 to 2 tons
Skimmer - Herring spread out near the surface, difficult to quantify
Fish on bottom (FOB) - Herring too close to the bottom to quantify
NFF - No Fish Found
Washed out spawn - Spawn that is coming to an end
Miles - Means nautical miles for this bulletin

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

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jessica Ottley 250-627-3007

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0246
Sent March 20, 2019 at 1215

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 June 13, 2026 at 0625