Fishery Notice

DATE: March 28  

WCVI

The most recent herring spawn flight was conducted on March 27, covering Area 
23 - 25. In Area 23 and 24, no spawn was observed. In Area 25 spawn was 
observed in outer Esperanza in the Nuchatlitz area.

The next possible overflight is Saturday March 30, weather permitting. 

The assessment dive team is currently 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 

The test boat has completed its duties for this year.

Test samples by area:

Area 23 - 5 samples
Area 24 - 3 samples
Area 25 - 7 samples

Area 23 Barkley Sound

6500 tonnes 

March 27: no further spawn observed. 

Area 24 Clayoquot Sound

1500 tonnes

March 27: No further spawn observed. 

Area 25 Nootka Sound

11,000 tonnes

March 27: No further spawn observed.

Area 25 Esperanza Inlet

2600 tonnes

March 27:  Spawn reported by the flight and the Area 25 First Nations Charter 
in Esperanza Inlet in the Nuchatlitz area.  The dive vessel Pachena currently 
in the area to assess the spawn.  

March 28: Dive vessel Pachena reports spawn continuing in Nuchatlitz today. 

Area 27 Quatsino Sound

Spawn reported by a DFO flight on the North side of the entrance to Quatsino 
Sound (West coast Northern Vancouver Island).

Total WCVI: 21,600 tonnes

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 in as part of the sampling process to collect the 
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 2019 is the F/V Proud Canadian with skipper Philip Dupuis.  The test vessel 
operated on WCVI for 20 days in 2019.  No fish were retained for sale.	

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 

Mike Spence DFO Port Alberni 250 720 4448

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0299
Sent March 29, 2019 at 1014

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on June 13, 2026 at 0625