Fishery Notice

Due to lower than expected escapement levels into the Sproat and Great Central 
Lakes, there are no commercial fisheries planned for the week of June 22 to the 
30. Conditions will continue to be monitored daily throughout the week and 
further opportunities or restrictions will be determined at the weekly Harvest 
Committee meetings. The first reforecast will be made next Thursday, June 27 
and weekly every Thursday for the duration of the season. 
 
The Area D fishery on Tuesday June 18 with a fleet of 96 boats caught 
approximately 6800 Sockeye.

The pre-season forecast for Somass Sockeye is in the moderate range with a 
working forecast for planning fisheries of 350,000 Sockeye. Due to an expected 
low proportion of Great Central Lake Sockeye, the recommended management 
forecast for Somass Sockeye is in the "low" zone for harvest management. This 
will be monitored in season and restrictions may be implemented on short notice 
to protect migrating Sockeye.  

The seine test-fishing vessel commenced operations on June 10.  Test-fishing 
information will be available after June 12. A run-size update will be provided 
after June 27. Test-set information will be available on the internet at: 
http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-
mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/salmon/testfish/Sockeye/Area23_seine.htm

The Somass Sockeye in-season stock assessment program will be in place in 2019. 
This program collects escapement, test fishing, catch and environmental 
information on a weekly basis. This information is collected and a reforecast 
will be made after June 27 weekly every Thursday for the duration of the 
season. This may lead to further commercial Sockeye opportunities if conditions 
warrant.

As required by new US comparability requirements, all countries exporting fish 
and fish products to the United States must record marine mammal interactions 
in a consistent manner. As such, Canada has committed to updating licence 
conditions for all marine commercial and First Nation economic fisheries. The 
link to the online National form and instructions for filling in and reporting 
can be found here: 
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/mammals-mammiferes/documents/report/Fish-
Harvester-Form-Eng.pdf for more information, please see FN0388.

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 isn't needed). 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. A local diver has volunteered to remove the 
nets at no charge.

The 24 hour toll-free phone-in line for fisheries notices is 1-866-431-3474.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Mike Spence, Resource Manager, Port Alberni (250) 720 4440

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0563
Sent June 21, 2019 at 0959

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 July 25, 2026 at 2246