Fishery Notice

Category(s):
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net
Subject:
FN0579-COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net - Chum - Area 8 - Opening July 1, 2019


The gill net fishery will open for 16 hours, from 06:00 hours to 22:00 hours, 
Monday July 01, 2019 in the following areas:

Fisher/Fitz Hugh Net Area: that portion of Subarea 8-4 east of a line from 
Daedalus Point at 51 degrees 47.93 north latitude and 128 degrees 00. 41 west 
longitude, to Hergest Point at 51 degrees 49.02 north latitude and 128 degrees 
01.18 west longitude, a portion of Subarea 8-4 and 8-3 north of a line from 
Middleton Point at 51 degrees 47.332 and 128 degrees 00.01 to the point below 
Cold Creek at 51 degrees 48.152 and 127 degrees 53.68, and Subarea 8-5.

Bella Coola Gill Net Area: Subarea 8-10, a portion of 8-11 west of a line from 
52 degrees 23.25 minutes north latitude and 126 degrees 50.68 minutes west 
longitude to 52 degrees 22.24 minutes north latitude and 126 degrees 49.75 
minutes west longitude, that portion of Subarea 8-12 north of a line at 52 
degrees 13.05 minutes north latitude (North of Bensins Island), and subarea 8-
15.  

Min Mesh 158 mm. Max Depth 60 Meshes.  Max Hang Ratio 3:1 multistrand, 2.5:1 
Alaska Twist, Corkline to Web Distance Min 0 cm, Max 45 cm.  

V.O.# 2019-CCSAL-006


The target species in this fishery is Area 8 Chum. This gill net fishery is 
being conducted with non-retention and non-possession of steelhead and Coho. 
Fishers are required to release all steelhead and Coho to the water with the 
least possible harm. Fishers are requested to release all live Sockeye to the 
water to assist in addressing concerns over a trend to low returns of Sockeye.
 
Please note that all salmon gill net fisheries have requirements for recording 
and reporting. Refer to your 2019/2020 Area C Conditions of Licence for 
complete details.

Operating revival boxes are mandatory and all prohibited species captured 
incidentally must be either revived in the revival tank and released, or 
released directly to the water with the least possible harm.

Lost fishing gear shall be reported within 24 hours of determining that gear 
has been lost to Fisheries and Oceans Canada by completing and submitting the 
Lost Fishing Gear form available online at 
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/index-
eng.html. For more information, refer to your area conditions of licence. 

Please note changes to transporting of salmon.  Please see Part III of your 
conditions of licence for additional details.  Instructions for the Salmon 
Transfer Log, and the Salmon Transfer Log may be found on our web page in 
section 'Additional Licensing Services Forms' at:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/licence-permis/licence-commercial-eng.html.

As of June 1, 2019 vessels throughout the critical habitat of the Southern 
Resident killer whale, including recreational boats and commercial vessels, 
will be required to stay at least 400 metres away from all killer whales. 
Vessels are also asked to reduce their speed to less than 7 knots if they are 
within 1,000 metres of killer whales in certain areas, and to turn off their 
echo sounders and turn engines to neutral idle if a whale is within 400 metres.

As required by the US Marine Mammal Protection Act regulations, all countries 
exporting fish and fish products to the United States must comply with the 
updated import provisions which include requirements to report and record all 
incidental fishery-related interactions with marine mammals. As such, Canada 
has committed to updating license conditions for all marine commercial and 
First Nation economic fisheries to include reporting requirements for 
interactions with marine mammals. The link to the online National form and 
instructions for filling in and reporting can be found here: 
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/mammals-mammiferes/report-
rapport/page01-eng.html. 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.

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

 
FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Bradley Koroluk - 250-799-5127

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0579
Sent June 26, 2019 at 1556