Fishery Notice

Category(s):
ABORIGINAL - General Information
Subject:
FN1159-ABORIGINAL - Invertebrates - Butter Clam - Portions of Area 6 - Gitga'at FSC Harvest - Opening


Under agreement with the Gitga'at First Nation, Fisheries and Oceans Canada 
is opening portions of Area 6 for the food, social and ceremonial harvest of 
butter clams (Saxidomus gigantea) for the Gitga'at First Nation only. Recent 
acceptable biotoxin monitoring results permit this opening. 

Note that portions of Area 5 and 6 are also open to the food, social and 
ceremonial harvest of Cockles (Clinocardium nuttallii) see fishery notice: 
FN1087

A description of the open area will be posted at the Gitga'at Band Office, can 
be obtained from the Gitga'at Fisheries Program, and is listed in the 2019-20 
Gitga'at Intertidal Bivalve Community Harvest Plan. The harvest sites are very 
specific and all harvesters must consult with Gitga'at Fisheries Program staff 
before harvesting. 

Harvesters must be in possession of a valid food harvesting permit from the 
Gitga'at Band Office and are asked to report their harvest quantities to the 
Gitga'at Fisheries Program.  This opening is effective immediately and will 
continue pending on-going acceptable biotoxin monitoring results.

Fishers are advised that bivalve shellfish are susceptible to Paralytic 
Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) and other forms of contamination and closures may 
occur. All bivalve shellfish harvesters must check before harvesting to ensure 
there aren't any closures in the vicinity. For information on the location of 
current marine biotoxin and contamination closures:
-call toll-free 1-866-431-3474
-consult the Shellfish Contamination Closures page on the DFO website at:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/contamination/index-eng.htm
-check with your nearest DFO office.

For additional information fishers should contact the Gitga'at Fisheries 
Program at (250) 841-2500 or Coral Keehn	 at (250) 627-3021.

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1159
Sent November 13, 2019 at 1329