Fishery Notice

The 2024/2025 Pacific Herring Commercial Fishing Plan for the Food and Bait fishery was circulated for review and comment from October 18 to November 17, 2024. Thank you to those that submitted advice and recommendations for the plan during this period. The approved Food and Bait plan can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/c5uve33u5d6z0uxtg0cep/AJTswLffjSi8VuhiEm3Pa_I?rlkey=cx4zujdxweq0u9cycwyu2issp&st=qww8523o&dl=0

As per Variation Order 2024-468, the 2024/2025 Food and Bait Fishery will open in portions of the Strait of Georgia to fishing by seine from 16:00 hours on November 29, 2024 until 23:59 hours February 12, 2025.

QUOTAS:

The quota for the Food and Bait fishery is 2,100 short tons in the Strait of Georgia (SOG). At the request of the Herring Industry Advisory Board (HIAB), 100 tons will be assigned to a single designated ZM licence to support the "Fishermen Helping Kids with Cancer" and "Autism Community Training" charities. 

For the 2024/2025 fishery, roe herring seine licence eligibility holders will have access to an equal share of the respective food and bait and roe herring TAC as determined in the final consolidated (IFMP). Licence eligibility holders may have the option to fish shares associated with their licence in either the Food and Bait fishery or the roe herring seine fishery upon approval of the consolidated IFMP. 

All allocations will be accounted for within the final TAC established for the Strait of Georgia. 

Further details describing the process for selecting how licence shares will be fished will be provided through the DFO Fishery Notice System. 

OPEN AREAS:

Area 13: 
Subareas 13-8 to 13-10; and

Subarea 13-7 excluding:
Deepwater Bay, east of a line drawn from a boundary sign at 50°11.434'N 125°20.268'W on Quadra Island to a boundary sign at 50°10.861'N 125°20.885'W near Separation Head on Quadra Island.

Area 14: 
Subareas 14-1 to 14-13, and 14-15.

Area 17: 
Subareas 17-11, 17-12, 17-13, 17-15, 17-18, 17-19 and 17-21; and

Subareas 17-10 excluding:
the waters of Gabriola Pass bounded by a line from Dibuxante Point at 49°07.625'N and 123°42.913'W on Valdes Island, thence following the northerly shore of Valdes Island to Cordero Point at 49°07.700?N and 123°42.126?W on Valdes Island, thence to the most southerly tip of Breakwater Island at 49°07.546?N and 123°40.897?W, thence following the westerly shore of Breakwater Island to the most northerly point on Breakwater Island at 49°08.360'N and 123°40.872'W, thence due west to Gabriola Island at 49°08.355'N and 123°41.4770'W, thence following the southerly shore of Gabriola Island to the point of land located at 49°07.777'N and 123°43.045'W, thence in a straight line southerly to the point of commencement at Dibuxante Point; and

Subarea 17-16 excluding:
that portion southeast of a line at Mudge Island drawn from Joan Point at 49°08.150'N 123°49.145'W on Vancouver Island northeasterly to a point on Gabriola Island at 49°08.538'N 123°48.312'W.

ELECTRONIC MONITORING:

An alternative to at-sea observers will be available again during the 2024/2025 fishing season. This will include the use of video and electronic monitoring (EM) systems on board vessels. Please note: arrangements for at-sea observer services or EM installation shall be made by contacting the service provider at 604-291-6340 (between 08:00 h and 16:00 h, Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays) at least 72 hours in advance of the intended time of departing port.

UPDATES TO LICENCE CONDITIONS

Fishers are advised that electronic monitoring procedures were added to the licence conditions in 2020/2021, and for the 2021/2022 season the following changes were implemented and continue to be in effect for 2024/2025.

- A provision for electronic monitoring to include real-time vessel location monitoring. 

- A provision to provide a more clear timeline for reconciliation of overages in landed catch. 

Licence holders and vessel masters are advised to fully review the licence conditions that address EM requirements.

IN SEASON MANAGEMENT

Fishery participant conference calls will be held weekly. The first call will be held December 4, 2024 at 14:00hrs, and all subsequent in-season calls will occur on Wednesdays at 14:00. Please contact the Resource Manager listed below to be added to the call distribution list. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Eamon Miyagi 250 203 2543 or Eamon.miyagi@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1292
Sent November 28, 2024 at 1541

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 9, 2025 at 0006