Fishery Notice

Harvesters are hereby notified of the launch of a pilot project aimed to improve the accounting of liced, predated or damaged fish. 
The pilot will come into effect on July 23, 2025 to allow for the evaluation, modification or, if necessary, cancellation of the project. The pilot will include the addition of a test to the hook and line audit that will compare EM imagery to the Fishing Log data for releases that are categorized as liced, predated or damaged. This test will be scored separately from all fishing log to EM releases. The test scores for liced, predated or damaged fish will not count towards the trip or annual score during the pilot project. Tests that do not meet the standards will be forwarded to the DFO Audit Review Board.

Released fish, recorded as liced in the fishing log must be visibly damaged by sea lice, predation or otherwise damaged and be able to be visually confirmed by EM system service provider. If fish are not placed in full view of EM camera it will be evaluated as legal or sublegal released, for species with size limits, or released for those without. Depending on the level of damage, some fish may require more time and/or exposure of the damage in view of an EM camera to allow the reviewer to assign a released catch category. Harvesters may wish to point to or otherwise draw attention to the damage in such cases.

While this pilot is in effect, rockfish may be released but only if they are visibly damaged by sea lice, predation or overwise damaged, categorized as such in the logbook records and can be visually confirmed by EM system service provider. If rockfish are recorded as liced or damaged releases in the fishing log but cannot be confirmed by EM video review, they will be treated as prohibited release of rockfish as per conditions of licence and may be subject to enforcement action.

Harvesters are encouraged to review an updated "Understanding the Audit" document available from the EM service provider that includes a description of this pilot project. DFO will review and evaluate the progress of this pilot project. DFO retains the ability to cancel the pilot project at any point. 


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Gwyn Mason
Halibut, Hook & Line Coordinator 
Phone: 236-334-7534
Email: Gwynhyfar.Mason@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Emma Fisher
Fisheries Management Officer
Phone: 604-353-2521
Email: Emma.Fisher@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Darah Gibson
Sablefish, Hook and Line Coordinator
Phone: 778-953-4968
Email: Darah.Gibson@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0693
Sent July 22, 2025 at 0844

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 30, 2026 at 2109