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Fishery Notice

Category(s):

COMMERCIAL - Invertebrates: Octopus by Dive

Subject:

FN0542-COMMERCIAL - Octopus by Dive - Coastwide - Fishery Closure

All opportunity to commercially harvest Octopus by dive gear under the 2012/13 
Pacific Region Exploratory Fishery Guidelines will end on July 31, 2013, and 
any future commercial opportunities will follow the Sustainable Fisheries 
Framework and the New Emerging Fisheries Policy.

Recreational harvest and First Nations' harvest for food, social and ceremonial 
purposes remain open where appropriately licensed.

Background:
In November 1999, the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced 
management and licensing changes to the octopus fishery in response to the need 
for a more precautionary and phased approach to developing this fishery.  An 
exploratory fishery for Octopus by Dive was established in 2000.

Science and management information about this exploratory fishery can be found 
on the Internet or is available from Shellfish Resource Managers.

The exploratory fishery was required to:
- submit timely and accurate biological harvest logs, 
- use only approved environmentally benign harvest irritants to harvest 
octopus, 
- meet a minimum size limit for octopus of 2 kg, 
- notify DFO prior to commencement of fishing and each month thereafter, or if 
changing areas, 
- collect biological data, including the sex and maturity stage, for each 
octopus, 
- provide an accurate written report on a fish slip of all fish and shellfish 
caught.

The exploratory fishery has been reviewed and found to have minimal active 
participation, poor monitoring and compliance, and limited biological data 
collected.

Next Steps:
- The coastwide commercial Octopus by Dive Exploratory Fishery will end on July 
31, 2013.
- Any new commercial opportunities will follow the Sustainable Fisheries 
Framework and the New Emerging Fisheries Policy.
- The New Emerging Fisheries Policy requires that any applications for new 
fishery opportunities include a proposal that outlines research, management and 
conservation approaches that will be used in developing this new fishery.  The 
proposal should demonstrate how the phased approach to the policy will be 
followed and how the objectives of the policy will be met.  Each proposal will 
be reviewed by DFO, on its merits, and a decision made on whether or not to 
issue a licence.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jeff Johansen 604-666-3869
Juanita Rogers 250-756-7268

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0542
Sent June 28, 2013 at 1525

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on August 31, 2022 at 2309