Fishery Notice

AREA G WCVI CHINOOK FISHERY CONTINUATION AND NON RETENTION OF COHO

Effective 00:01 hours Friday January 1, 2016, the retention of coho is not 
permitted in the Area G chinook troll fishery.  The fishery continues until 
further notice for chinook and incidentally caught pink and chum in the 
following Areas and Subareas: 

Areas 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, and 

Area 23 - Subareas 23-3 excluding Uchucklesit Inlet, 23-4, 23-5, 23- 6 
excluding Effingham Inlet, 23-7, 23-8, 23-9, and 23-10 excluding Pipestem Inlet 
and Sub-area 23-11 excluding Ucluelet Inlet.

Area 24 - Subareas 24-6, 24-8, 24-9 and that portion of sub area 24-2 seaward 
of a line commencing at Starling Point Light (49 23.647 N, 126 13.849 W) then 
heading 270 degrees true West to the opposite shoreline of Sydney Inlet (49 
23.646 N, 126 15.742 W)
 
Area 25 - Subareas 25-6, 25-7, 25-15 and that portion of subarea 25-13 seaward 
of a line commencing from a point(49 50.020 N, 126 57.906 W) at the northeast 
entrance of Rosa Harbour continuing to a point(49 51.577 N, 126 59.640 W) at 
the western entrance of Port Eliza. 

Area 26 - Sub-areas 26-1, 26-2, 26-6, and 26-7.

Area 27 - Sub-areas 27-1, 27-2, 27-3, 27-4, 27-7, and 27-9.

The target species is chinook.  Incidentally caught chum and pink may be 
retained.  Sockeye, coho and steelhead may not be retained. The minimum size 
limit for chinook is 55 cm fork length (head on), and 44 cm (head off). 

Variation Order No. 2016-G-TR-WCVI-001


During the winter fishing period between November and March 15 Area G advisors 
will meet with the DFO Manager at the end of each month review catch to date 
and refine the fishing plan if required.  To date, the total catch since 
October 1 is 178 chinook.

Coho and chinook sub-legal by-catch releases will be monitored and the fishery 
will be shaped to avoid areas of high encounters. 
This fishery could close on short notice based on:

Catch information, including coho encounter rates
The number of vessels operating 
Poor compliance with catch reporting requirements (directed and incidental 
catch which is released) or other conditions of licence

Harvesters are reminded that:
 
Commercial trolling is not permitted in Rockfish Conservation Areas. These 
closures are listed at the website address http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-
gp/maps-cartes/rca-acs/index-eng.htm or can be accessed at DFO district offices.

Sampling for coded wire tags from landed Chinook is essential. In order to 
facilitate sampling during the winter fishery, fishers with catch of 30 or more 
fish are asked to call J.O. Thomas and Associates 24 hours in advance toll-free 
at 1-866-638-6301 before they land their catch with the following information:

Landing location
Estimated date and time of landing
Processor/company
Area(s) fished
Number of chinook onboard

Note that calls to this number between Monday and Friday during office hours 
(08:00 to 16:00) will be answered in person. Calls made after office hours and 
on weekends will be directed to a voicemail box where this information can be 
left.

Freezer vessels are required to retain ALL heads from chinook salmon caught and 
retained. These heads must be delivered at the time of off-loading of the 
salmon catch and be made available for examination by representatives of the 
Department. Contact J.O. Thomas and Associates Ltd. at 1-866-638-6301 between 
08:00 hours and 16:00 hours for instructions relating to these heads. 

Note: Chinook Head bags and labels will be provided at no cost by the 
Department, and can be picked up at the following DFO offices between 0800 
hours and 1600 hours:

Commissionaire, 2nd floor reception, 200 - 401 Burrard St, Vancouver;
Commissionaire, main entrance, 3190 Hammond Bay Rd., Nanaimo;
Front Counter, main entrance, 4706 Tebo Ave., Port Alberni;
Front Counter, main entrance, 8585 Wollason Rd, Port Hardy;
Front counter, 417 2nd Ave W, Prince Rupert; 
Front Counter, 137 Bay St, Queen Charlotte City; and 
Front Counter, 4250 Commerce Circle, Victoria

Alternative arrangements for receiving or picking up packages can be arranged.  
Phone DFO toll-free at 1-866-483-9994 for more information.

As an alternative to retaining the whole head from retained chinook, fishers 
can opt to keep the upper jaw and head, from the tip of the nose back to 1 cm 
behind the eye. These "snouts" must be cut from the top of the head, with the 
cut travelling one centimetre posterior (behind) the eye, to the back corner of 
the mouth. There is no need to retain the lower jaws or gill plates.

Environment Canada (EC) 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 EC 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 EC directly by calling the EC Reporting Line 1-866-
431-2473 (BIRD). Label birds with date, time, location and vessel name (Skipper 
name isn't needed). Handle birds with gloves, double bag dead birds, store on 
ice. Questions: contact Laurie Wilson (laurie.wilson@ec.gc.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), e-mail 
sightings@vanaqua.org or online reporting at www.wildwhales.org. Please include 
information such as the type of sea turtle seen (e.g. leatherback), the 
location, and time of sighting. 


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Bryan Rusch 250-756-7294

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1358
Sent December 18, 2015 at 1053

Return to Main Menu

Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on April 26, 2024 at 0925