Fishery Notice

Category(s):
COMMERCIAL - Invertebrates: Clam - Intertidal
Subject:
FN0135-COMMERCIAL - Invertebrates: Clams - Intertidal - Manila and Native Littleneck Clams - Area F - Portions of Areas 23 to 25 - Opening February 27, 2018


The following areas will open for commercial Manila and Native Littleneck clams 
by hand picking, only, from 12:00 hours February 27, 2018 to 23:59 hours March 
1, 2018 (3 tides) in the following areas:

AREA 23:
Subareas 23-3 to 23-5, 23-10 except FSC, recreational, Maa-nulth First Nation 
and park closures as described on pages 17 to 21 of Appendix 1 of the 2016/2018 
Intertidal Clams Management Plan - Santa Maria Island, Numukamis Bay Beaches, 
Pacific Rim National Park, and Broken Group Islands, Toquart River Flats within 
Subarea 23-10, Maggie River within Subarea 23-10, Effingham Inlet within 
Subarea 23-6, Coeur d'Alene Creek" within Subarea 23-6, Tzartus Island, Geer 
Islets" within Subarea 23-5 surrounding the Geer Islets, Meade Islets": That 
portion of Subarea 23-5 surrounding the Meade Islets. Sarita River: Northeast 
Numukamis Bay within Subarea 23-4, Kookswiis (Sarita River) within Subarea 23-4.

AREA 24:
Subareas 24-3, 24-4, 24-9, 24-13, 24-14 except Food Social Ceremonial (FSC), 
recreational and park closures as described on pages 17 to 21 of Appendix 1 of 
the 2016/2018 Intertidal Clam Management Plan: Whiskey Jenny Beach, Bawden Bay, 
Whitepine Cove, Stockham Island, Hesquiat Harbour, Pacific Rim National Park, 
Grice Bay, McBey Islets and Dinner Island.

AREA 25:
Subareas 25-1 to 25-8, 25-11, 25-12 except FSC, recreational and park closures 
as described on pages 17-21 of Appendix 1 of the 2016/2018 Clam Management 
Plan: Queen Cove Beach.

Variation Order: 2018-87.


NOTES:

Harvesting is prohibited in all sanitary contamination closures.

This fishery will only take place provided Biotoxin levels and water quality 
remain acceptable. Harvesters are responsible for checking Fishery Notices for 
the Bivalve Shellfish Marine Biotoxin Updates, as recommended by the Canadian 
Food Inspection Agency and issued by DFO. Areas that are closed as a result of 
the Biotoxin notice subsequent to this notice are not open to this fishery. 
Fishers are advised to contact the local fishery office or check Fishery 
Notices prior to this fishery to confirm the opening.

For descriptions of sanitary and biotoxin closures see the DFO website at
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/contamination/biotox/index-eng.htm 

Shellfish harvesters are advised to monitor weather conditions and warnings and 
to plan their harvesting activities accordingly.

Harvesters should contact their respective buyers and processors prior to the 
fishery to ensure their product will be purchased.

Harvesting on shellfish aquaculture tenures is prohibited without explicit 
authorization of the tenure holder.

All harvesters are requested to be off the beaches by closing time and all 
buyers are requested to conduct buying activities within 12 hours of the 
closure.

Harvesters are also advised to be aware of Olympia oyster populations in 
various locations on the WCVI and to try to avoid impacts to this species while 
harvesting.

Harvesters are also advised to be aware Green Crab in various locations on the 
WCVI and ensure the green crab does not end up in product harvested.

Harvesters are reminded that they need a 2018 Fisher's Registration Card and a 
2018 commercial clam licence to participate in openings must carry valid photo 
identification along with their Fishing licences and meet the Conditions of 
that licence.

This includes:
Wear a high visibility vest with licence number marked on it. 
All containers holding clams shall be marked or tagged with the following 
information:
Licence number, Harvest date, Licence holder's name, beach or location where 
harvesting occurred and the Pacific Fisheries Management Subarea. Tags shall be 
waterproof and information shall be written in water resistant ink. No 
container of clams shall remain untagged during transport to market sale or a 
wet storage location in preparation for market sale.

Fishers should consult the 2016/2018 Intertidal Clams Integrated Fisheries 
Management Plan and a local Fisheries and Oceans Canada office for descriptions 
of closed areas and contact numbers for further information.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

David Fogtmann
250 339-3799
David.fogtmann@dfo-mpo.gc.ca  

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0135
Sent February 26, 2018 at 1420