Fishery Notice

DATE: March 6  

Test Boat Currently in Area 24

March 5 Herring spawn flight march 5 was conducted covering Area 23 - 25. Area 
25 Esperanza inlet a spawn was observed in the Nuchatlitz area from port 
Langford around outer reefs almost to Rosa Island approximately 4 nautical 
miles.  The spawn was medium to heavy in places but not continuous.  Also a 
small spawn was observed near the southern tip of Strange Island in Nootka.  In 
Area 24 there was a spot spawn observed south of Clifford point near Bawden 
Bay.  The next possible overflight is Wednesday March 7 (weather dependent). 
The shore based dive team aboard the F/V Seaveyor 1 is finished diving the 
early spawn near Forbes Island and Salmon Beach. 
First Nation contractors continue to conduct herring spawn reconnaissance, 
supplemental surface spawn surveys and FSC catch monitoring on the west coast 
of Vancouver Island in:
Area 23; 
Area 24;
Area 25.

AREA 23 - Barkley Sound
2600 tons 
From Cabbage Rocks to St Innes (Test Vessel)
Feb 26 - Active spawn reported by First nations charter and spawn flight at 
David Island, Forbes Island and, near Salmon Beach.
Feb 27 - spawn has stopped. 
Mar 3 - DFO dive program completed assessment of reported spawn.
March 5 - Spawn dive completed March 3 spawn was assessed around St Ines, David 
Island, Forbes Island and, Salmon Beach. TEST 1: Feb 20 on 800 tons at Cabbage 
Rocks: 3.0%; 19.5cm; 62m:55f;13-2-41-  2-6 (24.2g:79.8g)
TEST 2: Feb 20 on 300 tons at Cabbage Rocks: 7.5%; 20.0cm; 48m: 44f;25-3-16-0-1 
(29.7g:107.7g)
TEST 3: Feb 20 on 300 tons at St Ines: 5.8%;20.8cm;50.7m:39f;18-2-18-  0-1
(31.4g:110.7g)
TEST 4: Feb 21 on 1000 tons at Food Islets: 5.3%;20.2cm;48m:52f;21-4-27-  0-1 
(24.9g:99g)
TEST 5: Feb 21 on 500 tons at David Island: 7.7%;20.5cm;58m:40f;28-3-9- 0-1 
(27.7g:100.7g)

AREA 24 - Clayoquot Sound
5000 tons (Test vessel estimate)
Fish located mostly near Sydney Inlet
Jan 9 - Hesquiaht Harbour small spawn near Anton Spit (surface survey done)
Feb 12 - Hesquiaht Harbour small spawn near Anton Spit (surface survey done)
Feb 21 - Hesquiaht Harbour small Spawn near Leclair Point approx. half a mile 
long (surface survey done)
Feb 22 - Sydney Inlet 600 tons (estimated by local Herring Charter)
Feb 24 - Sydney Inlet 3500 tons (total for area includes estimate by test 
vessel)
Mar 5 - Sydney Inlet 1500 tons (fish smaller in size, new fish)
TEST 7: Feb 24 on 800 tons at Starling Point: 4.8%; 21.3cm; 47m: 43f;13-7-23-0-
0 (37.4g:113.6g)
TEST 8: Feb 24 on 1000 tons at Starling Point: 5.4%; 21.1cm; 42m: 45f;16-5-24-0-
0 (34.0g:115.7g)

AREA 25 - Nootka Sound
15,000 tonnes (estimated by test vessel)
Fish located From Bajo reef to Boston Point (on Feb 27 most of the fish 
concentrated on the outside area) 
Feb 26 - 5000 tons near Friendly Cove
Feb 27 - 10,000 tons from Maquinna Point to Escalante Point.
March 5 - Spot spawn near southern tip of Strange Island reported by spawn 
flight.
TEST 9: Feb 25 on 3000 tons at Saavedra Islands: 3.8%; 21.5cm; 42m 45f 
TEST 11: Feb 25 on 5000 tons at Nootka Cannery: 4.7%; 20.8cm; 37m 53f-14-9-30-1-
0 (35gm:111gm)
Test 15: Mar 4 on 600 tons at San Rafael Island: 12.2; 21.2;38m 41f-37-2-3-0-0 
(33gm 125gm) 

AREA 25 - Esperanza Inlet
4500 tons (estimated by test vessel)
Feb 28 - 1500 tons in Langford
March 1- 3000 tons near Centre Island and Rosa Island                   
March 5 - 4 nautical miles of spawn observed by spawn flight in Nuchatlitz.
Test 12: Feb 26 on 1000 tons at Centre Island 10.5 % 20.8 cm 40m 46f-36-1-9-4-2
(29.4gm:111gm)
Test 13: March 2 on 300 ton at Double Island 10.7% 20.9 cm 40m 43f - 40-1-3-1-0 
(27.4gm:118gm)
Test 14: March 2 on 300 ton at Flower Islets 10.8% 21.0 cm 43m 44f - 39-1-3-2-0 
(27gm:114gm)

AREA 27 - Quatsino Sound
Spot spawn reported by locals Near Matthew Island in forward Inlet.  DFO vessel 
will survey spawn early next week.
March 6 - spawn reported in Brooks Bay Rockfish Closure Area  
No Spawn on Kelp operating in area 27 this year.
TOTAL WCVI: 27,100 tons

Please note: The primary objective of the herring test seine vessel program is 
to collect herring biological samples from Areas 23-25 for stock assessment 
purposes (e.g. size of fish, age distribution of fish in each sample).  Herring 
stock locations and estimates are collected as part of the stock assessment 
program to locate herring stocks.  It is part of the sampling process to 
collect biological samples, and do not cover all areas.  The tonnage of stocks 
for each area provided in this notice are in season estimates only, and do not 
reflect the biomass of stocks in the area.  The estimates of stock biomass will 
be provided in the analysis which will be undertaken in the post season period, 
following the collection of biological samples as well as herring spawn 
distribution and abundance data. 
The vessel selected to collect biological samples for herring stock assessment 
in 2018 is the F/V Proud Canadian with skipper Philip Dupuis.  The test vessel 
will operate on WCVI for 20 days in 2018.  No fish will be retained for sale. 
ROE TEST CODE:Date;Location;roe yield;fish size;males:females;#1-#2-#3-#spawned-
#juvenile;(roe weight gm:fish weight gm)

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Mike Spence DFO Port Alberni 250 720 4448

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0168
Sent March 7, 2018 at 0926

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 17, 2024 at 2216