Fishery Notice

The involvement of the Area B seine fleet in the Alberni Inlet chinook fishery 
is dependent on the Area B Seine Harvest Committee developing and implementing 
a fishing plan that limits the harvests of Chinook to a target allocation.  
This fishing opportunity is possible due to the cooperation between Fisheries 
Management staff and the Area B Harvest Committee to actively manage this 
weekly fishing plan. 

As a result, Area B vessel masters and vessels must have a valid 2018 Area B 
Seine Licence and also be designated by their representative Working Group body 
and subsequently by the Area B Harvest Committee to participate in this 
fishery.  

This fishery will not proceed should undesignated seine vessels attend or 
attempt to participate in this fishery.

The target catch for this opening is 6,549 chinook, extensions are possible.

On September 5, 2018 Department staff met with the Area 23 Harvest Committee to 
discuss fishery planning for Area 23 Somass Chinook. The attendees at this 
meeting were representatives from the Tseshaht, Hupacasath and Maa-nulth First 
Nations and stakeholders from commercial and recreational fishery committees.  
The Committee used a run size of 83,000 at the meeting. 

Commercial seine fishing is extended from 12:00 hours (noon) on Thursday, 
September 6 to 12:00 hours (noon) on Friday, September 7, 2018 in the following 
areas:

-In that portion of Subarea 23-1 bounded in the north by a line drawn from the 
Clock Tower at Harbour Quay westerly across the Inlet to a point located at 49 
degrees 13.662 minutes north by 124 degrees 50.249 minutes west and in the 
south by a boundary line from Dunsmuir Point light to a point located at 49 
degrees 09.660 minutes north by 124 degrees 47.720 minutes west on the east 
side of Alberni Inlet north of China Creek 

Minimum bunt mesh size is 70 mm.  The minimum net length is 270 metres and a 
minimum depth of 20 metres.  The maximum net length is 400 metres and a maximum 
depth of 52 metres. The target species is chinook. Incidentally caught coho may 
be retained.  Sockeye, pink, chum and steelhead may not be retained.
 
All catch must be brailed and the use of power skiffs is approved.
Mandatory revival tanks must be operating at all times while fishing or when 
containing fish.  A requirement to take observers on board when requested 
(observers are funded by DFO). Mandatory dockside validation is required. 
Vessel masters must ensure that an accurate count of the catch is made.

Variation Order No. 2018-SAL-23-SN-03

Please note changes to transporting of salmon.  Please see FN0157 and Part III 
of your conditions of licence for additional details.  Instructions for the 
Salmon Transfer Log, and the Salmon Transfer Log may be found on our web page 
in section 'Additional Licensing Services Forms' at:http://www.pac.dfo-
mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/licence-permis/licence-commercial-eng.html.

As required by new US comparability requirements, all countries exporting fish 
and fish products to the United States must record marine mammal interactions 
in a consistent manner. As such, Canada has committed to updating licence 
conditions for all marine commercial and First Nation economic fisheries. The 
link to the online National form and instructions for filling in and reporting 
can be found here: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/mammals-
mammiferes/documents/report/Fish-Harvester-Form-Eng.pdf For more information, 
please see FN0388.

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) 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 ECCC 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 ECCC directly by calling the Wild Bird 
Mortality Reporting Line 1-866-431-2473 (BIRD). Handle birds with gloves, 
double bag dead birds. Label bag with date, time, location, fishery opening and 
vessel name (Skipper name isn't needed). Alternatively, please send photographs 
of birds with a reference object such as a coin, and the date, time, location, 
fishery opening and vessel name to laurie.wilson@canada.ca. Questions: contact 
Laurie Wilson (laurie.wilson@canada.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).  Please 
include information such as the type of sea turtle seen (i.e. leatherback), the 
location, and time of sighting. 

Fishers should be advised that whales can be encountered in the fishing area. 
Fishers should take precautionary measures to avoid fishing near whales to 
avoid potential contact with fishing gear. If a whale becomes entangled in 
fishing gear, fishers should immediately call the Observe, Record, Report (ORR) 
line at 1-800-465-4336. Fishers are advised not to attempt to free the whale of 
the fishing gear as this can pose a serious threat to the safety of the fisher 
and the animal. 
   
Fishers are advised to notify local DFO managers or patrol vessels to report 
abandoned, lost, or entangled gear.

The 24 hour toll-free phone-in line for fisheries notices is 1-866-431-3474.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Mike Spence, Resource Manager, Port Alberni (250) 720 4440

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0956
Sent September 6, 2018 at 1213

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on April 19, 2024 at 0424