Fishery Notice

The Area D gillnet fishery in Alberni Inlet opens for 4 hours from 08:00 hours 
October 13th to 12:00 hours in the following area (Lone Tree Point to river 
mouth): 

- that portion of Subarea 23-1, north of a line between the red flashing light 
at Lone Tree Point and the pylon across the inlet on the western shore, and 
south of a line due east from the southern-most flashing green light at the 
mouth of the Somass River to the opposite shore.  

Variation Order No. 2018-Sal-23-GN-13

The target species is chinook and coho.  Chum, sockeye and, steelhead may not 
be retained.

This fishery is predicated on extremely low impacts to chum salmon.  The 
fishery may be extended another four hours, and another opening may occur the 
next day, if chum impacts are minimal. In addition, participation is 
anticipated to be low; if it is higher than anticipated extensions may not 
occur.  

Fishers are requested to phone in their first day's catch by 17:00 October 13, 
201818 in order to determine whether a second day of fishing will occur.

Please be advised that the minimum allowable mesh size of gill nets used in 
this fishery shall not be less than 6.5 inches (16.5cm) and will be permitted 
to have a maximum depth of 60 meshes. All gill nets are required to be a 
maximum of 183 m long (600'), a maximum hang ratio of 3:1, and a cork-line to 
web distance minimum of 0 cm and maximum of 2.0 m.

Fishery Notice 0409 outlines condition of licences information for 2018-19. All 
salmon gill net fisheries have requirements for recording and reporting.   

For 2018 there is a new minimum approach distance for Killer Whales of 200 m, 
in all Canadian Fisheries waters in the Pacific Ocean and British Columbia. For 
other whales, dolphins and porpoises the minimum approach distances is 100 m. 
Fishers should be advised that whales can be encountered in the fishing area.

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.

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.

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
Ryan O'Connell, A/ Resource Manager, Nanaimo, (250) 756 7160

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1139
Sent October 12, 2018 at 1332

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on March 8, 2026 at 0927