Fishery Notice

Gill nets open for 10 hours, commencing 20:00 hours September 3 until 06:00 
hours September 4, 2019 in the following areas (Alberni Harbour to Hocking 
Point):

- portions of Subarea 23-1 and 23-2 south of a line commencing at a boundary 
sign located at 49 degrees 14.190 minutes north latitude and 124 degrees 50.230 
minutes west longitude then through the southernmost point of Hoik Island then 
to the southernmost flashing green light at the mouth of the Somass River then 
due east to the opposite shore and, north of a line from the light at Hocking 
Point then drawn easterly 90 degrees true to a point on the opposite shore 
located at 49 degrees 05.260 minutes north by 124 degrees 49.158 minutes west.

The target species is Chinook; incidentally caught Coho may be retained. 
Sockeye, Pink, Chum and Steelhead may not be retained. 

Open to gill nets with minimum mesh sizes of 149 mm (6.0") and a maximum depth 
of sixty (60) meshes. Ninety (90) mesh nets are permitted a maximum mesh size 
of 159 mm (6.25"). Gill nets with 60 mesh depth have no maximum mesh size.

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.

Note: The intent of the mesh size restrictions for this opening is to allow 
gill nets with mesh sizes of 149 to 159 mm (6.0 to 6.25 inch ") to use 90 
meshes. This is to allow retention of small Chinook and Coho by-catch.

Variation Order No. 2019-SAL-23-GN-04


There will be no extensions for this fishery.

August 18 fishery the estimated catch was 2,991 pcs with 82 vessels 
participating. On the August 27 fishery the estimated catch was 8,100 pcs with 
112 vessels participating. Total catch to date is 11,091 pcs. The remaining TAC 
is approximately 9,000 pieces.

Harvesters are requested to report their catch for the entire night time 
opening rather than split over the two calendar days.

A large recreational fleet is expected during daylight hours in Alberni Inlet. 
Vessel masters are asked to minimize their wake when travelling. The gill net 
fleet is also required to mark nets with 5 additional white floats along the 
cork line to increase the visibility of nets to passing vessels.

Fishers participating in this fishery should read their licence conditions 
carefully. 

The preliminary in-season forecast for the terminal Robertson Creek Chinook 
return is 130,000 which is in the "Abundant" management zone. The first 
possible in-season reforecast will be released August 29. 

All salmon gill net fisheries have requirements for recording and reporting.   

As of June 1st, vessels throughout the critical habitat of the Southern 
Resident killer whale, including recreational boats and commercial vessels, 
will be required to stay at least 400 metres away from all killer whales. 
Vessels are also asked to reduce their speed to less than 7 knots if they are 
within 1,000 metres of killer whales in certain areas, and to turn off their 
echo sounders and turn engines to neutral idle if a whale is within 400 metres.

As required by the US Marine Mammal Protection Act regulations, all countries 
exporting fish and fish products to the United States must comply with the 
updated import provisions which include requirements to report and record all 
incidental fishery-related interactions with marine mammals. As such, Canada 
has committed to updating license conditions for all marine commercial and 
First Nation economic fisheries to include reporting requirements for 
interactions with marine mammals. The link to the online National form and 
instructions for filling in and reporting can be found here: 
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/mammals-mammiferes/report-
rapport/page01-eng.html. 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. A local diver has volunteered to remove the 
nets at no charge.

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 - FN0863
Sent August 30, 2019 at 1019

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on September 6, 2026 at 0613