Fishery Notice

As per the Interior Fraser River Steelhead window closures outlined in the 
2019/2020 Southern BC Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plan, the Area G 
troll fishery will close in Area 127 effective 23:59 hours September 5, 2019. 
Additional Steelhead window closures come into effect starting September 8, 11, 
13 and 16 in Areas 126, 125, 124, and 123 respectively.

Preliminary review of the August recreational creel survey data suggests the 
AABM Chinook recreational catch will be less than 40,000. Therefore, the target 
for this Area G troll opening has been increased from 5,900 to 8,900. The Area 
G catch estimate for this opening, including up to September 4, is 3,100 
Chinook.

Effective 00:01 hours September 6, 2019 and until further notice, the Area G 
Chinook plug fishery is open in the following areas:

Those portions of Areas 123, 124, 125, and 126 seaward of a line commencing at 
a point located at, 50° 47.114' north, 128° 29.024' west (approximately 2.0 
nautical miles west of Cape Scott) then continuing to,
50 degrees 43.895'north, 128 degrees 28.072'west then continuing to,
50 degrees 41.443'north, 128 degrees 25.906'west then continuing to,
50 degrees 38.787'north, 128 degrees 24.879'west then continuing to,
50 degrees 35.258'north, 128 degrees 20.671'west then continuing to,
50 degrees 31.321'north, 128 degrees 15.760'west then continuing to,
50 degrees 18.630'north, 128 degrees 01.400'west then continuing to,
50 degrees 05.739'north, 127 degrees 59.339'west then continuing to,
50 degrees 04.812'north, 127 degrees 57.981'west then continuing to,
50 degrees 02.763'north, 127 degrees 48.844'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 59.856'north, 127 degrees 48.844'west then continuing to,
50 degrees 00.322'north, 127 degrees 45.077'west then continuing to,
50 degrees 01.894'north, 127 degrees 42.323'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 56.536'north, 127 degrees 33.396'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 47.509'north, 127 degrees 13.664'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 41.352'north, 127 degrees 04.383'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 32.911'north, 126 degrees 54.415'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 29.735'north, 126 degrees 41.109'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 21.890'north, 126 degrees 40.163'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 20.255'north, 126 degrees 39.268'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 19.124'north, 126 degrees 37.537'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 18.191'north, 126 degrees 35.266'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 17.973'north, 126 degrees 25.470'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 19.019'north, 126 degrees 23.115'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 14.370'north, 126 degrees 20.321'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 07.223'north, 126 degrees 09.229'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 02.154'north, 125 degrees 58.760'west then continuing to,
49 degrees 00.206'north, 125 degrees 52.465'west then continuing to,
48 degrees 51.731'north, 125 degrees 37.827'west then continuing to,
48 degrees 43.094'north, 125 degrees 17.138'west then continuing to,
48 degrees 39.411'north, 125 degrees 10.580'west.

Harvesters are reminded that this fishery is a plug fishery only with the 
following troll gear restrictions: plugs equipped with one single, barbless 
hook. The plug size shall be no smaller than 6 inches (15.2 cm) as measured 
from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail of the plug (excluding the 
hook).

The target species is Chinook, incidental catch of Chum and Pink may be 
retained. Sockeye, Coho and Steelhead may not be retained. The minimum size 
limit for Chinook is 55 cm fork length (head on), and 44 cm (head off).

Variation Order No. 2019-G-TR-WCVI-004


Fishers are reminded that the dockside catch validation pilot program 
implemented in the past four seasons will continue in 2019. All fish caught 
under the authority of an Area G licence must be delivered to designated 
landing sites. Please refer to your 2019-20 Area G Conditions of Licence for 
details. This program will operate in conjunction with the Coded Wire Tag 
sampling program and will be conducted by JO Thomas and Associates. The ability 
to utilize the JO Thomas's CWT sampling crew to collect catch validation data 
create efficiencies which help minimize validation costs.

Fishers are reminded that: 
- commercial trolling is not permitted in Rockfish Conservation Areas. These 
closures are listed at the website address http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-
gp/maps-cartes/rca-acs/index-eng.htm or can be accessed at DFO district offices.

- sampling for coded wire tags from landed Chinook is essential. In order to 
facilitate sampling, fishers are asked to call J.O. Thomas and Associates 24 
hours in advance toll-free at 1-866-638-6301 before they land their catch with 
the following information:

Landing location;
Estimated date and time of landing;
Processor/company;
Area(s) fished; and
Number of Chinook on-board.

Note that calls to this number between Monday and Friday during office hours 
(08:00 to 16:00) will be answered in person. Calls made after office hours and 
on weekends will be directed to a voicemail box where this information can be 
left.

- Freezer vessels are required to retain ALL heads from chinook and Coho salmon 
caught and retained. These heads must be delivered at the time of off-loading 
of the salmon catch and be made available for examination by representatives of 
the Department. Contact J.O. Thomas and Associates Ltd. at 1-866-638-6301 
between 08:00 hours and 16:00 hours for instructions relating to these heads. 

Note: Chinook/Coho Head bags and labels will be provided at no cost by the 
Department, and can be picked up at the following DFO offices between 0800 
hours and 1600 hours:

Mail Room, 2nd floor reception, 200 - 401 Burrard St, Vancouver
Front counter, main entrance, 315 - 940 Alder St. Campbell River
Commissionaire, main entrance, 3190 Hammond Bay Rd., Nanaimo
Front counter, main entrance, 4706 Tebo Ave., Port Alberni
Front counter, main entrance, 8585 Wollason Rd, Port Hardy
Front counter, 417 2nd Ave West, Prince Rupert
Front counter, 137 Bay St, Queen Charlotte City 
Front counter, 12551 No. 1 Road, Richmond
Front counter, 4250 Commerce Circle, Victoria

Alternative arrangements for receiving or picking up packages can be arranged. 
 
Phone DFO toll-free at 1-866-483-9994 for more information.

As an alternative to retaining the whole head from retained Chinook and Coho, 
fishers can opt to keep the upper jaw and head, from the tip of the nose back 
to 1 cm behind the eye. These "snouts" must be cut from the top of the head, 
with the cut travelling one centimetre posterior (behind) the eye, to the back 
corner of the mouth. There is no need to retain the lower jaws or gill plates.

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:
Peter Hall, A/WCVI Coordinator, Port Alberni (250) 720 4445

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0886
Sent September 5, 2019 at 1512

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on December 15, 2025 at 1553