Fishery Notice

Area B commercial Seine is open from 14:00 hours September 8 to 19:00 hours 
September 12, 2019 in the following areas:

- in portions of Subarea 23-1 and 23-2 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 the light at Hocking Point then drawn 
easterly 90 degrees to a point on the opposite shore located at 49 degrees 
05.260 minutes north by 124 degrees 49.158 minutes west.

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. 2019-SAL-23-SN-04


Extensions are possible for to this fishery depending on catches. There will be 
a Harvest Committee meeting on September 12 to discuss further opportunities. 

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 2019 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 10,250 Chinook.

On September 5, 2019, 2019 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. 
 
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 - FN0891
Sent September 6, 2019 at 1023

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