Fishery Notice

In 2019, Area B seine Pink Salmon harvest opportunities will be managed as an 
Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) demonstration fishery and will be based on 
available commercial Total Allowable Catch (TAC). Sufficient vessel quota is 
required to participate in any fishery opening below.

This opening will be a Pink directed fishery and retention of Sockeye will not 
be permitted. All non-target species will be released alive and unharmed.

Arrangements to participate in this fishing option must be co-ordinated with 
the Area B Harvest Committee. The number of vessels participating in this 
fishery is not limited; however there is the requirement for observers in this 
fishery. If three or fewer vessels are participating in this fishery, all 
vessels must carry a certified observer. If four or more vessels are 
participating in this fishery, a minimum of one observer is required for every 
two vessels.

Sockeye release mortalities will be determined using fleet wide estimates of 
Sockeye encounter rates, Sockeye release mortality rates (25% for seine) and 
Pink salmon landings. Sockeye encounter rates will be determined using fleet-
wide encounter rates from independent observer data.  If Sockeye impacts are 
too high this fishery may close on short notice.

To minimize potential impacts on Sockeye and by-catch species, vessel masters 
are encouraged to target and retain sets to not exceed in the range of 4,000 to 
6,000 Pinks per set. Workable sets of a moderate size ensure the highest 
survival of Sockeye and other by-catch species by minimizing the time it takes 
to release these species from the net. Furthermore, any sets made in shallow 
areas should be brailed and sorted in deeper waters so the net is not in 
contact with the bottom substrate.

Area B seine will open 07:00 hours to 20:00 hours daily commencing Saturday, 
September 14 until Friday, September 20, 2019 in Subareas 29-6, 29-7 and 29-9. 
There is a depth restriction and those vessels fishing in depths shallower than 
45 meters (approximately 25 fathoms) must use shallow seine gear. Note that 
shallow seine gear is defined as no deeper than 375 mesh (3-strip) and there 
are no depth restrictions in place for those fishing areas south of Delta Port 
which is closed to crab fishing. Minimum bunt mesh size 70 mm. The use of power 
skiffs is permitted.

Variation Order No. 2019-B-SN-001, 2019-B-SN-002, 2019-B-SN-003, 2019-B-SN-004


At this time the cumulative individual quota in pieces for each Area B licence 
is 5,000 Pink Salmon based on a share of 0.48817% and a commercial TAC of 
1,024,242 Pink Salmon.  Each individual quota amount (in pieces) will change if 
the available commercial TAC changes in-season and is cumulative for the 
season. These commercial TACs are for the purpose of calculating the individual 
quota amounts for Area B and H vessels only.

The available commercial Fraser River Pink TAC will be distributed over the 
course of the fishery (in increments) rather than all at once and will be 
announced by fishery notice and adjusted if necessary following Fraser Panel 
meetings (usually Tuesday and Friday) depending on abundance and Sockeye 
encounters. Announcements will also be made on grounds.

The vessel must have sufficient allocations (ITQ) of Pink Salmon to participate 
in this fishery.  It is the responsibility of the vessel master to cease 
fishing when the vessel quota for Fraser River Pink Salmon is achieved. For 
further details please refer to the guidelines for the 2019 ITQ demonstration 
fishery which are available in Appendix 7 of the 2019 Integrated Fisheries 
Management Plan for Southern BC at the following link:
IFMP Southern: http://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/40694306.pdf

The next update will be made by fishery notice.

Starting in 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. In addition to the 2019 measures there is also a mandatory 400 m 
approach distance in the southern portions of 29-4 (and other areas identified 
as SRKW critical habitat). There is also a voluntary fishery avoidance zone 
(until October 31) in Subareas 29-6 and those portions of 29-4 adjacent to 29-
6. For other whales, dolphins and porpoises the minimum approach distances is 
100m.

NOTE:

1. The target species in this fishery is Pink Salmon; the incidental catch of 
Chum salmon may be retained in the areas open to fishing.  There will be non-
retention of Sockeye, Coho, Chinook and Steelhead. This fishery has been 
designed to address stocks of concern constraints.

2. A valid 2019/20 Salmon Area B licence (complete with licence conditions), 
logbook requirements, operating revival tanks and brailing are mandatory in 
this fishery as well as a legal requirement.

3. Vessel masters must, prior to leaving for the fishing grounds, either phone 
AMR at 1-888-387-0007, or submit the details via e-log, to complete a start 
fishing report and announce their intention to fish.

4. At the end of each fishing day and prior to 08:00 hours of the next day, the 
vessel master must, as a condition of licence, record their catch information 
in either in their Salmon Log Book and report their catch by calling AMR at 1-
888-387-0007 or submit their catch information via e-log.

5. Within 24 hours of the end of a fishing trip and prior to commencing a 
subsequent fishing trip, the vessel master shall either phone in or submit via 
e-log an End Fishing Report.  Should a vessel master decide not to fish after 
having obtained a Trip Identification Number the vessel master shall phone in 
or submit via e-log a Trip Cancellation report. 

6. Catch validation is mandatory and individual licence holders are required to 
make their own arrangements with a landing observer service provider authorized 
by the Department. Licence holders that plan to harvest Fraser River Pink 
Salmon must register with the landing observer service provider in advance of 
the fishery to confirm arrangements.  For further information contact J.O. 
Thomas and Associates (ph: 1-866-930-4000).

7. Prior to any dockside landing of fish, the vessel master shall hail in to 
the designated landing observer service provider at 1-866-930-4000 between 
06:00 hours and 18:00 hours seven days per week and provide the following 
information:
- vessel name;
- vessel registration number;
- name and Fisher Identification Number of the vessel master;
- contact phone number;
- date, time, port and location of landing of the fish;
- name of fish buying station where fish are to be landed;
- product type;
- estimated number of pieces by species;
- area fished; and
- sub-area fished.

A landing observer shall be present during all landing of catch to record the 
number and weight of each species of salmon delivered.  All salmon shall be 
landed at one of the following locations:  Campbell River, French Creek, 
Greater Vancouver, Port Hardy, Port McNeill, Port Renfrew and Quadra Island.

The vessel master shall deliver only to packers designated for the quota 
fishery.  The vessel master shall retain a copy of the validation record 
provided by the packer at each delivery.
If the vessel leaves the quota fishery to fish in another fishery the catch 
shall be landed and verified by a landing observer prior to entering the other 
fishery.

8. Quota will be transferable in whole or in part within Area B as well as 
between Area B and Area H.  Transfers to other gears are not allowed.  Quota 
may be reallocated as a percent (for the season) or by pieces (temporarily to 
cover an overage).  In all instances overages accrued in-season must be covered 
by a quota reallocation, even if associated with a change in TAC. Reallocations 
associated with overages must be made within 24 hours of landing. In addition, 
vessels will not be permitted to continue fishing (start fishing report) until 
all overages are covered. Contact Erika Watkins at 250-286-5882 or 
Erika.Watkins@dfo-mpo.gc.ca for more information.

9. Please note changes to transporting of salmon.  Please see Part III of your 
conditions of licence for additional details.  Instructions for 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.

10. 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.

11. 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).

12. 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. 

13. 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.

14. Fishing will not be permitted in the areas closed for rockfish 
conservation. These closures are listed on the DFO website at: 
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/maps-cartes/rca-acs/index-eng.html or can be 
accessed at DFO district offices.

15. 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:

Christine Bukta (250286-5888) or Christine.Bukta@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0938
Sent September 13, 2019 at 1651

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