Fishery Notice

The Pooled In-season estimate of eulachon by-catch has reached the eulachon 
action level for Shrimp Management Areas 23OFF and 21OFF and 23IN combined. The 
areas will close at 23:59 hours on September 18, 2019.

The fishery continues 00:01 hours September 19, 2019 for all species of shrimp, 
excluding prawns by shrimp beam trawl and otter trawl gear, in the following 
South Coast areas:

Subareas 11-3 to 11-10.
Subareas 12-1 to 12-21, 12-23 to 12-35, 12-37 to 12-47, except permanent 
closures.
Subareas 17-1 to 17-6, 17-8 to 17-13, 17-15, 17-16 and 17-18 to 17-21 except 
permanent closures.
Subareas 20-1 and 20-3 to 20-5, except permanent closures.
Area 21, except permanent closures.
Area 24 except for the Pacific Rim National Park (Grice Bay, McBey Inlets) 
closures and except for permanent closures.
Subareas 25-1 to 25-15, except permanent closures.
Subareas 26-1 to 26-9, except permanent closures.
Areas and Subareas are described in the Pacific Fishery Management Area 
Regulations. This action is consistent with the 2019/20 Shrimp Trawl IFMP.

Variation Order No. 2019-508 is in effect. 
 

Notes:

This notice applies to the Shrimp Trawl fishery in Areas 11 to 29 and offshore 
Areas 121, and 123 to 127 inclusive.

Refer to the North Coast fishery notices for Areas 1 to 10 and Offshore Areas 
101 to 111, 130, and 142.

In order to participate in these openings, a letter from the service provider 
is required indicating that arrangements for fishery in-season monitoring 
services has been made. Vessels must have their "S" licence renewed for 
2019/20. Fish harvesters /Licence Holders /vessel owners will use the online 
system (https://fishing-peche.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/) to view, pay for and print their 
commercial fishing licences, licence conditions and/or receipts.

Prior to annual application for either a category S or FS Shrimp by Trawl 
licence, please ensure:
a) Any Ministerial conditions placed on the licence eligibility are met.
b) Any conditions of the previous year's licence such as submission and 
approval of Shrimp Trawl Harvest Logbooks to March 31, 2019 have been met.

To confirm logbook approval status contact the Shellfish Data Unit at 250-756-
7022 or 250-756-7306.

To make arrangements for hails, fishery monitoring and at-sea observer services 
call the DFO approved Shrimp Trawl fishery service provider at 1-866-377-1400 
(08:30 to 16:30 hours, Monday to Friday only).

The use of a by-catch reduction rigid grate with maximum spacing 31.75 mm (1.25 
inches) between bars is required by all vessels. When fishing in offshore 
areas, the Shrimp Industry Caucus recommends a maximum spacing of 1 inch. 

The use of LED lights on the fishing line is permitted when fishing shrimp by 
trawl (minimum of 5 devices spaced 4 feet apart in the central 16 feet of the 
net). The Department has completed the process for a regulation amendment to 
section 8(1) of the Pacific Fisheries Regulations in order to allow for the use 
of LED lights in the shrimp trawl fishery. See FN0493.

The mandatory by-catch reduction large mesh will be continued for all Otter 
trawl nets to reduce eulachon and other by-catch: the top (hood or upper belly) 
of an otter trawl net shall be comprised of a minimum 4.4 square meter (48 
square foot) panel of plastic lattice with minimum 4 cm square openings, such 
as is found in snow fencing, or large mesh netting hung on the square.

Shrimp Management Areas 27IN and 27OFF (Pacific Fishery Management Areas 27 and 
127) open upon request from a vessel master subject to the vessel master 
securing arrangements for a certified shrimp fishery observer for the first 
fishing trip to these areas. Contact the South Coast Fisheries Manager to 
request an opening.

Fish slips (sale slips) are required for all fish and shellfish caught and must 
be submitted within seven days of offloading.

Prior to commencing fishing and at least 24 hours prior to leaving port, the 
vessel master shall obtain a Fishing Hail Number by contacting the service 
provider at 1-866-377-1400 (08:30 to 16:30 hours, Monday to Friday only). 
Earlier arrangements to pick up at-sea observers before leaving port may be 
necessary.

When West Coast Vancouver Island areas 124OFF and 125OFF are open, an at-sea 
observer must be monitoring all fishing activity. All shrimp caught and 
retained in Areas 124 and 125 shall be landed and validated before hailing out 
and fishing in other areas. 

Requirements for observers for other areas will be defined by the service 
provider at the time of obtaining a fishing hail number.

Hails can be made into one Shrimp Management Area only. Other required reports 
(such as to obtain a landing hail number prior to landing) can be made to 1-866-
377-1200, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

All prawns shall be released immediately and unharmed to the waters from which 
they were caught in a manner that best affords their survival.

Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA) Closures to fishing with shrimp trawl nets are 
in place coast-wide. Fish harvesters are advised to familiarize themselves with 
these closures, contact the local DFO office or the DFO web site for more 
information. 

New sponge Reef closures in Areas 14, 17, 18, 28 and 29 are now in effect. 
Coordinates and maps for these closures are available at:
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html.

**New** Any interaction with marine mammals such as entanglement or collision 
between a vessel an a marine mammal shall be reported immediately to DFO by 
telephone at 1-800-465-4336 and the vessel master shall complete the DFO Marine 
Mammal Interaction Form and submit it as per instructions provided on the form.

**New** Note the Interim Order under the Canada Shipping Act, effective on June 
1, 2019, to help protect whales from vessel disturbance includes a portion of 
Pacific Fishery Management Area 121. See Fishery Notice 2019-0507.

Swiftsure Bank
Those portions of Subareas 121-1 and 121-2 inside a line commencing at a point 
in water located at 48°34.000'N and 125°06.000'W [Northwest Boundary] due east 
to a point in water located at 48°34.000'N and 124°54.200'W [Northeast 
Boundary], thence southeasterly to a point in water at 48°32.100'N and 124° 
49.518'W [Southeast Boundary], thence due west to point in water located at 48° 
32.100'N and 125°01.843'W [Southwest Boundary], and thence northwesterly back 
to the point of commencement. [Swiftsure Bank Interim Sanctuary Zone]

Map of the Swiftsure Bank Interim Sanctuary Zone in PFMA 121 that prohibits 
general vessel traffic (with exemptions) June 1 - October 31 is available at: 
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/maps-cartes/srkw-ers/images/overview-apercu-
eng.pdf

Refer to 2019/20 Shrimp Trawl Integrated Fishery Management Plan for further 
details. A copy of the IFMP may be obtained by emailing Dan Clark at 
dan.clark@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

For further information contact:

Shrimp Trawl Manager: Dan Clark 250-756-7327
North/Central Coast: Steven Groves 250-627-3455 
Fraser River: Marisa Keefe 604-666-6390
Conservation and Protection Eric Jean 604-892-3292

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0946
Sent September 17, 2019 at 0932

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