Fishery Notice

This Fishery Notice amends FN0952 to identify the Fast Lane (VRN 28855) as the 
fifth vessel that will participate in the Esperanza Inlet limited effort Chum 
assessment fishery. The complete corrected Fishery Notice is as follows:

This fishery is a limited entry and limited effort fishery. The following 4 
vessels were selected by the Area D Harvest Committee through a random draw 
(FN0939) to participate in this opening:

1. MAD ONE - 30049
2. TOP DOG - 30221
3. BLACK ANGEL - 28604
4. SLEEPLESS NIGHTS - 29588

The Ehattesaht and Nuchatlaht First Nations have selected the following fifth 
vessel to participate:

5. Fast Lane - 28855

This opening will be closed on short notice if any vessel, other than those 
listed above, attempt to participate in this fishery.

Gill nets open daily for 10.5 hours from 08:00 hours to 18:30 hours September 
25, and 5 hours from 08:00 hours to 13:00 hours September 26, 2019, in the 
following areas:

A portion of Subarea 25-13 west of a line commencing from point on the shore of 
Vancouver Island located at 49 degrees 51.340 minutes north and 126 degrees 
57.844 minutes west to a point on the shore of Nootka Island located at 49 
degrees 50.250 minutes north and 126 degrees 57.518 minutes west then following 
the Nootka Island shoreline to the southern tip of the Nuchatlitz Peninsula at 
49 degrees 47.540 minutes north and 126 degrees 57.191 minutes west then to a 
point on the Nootka Island shoreline at 49 degrees 45.263 minutes north and 126 
degrees 58.287 minutes west.

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

Maximum gill net length is 375 m. Minimum mesh-size is 149 mm (5-7/8 inches). 
Maximum depth is 60 meshes. Maximum hang ratio is 3:1, cork-line to web 
distance minimum is 0 cm, maximum is 2 m. 

Variation Order Numbers: 2019-Sal-25-GN-11 and 2019-Sal-25-GN-12

This fishery is designed to provide in-season assessment information on the 
Esperanza Inlet Chum return. Vessel masters please note that future fishing 
opportunities will depend on timely catch reporting, as per the conditions of 
licence. In addition, a special set log is required to be completed and 
submitted to DFO separately. Vessels masters are also requested to help 
coordinate DFO's biological sampling of the catch. Full fleet opportunities are 
not being considered this year for Esperanza Inlet Chum as further evaluation 
of these assessment fisheries are needed to determine their utility for in-
season assessment.

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:
Lindsay Reed, Resource Manager, Port Alberni (250) 720 4468

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0986
Sent September 25, 2019 at 1024

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