Fishery Notice

The commercial clam fishery for Manila and Native Littleneck clams by hand 
picking opens 14:00 hours December 27 to 03:00 hours December 29, 2019 - two 
tides in the following areas:


In area 24:
Subareas 24-3, 24-4, 24-5, 24-9, 24-13 and 24-14, except FSC, recreational and 
park closures as described on pages 17 to 21 of Appendix 1 of the 2019/2021 
Intertidal Clam Management Plan - Whiskey Jenny Beach, Bawden Bay, Whitepine 
Cove, Stockham Island, Hesquiat Harbour, Pacific Rim National Park, Grice Bay, 
McBey Islets and Dinner Island.

In Area 25:
Subareas 25-1 to 25-11, 25-15 and 25-16 except FSC, recreational and park 
closures as described on pages 17-21 of Appendix 1 of the 2019/2021 Intertidal 
Clam Management Plan - Queen Cove Beach.


Variation Order: 2019-703 will be in effect.


Harvesting is prohibited in all sanitary contamination closures.

This fishery will only take place provided Biotoxin levels and water quality 
remain acceptable. Harvesters are responsible for checking Fishery Notices for 
the Bivalve Shellfish Marine Biotoxin Updates, as recommended by the Canadian 
Food Inspection Agency and issued by DFO. Areas that are closed as a result of 
the Biotoxin notice subsequent to this notice are not open to this fishery. 
Fishers are advised to contact the local fishery office or check Fishery 
Notices prior to this fishery to confirm the opening.

For descriptions of sanitary and biotoxin closures see the DFO website at:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/contamination/biotox/index-eng.htm 

Shellfish harvesters are advised to monitor weather conditions and warnings and 
to plan their harvesting activities accordingly.

Harvesters should contact their respective buyers and processors prior to the 
fishery to ensure their product will be purchased.

Harvesting on shellfish aquaculture tenures is prohibited without explicit 
authorization of the tenure holder.

All harvesters are requested to be off the beaches by closing time and all 
buyers are requested to conduct buying activities within 12 hours of the 
closure.

Harvesters are also advised to be aware of Olympia oyster populations in 
various locations on the WCVI and to try to avoid impacts to this species while 
harvesting.

Harvesters are also advised to be aware Green Crab in various locations on the 
WCVI and ensure the green crab does not end up in product harvested.

Harvesters are reminded that they need a 2019 Fisher's Registration Card and a 
2019 commercial clam licence to participate in openings and must carry valid 
photo identification along with their Fishing licences and meet the Conditions 
of that licence.

This includes:
Wear a high visibility vest with licence number marked on it. 
All containers holding clams shall be marked or tagged with the following 
information:
Licence number, Harvest date, Licence holder's name, beach or location where 
harvesting occurred and the Pacific Fisheries Management Subarea. Tags shall be 
waterproof and information shall be written in water resistant ink. No 
container of clams shall remain untagged during transport to market sale or a 
wet storage location in preparation for market sale.

Fishers should consult the 2019/2021 Intertidal Clams Integrated Fisheries 
Management Plan and a local Fisheries and Oceans Canada office for descriptions 
of closed areas and contact numbers for further information.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

David Fogtmann
250 339-3799

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1292
Sent December 27, 2019 at 0835

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Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on December 10, 2024 at 1618