Fishery Notice

The Area C gill net fishery will open for 24 hours, from 18:00 hours Monday, June 15 to 18:00 hours Tuesday June 16, 2020 in the Bella Coola Gill Net Area, described 
as: 

Subarea 8-10; 

A portion of Subarea 8-11 West of a line from 52 degrees 22.828 minutes North latitude and 126 degrees 52.317 minutes West longitude to 52 degrees 21.931 minutes North 
latitude and 126 degrees 52.076 minutes West longitude, commonly known as Whiskey Bay and Coffee Creek;

A portion of 8-12 north of Bensins Island; 

A portion of 8-13 North of a line from 52 degrees 00.134 minutes north latitude and 127 degrees 39.073 minutes west longitude to 52 degrees 00.13 minutes north 
latitude and 127 degrees 41.50 minutes West longitude (formally a boundary sign on the southernmost Point of Restoration Bay due west to a boundary sign on King 
Island); and

Subarea 8-15.  

Min Mesh 203mm.  Max Depth 60 Meshes.  Max Hang Ratio 3:1, Corkline to Web Distance Min 0cm, Max 45cm.  

V.O.# 2020-CCSAL-001


IMPORTANT NOTE:
COVID-19 pandemic response requires amended fishing protocols and measures to protect harvesters and local communities from potential spread of COVID-19. 

The Bella Coola Harbour is closed to non-resident vessels without prior authorisation from the Harbour Authority. 

Area C Harvest Committee has prepared the "Area C Commercial Fishing COVID-19 Safety Plan for Area 8 (Bella Coola area)". All fishers are expected to follow this 
protocol in order to ensure public safety.  Other industry protocols must also be followed.  

Specific measures and restrictions are identified within the plan, including moving the inner fishing boundary Westward. Non-compliance with this protocol may result 
in loss of future fishing opportunity. 
 

The target species in this fishery is Atnarko Chinook. This gill net fishery is being conducted with non-retention and non-possession of steelhead and Coho. Fishers 
are required to release all steelhead and Coho to the water with the least possible harm. Fishers are requested to release all live sockeye to the water to assist in 
addressing concerns over a trend to low returns of sockeye.

Operating revival boxes are mandatory and all prohibited species captured incidentally must be either revived in the revival tank and released, or released directly to 
the water with the least possible harm.

Lost fishing gear shall be reported within 24 hours of determining that gear has been lost. Lost Fishing Gear forms are available online at: 
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/index-eng.html . For more information, refer to your area conditions of licence. 

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. 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 (2018).

Environment and Climate Change Canada continues to monitor seabird by-catch in net fisheries. Please retain and provide all dead birds entangled in nets to DFO, or 
call the BC Wild Bird Mortality Line (1-866-431-2473). Label birds with date, time, location and vessel name. Alternatively, send a photograph of birds with a 
reference object (i.e. coin) to laurie.wilson@canada.ca. For more information contact Laurie Wilson (laurie.wilson@canada.ca, 604-862-8817).

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. 

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. 
   
The 24 hour toll-free phone-in line for fisheries notices is 1-866-431-3474.
 
FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Bradley Koroluk - 250-799-5127

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0538
Sent June 12, 2020 at 1646

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on April 19, 2024 at 0909