Fishery Notice

Effective daily from 05:00 hours to 22:00 hours from July 1 to July 23, 2020 the daily limit of sockeye salmon is one per day in that portion of the Somass River 
located approximately 200 meters above and 150 metres below the island near the boat launch at Somass Park near Service Road.

Variation Order # 2020-RFQ-344, # 2020-RCT-341


On June 25, the Area 23 Roundtable met and agreed to proceed cautiously and delay potential fishery openings until next week due to uncertainties around run timing and 
test fishery estimates. An extra meeting was scheduled on Monday June 29 to review escapements and test fishery data to see if they remain consistent with an upgraded 
run size. If so, it is expected that fisheries will proceed early next week starting with treaty and FSC fisheries followed by recreational and Area D commercial 
openings later in the week.

On June 29, 2020 Department staff met with the Area 23 Harvest Committee to discuss fishery planning for Area 23 Somass Sockeye. The attendees at this meeting were 
representatives from the Tseshaht, Hupacasath and Maa-nulth First Nations and stakeholders from the commercial gill net and seine fishery, and the Alberni Valley Sport 
Fishing Advisory Committee. The Somass Sockeye run size was confirmed at 250,000 at this run size fisheries will open this week for First Nations, recreational, and 
Area D Gill net.
 
The Somass Sockeye in-season stock assessment program will be in place in 2020. This program collects escapement, test fishing, catch and environmental information on 
a weekly basis. This information is collected and a reforecast will be made weekly every Thursday for the duration of the season. This may lead to further recreational 
sockeye opportunities if conditions warrant.


Notes:

Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal waters of British Columbia.  

The term "marked" means a hatchery fish that has a healed scar in place of the adipose fin.

Sport anglers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery program by labelling and submitting heads from adipose fin-clipped chinook and coho 
salmon. Recovery of coded-wire tags provides critical information for coast-wide stock assessment.  Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program toll free at (866) 
483-9994 for further information.

Anglers are advised to check http://bcsportfishguide.ca for fishing closures and other recreational fishing information.

Tidal Water Sport Fishing Licences can be purchased via any computer connected to the internet at 
https://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/nrls-sndpp/index-eng.cfm 
or by using Google search key words "Recfish Licence".

Did you witness suspicious fishing activity or a violation?  If so, please call the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line at (800) 
465-4336.

For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at 
1-(866)431-FISH(3474).

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
 
Contact the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Port Alberni office at 250 720 4440 or visit our website at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0618
Sent June 30, 2020 at 1634

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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 April 20, 2024 at 0156