Fishery Notice

The 2020/2021 Food and Bait Commercial Plan was approved on November 19, 2020. As per Variation Order 2020-632, the 2020/2021 Food and Bait Fishery will open to fishing by seine from 16:00 hours on November 20, 2020 to 23:59 hours February 12, 2021.

OPEN AREAS:

Area 13: 
Subareas 13-8 to 13-10; and

Subarea 13-7 excluding:
Deepwater Bay, east of a line drawn from a boundary sign at 50°11.434'N 125°20.268'W on Quadra Island to a boundary sign at 50°10.861'N 125°20.885'W near Separation Head on Quadra Island.

Area 14: 
Subareas 14-1 to 14-13, and 14-15.

Area 17: 
Subareas 17-11, 17-12, 17-13, 17-15, 17-18, 17-19 and 17-21; and

Subareas 17-10 excluding:
the waters of Gabriola Pass bounded by a line from Dibuxante Point at 49°07.625'N and 123°42.913'W on Valdes Island, thence following the northerly shore of Valdes Island to Cordero Point at 49°07.7002N and 123°42.1262W on Valdes Island, thence to the most southerly tip of Breakwater Island at 49°07.5462N and 123°40.8972W, thence following the westerly shore of Breakwater Island to the most northerly point on Breakwater Island at 49°08.360'N and 123°40.872'W, thence due west to Gabriola Island at 49°08.355'N and 123°41.4770'W, thence following the southerly shore of Gabriola Island to the point of land located at 49°07.777'N and 123°43.045'W, thence in a straight line southerly to the point of commencement at Dibuxante Point; and

Subarea 17-16 excluding:
that portion south of a line at Dodd Narrows, drawn from Joan Point at 49°08.150'N 123°49.145'W on Vancouver Island easterly to Purvis Point at 40°08.174N 123°49.016'W on Mudge Island; 

QUOTAS:

The overall quota for Strait of Georgia licenced ZM vessels (252 licences) is 2,100 short tons. 2,000 tons of the 2,100 ton initial allocation for SOG will be shared by all licence holders (0.3968% per licence; 7.9365 short tons). One licence in SOG will be allocated 100 tons on top of the equal share amount in order to facilitate a HIAB sharing arrangement. 

In addition, roe seine licence holders may have the opportunity to select harvest in the SOG Food and Bait fishery. The roe selection process is anticipated to commence in December 2020. The SOG Food and Bait allocation would increase after the roe seine licence holders opt to harvest in the Food and Bait fishery. The SOG roe fishery allocation would be reduced by the same amount that the Food and Bait fishery is increased. Roe seine licence holders who choose the Food and Bait fishery option may not be eligible to participate in the 2021 roe herring fishery season.

ELECTRONIC MONITORING:

In light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, an alternative to at-sea observers will be available during the 2020/2021 fishing season. This will include the use of video and electronic monitoring (EM) systems on board vessels. Please note: arrangements for at-sea observer services or EM installation shall be made by contacting the service provider at 604-291-6340 (between 08:00 h and 16:00 h, Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays) at least 72 hours in advance of the intended time of departing port.

Licence holders and vessel masters are advised to fully review the new licence conditions that address EM requirements.

IN SEASON MANAGEMENT

Fishery participant conference calls will be held weekly, the first in-season call was held November 18, 2020.  The second in-season call will be held November 25, 2020 at 14:00. All remaining in-season calls will occur on Wednesdays at 14:00. Please contact the Resource Manager listed below to be added to the call distribution list. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Jim Meldrum 250 286 5823 or james.meldrum@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1257
Sent November 19, 2020 at 1622

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 17, 2024 at 0418