Fishery Notice

ROE HERRING INFORMATION BULLETIN: 39

DATE: March 18, 2022

STRAIT OF GEORGIA


AREA 14
Shelter Pt to Cape Lazo-------Mar 15: 100 tons
E.C. Denman Island------------No recent soundings
Lambert Ch. to Chrome Is------No recent soundings
E.C. Hornby Is----------------No recent soundings
Tribune Bay/Lower Hornby------No recent soundings
Upper Baynes Sd---------------No recent soundings
Lower Baynes Sd---------------No recent soundings
Mapleguard to Nile Cr---------No recent soundings
Nile Creek to French Cr-------No recent soundings
French Cr to NW Bay-----------Mar 15: 1,200 tons

Total Area 14: 1,300 tons (assessment incomplete)
Peak Estimate Area 14: 64,500 tons (assessment incomplete)


AREA 17 NORTH
Dorcas Pt/Schooner Cove-------No recent soundings
Inner Nanoose-----------------Mar 18: 200 tons
Outer Nanoose-----------------Mar 18: 100 tons
Blunden to Neck Point---------Mar 18: 50 tons
Neck Pt to Dodd Narrows-------Mar 18: 200 tons
Flattop Isle./Thrasher Rk.----Mar 15: 300 tons

Total Area 17N: 850 tons (assessment incomplete)


AREA 17 SOUTH
Upper Stuart------------------Mar 15: 100 tons
Lower Stuart------------------Mar 15: 520 tons
Pylades Channel---------------Mar 17: 1,300 tons
Test: Mar 15 on 425 tons at Pylades Channel. 7.5%;15.9cm; 63.5m:5.0f; 75-0-0-18-31; (10.0:85.4).
Test: Mar 17 on 200 tons at Pylades Channel. 5.0%;14.8cm; 99.0m:65.0f; 65-1-0-6-91; (7.7:38.3). 
Porlier Pass------------------Mar 17: 100 tons
Trincomali Channel------------Mar 16: Skimmer
Test: Mar 7 on 200 tons at Spotlight Cove. 0.1%;19cm; 0.5m:2.0f; 1-0-2-128-24; (10.0:65.7).

Total Area 17S: 2,020 tons (assessment incomplete)


AREA 18
Plumper Sound-----------------Not assessed
Swanson Channel---------------Mar 16: 125 tons
Captains Pass-----------------Mar 16: 70 tons
Satellite Channel-------------Mar 16: 500 tons

Total Area 18: 695 tons(assessment incomplete)


AREA 19
Saanich Inlet-----------------Mar 16: 75 tons
Total Area 19: 75 tons (assessment incomplete)


TOTAL STRAIT OF GEORGIA: Assessment and tonnage estimates are incomplete.
Peak Estimate Strait of Georgia: 74,255 tons (assessment incomplete)


The DFO charter test vessel Denman Isle commenced a 27 day charter on February 20. Denman Isle assessed the from Nanaimo to Nanoose area last night and this am. Denman Isle completed its 27 day charter today. 

The commercial roe Herring seine fishery opened in Area 14 at 04:00 hrs on March 3, 2022 (see FN0178). The validated catch is 819.719 tons of the 832.571 ton catch target. The seine fishery closed March 5 at 14:00 hrs (see FN0196). Seine fishing efforts targeted the Lambert Channel, Chrome Island, and Scallop Farm areas. 

Effective 08:30 hrs Saturday March 5, 2022 and until further notice, portions of Areas 14 and 17 are open to Gulf licensed roe herring gillnets (see FN0195). The validated catch to date is 3,407 tons of the 6,788.44 ton catch target. The gillnet fleet is looking for opportunities. 

FSC HARVEST ACTIVITY
Fishermen are reminded to maintain 100 meter distance and reduce speed while transiting nearby any FSC Herring spawn harvest operations.

FLIGHT PROGRAM
The 11th Strait of Georgia Herring spawn overflight departed Nanaimo at 10:40 hrs today, Friday March 18th. The flight headed north from Nanaimo, following the Vancouver Island coastline to Comox, including Denman and Hornby Islands. The flight then continued south circling Gabriola Island before returning to Nanaimo, further assessment to the south was abandoned due to poor visibility. No spawn was observed. The next herring spawn overflight has yet to be scheduled. Flight scheduling will occur early next week.

The total length of spawn observed in Area 14 to date is 36.5nm. 
The total length of spawn observed in Area 15 to date is 0nm.
The total length of spawn observed in Area 16 to date is 2.5nm.
The total length of spawn observed in Area 17 to date is 0nm. 


PUBLIC HEALTH AND AQUACULTURE
Vessel Masters are reminded that there are numerous clam and oyster leases in Baynes Sound. Disposal of human waste into waters near shellfish harvest areas creates potentially serious health risks for shellfish consumers. The discharge of untreated sewage into all Canadian inland waters and Canadian coastal waters within 3 nautical miles of land is banned under the Canada Shipping Act. Vessels participating in the herring fishery are required to abide by sewage discharge regulations and are requested to minimize impact to aquaculture sites by utilizing marinas, anchoring in existing sanitary closures and minimizing congregations of vessels near shellfish aquaculture sites as much as possible.

NANAIMO PORT AUTHORITY NOTICE
All CFVs looking to moor at any Nanaimo Port Authority facility must hail the Marina Office on VHF Channel 67 prior to docking and register in person at the marina office once docked. Vessel masters are advised that moorage is prohibited at the VVP (large concrete pier). The Marina has no available moorage for vessels greater than 49'.

TEST PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Please note: Formal scientific estimates of stock abundance will be available in the post-season from dive surveys measuring egg deposition and biological samples collected from the test vessel(s). In-season tonnage estimates from soundings are not used to determine quotas; however sounding estimates and roe quality data are used by Fishery Managers and harvesters to inform fishery implementation. No test/sample fish will be retained for sale.


FOR MORE INFORMATION
Jim Meldrum (250) 286-5823 or james.meldrum@dfo-mpo.gc.ca


DEFINITIONS
Fish on bottom (FOB): Herring too close to the bottom to quantify
Miles: Nautical miles for this bulletin
NFF: No Fish Found
Scratches: Herring present in small schools 1 to 2 tons
Skimmer: Herring spread out near the surface, difficult to quantify
Washed out spawn: Spawn that is coming to an end

TEST SET CODE: Date;Location;roe yield;fish size;males:females;#1-#2-#3-#spawned-#juvenile;(roe weight g:fish weight g)

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0269
Sent March 18, 2022 at 1606

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 16, 2024 at 2359