IMPORTANT NOTICE –
PQF&G will be cancelling their sporting clays on this Saturday, July 22. The woods are too dry and dangerous – we can’t risk a fire.
Apologies to everybody. Hopefully in August we will have some rotten weather.
Thanks, Dorman Range
The finfish closure in part of Alberni Inlet (portions of Subarea 23-1 and Subarea 23-2 and 23-3) implemented on June 14, 2017 as outlined in FN0536 has been lifted. Effective 00:01 hours Saturday July 1, 2017 until further notice the daily limit for sockeye salmon will be two (2) sockeye per day in Area 23, Barkley Sound and Alberni Inlet except for: The tidal portion of the Somass River (which will remain closed) described as that portion of Subarea 23-1 from the tidal boundary signs at Paper Mill Dam on the Somass River downstream to a line commencing at a boundary sign in upper Alberni Harbour situated at 49°14.19 north latitude and 124°50.23 west longitude thence through the southern most point of Hoik Island then to the flashing green light at the mouth of the Somass River, then due east to a boundary sign on the opposite shore. Variation Order # 2017-339 and 2017-340. On June 29, 2017 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 gillnet and seine fishery, and the Alberni Valley Sport Fishing Advisory Committee. The pre-season forecast for Somass sockeye was 172,000. A run reforecast was not provided today due to a high level of uncertainty around run timing and an unexpectedly low proportion of age 4 fish that usually provide a significant contribution to the later part of the run. As a result, fisheries are being planned conservatively based on a total estimated run to date of 210,000 and a 16% harvest rate. At the meeting the Area 23 Harvest Committee recommended opening the tidal recreational sockeye fishery with the exception of the tidal portion of the Somass River. The Area 23 Harvest Committee has agreed to revisit the finfish closure in the Somass River at next week's committee meeting. The Somass Sockeye in-season stock assessment program will be in place in 2017. 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. Fishers are reminded that the Uchuklesit Inlet finfish closure as described in FN578 is in effect. 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 – FN0608
Sent June 30, 2017 at 1717
The Area 23 gill net fishery opens for 6 hours from 12:00 hours to 18:00 hours
Tuesday, July 4, 2017 in the following areas:
A portion of Subarea 23-1 south of a line drawn from the light at Polly Point
to Stamp Point on the opposite shore; and Subarea 23-2.
Minimum mesh 100 mm, maximum depth 90 meshes, maximum hang ratio 3:1, and
corkline to web distance minimum 0 cm, maximum 2 m. Incidental catch of chinook
may be retained. Coho and steelhead may not be retained. Six strand Alaska-
twist web, conventional multi-strand web or a combination of the two may be
used.
Variation Order No. 17-Sal-23-GN-01
On June 29, 2017 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 pre-season forecast for Somass sockeye was 172,000. A run reforecast was
not provided today due to a high level of uncertainty around run timing and an
unexpectedly low proportion of age 4 fish that usually provide a significant
contribution to the later part of the run. As a result, fisheries are being
planned conservatively based on a total estimated run to date of 210,000 and a
16% harvest rate.
The weekly TAC for this opening is 3,800 pieces and extensions are possible,
depending on catch rates and fleet size.
The Somass sockeye in-season stock assessment program will be in place in 2017.
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 commercial sockeye opportunities if conditions warrant.
A run-size update will be provided at the next Area 23 Harvest Committee
meeting on July 6. Test-set information will be available on the internet at:
http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-
mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/salmon/testfish/sockeye/Area23_seine.htm
Please note the following Area 23 specific licence condition change from 2016
that is being continued for 2017: In order to avoid collisions with gill nets
by transiting vessels, four (4) additional buoys (floats) that are white or
yellow in colour and at least 60 cm in circumference must be attached to the
gill net equidistantly between the buoy(s) marking either end of the gill net.
Please refer to your 2017/2018 Conditions of Licence for complete requirements.
Fishery Notice 0558 outlines activity and catch reporting changes for Area D
licences conditions in 2017-18.
Please note that all salmon gill net fisheries have requirements for recording
and reporting. See FN0558 and FN0580 outlining these changes for Area D
fishers. Refer to your 2016/2017 Area D conditions of licence for complete
changes.
Please note changes to transporting of salmon. Please see FN0157 and Part III
of your conditions of licence for additional details. Instructions for the
Salmon Transfer Log, and the Salmon Transfer Log may be found on our web page
in section 'Additional Licensing Services Forms' at:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/licence-permis/licence-commercial-eng.html.
Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is monitoring seabird by-catch to
determine potential impact on bird populations under current fishing effort and
bird numbers. Fishers are requested to submit all dead birds entangled in nets
to ECCC for species confirmation and DNA analysis to determine the colony of
origin.
Please call your local charter patrol to organize pick-up, drop carcasses off
at a local DFO office, or contact ECCC directly by calling the Wild Bird
Mortality Reporting Line 1-866-431-2473 (BIRD). Handle birds with gloves,
double bag dead birds. Label bag with date, time, location, fishery opening and
vessel name (Skipper name isn't needed). Alternatively, please send photographs
of birds with a reference object such as a coin, and the date, time, location,
fishery opening and vessel name to laurie.wilson@canada.ca. Questions: contact
Laurie Wilson (laurie.wilson@canada.ca, 604-862-8817).
Fisheries and Oceans Canada is interested in reports of sea turtles in BC
waters. By documenting sightings we are able to learn more about how, when,
and where these turtles are using our waters. 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.
Fishers should be advised that whales can be encountered in the fishing area.
Fishers should take precautionary measures to avoid fishing near whales to
avoid potential contact with fishing gear. 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.
Fishers are advised to notify local DFO managers or patrol vessels to report
abandoned, lost, or entangled gear. A local diver has volunteered to remove the
nets at no charge.
The 24 hour toll-free phone-in line for fishery notices is 1-866-431-3474.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Peter Hall - 250-720-4440
Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center – FN0604
Sent June 30, 2017 at 1119