When did they come through last? I had a tripple header on today!
Category(s):
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Seine
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Subject: FN0644-COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Seine - Sockeye - Alberni Inlet - Subareas 23-1 and 23-2 - Opening - June 26-28, 2022
Seines will open for Sockeye Salmon at 10:00 hours Sunday June 26, 2022 until 22:00 hours Tuesday June 28, 2022, in the following areas:
That portion of Subarea 23-1 south of a line drawn from Polly Point to Stamp Point, then south to a line drawn from Dunsmuir Point to a point located at 49 degrees 09.660 minutes north latitude and 124 degrees 47.720 minutes west longitude, approximately 0.37 nautical miles north of China Creek; and
That portion of Subarea 23-2 south of a line drawn from Hocking Point, then easterly to a point on the opposite shore at 49 degrees 05.260 minutes north latitude and 124 degrees 49.158 minutes west longitude. Pocahontas Point is the southern boundary of this area.
Minimum bunt mesh size is 70 mm. The minimum net length is 270 metres and a minimum depth of 20 metres. The maximum net length is 400 metres and a maximum depth of 52 metres.
The target species is Sockeye Salmon. Coho, Pink, Chum, Chinook and Steelhead may not be retained.
All catch must be brailed and the use of power skiffs is approved.
Variation Order No. 2022-SAL-23-SN-01 in effect.
The target catch for this opening is 25,000 Sockeye Salmon. This fishery will close once the target is caught or may be extended if needed.
On June 23, 2022 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 representatives from the commercial gillnet and seine fisheries, and the Alberni Valley Sport Fishing Advisory Committee. An increased run size of 550,000 was adopted for management purposes.
The involvement of the Area B seine fleet in the Alberni Inlet Sockeye Salmon fishery is dependent on the Area B Seine Harvest Committee developing and implementing a fishing plan that limits the harvest of Sockeye Salmon to weekly target allocations. This fishing opportunity is possible due to the cooperation between Fisheries Management staff and the Area B Harvest Committee to actively manage this weekly fishing plan.
As a result, Area B vessel masters and vessels must have a valid 2022 Area B Seine Licence and also be designated by their representative Working Group body and subsequently by the Area B Harvest Committee to participate in this fishery.
This fishery will not proceed should undesignated seine vessels attend or attempt to participate in this fishery.
NOTES AND REMINDERS:
Lost Gear Reporting:
The licence holder/operator must report any of their lost fishing gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of lost gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by completing the Lost Fishing Gear form available online at
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/reporting-declaration-eng.html.
If using an Electronic logbook, the licence holder/fishing vessel operator must report any of their lost fishing gear to Fisheries and Oceans Canada gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of lost gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by completing the section reserved for that purpose in its electronic logbook.
Retrieved Gear Reporting:
The licence holder/operator must report the retrieval of any of their own previously reported lost gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of retrieved gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by completing and submitting the Retrieval of Previously Reported Lost Fishing Gear form available online at
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/index-eng.html. Retrieval can only occur during the validity period of these licence conditions and only in relation to the specific type of gear authorized to be used by these licence conditions.
If using an Electronic logbook, the licence holder/fishing vessel operator must report the retrieval of any of their own previously reported lost gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of retrieved gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by completing the section reserved for that purpose in its electronic logbook. Retrieval can only occur under a valid fishing licence and only in relation to the specific type of gear authorized to be used by the fishing 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. This aligns with reporting requirements under the Marine Mammal Regulations. The link to the online National form and instructions for filling in and reporting can be found at
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 (1-866-544-4744). 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@ec.gc.ca. For more information contact Laurie Wilson (
Laurie.Wilson@ec.gc.ca, 604-862-8817).
The Government of Canada recognizes that Southern Resident Killer Whales face imminent threats to their survival and recovery. On April 29, 2022, the Government announced a suite of management measures to be implemented this summer that help address the key threats of reduced prey availability (primarily Chinook salmon), and acoustic and physical disturbance. These measures include salmon fishery closures, Interim Sanctuary Zones that restrict vessels from entering (including fishing), minimum vessel approach distances, Seasonal Slowdown Areas where vessels are required to slow down to 10 knots while in these areas and a number of voluntary measures including to stop fishing (do not haul gear) within 1,000 metres of killer whales and let them pass. For more information about the 2022 management measures, please visit
https://www.canada.ca/southern-resident-killer-whales or contact the Marine Mammal Team at
DFO.SRKW-ERS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
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 marine mammal 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 animal of the fishing gear as this can pose a serious threat to the safety of the fisher and the animal. If your vessel strikes a whale, or if you observe a sick, injured, distressed, or dead marine mammal in B.C. waters, please contact the hotline immediately: 1-800-465-4336 or VHF Channel 16.