Another regs question

[tubber]

We found a place with a dock but no cleaning station. Can I throw our group's catch in the truck then drive it over to the town cleaning tables to fillet prior to taking to the processor? The boat's not set up to do it on board well.
Do the other licence holders need to be there to "help" if a CO wonders why I have too many fish? I usually keep all the licences with me in my dry bag.

 

[MikePA]

We found a place with a dock but no cleaning station. Can I throw our group's catch in the truck then drive it over to the town cleaning tables to fillet prior to taking to the processor? The boat's not set up to do it on board well.
Do the other licence holders need to be there to "help" if a CO wonders why I have too many fish? I usually keep all the licences with me in my dry bag.

Yes they have to be there, you cannot transport other people's catch.

 

[scott craven]

You're at risk being in possession of more than your personal limit.
Depends on the discression of the C.O. but I wouldn't chance it.

 

[seachicken]

Yes they have to be there, you cannot transport other people's catch.

Yes you can transport other peoples catch, there is a clear procedure.

Edit: this has been pointed out correctly that you can not. Sorry for the incorrect information.

 

[pescador]

Yes but there’s a process you should follow. Each catch should be bagged separately with fishers name address etc and salt water license number noted on the bag. Keep then separated. I’m going by memory but there’s a process defined in the DFO website that explains it. Look at it. That being said DFO officers seem to be able to do whatever they want so be prepared with information and a print out of the regs.

 

[Eden Island]

Yes you can transport other peoples catch, there is a clear procedure.

There used to be a section in the regs that described transporting other people's fish -- having a letter with their permission and license number. I can no longer find that, and can only find this language - https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/finfish-peche-eng.html#packaging

"You may not retain or transport more than the daily limit or combined possession limits for any species as provided by regulations.

The following requirements apply until a fish is either prepared for immediate consumption, or arrives at the fisher’s ordinary residence (including fish delivered and retrieved from a registered processing service)."

If there is still a procedure, can you please point me to it?

 

[tubber]

In this case, transport means < 1 kilometer to table and <1 more to processor. We'll travel home together with properly labelled catch from processor.

 

[Eden Island]

Our daughter used to join us for part of a trip, and we could transport her fish home with a letter of permission. My understanding is that's no longer possible. I think driving 1 km with someone else's fish would pass the "reasonable officer" test even though it may not be strictly legal.

Interested to confirm if there is still a legal way to transport other people's fish.

 

[seachicken]

There used to be a section in the regs that described transporting other people's fish -- having a letter with their permission and license number. I can no longer find that, and can only find this language - https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/finfish-peche-eng.html#packaging

"You may not retain or transport more than the daily limit or combined possession limits for any species as provided by regulations.

The following requirements apply until a fish is either prepared for immediate consumption, or arrives at the fisher’s ordinary residence (including fish delivered and retrieved from a registered processing service)."

If there is still a procedure, can you please point me to it?

Yes sorry, I see that now, I was going off memory of old regs. Used to be able to have a letter from the person that caught the fish

 

[Eden Island]

Yes sorry, I see that now, I was going off memory of old regs. Used to be able to have a letter from the person that caught the fish

I wish it was still true - it made sense and it made life so much easier.

 

[pescador]

Lodges transport other people’s catches all the time.

 

[pescador]

Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Fishery Notices

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

I know it’s 2014 but this is all AI can find.

 

[Eden Island]

Lodges transport other people’s catches all the time.

I think lodges and processors have special status under the regs. Eg. once a processor has cut and frozen your fish, it doesn't have to comply with the general regs - their written certification becomes enough to transport a box of mixed pieces.

 

[SpringVelocity]

I think lodges and processors have special status under the regs. Eg. once a processor has cut and frozen your fish, it doesn't have to comply with the general regs - their written certification becomes enough to transport a box of mixed pieces.

correct

 

[SpringVelocity]

We found a place with a dock but no cleaning station. Can I throw our group's catch in the truck then drive it over to the town cleaning tables to fillet prior to taking to the processor? The boat's not set up to do it on board well.
Do the other licence holders need to be there to "help" if a CO wonders why I have too many fish? I usually keep all the licences with me in my dry bag.

I would bring them.

 

[Fisher Down]

Fisheries and Oceans Canada | Fishery Notices

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

I know it’s 2014 but this is all AI can find.

I agree with pescador. This ‘clarification’ ruined our transportation procedures from Poett Nook. We’d camp at the nook for a week or two and our visitors would take everyone’s fish home with them (along with our ‘transportation’ letters). NO MORE.

FD

 

[wildmanyeah]

I agree with pescador. This ‘clarification’ ruined our transportation procedures from Poett Nook. We’d camp at the nook for a week or two and our visitors would take everyone’s fish home with them (along with our ‘transportation’ letters). NO MORE.

FD

So you wanted someone else to ferry your catch home while you plunder and wonder why they changed lol

Imagin what that would do to the halibut tac

 

[Fisher Down]

So you wanted someone else to ferry your catch home while you plunder and wonder why they changed lol

Imagin what that would do to the halibut tac

DFO explained that they didn't change the regs, merely clarified that most of us (myself included) were not interpreting them correctly.

A few fish sitting in a cooler for a couple weeks doesn't enhance the quality of the meat.

Annual limits are annual limits are annual limits (inc halibut). If I hold the fish for a couple weeks vs a friend or family getting them into a freezer, annual limits don't change. Since the clarification, we've either made a trip home with coolers, or curtailed our trips to just one week.

I could fish in my back yard and plunder as you aluded to, but breaking the law on vacation or breaking the law at home is no different.

FD

 

[wildmanyeah]

All good in was being half sarcastic

 

[Eden Island]

I've reached out to DFO to find out if they have rescinded the 2014 procedure Pescador referenced. Their first reply was just to point me at the section of the regs I referenced yesterday [9:27 AM post]. I've asked again if there is more explicit guidance. We'll see.

I do recall discussion at the time they dropped the procedure. It was over concerns like Wildman raised -- 4 guys fishing sockeye at Alberni. I guy goes home with 32 sockeye and 3 letters while the other 3 keep fishing. A few days later another guy goes home...etc. Factory fishing.

It is a pain for what I consider more legit situations where one member of the party has to leave early but can't leave their fish behind to be transported by the guy with the 100 quart marine cooler and ice.