Fishery Notice

The following commercial economic opportunity fishery was authorized for the Musqueam First Nation for Chum salmon using modified shallow seine gear in the lower Fraser River:

This fishery opened for shallow purse seines daily from 07:00 hours to 19:00 hours, October 31 to November 3, 2024.

The fishing activity was authorized in the following area:

Those waters of the Fraser River westerly of the Patullo Bridge and the waters of the Strait of Georgia bounded by a line commencing at Point Grey thence northerly to the light on Point Atkinson, thence westerly to the light on Point Cowan on Bowen Island, thence following the southerly shoreline of Bowen Island to the light on Cape Roger Curtis, thence in a direct line southeasterly to the Roberts Bank LL# 309 (known as the Hooter Buoy) thence due west to the 40 metre contour line as shown on C.H.S. 3463, thence follow the 40 metre contour line to the International border. Portions of DFO Management Subareas 29-3, excluding that portion of Subarea 29-3 inside a line drawn from a point in water at 49°17.519' N and 123°20.404' W easterly to a point in water located on the boundary between Subareas 28-7 and 29-3 at 49°17.400' N and 123°15.867' W, then southerly following the Subarea boundary to a point on land near Point Grey at 49°15.995' N and 123°15.860' W, then southerly following the shoreline to Point Grey at 49°15.936' N and 123°15.860' W, then southwesterly to the north side of North Arm Jetty Light at 49°15.443' N and 123°16.772' W, then southerly to the south side of North Arm Jetty Light at 49°15.437' N and 123°16.779' W, then southwesterly to a point in water located on the boundary between Subareas 29-3 and 29-10 at 49°13.258' N and 123° 17.117' W, then westerly to a point in water at 49°13.349' N and 123°20.797' W, and then northerly in a straight line back to the point of commencement. Refer to Fishery Notice FN0972 for further details regarding the Southern Resident Killer Whale salmon fishing closures; Subareas 29-4, 29-6, 29-7, 29-9, 29-10, 29-11, 29-12, 29-13 and 29-14.

Only individuals designated by the Musqueam First Nation are authorized to participate in this fishery. All aspects of the communal licence will be enforced. Fish harvesters are advised to contact their band for a copy of the conditions of their fishing licence.

The target species in this fishery is Chum salmon for Economic Opportunity purposes. Retention of Chinook and hatchery marked Coho Salmon caught incidentally is permitted for Food, Social, and Ceremonial purposes.  There will be non-retention of wild Coho Salmon, Sockeye, Steelhead, and Sturgeon. Opportunities to harvest Chum salmon will be constrained by management objectives for Interior Fraser River Steelhead which is a stock of concern presently co-migrating in the Fraser River. All non-target species will be released back to the water alive and unharmed.

It is mandatory that all salmon retained under the authority of this licence be transported to the nearest landing station and made available for inspection.  A monitor shall be onboard the vessel during all fishing activity to record the number and species of all kept and released fish. A monitor shall be present during all landing of catch to record the number of each species of salmon landed.

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 DFO by completing the section reserved for that purpose in the 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 to DFO by completing the section reserved for that purpose in the electronic logbook.

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).

For more information on the best ways to help whales while on the water, when on both sides of the border, please visit: bewhalewise.org.

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 or VHF Channel 16.

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 species of sea turtle seen (e.g. leatherback), the location and time of sighting.

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). Handle birds with gloves, double bag dead birds and label each with date, time, location, and store them on ice. Alternatively, send a photograph of birds with a reference object (e.g. coin) to Laurie.Wilson@ec.gc.ca. For more information contact Laurie Wilson (Laurie.Wilson@ec.gc.ca, 604-862-8817).

Report suspicious activity or violations by email at DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or by calling the 24-hour, toll-free Observe, Record, and Report line at 1-800-465-4336 or 604-607-4186 in greater Vancouver.

The 24-hour, toll-free information line for fishery notices regarding openings and closures is 1-866-431-3474 or 604-666-2828 in greater Vancouver.

The Government of Canada recognizes that Southern Resident Killer Whales face imminent threats to their survival and recovery. In May, the Government of Canada shared the 2024 and 2025  management measures to be implemented this spring and 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), Speed Restricted Zones that restrict vessels to a maximum of 10 knots in designated areas (including fishing), minimum approach distances and a number of voluntary measures including to stop fishing (do not haul gear) and reduce speed to less than 7 knots when within 1,000 metres of killer whales and let them pass, and a voluntary speed reduction zone in Tumbo Channel.

For more information about the 2024 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. For more information on the best ways to help whales while on the water, please visit: bewhalewise.org.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact Zaynah Khan, Resource Manager, Fraser and Interior Area by calling (604)340-1105.

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1161
Sent October 31, 2024 at 1019

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on June 10, 2026 at 0053