Fishery Notice

Recent Pink Salmon catches in the Area 12 purse seine test fishery have been consistently high. Recent assessments in Phillips Arm confirm a significant abundance of Pink in the river and terminal sanctuary areas, as well as the approach areas to Phillips Arm.

A limited effort seine fishery has been planned for Phillips Arm. Participation in this fishery is being coordinated by the Area B Harvest Committee, with approximately 6 to 10 vessels expected to participate at any given time.
Monitoring requirements will be in place throughout the fishery. Please contact the BC Salmon Purse Seine Association representative Emily Orr at Emily.L.Orr@outlook.com if you would like to participate in this fishery. Monitoring is a requirement of this fishery and will be coordinated by the Harvest Committee.
Effective from 06:00 hours August 14 until 20:00 hours daily until further notice, Area B Seine will open for Pink Salmon in the following sub-area:
That portion of sub-area 13-24 southerly from Hewitt Point at 50 degrees 31.6324'N 125 degrees 22.8023' W east to Shirley Creek at 50 degrees 31.6174' N 125 degrees 21.2578' W.
Minimum bunt mesh 70 mm. The use of power skiffs is not permitted.
Variation Order Number 2026-SAL-084
NOTES AND REMINDERS:

The target species in this fishery is Pink Salmon. There will be non-retention of Sockeye, Chum, Coho, Chinook, and Steelhead. This fishery has been designed to address stocks of concern constraints.

A valid 2026/27 Salmon Area B licence (complete with licence conditions), logbook requirements, operating revival tanks and brailing are requirements in this fishery.
Vessel masters must, prior to leaving for the fishing grounds, either phone AMR at 1-888-387-0007, or submit the details via e-log, to complete a start fishing report and announce their intention to fish. 
At the end of each fishing day and prior to 08:00 hours of the next day, the vessel master must, as a condition of licence, record their catch information either in their Salmon Logbook and report their catch by calling AMR at 1-888-387-0007 or submit their catch information via e-log. 
Within 24 hours of the end of a fishing trip and prior to commencing a subsequent fishing trip, the vessel master shall either phone in or submit via e-log an End Fishing Report.  Should a vessel master decide not to fish after having obtained a Trip Identification Number the vessel master shall phone in or submit via e-log a Trip Cancellation report. 

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.

The Government of Canada recognizes that Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) face imminent threats to their survival and recovery. Management measures have been implemented to 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 current SRKW 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.

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 phone-in line for fisheries notices is 1-866-431-3474.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact Madeline Wanless by emailing Madeline.Wanless@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0862
Sent August 14, 2026 at 1500

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on October 5, 2026 at 1409