Fishery Notice

ROE HERRING INFORMATION BULLETIN: 40
DATE: March 26, 2012
STRAIT OF GEORGIA

AREA 14 
Mar 21 NW Bay to French Creek 700 tons
Mar 21 Lambert to Chrome 1,000 tons 
Mar 22 Upper Baynes NFF 
Mar 22 Cape Lazo to Shelter Point, a few schools

AREA 17N
Mar 20 Blunden to Neck Pt 1,000 tons

AREA 17S
Upper Stuart-----------------------Mar 23: 3,500 tons
-----------------------------------Mar 24: 4,000 tons
-----------------------------------Mar 25: 12,000-15,000 tons
-----------------------------------Mar 26: 12,000-15,000 tons
	
Pylades Channel--------------------Mar 23: NFF			   
-----------------------------------Mar 24: 800 tons
-----------------------------------Mar 25: not assessed
-----------------------------------Mar 26: not assessed

TOTAL AREA 17S: 12,000 - 15,000tons

TOTAL STRAIT OF GEORGIA: Total stocks sounded approximately 100,000 tons.

There is an active spawn this morning on the north end of Gabriola Island in 
Subarea 17-12.  The spawn is approximately 3.5 miles in length. The spawn 
commences near Malaspina Point and follows the shoreline in a northeast 
direction continuing past Orlebar Pt towards Lock Bay. This area is open for 
herring gill nets and gear is currently fishing in the area.  There is 
approximately 700 tons of gill net roe herring quota remaining to be harvested 
from an overall quota of 4850 tons.
 
Presently there is no active spawn in Area 17S. The Atlin Post and several 
industry vessels and skiffs surveyed the upper Stuart and Pylades Channel 
shorelines, Valdes Island shoreline over the weekend and this morning and have 
not observed any spawn.  The Atlin Post reported a significant increase in 
stock abundance on Sunday. This morning the Atlin Post is reporting herring 
throughout the upper Stuart Channel area.   The test fishing vessel Savage 
Fisher has completed it's charter this past Saturday. 

The Atlin Post will continue to monitor the Pylades Channel and upper Stuart 
Channel areas for spawn and stock abundance until Tuesday afternoon at which 
time it will depart the area to crew change.  It is anticipated the Atlin Post 
will return to Area 17S Thursday morning March 29. The next flight is 
tentatively scheduled for later this week. 

The aboriginal and commercial fishing plans for roe herring are part of the 
2011/2012 Integrated Fishery Management Plan for herring.  As per the IFMP, and 
subject to conservation, the First Nations access for Food, Social and 
Ceremonial purposes has priority access over commercial and recreational 
fishing.  There have been a number of consultative meetings held with First 
Nations to discuss fishery planning and to ensure that this priority access is 
provided. It is possible that some areas may not be opened to commercial 
fishing in season to provide this priority access. If there are identified 
areas of spawn below Dodd Narrows, communication with First Nations will be 
required in order to ensure that sufficient area and time is provided to First 
Nations to achieve FSC requirements prior to opening a gillnet fishery. Seine 
fishery opportunities will be limited in this area until sufficient spawn is 
achieved. In the event that there is a commercial fishing opening, inference or 
disruption of FSC gear will not be tolerated, and area openings will be 
curtailed if this occurs. 

Weather forecast, Tonight and Tuesday:  
Strong wind warning in effect.
Wind southeast 10 to 15 knots increasing to 15 to 25 late this evening.

For more information contact:

Alistair Thomson 250 756-7294

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0252
Sent March 26, 2012 at 1519

Return to Main Menu

Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 17, 2024 at 2046