Fishery Notice

Category(s):
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net
Subject:
FN0973-COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net - Area D - Area 23 - Alberni Inlet Extension of September 10, 2016 Opening


This notice supersedes FN0966.  This information was communicated to the Area D 
gill net fleet on the grounds.

Gill nets are extended for 5 hours, commencing 00:01 hours to 05:00 hours 
Sunday September 11, 2016 in the following areas(Sproat Narrows to the Somass 
River Mouth):
 -  that portion of Subarea 23-1 south of a line commencing at a boundary sign 
located at 49 degrees 14.190 minutes north latitude and 124 degrees 50.230 
minutes west longitude then through the southern most point of Hoik Island then 
to the southern most flashing green light at the mouth of the Somass River then 
due east to the opposite shore.  

Variation Order No. 16-Sal-23-GN-21

Maximum Gill net length 183 metres. Minimum Mesh size 171 mm, maximum Depth 60 
meshes, maximum Hang ratio 3:1, corkline to web distance minimum 0 cm, maximum 
2.0 m. Conventional multi-strand web or six-strand Alaska-twist web, or a 
combination of the two may be used. 

The target species is chinook and incidentally caught coho, and pink may be 
retained.  Chum, sockeye and, steelhead may not be retained.

The catch target for this fishery is 6,254 pcs. There will be no further 
extensions for this fishery.
  
Fishers participating in this fishery should read their licence conditions 
carefully.

New for 2016

Please note there is a licence condition change specific to Area 23 gillnet 
fisheries. 

In order to avoid collisions with gill nets by transiting vessels, four (4) 
additional buoys (floats) that are white or yellow in colour and at least 60 cm 
in circumference must be attached to the gill net equidistantly between the buoy
(s) marking either end of the gill net. Please refer to your 2016/2017 
conditions of licence for complete requirements. Fishery Notice 0492 outlines 
all new changes for fishers in 2016-17. 

Please notify the local DFO office or patrol vessel the location of any 
abandoned or entangled nets.  A local diver has volunteered to remove the nets 
at no charge.Fisheries and Oceans Canada is interested in reports of sea 
turtles in BC waters.  By documenting sightings we are able to learn more about 
how, when, and where these turtles are using our waters.  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. 

Fishers are requested to avoid fishing among birds and not to run the line if 
birds are near the net.  Fishers are requested to retain all dead birds which 
are entangled and to release live and unharmed birds by placing them in the 
water.  Please check all birds for metal bird bands (rings) on the leg.  If a 
bird is banded please contact Laurie Wilson with the band number and capture 
date and location at 1 866-431-2473 (BIRD) or by the email below.  Handle birds 
with gloves, double bag dead birds and label each bird with date, time, and 
location and store them on ice.  Please call your local patrol vessel to 
organize pick-up or drop them off at a local DFO office.  Alternatively, please 
send photographs of birds with a reference object such as a coin, and the date, 
time and location to laurie.wilson@canada.ca . Your names and vessel names do 
not need to be identified or included.

The 24 hour toll-free phone-in line for fisheries notices is 1-866-431-3474.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Mike Spence, Resource Manager, Port Alberni (250) 720-4440

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0973
Sent September 12, 2016 at 1121