Fishery Notice

AREA G WCVI CHINOOK FISHERY CONTINUATION AND MARKED COHO RETENTION

Effective 00:01, September 15, 2016 the use of conventional flasher gear and 
the retention of hatchery marked coho (i.e. possess a healed scar in place of 
the adipose) only will be permitted in the Area G fishery.

Harvesters are reminded that the WCVI inshore commercial troll conservation 
boundary line implemented annually to protect returning WCVI chinook stocks is 
in effect.  Areas or portions of areas may close on short notice if high 
incidence of small or undersize chinook are encountered. 

The target catch for this fishery is 20,000 chinook and the estimated harvest 
to September 12 is 9,878 chinook.  

The Area G troll fishery continues effective 00:01 hours September 15, 2016 in 
those portions of Areas 123 to 127 seaward of a line commencing at a point 
located at, 50° 47.114'N, 128° 29.024'W (approximately 2.0 nautical miles west 
of Cape Scott) then continuing to,
50° 43.895'N, 128° 28.072'W then continuing to,
50° 41.443'N, 128° 25.906'W then continuing to,
50° 38.787'N, 128° 24.879'W then continuing to,
50° 35.258'N, 128° 20.671'W then continuing to, 
50° 31.321'N, 128° 15.760'W then continuing to, 
50° 18.630'N, 128° 01.400'W then continuing to,
50° 05.739'N, 127° 59.339'W then continuing to,
50° 04.812'N, 127° 57.981'W then continuing to,
50° 02.763'N, 127° 48.844'W then continuing to,
49° 59.856'N, 127° 48.844'W then continuing to,
50° 00.322'N, 127° 45.077'W then continuing to,
50° 01.894'N, 127° 42.323'W then continuing to,
49° 56.536'N, 127° 33.396'W then continuing to,
49° 47.509'N, 127° 13.664'W then continuing to,
49° 41.352'N, 127° 04.383'W then continuing to,
49° 32.911'N, 126° 54.415'W then continuing to,
49° 29.735'N, 126° 41.109'W then continuing to,
49° 21.890'N, 126° 40.163'W then continuing to,
49° 20.255'N, 126° 39.268'W then continuing to,
49° 19.124'N, 126° 37.537'W then continuing to,
49° 18.191'N, 126° 35.266'W then continuing to,
49° 17.973'N, 126° 25.470'W then continuing to,
49° 19.019'N, 126° 23.115'W then continuing to,
49° 14.370'N, 126° 20.321'W then continuing to,
49° 07.223'N, 126° 09.229'W then continuing to,
49° 02.154'N, 125° 58.760'W then continuing to,
49° 00.206'N, 125° 52.465'W then continuing to,
48° 51.731'N, 125° 37.827'W then continuing to,
48° 43.094'N, 125° 17.138'W then continuing to,
48° 39.411'N, 125° 10.580'W.

The following portion of Area 123 is excluded from the fishing area and will 
remain closed:

Those portions of Troll Zones 14 and 15a within the area bounded by the 
following coordinates,
48° 52.068'N 125° 30.653'W
48° 48.876'N 125° 27.788'W
48° 46.971'N 125° 35.184'W
48° 47.950'N 125° 36.418'W.

The target species is chinook, incidental catch of chum and pink and hatchery 
marked coho may be retained.  Sockeye, wild coho and steelhead may not be 
retained. The minimum size limit for Chinook is 55 cm fork length (head on), 
and 44 cm (head off).

Variation Order No. 2016-G-TR-WCVI-010

Fishers are reminded that the dockside catch validation pilot program will 
continue in 2016 from April 19 until September 30.  All fish caught under the 
authority of an Area G licence must be delivered to designated landing sites.  
Please refer to your 2016-17 Area G Conditions of Licence for details.  This 
program will operate in conjunction with the JO Thomas Coded Wire Tag sampling 
program.  The ability to utilize the JO Thomas's CWT sampling crew to collect 
catch validation data create efficiencies which help minimize validation costs.

Harvesters are reminded that: 
- commercial trolling is not permitted in Rockfish Conservation Areas. These 
closures are listed at the website address http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-
gp/maps-cartes/rca-acs/index-eng.htm or can be accessed at DFO district offices.
- sampling for coded wire tags from landed Chinook is essential. In order to 
facilitate sampling, fishers are asked to call J.O. Thomas and Associates 24 
hours in advance toll-free at 1-866-638-6301 before they land their catch with 
the following information:

Landing location.
Estimated date and time of landing.
Processor/company.
Area(s) fished.
Number of Chinook on-board.

Note that calls to this number between Monday and Friday during office hours 
(08:00 to 16:00) will be answered in person. Calls made after office hours and 
on weekends will be directed to a voicemail box where this information can be 
left.

- Freezer vessels are required to retain ALL heads from chinook and coho salmon 
caught and retained. These heads must be delivered at the time of off-loading 
of the salmon catch and be made available for examination by representatives of 
the Department. Contact J.O. Thomas and Associates Ltd. at 1-866-638-6301 
between 08:00 hours and 16:00 hours for instructions relating to these heads. 

Note: Chinook/Coho Head bags and labels will be provided at no cost by the 
Department, and can be picked up at the following DFO offices between 0800 
hours and 1600 hours:

Commissionaire, 2nd floor reception, 200 - 401 Burrard St, Vancouver
Commissionaire, main entrance, 3190 Hammond Bay Rd., Nanaimo
Front Counter, main entrance, 940 Alder St, Campbell River
Front Counter, main entrance, 4706 Tebo Ave., Port Alberni
Front Counter, main entrance, 8585 Wollason Rd, Port Hardy
Front Counter, 417 2nd Ave W, Prince Rupert
Front Counter, 137 Bay St, Queen Charlotte City
Front Counter, 12551 No. 1 Road, Richmond 
Front Counter, 4250 Commerce Circle, Victoria.

Alternative arrangements for receiving or picking up packages can be arranged.  
Phone DFO toll-free at 1-866-483-9994 for more information.

As an alternative to retaining the whole head from retained chinook, fishers 
can opt to keep the upper jaw and head, from the tip of the nose back to 1 cm 
behind the eye. These "snouts" must be cut from the top of the head, with the 
cut travelling one centimetre posterior (behind) the eye, to the back corner of 
the mouth. There is no need to retain the lower jaws or gill plates.

- Environment Canada (EC) is monitoring seabird by-catch to determine potential 
impact on bird populations under current fishing effort and bird numbers. 
Fishers are requested to submit all dead birds entangled in nets to EC for 
species confirmation and DNA analysis to determine the colony of origin. Please 
call your local charter patrol to organize pick-up, drop carcasses off at a 
local DFO office, or contact EC directly by calling the EC Reporting Line 1-866-
431-2473 (BIRD). Label birds with date, time, location and vessel name (Skipper 
name isn't needed). Handle birds with gloves, double bag dead birds, store on 
ice. Questions: contact Laurie Wilson (laurie.wilson@canada.ca, 604-862-8817). 

- 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), e-mail 
sightings@vanaqua.org or online reporting at www.wildwhales.org. Please include 
information such as the type of sea turtle seen (e.g. leatherback), the 
location, and time of sighting.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Bryan Rusch 250-756-7294

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0974
Sent September 12, 2016 at 1129

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 0250