Fishery Notice

Effective immediately until 23:59 hours Monday, July 31, 2017 the following 
areas of the tidal portion of the Somass River and Alberni Inlet are closed to 
all fishing for finfish: 

This includes Subarea 23-1 to 23-3, from the tidal boundary signs above the 
rapids at Paper Mill Dam in the Somass River then downstream and south into 
Alberni Inlet to a line from the Chup Point Light to Mutine Point.  

The tidal portion of the Somass River was closed in Fishery Notice FN394. With 
this restriction all of Alberni Inlet is now closed to fishing for finfish. 

Please Note: The outer portion of Area 23 from Subarea 23-4 to 23-11 remains 
open to all finfish (except sockeye). These are temporary measures and may be 
removed at short notice if the sockeye forecast increases and allows retention.

At the June 8, 2017 Area 23 Harvest Committee Meeting measures were discussed 
to further protect the low forecasted return for Somass Sockeye.  The committee 
recommended a finfish closure for Alberni Inlet from Subarea 23-1 to 23-3 to 
protect migrating sockeye from hook and release mortality.  

The pre-season forecast for Somass Sockeye is 172,000.  At this runsize there 
is no available recreational catch.   The non-retention of sockeye remains in 
effect for First Nations, Commercial and Recreational sectors. 

The Somass Sockeye in season stock assessment program will be in place in 2017. 
This program collects escapement, test fishing, catch and environmental 
information on a weekly basis.  This information is collected and the first in 
season reforecast will be made on June 29th.  This process will continue weekly 
through the sockeye season and, may lead to recreational sockeye opportunities 
if conditions warrant.

Variation Order # 2017-324


Notes:

Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal waters of British 
Columbia.  

The term "marked" means a hatchery fish that has a healed scar in place of the 
adipose fin.

Sport anglers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery 
program by labelling and submitting heads from adipose fin-clipped chinook and 
coho salmon.  Recovery of coded-wire tags provides critical information for 
coast-wide stock assessment.  Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program 
toll free at (866) 483-9994 for further information.

Anglers are advised to check http://bcsportfishguide.ca for fishing closures 
and other recreational fishing information.

Tidal Water Sport Fishing Licences can be purchased via any computer connected 
to the internet at 
https://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/nrls-sndpp/index-eng.cfm 
or by using Google search key words "Recfish Licence".

Did you witness suspicious fishing activity or a violation?  If so, please call 
the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line 
at (800) 465-4336.

For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at 
1-(866)431-FISH (3474).


FOR MORE INFORMATION:
 
Contact the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Port Alberni office at 250 720 4440 or 
visit our website at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0536
Sent June 14, 2017 at 0938

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on April 26, 2024 at 2142