Fishery Notice

This fishery notice amends FN0339 to correct the close time; daily night time 
closures are in place from 22:00 to 05:00 hours.  The full corrected fishery 
notice follows.

Effective 00:01 hours May 1, 2018 until further notice the daily quota for the 
tidal recreational fishery for sockeye salmon will be two (2) sockeye per day 
in the following area:

that portion of Subareas 23-1 to 23-11 from a line in Alberni Harbour near the 
mouth of the Somass River beginning at a boundary sign Located at 49 degrees 
14.190 north latitude and 124 degrees 50.230 west longitude then through the 
southern most point of Hoik Island then to the flashing green light at the 
mouth of the Somass River then due east to a boundary sign on the opposite 
shore then Seaward to the surfline (Cape Beale to Amphitrite Point) except for 
the following closed area;

The area known as Uchucklesit Inlet will close to angling for all finfish - 
effective 00:01 hours June 30 until 23:59 hours October 31, 2018 this includes 
that portion of Subarea 23-3 northwest of a line between boundary signs at 
Brooksby Point and Burrough Point. 

Variation Order # 2018-RFQ-230


Effective daily from 05:00 hours to 22:00 hours from May 1 until 22:00 hours 
July 23, 2018, the daily quota for sockeye salmon shall be two (2) per day in 
the following area;

The tidal portion of the Somass River described as that portion of Subarea 23-1 
from the tidal boundary signs at Paper Mill Dam on the Somass River downstream 
to a line commencing at a boundary sign in upper Alberni Harbour situated at 49°
14.19 north latitude and 124°50.23 west longitude thence through the southern 
most point of Hoik Island then to the flashing green light at the mouth of the 
Somass River, then due east to a boundary sign on the opposite shore except for 
the following closed area;

The area known as Paper Mill Dam Pool will remain closed to angling for all 
finfish. It Includes that portion of 23-1 in the Somass River from signs 
located near the bottom of the rapids immediately north of Papermill Dam Pool, 
then downstream to boundary signs located on both sides of the Somass River 
approximately 60 metres downstream from the northern tip of the unnamed island 
directly below Paper Mill Dam Pool.

Variation Order # 2018-RCT-128


On April 11, 2018 Department staff met with the Area 23 Harvest Committee to 
discuss fishery planning for Area 23 Somass Sockeye. The attendees at this 
meeting were representatives from the Tseshaht, Hupacasath and Maa-nulth First 
Nations and stakeholders from the commercial gillnet and seine fishery, and the 
Alberni Valley Sport Fishing Advisory Committee.
  
The pre-season forecast for Somass sockeye is 350,000-500,000. The forecast 
predicts a low return to Great Central Lake.  This will be monitored in season 
and restrictions may be implemented on short notice to protect Great Central 
Lake sockeye.  At the meeting the Area 23 Harvest Committee recommended opening 
the tidal recreational sockeye fishery only with a reduced limit.  Further 
opportunities or restrictions will be determined at the weekly Harvest 
Committee meetings which started June 7. 

The Somass Sockeye in-season stock assessment program will be in place in 2018. 
This program collects escapement, test fishing, catch and environmental 
information on a weekly basis.  This information is collected and a reforecast 
will be made weekly every Thursday for the duration of the season.  This may 
lead to further recreational sockeye opportunities if conditions warrant.

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).

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) 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 ECCC 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 ECCC directly by calling the Wild Bird 
Mortality Reporting Line 1-866-431-2473 (BIRD). Handle birds with gloves, 
double bag dead birds. Label bag with date, time, location, fishery opening and 
vessel name (Skipper name isn't needed). Alternatively, please send photographs 
of birds with a reference object such as a coin, and the date, time, location, 
fishery opening and vessel name to laurie.wilson@canada.ca. 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).  Please 
include information such as the type of sea turtle seen (i.e. leatherback), the 
location, and time of sighting. 
          
Fishers should be advised that whales can be encountered in the fishing area. 
Fishers should take precautionary measures to avoid fishing near whales to 
avoid potential contact with fishing gear. If a whale 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 whale of 
the fishing gear as this can pose a serious threat to the safety of the fisher 
and the animal. 


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 - FN0515
Sent June 22, 2018 at 1442

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