Fishery Notice

This fishery notice amends FN0572 to clarify the sockeye salmon non-retention 
management measures in portions of Area 23.

The full amended notice is as follows:

Effective 22:00 hours July 6, 2018 the following area is closed to fishing for 
all salmon:  

The tidal portion of Area 23-1, north of a line from Polly's Point light across 
to a boundary sign at Stamp Point on the opposite shore of Alberni Inlet. The 
closed area extends north to the tidal boundary signs at Paper Mill Dam Pool.

Effective 22:00 hours on July 15, 2018, the daily quota for the tidal 
recreational fishery for sockeye salmon will be zero (0) per day in the 
following area:

- that portion of Subareas 23-1 to 23-11, south from a line from Polly's Point 
light across to a boundary sign at Stamp Point on the opposite shore of Alberni 
Inlet, then seaward to the surfline (Cape Beale to Amphitrite Point).

The area known as Uchucklesit Inlet remains closed 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 inside of a line between boundary signs at 
Brooksby Point and Burrough Point.

On July 12, 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 committee continues to work with a Somass sockeye forecast of 350,000, and 
a low return to Great Central Lake.  This is being 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 the tidal 
recreational sockeye fishery be non-retention below Polly's Point from July 16 
to until further notice.  Further opportunities or restrictions will be 
determined at the weekly Harvest Committee meetings. 

The Somass Sockeye in-season stock assessment program will continue to 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.

Variation Orders: #2018-RCT-380 #2018-RFQ-381


Notes:

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

Anglers are requested to release any hatchery marked sockeye.  These fish are 
hatchery raised sockeye and part of a recovery program designed to increase the 
numbers of Cultus Lake sockeye.

The term "hatchery marked" means a 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.

Rockfish Conservation Areas that are currently in effect and are closed to all 
finfishing.  Descriptions of these closures, and other recreational fishing 
information, can be found on the Internet at:

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/maps-cartes/rca-acs/index-eng.html

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 1-800-465-4336.

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


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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0595
Sent July 13, 2018 at 1437

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