Fishery Notice

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

The freshwater portion of the Somass River bounded upstream by the confluence 
of the Stamp and Sproat Rivers and bounded downstream by the tidal boundary 
signs at Paper Mill Dam.

On July 5, 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 gill net 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 closing 
above tidal boundary signs at Paper Mill Dam to salmon fishing until further 
notice.

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 - FN0596
Sent July 13, 2018 at 1458

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Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on December 11, 2023 at 0805