Fishery Notice

Effective daily from 06:00 hours to 22:00 hours from May 1 to July 23, 2019 the 
daily limit of sockeye salmon is one(1) per day in that portion of the Somass 
River located approximately 200 meters above and 150 metres below the island 
near the boat launch at Somass Park near Service Road.

Variation Order # 2019-RFQ-241


On April 16, 2019, 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 pre-season forecast for Somass sockeye is 350,000. This will be monitored 
in season and restrictions may be implemented on short notice to protect 
migrating sockeye. At the meeting, the Area 23 Harvest Committee recommended 
opening the freshwater recreational sockeye fishery with a reduced limit. 
Further opportunities or restrictions will be determined at the weekly Harvest 
Committee meetings which start May 30. 

The Somass Sockeye in-season stock assessment program will be in place in 2019. 
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 and non-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 - FN0392
Sent April 29, 2019 at 1505

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on December 11, 2024 at 0534