Fishery Notice

The Area B Harvest Committee has proposed a limited participation assessment fishery in Area 29 to determine if Pink Salmon abundance and the Sockeye Salmon encounter rate is at an acceptable level for initiating an Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) demonstration fishery for Area B seine and Area H troll.  This limited opportunity assessment fishery is for a maximum of two (2) seine vessels operating at any given time.

This limited opportunity Pink Salmon fishery will be arranged through the Area B Harvest Committee and requires third party independent certified observers on board both vessels during fishing activities to monitor encounters of salmon and non-salmon species. Catch validation is mandatory and individual licence holders are required to make their own arrangements.  This fishery will not proceed should undesignated seine vessels attend or attempt to participate in this fishery.

To minimize potential impacts on Sockeye and by-catch species, vessel masters are encouraged to target and retain sets to not exceed in the range of 4,000 to 6,000 Pinks per set. Workable sets of a moderate size ensure the highest survival of Sockeye and other by-catch species by minimizing the time it takes to release these species from the net. Furthermore, any sets made in shallow areas should be brailed and sorted in deeper waters so the net is not in contact with the bottom substrate.

Area 29

Open to fishing from 07:00 hours to 20:00 hours daily from September 12, 2021 to September 14, 2021 in Subareas 29-6, 29-7, and 29-9.  There is a depth restriction and those vessels fishing in depths shallower than 45 meters (approximately 25 fathoms) must use shallow seine gear.  Note that shallow seine gear is defined as no deeper than 375 mesh (3-strip) and  there are no identified depth restrictions in place for those fishing areas south of Delta Port closed to crab fishing.  The fishery is directed at harvesting Pink Salmon and releasing Sockeye, Coho, Chum and Chinook salmon and Steelhead.  Minimum bunt mesh size 70 mm. The use of power skiffs is permitted.  

Variation Order No. 2021-B-SN-01, 2021-B-SN-02, 2021-B-SN-03


NOTE:

The target species in this fishery is Fraser River Pink Salmon. There will be non-retention of Sockeye, Chum, Coho, Chinook and Steelhead. This fishery has been designed to address stocks of concern constraints.

Seine vessel masters are reminded that logbook requirements, operating revival tanks and brailing are mandatory as condition of their licence and are legal requirements. 

Vessel masters must, prior to leaving for the fishing grounds, phone AMR at 1-888-387-0007 and provide a start fishing report and announce their intention to fish.
 
At the end of each fishing day and prior to 08:00 hours of the next day, the vessel master must, as a condition of licence, record their catch information in their Salmon Log Book and report their catch by calling AMR at 1-888-387-0007.

Within 24 hours of the end of a fishing trip and prior to commencing a subsequent fishing trip, the vessel master shall phone in an End Fishing Report.  Should a vessel master decide not to fish after having obtained a Trip Identification Number the vessel master shall phone in a Trip Cancellation report. 

Catch validation is mandatory and individual licence holders are required to make their own arrangements with a landing observer service provider authorized by the Department.  Licence holders that plan to harvest Pink Salmon must register with the landing observer service provider in advance of the fishery to confirm arrangements.  For further information contact J.O. Thomas and Associates (ph: 1-866-930-4000).

Prior to any dockside landing of fish, the vessel master shall complete a Start Fishing Report to the designated landing observer service provider at 1-866-930-4000 between 06:00 hours and 18:00 hours seven days per week and provide the following information:

- vessel name;
- vessel registration number;
- name and Fisher Identification Number of the vessel master;
- contact phone number;
- date, time, port and location of landing of the fish;
- name of fish buying station where fish are to be landed;
- product type;
- estimated number of pieces by species;
- area fished; and
- sub-area fished.

LOST GEAR REPORTING

The licence holder/operator must report any of their lost fishing gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of lost gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by completing the Lost Fishing Gear form available online at http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/reporting-declaration-eng.html

If using an Electronic logbook:
The licence holder/fishing vessel operator must report any of their lost fishing gear to Fisheries and Oceans Canada gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of lost gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by completing the section reserved for that purpose in its electronic logbook. 

RETRIEVED GEAR REPORTING:

The licence holder/operator must report the retrieval of any of their own previously reported lost gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of retrieved gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)  by completing and submitting the Retrieval of Previously Reported Lost Fishing Gear form available online at http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/index-eng.html Retrieval can only occur during the validity period of these licence conditions and only in relation to the specific type of gear authorized to be used by these licence conditions.

If using an Electronic logbook:

The licence holder/fishing vessel operator must report the retrieval of any of their own previously reported lost gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of retrieved gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by completing the section reserved for that purpose in its electronic logbook. Retrieval can only occur under a valid fishing licence and only in relation to the specific type of gear authorized to be used by the fishing licence.

As required by the US Marine Mammal Protection Act regulations, all countries exporting fish and fish products to the United States must comply with the updated import provisions which include requirements to report and record all incidental fishery-related interactions with marine mammals. The link to the online National form and instructions for filling in and reporting can be found here: 
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/mammals-mammiferes/report-rapport/page01-eng.html. For more information, please see FN0388 (2018).

Environment and Climate Change Canada continues to monitor seabird by-catch in net fisheries. Please retain and provide all dead birds entangled in nets to DFO, or call the BC Wild Bird Mortality Line (1-866-431-2473). Label birds with date, time, location and vessel name. Alternatively, send a photograph of birds with a reference object (i.e. coin) to laurie.wilson@canada.ca. For more information contact Laurie Wilson (laurie.wilson@canada.ca, 604-862-8817).

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. 

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. If your vessel strikes a whale, or if you observe a sick, injured, distressed, or dead marine mammal in B.C. waters, please contact the hotline immediately: 1-800-465-4336 or VHF Channel 16.

The Government of Canada recognizes that Southern Resident Killer Whales face imminent threats to their survival and recovery. On April 14, 2021, the Government announced a suite of management measures to be implemented this summer that help address the key threats of reduced prey availability (primarily Chinook Salmon), and acoustic and physical disturbance. These measures include salmon fishery closures, Interim Sanctuary Zones that restrict vessels from entering (including fishing), minimum vessel approach distances and a number of voluntary measures including to stop fishing (do not haul gear) within 1,000 metres of killer whales and let them pass. For more information about the 2021 management measures, please visit https://www.canada.ca/southern-resident-killer-whales or contact the Marine Mammal Team at DFO.SRKW-ERS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Madeline Wanless, madeline.wanless@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0923
Sent September 11, 2021 at 1132

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