Fishery Notice

ROE HERRING INFORMATION BULLETIN: 22

DATE: March 6, 2022

STRAIT OF GEORGIA


AREA 14
Shelter Pt to Cape Lazo-------Mar 6: 30,000 tons (light to medium skimmer)
E.C. Denman Island------------Mar 5: 2,000 tons
Test: Mar 1 on 300 tons at Lower Komas Bluffs. 10.8%;19cm; 58.8m:53.5f; 51-0-2-0-0; (21.1:88.9).
Lambert Ch. to Chrome Is------Mar 6: 50 tons
Test: Mar 2 on 450 tons at Eagle Rock. 12.2%;19.7cm; 44.3m:45.0f; 43-1-1-0-1; (28.6:111.2).
E.C. Hornby Is----------------Mar 1: 200 tons
Tribune Bay/Lower Hornby------Mar 5: 700 tons
Upper Baynes Sd---------------Mar 5: 125 tons
Test: Feb 28 on 100 tons at Longbeak Point. 11.0%;19.6cm; 66.5m:44.8f; 45-0-0-0-0; (24.7:90.0).
Test: Feb 28 on 300 tons in Upper Baynes / Range Marker. 11.3%;18.6cm; 64.8m:52.5f; 51-0-2-0-0; (22.0:85.3).
Lower Baynes Sd---------------Mar 5: 665 tons
Test: Feb 28 on 350 tons at Metcalf Bay. 9.0%;18.2cm; 63.3m:38.8f; 45-4-3-0-4; (20.0:84.3).
Mapleguard to Nile Cr---------Mar 5: 800 tons
Nile Creek to French Cr-------Mar 5: 700 tons
French Cr to NW Bay------------Mar 6: 200 tons

Total Area 14: 35,250 tons (assessment incomplete)
Peak Estimate Area 14: 64,500 tons (assessment incomplete)


AREA 15
Sarah - Lund------------------Not assessed
Lund - Atrevida---------------Mar 4: 150 tons
Atrevida - Mill---------------Mar 4: 745 tons
Myrtle Rks. - Albion Pt-------Not assessed
Mill - Myrtle Rocks-----------Mar 5: 150 tons
Test: Mar 3 on 150 tons at Powell River pulp mill. 5.0%;16.6cm; 39.3m:40.0f; 30-0-10-92-24; (16.9:51.2).
Albion Pt - Scotch Fir--------Not assessed
S. of Scotch Fir--------------Mar 5: 320 tons
Vananda - Favada Pt-----------Not assessed
Savary Island-----------------Mar 4: 325 tons
Harwood Island----------------Mar 2: 700 tons
Test: Mar 2 on 175 tons on North side of Harwood Island, 8.7%;18.2cm; 49.3m:56.7f; 49-0-7-45-0; (17.7:66.4).

Total Area 15: 2,390 tons (assessment incomplete)


AREA 17 NORTH
Dorcas Pt/Schooner Cove-------Mar 5: NFF
Inner Nanoose-----------------Not Assessed
Outer Nanoose-----------------Mar 6: 700 tons
Blunden to Neck Point---------Mar 5: NFF
Neck Pt to Dodd Narrows-------Mar 5: 600 tons
Flattop Isle./Thrasher Rk.----Not Assessed

Total Area 17N: 1,300 tons (assessment incomplete)


AREA 17 SOUTH
Upper Stuart------------------Mar 6: 100 tons
Lower Stuart------------------Mar 6: 20 tons
Pylades Channel---------------Mar 6: 25 tons
Porlier Pass------------------No recent soundings
Trincomali Channel------------No recent soundings

Total Area 17S: 145 tons (assessment incomplete)


TOTAL STRAIT OF GEORGIA: Assessment and tonnage estimates are incomplete.
Peak Estimate Strait of Georgia: 74,255 tons (assessment incomplete)


The DFO charter test vessel Denman Isle commenced a 27 day charter on February 20. Denman Isle is assessing the south of Dodd Narrows area today. The DFO on-grounds Resource Management charter vessel Viking Leader commenced a 15 day charter on February 24. Viking Leader assessed from Repulse Point to Lambert Channel this am. Viking Leader will continue to assess along East Coast Denman Island and Upper Baynes Sound today. Industry test vessel Viking Cavalier assessed from Cape Lazo to Kitty Coleman this am. Viking Cavalier will continue in the area this evening. Industry test vessel Nita Maria assessed Nanoose this am, and will continue to assess inside Nanoose, Icarus, and Neck Point today before heading north through deeper water. 

The commercial roe Herring seine fishery opened in Area 14 at 04:00 hrs on March 3, 2022 (see FN0178). The validated catch is 818.286 tons of the 832.571 ton catch target. The seine fishery closed March 5 at 14:00 hrs. Seine fishing efforts targeted the Lambert Channel, Chrome Island, and Scallop Farm areas. 

Effective 08:30 hrs yesterday, Saturday March 5, 2022 and until further notice, portions of Areas 14 and 17 will open to Gulf licensed roe herring gillnets (see FN0195). The estimated catch to date is approximately 1,800 tons of the 6,788.44 ton catch target. Fishing activity has slowed.


FSC HARVEST ACTIVITY
Please be advised that the Klahoose and K'ómoks First Nations have 8 FSC bough placements set in front of Point Holmes at Cape Lazo. This FSC operation is marked bright green buoys, 2 orange buoys, 2 white boat fenders, and 2 lines with 3 white corks. Fishermen are reminded to maintain 100 meter distance and reduce speed while transiting nearby.


FLIGHT PROGRAM
Herring spawn flight departed Campbell River at 10:00 hrs yesterday, Saturday, March 5. The flight covered the East Coast of Vancouver Island between Campbell River and Qualicum Beach including Denman and Hornby Islands and then the mainland from Scotch Point to Hernando Island. 9.0 nm of spawn was observed between Seal Bay to Willemar Bluffs. Active north of Little River to Kye Bay and Willemstad Bluffs. 1.0 nm of active spawn south of Gartley Point. 6.0 nm of heavy active spawn between Maude Island and Shields Point across the north side of Hornby Island. The east side of Hornby Island mostly washed out with some active spawn at Tralee Point. 3.5 nm of heavy active spawn was also observed between the Scallop Farm at Bowser and Big Qualicum River, except Qualicum Bay. No spawn observed on mainland side. The next Herring spawn flight is tentatively scheduled for today at 10:00 hrs departing Campbell River, and is weather dependent. 


PUBLIC HEALTH AND AQUACULTURE
Vessel Masters are reminded that there are numerous clam and oyster leases in Baynes Sound. Disposal of human waste into waters near shellfish harvest areas creates potentially serious health risks for shellfish consumers. The discharge of untreated sewage into all Canadian inland waters and Canadian coastal waters within 3 nautical miles of land is banned under the Canada Shipping Act. Vessels participating in the herring fishery are required to abide by sewage discharge regulations and are requested to minimize impact to aquaculture sites by utilizing marinas, anchoring in existing sanitary closures and minimizing congregations of vessels near shellfish aquaculture sites as much as possible.


NANAIMO PORT AUTHORITY NOTICE
All CFVs looking to moor at any Nanaimo Port Authority facility must hail the Marina Office on VHF Channel 67 prior to docking and register in person at the marina office once docked. Vessel masters are advised that moorage is prohibited at the VVP (large concrete pier). The Marina has no available moorage for vessels greater than 49'.


TEST PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Please note: Formal scientific estimates of stock abundance will be available in the post-season from dive surveys measuring egg deposition and biological samples collected from the test vessel(s). In-season tonnage estimates from soundings are not used to determine quotas; however sounding estimates and roe quality data are used by Fishery Managers and harvesters to inform fishery implementation. No test/sample fish will be retained for sale.


FOR MORE INFORMATION
Jim Meldrum (250) 286-5823 or james.meldrum@dfo-mpo.gc.ca


DEFINITIONS
Fish on bottom (FOB): Herring too close to the bottom to quantify
Miles: Nautical miles for this bulletin
NFF: No Fish Found
Scratches: Herring present in small schools 1 to 2 tons
Skimmer: Herring spread out near the surface, difficult to quantify
Washed out spawn: Spawn that is coming to an end

TEST SET CODE: Date;Location;roe yield;fish size;males:females;#1-#2-#3-#spawned-#juvenile;(roe weight g:fish weight g)

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0199
Sent March 6, 2022 at 1000

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 12, 2024 at 1909