Fishery Notice

Gill nets open 06:00 to 23:00 hours, July 31, 2022 and August 1, 2022 in subareas 4-4, 4-5, a portion of 4-9 east of a line running from Morrell Pt to South Rachel Island Light to the flashing red light on Lucy Island thence true north to the 4-5 boundary, thence east to Ryan Pt, 4-12, and 4-15. 

Max mesh 137 mm, max depth 60 meshes, max hang ratio 3:1, cork line to web distance min 0cm, max 45cm; or, max depth 90 meshes, max hang ratio 3:1, cork line to web distance min 0.76m, max 1.5m.  

Variation order number: 2022-NCSAL-017
Variation order number: 2022-NCSAL-018


In the Area 4 selective gill net fishery, the following rules will be in place:

1. Half-length nets. Maximum net length will be 100 fathoms, or 187.5 meters. It will not be acceptable to have a regular length net on your drum and only set half. It will also not be acceptable to have both halves of the net on your drum. Only one (half-length) net will be allowed on your drum or in the water.

2. 20 minute soak times. The maximum amount of time the net is allowed to be in the water from the time it is completely set to the time it begins to be retrieved is 20 minutes.  Note that this "soak time" is designed to equal a 40 minute time from when the first portion of the net enters the water to when the last portion of the net leaves the water. Times will be monitored on the grounds.

3. Fish handling. Gill net fishers are encouraged to handle prohibited species with the greatest of care. Operating revival boxes are mandatory as in all gill net fisheries. However, if the salmon is in a vigorous condition, it is best to release it directly to the water rather than put it in the revival box. Fishers are asked to use their discretion on which fish should go into the revival box before they are then released to the water.

4. Reduced fishing area. In order to effectively monitor this selective fishery, the fishing area will be reduced.

5. Observers: There will be observers present in the fishery. All vessel masters must take an observer on board if requested to do so by a representative of the Department.
 
The commercial gill net fleet is reminded that the compliance of this selective fishery is critical to their future access to Skeena Sockeye.

Extensions and further fishing days will be directly dependant on compliance to the above restrictions.

Retention Rules: 
Gill nets allowed to retain Sockeye and Pink.

All gillnet fisheries are being conducted with non-retention non-possession of Coho, Chum, Chinook and Steelhead. Fishermen are required to release all Coho, Chinook, Chum and Steelhead to the water with the least possible harm. Operating revival boxes are mandatory and may be used to revive fish prior to release.

Start Fishing Reports:
All gillnet vessel masters are reminded of their conditions of licence that requires them to file a Start Fishing Report prior to beginning fishing by either phoning in to Archipelago Marine Research Ltd., which is the Catch Reporting Service Provider for 2022, or submitting the start fishing report through their e-log system. Start fishing reports are critical for the proper management of the fishery to help determine the number of gillnet vessels participating in an opening. As such, gillnet vessel masters may be requested by Fisheries Officers to provide the Trip Identification Number that they received after completing their Start Fishing Report.

Area C 2022 Catch Monitoring Program:
The Area C Harvest Committee has selected the following service provider to deliver the 2022 at sea catch monitoring program for Area 4:

Ecotrust Canada
425-309 2nd Avenue 
Prince Rupert, BC  V8J 3T1
(250) 624-4191

At-Sea Observers:
As a part of the 2022 catch monitoring program, at-sea observers will be deployed into the Area 4 Sockeye/Pink directed gillnet fisheries. When requested, all vessels are required to take on board an at-sea observer. Please see your conditions of licence for further details.

As per the gill net Conditions of License, harvesters may only deliver to designated landing sites.  Companies that have designated landing sites will be required to participate in the catch monitoring program.  Failure to participate fully will result in a loss of designation and harvesters will be unable to offload at your facility.  

The list of designated landing sites is as follows:

Aero Trading, 1080 Skeena, Port Edward, BC V0V 1G0
Canfisco Oceanside, 181 George Hills Way, Prince Rupert, BC , V8J 1A3
Canfisco Seal Cove, PO Box 550, Prince Rupert, BC, V8J 3R5
Coast Tsimshian Fish Plant, 100 Shashaak St, Lax Kw'alaams, BC, V0V 1H0

The list of designated packers is as follows:

Born Free #1, Canfisco
Sable Lady, Canfisco
On EEZ, Canfisco
Yankee Clipper, Canfisco
Polar Lady, Canfisco

Ocean Mistress, Aero Trading

In order to maintain a packer vessel designated status, packer skippers must phone in their catch prior to landing to the Service Provider: (250) 624-4191.

Companies/packer vessels wishing to be a designated landing site for Sockeye/Pink gill net fisheries occurring in Areas 3, 4, and 5 or anyone wishing more information should contact Corey Martens at corey.martens@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or (250) 627-3404. 

Please note that all salmon gill net fisheries have requirements for recording and reporting.  Refer to your 2022/2023 Area C conditions of licence for complete details.

Please note changes to transporting of salmon.  Please see Part III of your conditions of licence for additional details.  Instructions for the Salmon Transfer Log and the Salmon Transfer Log may be found on our web page in section 'Additional Licensing Services Forms' at: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/licence-permis/licence-commercial-eng.html

As required by new US comparability requirements, all countries exporting fish and fish products to the United States must record marine mammal interactions in a consistent manner. As such, Canada has committed to updating licence conditions for all marine commercial and First Nation economic fisheries. The link to the online National form and instructions for filling in and reporting can be found here: 
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/mammals-mammiferes/documents/report/Fish-Harvester-Form-Eng.pdf 

Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) is monitoring seabird by-catch to determine potential impact on bird populations under current fishing effort and bird numbers. Fishers are requested to submit all dead birds entangled in nets to ECCC for species confirmation and DNA analysis to determine the colony of origin.

Please call your local charter patrol to organize pick-up, drop carcasses off at a local DFO office, or contact ECCC directly by calling the Wild Bird Mortality Reporting Line 1-866-431-2473 (BIRD). Handle birds with gloves, double bag dead birds. Label bag with date, time, location, fishery opening and vessel name (Skipper name isn't needed). Alternatively, please send photographs of birds with a reference object such as a coin, and the date, time, location, fishery opening and vessel name to laurie.wilson@canada.ca. Questions: contact Laurie Wilson (laurie.wilson@canada.ca, 604-862-8817).

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is interested in reports of sea turtles in BC waters.  By documenting sightings we are able to learn more about how, when, and where these turtles are using our waters.  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. 
       
Fishers should be advised that whales can be encountered in the fishing area. Fishers should take precautionary measures to avoid fishing near whales to avoid potential contact with fishing gear. 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. 
   
Fishers are advised to notify local DFO managers or patrol vessels to report abandoned, lost, or entangled gear.

The 24 hour toll-free phone-in line for fisheries notices is 1-866-431-3474.

NOTICE TO ALL GILL NET FISHERS:

Vessel operators are reminded to keep wake and wash to a minimum in Prince Rupert Harbour, Porpoise Harbour and Venn Passage, and specifically the Digby Island and Metlakatla dock areas.

Vessel operators are reminded to display proper navigation lights and have them turned on from sunset to sunrise.  Failure to display proper navigation lights is a contravention of the Collision Regulations.

Throughout the fishery opening, on-ground sampling technicians will be randomly collecting salmon bio-samples for stock assessment purposes.  Your cooperation is appreciated.

Fishers are reminded that a mandatory logbook and phone-in program is in place. Note that a phone report is required before starting to fish and for all fishing activity even if no fish are caught. Failure to report zero catches may result in over estimation of total catch. See your conditions of licence for more information.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Corey Martens - 250-627 3404

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0819
Sent July 29, 2022 at 1404

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 4, 2024 at 1633