Fishery Notice Areas 3&4

Fishery Notice announcing Gillnet Opening #9 in Area 3, plus the continued closure of Area 4 Skeena due to low sockeye escapement numbers.


Category(s):
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Subject: FN0526-COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Area C Gillnet - Areas 3, 4, & 6
Area 4
Due to low escapements to date, there is no commercial fishery planned at this time for Area 4.

Area 3
Gill nets open 16 hours, 06:00 hours to 22:00 hours Monday July 20 in Subarea 3-7 (closed within one nautical mile of the shore of Wales Island and within 0.5 nautical miles of the shore of Pearse Island), 3-11, a portion of 3-12 (closed within 0.5 nautical miles of the shore of Pearse Island), 3-13, & 3-17. Max mesh 137 mm. Max depth 60 meshes, Max hang ratio 3:1, corkline to web distance min 0 cm max 45 cm; or, max depth 90 meshes, max hang ratio 3:1, corkline to web distance min 1.2 m, max 1.5 m. If using 90 mesh net, every fifth cork on corkline must be red or another distinctive colour (not white). V.O.# 2009-NCSAL-021

Subarea 3-12 is closed to the retention and possession of chum salmon. All chum salmon must be released to the water with the least possible harm. If a vessel has chum aboard from another Subarea, those fish must be offloaded prior to fishing in 3-12.

The target species in Area 3 is Nass sockeye. Gill net fisheries are being conducted with non-retention, non-possession of coho & steelhead. There are a number of weak chinook and chum stocks in Area 3 that are currently in the rebuilding phase. Fishers are requested to release all live chinook and chum to the water with the least possible harm. Operating revival boxes are mandatory and may be used to revive fish prior to release.

Gill netters should be aware that there is currently an at-sea observer program in operation in Area 3. Vessels that are requested to take an observer on board shall do so, in accordance with regulation.