More Seine Openings Announced

Latest Fishery Notice announcing more seine openings to target abundant pink salmon in Areas 3-6. Of note,is the change to allowing seiners to also keep coho in Area 3. This speaks to the abundance of coho this year.
Lower Skeena coho stocks are of concern though and so far, DFO has not opened Area 4 Skeena to coho retention.

Category(s):
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Seine
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Subject: FN0622-COMMERCIAL: Salmon Seine - Area A Seine - Areas 3, 4, 5, & 6 Opening

Area 3
Seines open 16 hrs 06:00 hours to 22:00 hours Friday Aug 14 in Subareas 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, 3-4, 3-7 & 3-9. Min bunt mesh 70 mm. V.O.# 2009-NCSAL-058

Special note: Subarea 3-1 is only open to seine vessels that have operating cameras installed and are subscribed to an electronic monitoring program, in
accordance with the Area A conditions of licence.

Note: Coho retention is now allowed in Area 3 only. This is a pink directed fishery, with coho retention. Sockeye, chinook, chum, and steelhead mandatory release.

Area 4
Seines open 16 hrs 06:00 hours to 22:00 hours Friday Aug 14 Subareas 4-5, 4-8, 4-9, 4-12 seaward of a line from the prominent point south of Tsum Tsadai Inlet to the red can buoy positioned approx. 0.7 nautical miles south of Kitson
Island to the red flashing light west of Agnew Bank to the southernmost point of Coast Island thence true east to Ridley Island, and west of a line from the
westernmost point of Croasdaile Island true north to Smith Island, and south of a line from Gamble Pt to Parry Pt, 4-14, and 4-15 south of a line from Clara Pt To Hanmer Pt. Min bunt mesh 70 mm. V.O.# 2009-NCSAL-059

Note: All portions of 4-12 & 4-15 except for that portion north of 53 degrees 59 minutes 05 seconds and south of 54 degrees 04 minutes 00 seconds and east of 130 degrees 14 minutes 00 seconds and west of 130 degrees 11 minutes 00 seconds
(this excludes the west shore of Kennedy Island from the shallow net restriction) are restricted to 3.75 strip nets.

The Area 4 seine fishery is directed towards pink salmon. Sockeye, chinook, coho, chum and steelhead are mandatory release.

Area 5
Seines open 16 hrs 06:00 hours to 22:00 hours Friday Aug 14 in Subareas 5-1 and 5-2. Min bunt mesh 70 mm. V.O.# 2009-NCSAL-060

Areas 5 seine fisheries are directed towards Skeena River pink salmon. Sockeye, chinook, coho, chum, and steelhead mandatory release.

Area 6
Seines open 16 hrs 06:00 hours to 22:00 hours Friday Aug 14 in Subareas 6-5 east of a line from McCreight Point on Pitt Island to Fanny Point on Campania Island, 6-6 south of a line from Maple Point to a point north of Point Cumming
at 53 degrees 19.084 minutes north latitude and 129 degrees 08.128 minutes west longitude, and 6-10 north of a line from McPhee Point on Princess Royal Island to the southernmost tip of Campania Island. Min bunt mesh 70 mm. V.O.# 2009-
NCSAL-061

This is a pink directed fishery, with sockeye retention also. Chinook, chum, coho and steelhead are mandatory release.

NOTICE TO ALL SEINE FISH HARVESTERS:
Seiners should be aware that there is currently an at-sea observer program in operation in Areas 3, 4, & 5. Vessels that are requested to take an observer on board shall do so, in accordance with regulation.

Areas 3, 4, and 5 are being conducted with non-retention of sockeye salmon.
Fishers are reminded when moving between areas with different non-retention and non-possession rules that they must always offload prior to fishing in the area they are moving to.

Brailing and sorting your catch prior to placing fish in the hold is mandatory.
Operating revival boxes are also mandatory, and may be used to revive fish prior to release.

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.

Fishers are reminded that a mandatory logbook and phone-in program is in place.
Note that a phone report is required 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.

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) or e-mail
sightings@vanaqua.org. Please include information such as the type of sea turtle seen (i.e. leatherback), the location, and time of sighting.

Fishers are requested to retain all dead birds which are entangled and to release live and unharmed birds by placing them in the water. Please check all
birds for metal bird bands (rings) on the leg. If a bird is banded please contact Laurie Wilson with the band number and capture date and location at 1-
866-431-2473 or by the email below. Handle birds with gloves, double bag dead birds and label each bird with date, time, and location and store them on ice. Please call your local charter patrol to organize pick-up or drop them off at a local DFO office. Alternatively, please send photographs of birds with a
reference object such as a coin, and the date, time and location to laurie.wilson@ec.gc.ca. Your names and vessel names do not need to be
identified or included.