'Retroactive' Fishery Opening announcement

Unusual retroactive Fishery Notice about a gillnet opening that occurred yesterday....Nice of the Department to let the public know about it after the fact.
Note, the addition of the short set/short net selective measure. Although, DFO finds it not necessary during 'regular' July fishing times any gillnet fishery in August has to use this method.

Two thing stand out on this; the absurb notion that anyone is out there timing these sets and the idea that further openings are based on gillnet fleet compliance with the short set measure. Both these ideas are ludicrous, as we have never found 1 charge laid for exceeding soak times in the Conservation & Protection Season Reports. And,lastly, we all know commercial openings are based totally on how many sockeye return not on fleet compliance or any other measure.

To aid in monitoring this 'selective gillnet fishery', the Department has narrowed the open areas. Now it appears the fishery will concentrate gillnets right in the rivermouth approaches of 4-12 and 4-15....sort of negates any benefit of the selective measure doesnt it by squishing a couple hundred gillnetters into the funnel of the rivermouth area??

Oh well, at least 1 Skeena gillnet opening this season will have some form of selective measure to it....the Department doesnt bother with it at all in Area 3...almost as if Skeena steelhead (or coho or chum) dont swim through that area.

Category(s):
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Subject: FN0653-COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Gill Net - Area C - Areas 4 & 5 Opening

AREA 4

Gill nets open 15 hours, 06:00 hours to 21:00 hours Monday August 1 in Subarea 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 to Ryan Pt, 4-12, and 4-15. Max mesh 137mm, max depth 60 meshes, max hang ratio 3:1, corkline to web distance min 0cm, max 45cm; or, max depth 90 meshes, max hang ratio 3:1, corkline to web distance min 1.2m, max 1.5m. V.O.# 2011-NCSAL-028

AREA 5

Gill nets open 15 hours, 06:00 hours to 21:00 hours Monday August 1 in 5 1.Max mesh 137mm, max depth 60 meshes, max hang ratio 3:1, corkline to web distance min 0cm, max 45cm; or, max depth 90 meshes, max hang ratio 3:1, corkline to web distance min 1.2m, max 1.5m. V.O.# 2011-NCSAL-029

In the Areas 4 and 5 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, in accordance with the conditions of licence.

The commercial gill net fleet is reminded that the success 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.

NOTICE TO ALL GILLNET FISHERS:

All gillnet fisheries are being conducted with non-retention non-possession of coho, chum and steelhead. Fishermen are required to release all coho, 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.

There are a number of weak chinook stocks in Areas 3, 4, 5, & 6. Fishers are requested to release all live chinook to the water with the least possible harm in Areas 3, 4, 5, & 6.