Sockeye - Alberni Inlet - Portions of Subarea 23-1 - Daily Limit Change - Effective

FN0651-RECREATIONAL Salmon - Sockeye - Alberni Inlet - Portions of Subarea 23-1 - Daily Limit Change - Effective Immediately

Category(s):
RECREATIONAL - Salmon

Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Subject: FN0651-RECREATIONAL Salmon - Sockeye - Alberni Inlet - Portions of Subarea 23-1 - Daily Limit Change - Effective Immediately


Effective immediately until further notice the daily limit for Sockeye Salmon will be four (4) per day in the following area:
That portion of Subarea 23-1 north of a line drawn from the Lone Tree Point navigational light westerly to a point on the opposite shore located at 49 degrees 11.044 minutes north and 124 degrees 49.552 minutes west, and south of a line in Port Alberni Harbour beginning on the western shore of upper Alberni Harbour at 49 degrees 14.190 minutes north and 124 degrees 50.230 west then through the southernmost point of Hoik Island, then to the flashing green light at the mouth of the Somass River, then due east to a boundary sign on the opposite shore (Lone Tree Point to the mouth of the Somass River).

This change means that the daily limit for Sockeye Salmon is 4 per day in most of Area 23 except for the tidal portions of the SomassRiver which as outlined below remain at 2 per day, Rockfish Conservation Areas, and areas under a finfish closure.

Anglers are reminded that between 05:00 hours to 22:00 hours until July 23, 2022 the daily quota for sockeye salmon remains at two (2)
per day in the following area:
The tidal portion of the Somass River, described as that portion of Subarea 23-1 from the tidal boundary signs at Paper Mill Dam on the Somass River, downstream to a line commencing in upper Alberni Harbour at 49 degrees 14.19 north latitude and 124 degrees 50.23 west longitude, then through the southernmost point of Hoik Island, then to the flashing green light at the mouth of the Somass River, then due east to a boundary sign on the opposite shore.

The area known as Paper Mill Dam Pool remains closed to angling for all finfish. It includes that portion of 23-1 in the Somass River from signs located near the bottom of the rapids immediately north of Paper Mill Dam Pool, then downstream to tidal boundary signs located on both sides of the Somass River, approximately 60 metres downstream from the northern tip of the unnamed island directly below Paper Mill Dam Pool.

Rockfish Conservation Areas; and Finfish closures remain in effect.

Variation Order # 2022-RFQ-275 in effect.

On June 23, 2022 DFO staff met with the Area 23 Harvest Committee to discuss fishery planning for Area 23 Somass Sockeye. The attendees at these meeting included representatives from the Maa-nulth, Tseshaht, and Hupacasath First Nations, and stakeholders from the commercial gillnet and seine fishery, and the Alberni Valley Sport Fishing Advisory Committee. The Somass Sockeye run size has been upgraded to 550,000, and additional fishing opportunities will be available for all sectors.

The Somass Sockeye in-season stock assessment program will be in place in 2022. This program collects escapement, test fishing, catch and environmental information on a weekly basis. This information is collected and a reforecast will be made weekly every Thursday for the duration of the season.

NOTES AND REMINDERS:

Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal and non-tidal waters of British Columbia.

The term "marked", "hatchery marked", or "adipose fin clipped" means a fish that has a healed scar in place of the adipose fin.

Fishers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery program by labeling and submitting heads from hatchery marked Chinook and Coho Salmon to head depots. New 2022 condition of license for Chinook and Coho head-off length equivalents support participation. The head-off measurement can be used by enforcement officers to assess compliance on size limits if you remove the head from Chinook or Coho. Recovery of microscopic coded-wire tags found inside hatchery marked Chinook and Coho heads provide critical information for coast-wide stock assessment. Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program toll free at 1-866-483-9994 for further information

All anglers must have a licence to fish in tidal waters in BC. Apply for your BC tidal waters recreational fishing licence and salmon conservation stamp at https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/...index-eng.html.

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.

If a marine mammal 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 animal of the fishing gear as this can pose a serious threat to the safety of the fisher and the animal. If your vessel strikes a whale, or if you observe a sick, injured, distressed, or dead marine mammal in B.C. waters, please contact the hotline immediately: 1-800-465-4336 or VHF Channel 16.

Fishers are encouraged to stop fishing (do not haul gear) within 1,000 metres of killer whales and let them pass.
For more information on the best ways to help whales while on the water, when on both sides of the border, please visit:
bewhalewise.org.

Consult the online BC Sport Fish Guide at https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html for the latest closures, regulations, and restrictions.

Report suspicious activity or violations by email at DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or by calling the 24-hour, toll-free Observe, Record, and Report line at 1-800-465-4336 or 604-607-4186 in greater Vancouver.

The 24-hour, toll-free information line for fishery notices regarding openings and closures is 1-866-431-3474 or 604-666-2828 in greater Vancouver.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Please contact Christie Morrison by emailing Christie.Morrison@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or calling 240-720-4440.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN0651
Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Subject: FN0652-RECREATIONAL Salmon - Sockeye - Region 1- Somass River - Daily Limit Change - Effective Immediately

Effective immediately until further notice the daily limit for Sockeye Salmon will be two(2) per day in the following area:

That portion of the Somass River located approximately 200 meters above and 150 metres below the island near the boat launch at Somass Park near Service Road.

Variation Order # 2022-RFQ-274 in effect.

The Somass Sockeye in-season stock assessment program will be in place in 2022. This program collects escapement, test fishing, catch and environmental information on a weekly basis. This information is collected and a reforecast will be made weekly every Thursday for the duration of the season.

Wonder if there will be a Fraser opening or not??:?

Heard that the sockeye returns down in the States seem to be strong.

This is suppose to be the big year for Horsefly river as well.

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On June 23, 2022 DFO staff met with the Area 23 Harvest Committee to discuss fishery planning for Area 23 Somass Sockeye. The attendees at these meeting included representatives from the Maa-nulth, Tseshaht, and Hupacasath First Nations, and stakeholders from the commercial gillnet and seine fishery, and the Alberni Valley Sport Fishing Advisory Committee.

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Local anglers? congrats

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Originally Posted by high horse Hal

Local anglers? congrats

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The Round Table they have here is rather inclusive.
Still doesn't prevent the kind of "mop up" fishery being conducted by seines and gillnets though.
They could, and should have commenced that AFTER the Canada Day long weekend.

Nog

Well almost 400,000 fish now through the counters, if they don't mop up than more will make the spawning grounds than they can hold. It's not the commercial that is the problem this year, it's the cold water. Other years, 100% the commercial is the issue, this year, weather. Us sport fishers can complain all we like about the commercial but that won't make the fish hold and bite any more or less at this point. We need a solid week of 25+ weather still. I think there are still more fish to come but without the hot weather the fish just won't be schooling and holding in the inlet to be caught.

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Originally Posted by tinhorse

Well almost 400,000 fish now through the counters, if they don't mop up than more will make the spawning grounds than they can hold.

I think there are still more fish to come but without the hot weather the fish just won't be schooling and holding in the inlet to be caught.

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From the latest Bulletin:

Escapement Estimate:

The total adult Sockeye escapement to the Somass system is estimated at 282,924 adults
(163,955 through Sproat fishway, and 118,969 through Stamp Falls fishway) through Tuesday, 28June.

The required escapement numbers for the current run size estimate is 343,750

Given the suitable spawning habitat in Great Central & Sproat lakes the effect of flooding those areas with "too many fish" is entirely unlikely.

I agree that Inlet fishing has been poor for most anglers due to the cool weather and rains.
Don't see much of a change in that pattern over the next little while.
River anglers are reporting their best showings in many years.

More fish are likely on the way, but unless conditions change, the results will remain pretty much the same.

I am still of the firm opinion that the commercial openings for seine & gillnets should not have occurred immediately prior to this weekend.

Cheers,
Nog

I was going by the counter numbers, now at 392,272. I also agree 100%that the commercial needs to happen after the long weekends, fishing Derby's etc. It is the sport fishermen that bring in a ton of Ports tourist dollars. We need the city to fight a little harder to work with the committee for better planning around these things.