.

[Deleted member 8461]

...

 

[SpringVelocity]

Wow that is huge....

 

[Libbs]

FN0512:

Category(s):
ABORIGINAL - General Information,
COMMERCIAL - Groundfish Trawl,
COMMERCIAL - Groundfish: Other Hook and Line,
COMMERCIAL - Invertebrates: Crab,
COMMERCIAL - Invertebrates: Prawn and Shrimp by Trap,
COMMERCIAL - Invertebrates: Shrimp Trawl,
RECREATIONAL - Shellfish


Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Subject: FN0512-Bottom Contact Fishery Closures to Protect Glass Sponge Reefs - Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound - Amendment

This fishery notice amends FN0507 to include the category COMMERCIAL –
Invertebrates: Shrimp Trawl. The full corrected fishery notice is as follows:

The protection of coral and sponge reefs is a key component to a number of
international commitments made by Canada through the Convention on Biological
Diversity and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations
Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries. In 2012, the Department formed an
internal working group to assess the risks that fishing activities pose to
glass sponge reefs in the Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound and to identify
potential mitigation measures using the Policy for Managing the Impacts of
Fishing on Sensitive Benthic Areas and the Ecological Risk Assessment Framework
for Coldwater Corals and Sponge Dominated Communities.

In 2014, the Department requested that fishers using bottom-contact fishing
gear (prawn trap, crab trap, shrimp trawl, groundfish trawl and hook-and-line)
voluntarily avoid nine areas containing glass sponge reefs in the Strait of
Georgia and Howe Sound while the Department consulted on formal protection
measures for the glass sponge reefs. Consultations with First Nations,
commercial, recreational fishers and conservation organizations on protection
measures to protect these glass sponge reefs from direct impacts from bottom-
contact fishing included formal written correspondence, workshops and bilateral
meetings.

After reviewing input from the consultation process, the Department decided to
proceed with formal fishery closures and adhere to a protection zone of 150
meters around all nine reefs. These closures will remain in effect until
further notice.

Should you have any questions regarding these closures please contact Aleria
Ladwig, Ecosystems Approach Officer at Aleria.Ladwig@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or 604 666-
7089.


1.Howe Sound – Defence Island Closure

That portion of Subarea 28-4 that lie inside a line:
begins at49 34.10226N123 17.07014W
then southerly to49 33.73034N123 16.56227W
then to49 33.55333N123 16.46213W
then to49 33.43823N123 16.75007W
then to 49 33.70707N123 17.20058W
then to49 33.99325N123 17.39112W
then to the beginning point. [Howe Sound - Defence Islands]


2.Howe Sound – Queen Charlotte Channel Closure

Those portions of Subareas 28-2 and 28-3 that lie inside a line:
begins at49 21.48625N123 17.25380W
then southerly to49 20.52826N123 17.68980W
then to49 20.40135N123 17.95586W
then to49 20.76471N123 18.79410W
then to49 20.98192N123 18.58422W
then to49 21.09791N123 18.03659W
then to49 21.50092N123 17.73673W
then to49 20.28750N123 17.69304W
then to49 20.22399N123 17.50093W
then to49 19.99250N123 17.37656W
then to49 19.80204N123 17.44361W
then to49 19.71950N123 17.84042W
then to49 19.93670N123 18.10698W
then to49 20.63669N123 19.16177W
then to49 20.57675N123 18.71962W
then to49 20.44081N123 18.63665W
then to49 20.06829N123 18.81762W
then to49 20.07623N123 19.13524W
then to49 19.71835N123 19.18735W
then to49 19.72629N123 19.51443W
then to49 20.25889N123 19.82776W
then to49 19.29610N123 19.90469W
then to49 19.91769N123 19.84739W
then to49 19.30693N123 20.34401W
then to49 19.64257N123 20.42137W
then to49 19.81885N123 20.36125W
then to49 19.94673N123 20.09730W
then to the beginning point. [Howe Sound – Queen Charlotte Channel]


3.Floreslope Hills Closure
That portion of Subarea 29-3 that lie inside a line:
begins at49 09.63417N123 23.04786W
then southerly to49 09.38911N123 22.62153W
then to49 09.18709N123 22.58736W
then to49 09.21089N123 23.56690W
then to49 09.64617N123 23.54250W
then to the beginning point. [Foreslope Hills]


4.Outer Gulf Islands Closure
Those portions of Subareas 18-1 and 29-4 that lie inside a line:
begins at48 54.93644N123 19.58933W
then southerly to48 54.28297N123 18.52872W
then to48 54.11361N123 18.61914W
then to48 54.06537N123 18.77137W
then to48 54.78681N123 19.92873W
then to48 54.90169N123 19.79315W
then to48 52.58776N123 15.26125W
then to48 52.51982N123 14.53735W
then to48 51.97086N123 13.76794W
then to48 51.79548N123 13.94709W
then to48 52.15008N123 14.44390W
then to48 52.03781N123 14.67829W
then to48 52.47936N123 15.52078W
then to48 51.60176N123 13.23290W
then to48 51.30936N123 12.75108W
then to48 50.91270N123 12.93823W
then to48 50.84351N123 13.05892W
then to48 51.16337N123 13.66226W
then to48 51.57907N123 13.37758W
then to48 50.99944N123 12.39137W
then to48 50.60753N123 11.60286W
then to48 50.09694N123 10.95555W
then to48 49.95855N123 11.18244W
then to48 50.85691N123 12.65374W
then to48 50.95894N123 12.56616W
then to the beginning point. [Outer Gulf Islands]


5.Gabriloa Island Closure
That portion of Subarea 17-11 that lie inside a line:
begins at49 13.67172N123 47.57734W
then southerly to49 13.23536N123 47.42896W
then to49 13.18544N123 47.88205W
then to49 13.39078N123 48.11865W
then to49 13.62324N123 48.16565W
then to the beginning point. [Gabriola Island]


6.Parksville Closure
Those portions of Subareas 14-2 and 14-3 that lie inside a line:
begins at49 21.68010N124 19.76243W
then southerly to49 21.51353N124 18.89294W
then to49 21.19060N124 17.72250W
then to49 21.06424N124 17.72366W
then to 49 20.72540N124 18.38041W
then to 49 21.43214N124 19.81057W
then to the beginning point. [Parksville]


7.East of Hornby Islands Closure
That portion of Subarea 14-6 that lie inside a line:
begins at49 33.49033N124 29.22941W
then southerly to49 32.70101N124 28.76020W
then to49 31.65672N124 29.43383W
then to 49 31.66313N124 29.89592W
then to49 32.65114N124 29.75177W
then to49 33.34047N124 29.93524W
then to49 33.49787N124 29.77256W
then to the beginning point. [East of Hornby Islands]


8.Sechelt Closure
That portion of Subarea 29-2 that lie inside a line:
begins at49 25.94834N123 48.88892W
then southerly to49 25.89870N123 47.26564W
then to49 25.37251N123 46.49432W
then to49 24.73434N123 47.08282W
then to49 24.90988N123 47.95074W
then to49 24.25327N123 48.28276W
then to49 24.84506N123 49.91400W
then to the beginning point. [Sechelt]


9.Halibut Bank Closure
That portion of Subarea 29-2 that lie inside a line:
begins at49 21.76766N123 41.50106W
then southerly to49 21.17377N123 40.04481W
then to49 20.96071N123 40.13939W
then to49 20.80297N123 39.86027W
then to49 20.56479N123 40.18241W
then to49 21.60954N123 41.84275W
then to49 22.55471N123 44.45585W
then to49 22.18770N123 42.16703W
then to49 21.94531N123 42.08682W
then to49 21.67334N123 42.64318W
then to49 21.89472N123 43.90771W
then to49 22.17364N123 44.74825W
then to the beginning point. [Halibut Bank]

Variation Order No 2015-266

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Aleria Ladwig (604) 666-7089



Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN0512
Sent June 5, 2015 at 14:44
Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

If you would like to unsubscribe, please submit your request at: http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=manage_subscription

If you have any questions, please contact us via e-mail to: OpsCentre@pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

 

[Pippen]

They are already in the respective regs.

Looked at one earlier in 28 and it is just no traps on bottom. Fishing around is fine as long as no bottom contact.

I think the one in 17 at Gabriola stated no traps and no bottom fishing...aka contact with the bottom. Trolling above bottom from what I saw at a quick glance was fine. Others may be different but the changes ARE already there to look at those that apply to you.

I see a number of posted pretty much simultaneously.

 

[Libbs]

If I'm reading it correctly, for us sporties, it is only a prawning/crabbing closure. Hook and line closure is listed but under the COMMERCIAL header.

 

[Pippen]

If I'm reading it correctly, for us sporties, it is only a prawning/crabbing closure. Hook and line closure is listed but under the COMMERCIAL header.

I think it's no bottom contact for us, at least in 17 and 28.

 

[Libbs]

I think it's no bottom contact for us, at least in 17 and 28.

Could be... I'm just going by the Fishing Notice. I haven't dug into area regs yet.

 

[Pippen]

Could be... I'm just going by the Fishing Notice. I haven't dug into area regs yet.

Ya....interesting as I look at what you mean of the mention to sporties only being shellfish. But in the 17 regs it does state no contact when referring to Winchelsea, so best to check all regs individually.

No anchorage and no trap or bottom contact fishing area: Anchoring and bottom contact fishing north of Winchelsea Islands, bounded by 49°18.76’N, 124° 06.260’ W and 49°17.213’ N, 124° 02.135’ W and 49° 17.457’ N, 124° 04.577’ W and 49° 17.730 N, 124° 05.217’ W, is prohibited. Fishing in this area is restricted to gear that does not contact the bottom and is extended to trap fishing and bottom jigging. Trolling in the area is permitted. For further information visit: http://www.vtos.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/notship/ntsactive.htm

 

[Libbs]

Ya....interesting as I look at what you mean of the mention to sporties only being shellfish. But in the 17 regs it does state no contact when referring to Winchelsea, so best to check all regs individually.

I was just looking myself. It's definitely mentioned in the area 17 regs for the Winchelsea area. It's not mentioned at all in Area 14 for Hornby or Parksville. ...and specifically says crab and prawn closure. Could be differences.

 

[Libbs]

It would be great to see a chart with some lines similar to the RCA maps...do you know if there are any? Or where to find them?

Thanks

In the short few minutes I spent looking in the regs I saw no sign of a map or link to one. Maybe one will be posted at some point. For the 1 or 2 of these areas that will affect me, I will have them displayed on my plotter by building a route using the lat/longs in the notice so I know where is off limits. I do this with RCAs and seasonal chinook non-retention boundaries as well. Works great.

 

[Charter Tofino]

They're all very small closures, it really won't impact shorties.

 

[Streamside]

The Winchelsea Island closure doesn't have anything to do with protection of glass sponge reefs. The closure at Winchelsea is to prevent those persons fishing traps and bottom contact gear from hooking into one or more of the many sub-marine cables that converge there from the mainland.

 

[Seafever]

Scroll to Page 32.....

shows general location but somewhat obscure.....

Regarding Winchelsea.....yes....cables were the first reason.......

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/mplans/2014/ground-fond/ground-fond-2014-a8-eng.pdf

 

[GLG]

Thanks to another member (Trophy) for finding these maps.

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/protection/sponge_reef-recif_eponge-eng.html