Commercial Prawn Boats In Saanich Out of Control

[seascene]

Unfortunately the most effective time to loudly lobby for end of commercial pillage will be when the prawn fishery nearly collapses. In the meantime, no harm in giving DFO notice that prawns fishery is being over harvested.

 

[hambone]

Well.... Maybe the last two years are starting to indicate a downward trend. But otherwise, I'm pretty sure the spot prawn fishery has been a complete success story in terms of being sustainable. Yes, an area would appear to be fished clean after the commercial season but the prawns seem to be back there next year? Most commie boats fish the exact same spots year in year out.... They are also monitored several days during the season for the spawner index. Once the threshold number is reached the area shuts down.
Maybe I'm wrong? I was told there are actually more prawns around now than there was 20 years ago.

 

[Last Chance]

Lastchance, just curious if you would advocate closing salmon sport fishing during the commercial salmon fishing, as they too only get two months to make their money.

I do try and avoid the commercial traps but I swear there are more commercial boats each year. I am fishing in the same spots I have for years and this is the first time I have paid the price with losing traps.

As for finding the person, I grew up in Cowichan Bay so it likely would not be too difficult and I have considered it. But first I have to confirm the culprit.

No, Chinook salmon were given to recreational fishers as part of the large license buyback that took place in the 1990's. The commercial chinook fleet was pretty much bought out, with a catch of over 500,000 pieces a year hammered down to around 20 or 30K pieces. And they fish the winter months on WCVI when no one is there, and unfortunatly, there is a little fishery in Alberni that makes no sense that happens. So the commercial hit on Chinook for %95 of the coast is inconsequential. Nog can correct me if I'm wrong here.

 

[GLG]

Category(s):	COMMERCIAL - Invertebrates: Prawn and Shrimp by Trap
Subject:	FN0482-COMMERCIAL - Prawn and Shrimp by Trap - South Coast / Fraser River - Areas 11 to 29, 111, 121, 123 to 127 - Closures and Fishery Continues
Closes on short notice 19:00 hours June 17, 2013 in Subareas 17-5 and 17-6. The commercial Prawn and Shrimp by Trap fishery will close coastwide for the balance of the year effective 19:00 hours Friday, June 21, 2013. Spawner Index Sampling will continue to the end of the season. Vessel Masters are reminded to provide assistance to the observers. Fishery continues 19:00 hours June 17, 2013 until 19:00 hours June 21, 2013 for all species of shrimp, including prawns, by trap gear, in the following areas: 1. Area 11. 2. Subareas 12-1 to 12-26, 12-38, 12-39, 12-41, 12-42 except for the Robson Bight - Michael Bigg Ecological Reserve closure area (Section 3.3.5 of the Commercial Harvest Plan). 3. Subareas 13-1 to 13-11, 13-13, 13-14, 13-17 to 13-21, 13-23 to 13-35, 13-37 to 13-41. 4. Area 14. 5. Subareas 15-4, 15-5. 6. Subareas 16-1 to 16-4, 169, 16-11, 16-12, 16-18 to 16-22. 7. Subareas 17-1 to 17-4, 17-7, 17-8, 17-10 to 17-21. 8. Subareas 18-2 to 18-6, 18-8 to 18-11 except for the Satellite Channel Ecological Reserve closure area (Section 3.3.10 of the Commercial Harvest Plan). 9. Area 19. Note advisory for Sponge Reefs in Section 3.3.11 and "Venus" scientific array outside of Pat Bay at the location described in Section 3.3.12 of the Commercial Harvest Plan. (Note Special Management Area in Saanich Inlet - Subareas 19-7 to 19-12 where reduced trap and string limits apply.) 10. Subareas 20-1 to 20-5. (Note moorage buoy advisory on Constance Bank at 48º18.00 N and 123º 22.50 W in 117 meters depth in Section 3.3.14 of the Commercial Harvest Plan). 11. Areas 21 and 22. 12. Subareas 23-7 to 23-11 except for the Pacific Rim National Park, Broken Group Islands closure area (Section 3.3.18 of the Commercial Harvest Plan). Note Neptune Project Advisory in Section 3.3.20 of the Commercial Harvest Plan. (Note Special Management Area in Alberni Inlet - Subareas 23-1 to 23-3 where reduced trap and string limits apply.) 13. Subareas 24-6 to 24-12. 14. Subareas 25-8 to 25-14, 25-16. Note advisory for Sponge Reefs in Section 3.3.21 of the Commercial Harvest Plan in Tahsis Narrows in the vicinity of Mozino Point in waters less that 80 meters in depth. 15. Subareas 26-1 to 26-3, 26-5 to 26-11. 16. Subareas 27-1 to 27-9, 27-11. 17. Subareas 29-1, 29-2, that portion of 29-3 within 2 nautical miles of Thrasher Rock, 29-4 to 29-7, 29-9 and 29-10. Note advisory for Sponge Reefs in Section 3.3.24 of the Commercial Harvest Plan approximately 12 kilometers offshore of Sturgeon Bank at: 49º09.5'N 123º23.0'W in 220 meters. 18. Areas 111, 121, 123, 124, 125, 126, and 127. Subareas are described in the Pacific Fishery Management Area Regulations. Variation Order Number 2013-293. Variation Order Number 2013-277 is revoked.

 

[jeffywestcoast]

thanks for the heads up Glg maybe the sporties can get a few before the end of summer.

 

[Finished Business]

Heard a funny story, depending of course which side of the trap you are on...

some folks were prawning off of Silva this weekend and claimed the comm boat cut there lines, when they were able to retrieve their traps they found a rubber glove with all but the middle finger cut off, placed inside their trap. "Here's your traps. F-U"

Stay classy out there! lol

 

[Rum Buddies]

ya saanich inlet is getting cleaned out, really bad on the weekend for prawns.

 

[jeffywestcoast]

I also saw a fishing boat out in front of silva bay this weekend with all three downriggers wrapped in a commercial sting that was using ..get this..(floating line)..depends which side of the trap your on .. that's for sure!

 

[dentalnut]

Seems there's a commercial opening in Saanich inlet going on now. Anyone know how long it's on or where to find that info? thanks

 

[islander55]

its pulse season for the first 2 weeks of the month and open the last two weeks of the month, and yes those have to first nations because commercial prawning opens may 9th and closes sometime in june. the fn are prawnin hard where i live to real **** off thats for sure

 

[lenardobc]

Sorry didnt see this thread was up again, i just made a new one.. Didnt look like a fn boat..

 

[Oceaneco]

It was DFO doing test fishing in Pat Bay today. They are going to be doing it for the next 3 days. Apparently it's looking like it going to be a good year for spot prawns.