Category(s):
RECREATIONAL - Shellfish
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Subject: FN0632-Invertebrates: Recreational Prawn and Shrimp by Trap; Saanich Inlet, Stuart Channel and Alberni Canal.
Recreational Prawn and Shrimp by Trap Fishers are advised that the harvest of
prawns and shrimp by trap, ring net, or spear while diving, will close in the
following Subareas as described in the Pacific Fishery Management Area
Regulations:
1. Subareas 17-5, 17-6, and 17-9 (Stuart Channel);
2. Subareas 19-7 to 19-12 inclusive (Saanich Inlet);
3. Subareas 23-1 to 23-3 inclusive (Alberni Canal).
These areas will be closed for the following periods:
- from 00:01 hours Sept. 4 until 23:59 hours Sept. 15, 2007
- from 00:01 hours Oct. 1 until 23:59 hours Oct. 15, 2007
- from 00:01 hours Nov. 1 until 23:59 hours Nov. 15, 2007
- from 00:01 hours Dec. 1 until 23:59 hours Dec. 15, 2007
This permits recreational prawn fishing to continue in the last 2 weeks of each
of Sept., Oct. and Nov. A decision about openings in these areas from Dec. 15
through the remainder of the winter will be announced in early December.
Variation Order Number 2007-322.
Beginning in 2006, Prawn Sectoral Committee recreational and commercial and
First Nations’ representatives agreed to biweekly closures of the fall and
winter recreational prawn fishery in Saanich Inlet and Stuart Channel as a
strategy to maintain and increase prawn stock abundance in high use areas and
to potentially reduce the need for fall and winter recreational fishing
closures. A working group including local community commercial, recreational
and First Nations representatives met in Port Alberni several times in early
2007 and agreed to adopt this strategy in Alberni Canal.
The strategy of alternating closures and openings referred to as “pulse
fishing” has been reviewed and supported by the SFAB Groundfish/Shellfish
Subcommittee and the SFAB main board, by the elected industry representatives
of the Prawn Commercial Caucus, and by First Nations in the subject areas.
As part of the overall management of these high use areas, spawner index
surveys have been undertaken this summer in Saanich Inlet and Stuart Channel.
Prawn spawner abundance appears to be sufficient so that the pulse fishing
strategy may be able to extend the fall and winter recreational fishing
period. The August index survey in Alberni was interrupted by a vessel
breakdown. Additional index surveys in these 3 and other coastal areas are
planned for October. Following the October surveys, decisions will be made on
the possibility of further openings or on the need for winter closures, through
to March 31.
These actions are in accordance with the Recreational Harvest Plan, Appendix 2
of the 2007 Prawn and Shrimp by Trap IFMP.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jim Morrison (250) 756-7233, Byron Koke (250) 339-2809, Devona Adams (604) 666-
3271, or Russell Mylchreest (604) 666-3869.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN0632
Sent August 29, 2007 at 10:00
Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
RECREATIONAL - Shellfish
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Subject: FN0632-Invertebrates: Recreational Prawn and Shrimp by Trap; Saanich Inlet, Stuart Channel and Alberni Canal.
Recreational Prawn and Shrimp by Trap Fishers are advised that the harvest of
prawns and shrimp by trap, ring net, or spear while diving, will close in the
following Subareas as described in the Pacific Fishery Management Area
Regulations:
1. Subareas 17-5, 17-6, and 17-9 (Stuart Channel);
2. Subareas 19-7 to 19-12 inclusive (Saanich Inlet);
3. Subareas 23-1 to 23-3 inclusive (Alberni Canal).
These areas will be closed for the following periods:
- from 00:01 hours Sept. 4 until 23:59 hours Sept. 15, 2007
- from 00:01 hours Oct. 1 until 23:59 hours Oct. 15, 2007
- from 00:01 hours Nov. 1 until 23:59 hours Nov. 15, 2007
- from 00:01 hours Dec. 1 until 23:59 hours Dec. 15, 2007
This permits recreational prawn fishing to continue in the last 2 weeks of each
of Sept., Oct. and Nov. A decision about openings in these areas from Dec. 15
through the remainder of the winter will be announced in early December.
Variation Order Number 2007-322.
Beginning in 2006, Prawn Sectoral Committee recreational and commercial and
First Nations’ representatives agreed to biweekly closures of the fall and
winter recreational prawn fishery in Saanich Inlet and Stuart Channel as a
strategy to maintain and increase prawn stock abundance in high use areas and
to potentially reduce the need for fall and winter recreational fishing
closures. A working group including local community commercial, recreational
and First Nations representatives met in Port Alberni several times in early
2007 and agreed to adopt this strategy in Alberni Canal.
The strategy of alternating closures and openings referred to as “pulse
fishing” has been reviewed and supported by the SFAB Groundfish/Shellfish
Subcommittee and the SFAB main board, by the elected industry representatives
of the Prawn Commercial Caucus, and by First Nations in the subject areas.
As part of the overall management of these high use areas, spawner index
surveys have been undertaken this summer in Saanich Inlet and Stuart Channel.
Prawn spawner abundance appears to be sufficient so that the pulse fishing
strategy may be able to extend the fall and winter recreational fishing
period. The August index survey in Alberni was interrupted by a vessel
breakdown. Additional index surveys in these 3 and other coastal areas are
planned for October. Following the October surveys, decisions will be made on
the possibility of further openings or on the need for winter closures, through
to March 31.
These actions are in accordance with the Recreational Harvest Plan, Appendix 2
of the 2007 Prawn and Shrimp by Trap IFMP.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jim Morrison (250) 756-7233, Byron Koke (250) 339-2809, Devona Adams (604) 666-
3271, or Russell Mylchreest (604) 666-3869.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN0632
Sent August 29, 2007 at 10:00
Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
