There are several First Nation FSC openings for the Chilliwack/Vedder and Chehalis River in the next week or so which anglers should be aware of.
Sts’ailes and Scowlitz First Nation and Fisheries and Oceans Canada have agreed to an opening on the Chehalis River commencing Thursday July 30th to Wednesday August 5th (daily).
· Time: Daylight hours only 0600 hours to 2100 hours
· Gear: Hook and Line, Spear or gaff
· Area: Those waters below the Canyon Pool to the confluence of the Chehalis River at the Harrison River
· Target Species: Chinook (retention)
· By Catch Species: Summer Run Steelhead (Non Retention) No other Salmon expected at this time
· Monitoring: Sts’ailes will provide a monitor for the FSC fishery and also collect recreational creel data
· Enforcement: C&P and RCMP have both been involved in supporting the fishery and the monitors and will have presence on the fishery.
· Collaborative work is being designed to enhanced data collection (DNA, CWT, time of encounters, etc).
· Ongoing dialogue between DFO, First Nation and the Recreational community.
· Expectation is to continue to plan similar fisheries moving forward, including presence of RCMP and DFO C & P.
· The fisheries will be monitored and reported on daily and all catch reports submitted 24 hours after the fishery is over.
Sumas First Nation and Fisheries and Oceans Canada have agreed to continue the fishery from the previous week. There was an indication from Sumas regarding the fishery to be moved to weekdays after this opening with discussions to continue to scope out further opportunities after this weekend.
· Thursday July 30, 2020 - 12:00pm to Sunday August 2, 2020 - 9:00pm (81 hours total)
· Max 4 Set nets using 8” mesh or greater with a 3:1 hang ratio and is selective for chinook harvest
· Fisheries to take place in those waters from Kieth Wilson Bridge to the confluence of the Sumas into the Fraser
· Attendance of nets, as the nets are expected to be close proximity so that the vessels can access and check nets regularly.
· Chinook is the only species authorized to be retained all other species to be released.
· Collaborative work is being designed to enhanced data collection (DNA, CWT, time of encounters, etc).
· Ongoing dialogue between DFO, First Nation and the recreational community.
· Expectation is to continue to plan similar fisheries moving forward, including presence of RCMP and DFO C & P.
· The fisheries will be monitored and reported on daily and all catch reports submitted 24 hours after the fishery is over.
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