The incorporation of selective fishing gear and technologies in Pacific Region fisheries is continuing in the 2002 salmon fishing season. Selective fishing practices are an increasingly important element of Canada's fisheries, and are part of the long-term conservation strategy for rebuilding the resource and developing sustainable fisheries practices. In meeting conservation objectives, fishing opportunities and resource allocations will be defined by the ability of all harvesters - First Nations, commercial and recreational anglers - to fish selectively.

Under Fisheries and Oceans Canada's program entitled Pacific Fisheries Adjustment and Restructuring (PFAR), funding for the Selective (Salmon) Fisheries Program ended on March 31, 2002. However, selective fishing will continue to become part of on-going restructuring of the sustainable fishing practices and will continue to evolve in the years to come.

Recently, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) released a final report on the Selective Fishing Program. This report provides an overview of the four-year selective salmon fishing program. The Selective (Salmon) Fisheries Program Final Report is available from DFO by calling (604) 666-0384 and on the internet at: http://www-comm.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/english/selective/SFFinalReport.pdf

The education and training of harvesters on selective fishing gear and technologies is on-going. As part of the education component of the selective fishing program, an eight-module video series was developed entitled "Salmon Sense ­ A Training Series for Responsible Fishing". On the video, DFO staff, together with First Nations, recreational and commercial harvesters, demonstrate methods to avoid the capture of non-target species (by-catch), along with specific advice on how to use fishing gear or methods to release fish or other species unharmed. The video was completed in March 2002 and was co-sponsored by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Fisheries Renewal B.C. and the B.C. Salmon Marketing Council. Copies of the video can be borrowed from DFO offices and local libraries.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is committed to ensuring that all gear operates as selectively as possible. In the commercial fishery, five per cent of the total allowable catch on a licence-area basis by species may be set aside for selective fishing experiments.

For the 2002 salmon fishing season, a joint industry-DFO committee has developed priorities for selective fishing experiments to be administered in cooperation with area fishing organizations. Projects will focus on clarifying information from previous experiments and will focus on the following areas:

* Seine grids, bunt mesh sizes and sock brailers
* Laminar flow revival boxes
* Alaska Twist gill nets
* Waterline releases of salmon in troll fisheries
* Small mesh gill nets in the North Coast
* Chinook release mortality
* Large troll plugs for avoiding coho while targeting chinook, and
* Hook size in the troll fisheries

The objective of the selective fishing initiative is to incorporate some of the lessons learned into regular fisheries. Accordingly, some of the experiments in 2002 will be undertaken as part of the regular fishery where significant numbers of fishermen from that licence type participate in the experiment as part of the regular fishery. Some fishermen would use the selective fishing gear being tested while others would use traditional gear. Independent observers would record information and independent scientists would undertake the analysis.

For 2002, First Nations will continue to implement selective fishing gear and the recreational fishing community will continue training and education efforts on selective fishing techniques for anglers.

Media contacts:

Bert Ionson
A/Resource Manager - Salmon
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Region
(604) 666-0497