Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum

Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing-related Issues & News => Topic started by: marshal on September 15, 2018, 12:07:01 PM

Title: Purse Seine By-Catch
Post by: marshal on September 15, 2018, 12:07:01 PM

With the current sockeye purse seine openings at the mouth of the Fraser and surroundings, how effective is this method of fishing for safely returning by-catch?
With the Fraser closed to sockeye retention due to apparent concerns about interior coho run(s), would not the seine catches have a high probability of netting (alot more than recreational-caught) fish from this run(s)?   With what I've seen of this fishing method, I can't see much by-catch being thrown back that would last very long...

Anyone have info on this?

Title: Re: Purse Seine By-Catch
Post by: canso on September 15, 2018, 08:04:38 PM

All three species (chinook, coho, steelhead) are put in the revival tanks.  There are DFO observers on random boats to keep track of encounters. DFO observer at every offload counting all species.

They brail approx 150 fish out at a time, boats getting 20,000 piece sets encountering 1 or 2 fish for the revival tank.

Seine boats are way to efficient to be that close to the Fraser, and most of the quota is probably owned by slipper skippers, which makes it harder to swallow.

Title: Re: Purse Seine By-Catch
Post by: marshal on September 18, 2018, 06:40:35 AM

Quote from: canso on September 15, 2018, 08:04:38 PM

They brail approx 150 fish out at a time, boats getting 20,000 piece sets encountering 1 or 2 fish for the revival tank.

Seine boats are way to efficient to be that close to the Fraser, and most of the quota is probably owned by slipper skippers, which makes it harder to swallow.

Thanks for the info... questions:
1) brail?   
2) Slipper skippers?
3) Are you saying that there is a high rate of by-catch release/survivability?
Thanks

Title: Re: Purse Seine By-Catch
Post by: Easywater on September 18, 2018, 08:58:58 AM

"Brailing" involves lifting a smaller load from the main net into the boat using a smaller net.
It makes it easier to sort the fish and get the by-catch out.

"slipper skippers" are people of have "leased out" their licence to someone else and get payment from the person working the boat. Sitting at home in their slippers making money - generally frowned upon.

I believe that there is a fairly high rate of survival - especially compared to gill nets.

Title: Re: Purse Seine By-Catch
Post by: Fatso on September 18, 2018, 08:43:35 PM

Thanks for that interesting information.