30 April, 2001 DFO update Fishery Notice Fisheries & Oceans Canada Category(s): Commercial - Prawn and Shrimp by Trap Subject: FN0235-Invertebrates: Prawn & Shrimp by Trap - Information - Tails in Tubs and Transport of Traps to the Grounds Tails in tubs: The following line in Fishery Notices No's. 0224 and 0225 for the opening of this fishery has raised questions among some fishers and buyers: "All frozen and fresh product on board must be in a condition that it can be readily measured and identified by species. This prohibits freezing of whole or tailed product in solid blocks or tubs of ice." Section 36.(2) of the Fishery (General) Regs requires that species must be readily identified, and that the size of the fish shall be readily determined where size limits are applicable (in this case telson length). Some fishers freeze tailed product, in tubs. Fishers are advised that Fishery Officers may require inspection of the catch on short notice; that in the case of tubs, Officers may require as much product to be thawed for inspection as they deem necessary, that Officers may select product from various locations on board or within the hold for such inspection, and that the Department will assume no responsibility for compensation for thawed product. In short, if fishers engage in this type of product preparation on board, they do so at their own risk with respect to the possible time involved, interruption of fishing, and the costs of such inspections in terms of damaged product. Note that the requirements for inspection also apply to product being delivered to buyers or processors. Trap transport: Unlike the crab fishery, there are no conditions of licence in the prawn fishery to require W licensed vessels to be responsible for transporting their own gear to the fishing grounds, or to limit which vessels can be used to transport traps from location to location on the fishing grounds. Further, there are no sections of the Act or Regulations which would limit transport activities in this matter. However, all gear may only be set and hauled by a W licensed vessel authorized to fish 300 or 500 traps, and they may only haul or set gear bearing trap tags registered for that vessel. If the transport of traps from port to the grounds, and from location to location during the fishery is of concern to you, please provide your opinion to an industry representative of the Prawn Sectoral Committee, for consideration in future commercial harvest plans. For more information: Jim Morrison @ 250-756-7233. Fisheries & Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN0235 April 30, 2001 1420 Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca