Kʷaqmis (Herring Spawn on Kelp) Fishery

GEAR: Kelp strings marked with a buoy with T’aaq-wiihak number and vessel decal.

TRIP LIMIT: 5,000lbs 

BUYERS: It is the responsibility of each fisher to establish their own buyer. Please refer to our buyer’s list for more information, located here.

HOW TO HAIL OUT: Hail out by contacting Ecotrust at (250) 266-0418 or through our website. The hail phone will be monitored 9-5, seven days a week. Fishers must provide the following information:

• Fisher Name & T’aaq-wiihak Number
• Vessel Name & Decal Number
• Intended Landing Date & Location
• Intended fishing area(s)
• Intended Buyer (Monitoring)

HOW TO HAIL IN: Fishers MUST HAIL IN (stop fishing report) to Ecotrust at (250) 266-0418 to confirm a landing time at least 24hrs in ADVANCE of landing to arrange for a designated monitor to be present at your landing.

MONITORING PROCESS:

1. There will be 100% dockside validation with plant verifications of harvested weights. Fishers must provide J.O. Thomas full access to their harvest of k̓ʷaqmis for validation and sampling.
2. J.O Thomas will mark each fisher’s harvest with an ID tag for the secondary weight assessment at the plant.
3. SOK will be measured at your buyer’s plant. It is required that your buyer and processing location are identified before the verification of the product.
4. J.O Thomas will do samples at each plant to estimate the 12-hour drained weight recorded for sale.

NEW FISHER REQUIREMENTS FOR SPAWN ON KELP:

• Fishers are required to secure their own brine for their spawn on kelp.
• Kelp is the responsibility of each fisher to harvest and set.