Pair of ferries snagged by nets during crowded fishery incident

VICTORIA A busy two-day fishery in the waters off Nanaimo has prompted a warning from Fisheries and Oceans Canada about the placement of nets that led to two ferries being snagged.

Andrew Thomson, regional director of fisheries management, responded Thursday after B.C. Ferries said two fishing nets had been caught by their ships and a vessel was also forced to stop when it almost made contact with a third net. Thomson said Thursday the opening of the season that began Wednesday at 7 a.m. drew about 130 gillnet vessels, compared with 30 or 40 vessels that would typically show up. He said that any further problems could prompt an early closure of the 13-hour-a-day fishery.

The opening is one of the few opportunities to fish for chum in the Strait of Georgia, Thomson said, adding the department has been advising the industry to steer clear of ferry lanes.

“I would say the compliance, as I understand it, is quite high, but there is a large number of vessels and unfortunately some of the vessels are getting in the path (of ferries),” he said.

“If we cannot maintain a safe and orderly fishery we will take steps to close the fishery.”

B.C. Ferries spokeswoman Deborah Marshall said the Queen of Oak Bay came into contact with a net near Nanaimo on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the Queen of Alberni was travelling between the mainland and Duke Point, south of Nanaimo, when it caught a net near Entrance Island, she said.

Marshall said about 75 boats were taking part in a fisheries opening in the area and although the captain slowed the ferry to ensure safe passage, one net was poorly marked and became fouled in the Queen of Alberni’s propeller.

No one was hurt and the propeller wasn’t damaged, but Marshall said the small boat that set the net was towed backward by the ferry until the line between the boat and the net snapped.