A Nanaimo-bound ferry couldnB次元官网网址檛 completely avoid a flotilla of fishing boats yesterday afternoon.

The B.C. Ferries vessel got tangled in a net Wednesday at 4:50 p.m. on Wednesday. The Queen of Alberni ferry, travelling from Tsawwassen to Duke Point terminal, encountered a contingent of vessels, according to Deborah Marshall, B.C. FerriesB次元官网网址� spokeswoman.

B次元官网网址淎t 4:50 p.m., the ship was just off of Entrance Island,B次元官网网址� said Marshall. B次元官网网址淭here was approximately 75 fishing vessels all in the area, so the Alberni slowed down to about six knots to try to safely navigate through all these fishing vessels. There was one fishing vessel with poorly marked netting and so the crew on the [Alberni] did not see the netting and it did get tangled in our propeller.B次元官网网址�

Marshall said the ship B次元官网网址渨ent to stern,B次元官网网址� and it appears as if the line snapped. There was no damage to the Queen of Alberni and no reports of any injuries, she said.

Ferry crew tried to contact the fishing vessel, but there was no response, said Marshall, and the incident has been reported to the Canadian ministry of fisheries and oceans.

The route is one that sees frequent ferry traffic with vessels travelling through the area 365 days a year, said Marshall, and crews operate ferries in a B次元官网网址渄efensive manner.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 certainly rules of the road, but you never know if the other vessels are going to obey them, so we certainly try to be defensive when weB次元官网网址檙e operating and we would hope that other boaters respect the rules of the road,B次元官网网址� Marshall said.

Marshall said B.C. Ferries appreciates fisherman are trying to make a living, but suggests they try to avoid ferry routes.

According to a Fisheries and Oceans Canada statement, there has been an ongoing commercial chum salmon opening for Nanaimo River the past two days, with more vessels gathering than expected, likely due to this being one of the few opportunities for chum this year for Vancouver Island.

Three incidents of fishing activity inferfering with B.C. Ferries and other vessels have been reported in the last 48 hours. With yesterdayB次元官网网址檚 incident, there wonB次元官网网址檛 be an investigation because the fishing vessels havenB次元官网网址檛 contravened the Fisheries Act, the ministry said.

Fishing boats have been made aware they need to stay away from navigational channels and manage nets to ensure they donB次元官网网址檛 impede marine traffic. People have also been reminded of the importance of properly marking nets in order to make them visible.

The fishery is set to close at 8 p.m. tonight, Oct. 25, said the ministry.

reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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