Fishery Notice

Category(s):
RECREATIONAL - Salmon
Subject:
FN0623-RECREATIONAL - Salmon - Southwest Cocast Vancouver Island - Areas 21 to 24, 121 to 124 - WCVI Chinook Conservation Measures


Chinook conservation measures are implemented annually on the west coast of 
Vancouver Island in DFO Statistical Areas 21, 22, 23, 24 effective August 1, 
2014.  

The following is a description of those conservation measures, which includes 
size limit restrictions, salmon non-retention area closures and fin-fishing 
area closures for each statistical area. Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCA's) 
are also in effect in many of these areas and fishers are responsible for 
knowing the restrictions in place in the area they are fishing. Please refer to 
the accompanying text for detailed descriptions of chinook restrictions and 
closures for each area. 

This Notice provides information for Area 21 (Nitinat) to Area 24 (Tofino) and 
associated offshore waters. Coloured maps area available online for all areas 
described below.

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.htm

Unless otherwise indicated below the daily limit for chinook salmon is two per 
day with a minimum size of 45 centimetres.


AREAS 21 AND 121:

Effective August 1 to October 15, 2014, the daily limit is two (2) chinook of 
which only one (1) fish may be greater than 77 cm:

- in that portion of Area 21, seaward of a line from the boundary sign about 1 
mile southeast of Tsusiat Falls, then to a point near Clo-oose at coordinates 
48 degrees 38.842N, 124 degrees 49.928W. 

Shoreward of the line described above the daily limit will remain at two (2) 
chinook with a minimum size limit of 45 cm. 


AREA 22:

SALMON NON-RETENTION AREAS

Effective August 1 to October 31, 2014 there will be no retention of salmon in 
the following waters:

- That portion of Area 22 [Nitinat Lake] northeasterly of a line from a 
boundary sign at Windy Point to a boundary sign on the opposite shore.


FIN FISHING CLOSURES

Effective August 1 to October 31, 2014 the following waters will be closed to 
fishing for all finfish:

- that portion of Area 22 (Nitinat Lake) that lies inside or northeasterly of a 
line from boundary signs at the northeastern and northwestern tips of land at 
the head of the lake.


AREAS 23 AND 123:

Area 23 CHINOOK NON-RETENTION AREAS

Effective August 1 to September 30, 2014 there will be no retention of chinook 
salmon in the following waters:

- That portion of 23-3 from a line between Star Point and a boundary sign near 
the mouth of Handy Creek, to a line drawn between a boundary sign near 
Chesnucknuw Creek to a boundary sign on the opposite shore. 


AREA 23 FIN FISHING CLOSURES

Effective June 30 to October 31, 2014 the following waters will be closed to 
fishing for all finfish:

- That portion of Subarea 23-3 (Uchucklesit Inlet) northwest of a line between 
boundary signs at Brooksby Point and Burrough Point.
 

Effective July 24 to September 30, 2014 the following waters will be closed to 
fishing for all finfish:

- That portion of Subarea 23-1 (Port Alberni harbour boundary and lower Somass 
River) from a line drawn from the boundary signs at 49 degrees 14.19N and 124 
degrees 50.23W to the southern tip of Hoik Island then to the flashing green 
light designating the river channel then to a boundary sign on the opposite 
shore upstream to boundary signs at Paper Mill Dam. 


Effective August 1 to September 30, 2014 the following waters will be closed to 
fishing for all finfish:

- That portion of Subarea 23-2 (Nahmint Bay) north of a line between a boundary 
sign near Chesnucknuw Creek west to a boundary sign on the opposite shore and 
southwest of a line drawn from Hocking Point 127 degrees true to a boundary 
sign on the opposite shore;

- That portion of Subarea 23-3 north east of a line between a boundary sign at 
Mutine Point and the Chup Point light to a line drawn between Star Point and a 
boundary sign near the mouth of Handy Creek;
 
- That portion of Subarea 23-4 (Rainy Bay) northeast of a line between a 
boundary sign at Chup Point and a boundary sign on Seddall Island excluding the 
channel draining Fatty Basin;
 
- That portion of Subarea 23-4 inside a line from a boundary sign on the 
eastern near the entrance to Poett Nook harbour to San Jose Islets light then 
to a boundary sign on Vancouver Island 0.3 nautical miles east of the southern 
tip of Congreve Island. 


Area 23

Effective July 15 through October 15, 2014 the daily limit is two (2) chinook 
one (1) of which may be greater than 77 cm in the following waters:

- those remaining subareas 23-1 to 23-11 that are not within the closures 
described above.


AREA 123 

Effective August 1 to October 15, 2014, the daily limit is two (2) chinook, 
with a maximum length of 77 cm. in the following waters:

- that portion of Area 123 that lies shoreward of a line drawn approximately 
one (1) nautical mile seaward of the surfline and south east of a line 
commencing near Ucluelet at 48 degrees 55.872N and 125 degrees 33.028W heading 
220 degrees true until it intersects the conservation corridor boundary 
approximately 1.0 nautical mile seaward of the surfline.

Seaward of the line described above including all remaining portions of 123 the 
daily limit will remain at two (2) chinook with a minimum size limit of 45 cm. 


AREAS 24 AND 124:

AREA 24 CHINOOK NON-RETENTION AREAS

Effective August 1 to October 31, 2014 there will be no retention of chinook 
salmon in the following waters:

Area 24, all subareas (inshore of the surfline).
 

AREA 24 SALMON NON-RETENTIONS AREAS

Effective August 1 to October 31, 2014 there will be no retention of salmon in 
the following waters:

- Subarea 24-1, Hesquiat Harbour;

- that portion of Subarea 24-2 northerly of a line commencing at 
Starling Point continuing true west to the opposite shore of Sydney Inlet and,
- that portion of Subarea 24-3 southwesterly of a line commencing at 49 
degrees 24.640N and 126 degrees 08.646W  on Vancouver Island to  49 degrees 
24.562N and 126 degrees 07.480W on Obstruction Island;

- that portion of Subarea 24-4 northerly of a line commencing on Flores 
Island at 49 degrees 18.005N and 126 degrees 04.141W then to 49 degrees 18.250N 
and 126 degrees 03.132W on McKay Island then following the McKay Island 
shoreline to 49 degrees 18.404N and 126 degrees 01.939W then to 49 degrees 
19.279N and 126 degrees 01.399W on Vancouver Island;

- Subarea 24-7, those waters inside a line from Robert Point to Kraan 
Head and bounded on the east by a line between boundary signs at the western 
entrance to Matlset Narrows;

- that portion of Subarea 24-10 inside a line between boundary signs at 
the entrance to the Warn Bay;

- that portion of Subarea 24-11 inside a line between white fishing 
boundary signs approximately half way inside Grice Bay to the head of Grice 
Bay; 

- Subarea 24-12; Tofino Inlet, Gunner Inlet, Tranquil Inlet; and

- Subarea 24-14, upper Miller Channel, Hayden Passage, Sulfur Passage.
							

AREA 24 FINFISH CLOSURES

Effective April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015 the following waters will be closed 
to fishing for all finfish:

- that portion of Subarea 24-12 in those waters of Kennedy Cove inside or 
southeasterly of a line between two fishing boundary signs on the outer 
southwest corner and the outer northeast corner of the cove to the tidal 
boundary. 

Area 24

Effective August 1 to October 31, 2014 the following waters will be closed to 
fishing for all finfish:

- that portion of Subarea 24-3 northerly of a line commencing at 49 degrees 
24.640N, 126 degrees 08.646W on Vancouver Island to 49 degrees 24.562N and 126 
degrees 07.480W on Obstruction Island; 

- that portion of Subarea 24-4 southerly of a line commencing on Flores Island 
at 49 degrees 18.005N and 126 degrees 04.141W then to 49 degrees 18.250N and 
126 degrees 03.132W on McKay Island then following the McKay Island shoreline 
to 49 degrees 18.404N and 126 degrees 01.939W then to 49 degrees 19.279N and 
126 degrees 01.399W on Vancouver Island;
 
- Subarea 24-5; 

- that portion of Subarea 24-6 northerly of a line commencing at Kutcous Point 
at 49 degrees 14.961N and 126 degrees 04.817W on Flores Island to 49 degrees 
14.637N and 126 degrees 00.825W on Vancouver Island near the Chetarpe Indian 
Reserve;
 
- that portion of Subarea 24-9 easterly of a line commencing at Ginnard Point 
at 49 degrees 08.069N and 125 degrees 51.169W on Meares Island to 49 degrees 
07.483N and 125 degrees 51.811W on Vancouver Island and westerly of a line 
commencing at Auseth Point continuing true south to the Vancouver Island 
shoreline;

- Subarea 24-13.


AREA 124
 
Effective August 1 to October 15, 2014, the daily limit is two (2) chinook, 
with a maximum length of 77 cm in the following waters:

- Area 124 Within one nautical mile seaward of a line from Cox Point to the 
Lennard Island Light, then to the southwest tip of Ahous Point, then from the 
northwest tip of Ahous Point on Vargas Island to the southwest tip of Blunden 
Island, then from the northwest tip of Blunden Island to Raphael Point on 
Flores Island, then to a point at 49 degrees 20.032N and 126 degrees 15.626W 
then following the surfline to where it intersects the Estevan Point Rockfish 
Conservation Area east of Matlahaw Point.


Variation Orders: 2014-318, 2014-319 and 2014-322.


Notes:

Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal and non-tidal 
waters of British Columbia.  

Anglers are requested to release any hatchery marked sockeye.  These fish are 
hatchery raised sockeye and part of a recovery program designed to increase the 
numbers of Cultus Lake sockeye.

The term "marked" means a hatchery fish that has a healed scar in place of the 
adipose fin.

Sport anglers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery 
program by labelling and submitting heads from adipose fin-clipped chinook and 
coho salmon.  Recovery of coded-wire tags provides critical information for 
coast-wide stock assessment.  Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program 
toll free at (866) 483-9994 for further information.

Rockfish Conservation Areas that are currently in effect and are closed to all 
fin fishing.  Descriptions of these closures, and other recreational fishing 
information, can be found on the Internet at:

www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish

Did you witness suspicious fishing activity or a violation?  If so, please call 
the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line 
at 1-800-465-4336.

For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at 
1-866-431-FISH (3474).


FOR MORE INFORMATION:
 
Contact Brad Beaith
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
250-756-7190

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0623
Sent July 14, 2014 at 1604