Fishery Notice

LICENCE AVAILABILITY
2019 - 2020 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licences and Pacific Salmon Conservation 
Stamps will be available for purchase online Monday, March 25, 2019 in the 
National Recreational Licensing System (NRLS).  You are encouraged to purchase 
your licence(s) in advance of a planned fishing trip.  Note that the 2019 - 
2020 licences only become valid from April 1, 2019.  Licences can be obtained 
via any computer connected to the internet at 
https://recfish-pechesportive.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/nrls-sndpp/index-eng.cfm , or by 
using internet search key words " National Recreational Licensing System".  In 
order to print a licence on a personal computer, you will need a printer with 
8.5 x 11 letter-sized paper, Adobe Reader, a compatible web browser, and a 
valid credit or debit card accepted by Moneris. 

BEST TIMES TO BUY
To minimize system delays, the best time to access NRLS is outside peak 
periods.  Peak times are: daily from 12:00PM to 3:00PM; every Friday, Saturday, 
and Sunday; April 1st of each year; and during a major fishery opening such as 
the Fraser River Sockeye opening.  During peak times you may experience site 
slowdown, timeout and other technical errors.

ALTERNATIVE PURCHASE OPTIONS
If there is an NRLS outage; if you have limited internet connectivity; or if 
you are having trouble obtaining your licence online, you can also visit an 
Independent Access Provider (IAP), a list of current service locations may be 
found at 
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/licence-permis/iap-fai-eng.html

NON-RESIDENT LICENCES 
If you are a non-resident of Canada wishing to fish for Halibut in Areas 23, 
121, or 123, you must acquire a licence through one of the IAP locations.

NON-REFUNDABLE 
Refunds will not be issued for licences purchased online, so please ensure your 
licence selection (including the fishing year) is correct before you complete 
your transaction.  

SPORT FISHING GUIDE
The British Columbia Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Guide (SFG) is available 
online.  For the most current information on recreational fisheries, and to 
download a pdf copy of the SFG visit the online BC Sport Fishing Guide website 
at: 
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html .  Note that the pdf 
version of the guide is condensed and includes static information that does not 
change on a regular basis.  In-season changes are not included in the pdf and 
will instead be communicated through regular website updates and via the 
Fishery Notice system.

CHANGES TO CONDITIONS OF LICENCE FOR 2019/2020

Crab: No person shall possess female Red Rock, King or Dungeness Crab. Crab 
traps are required to have two unobstructed circular escape holes or rings, 
measuring a minimum of 105 mm in diameter.

Clams: No person shall retain a Manila Clam or Littleneck Clam smaller than 35 
mm, nor a Butter Clam smaller than 55 mm.

Halibut: No person shall catch and retain more than six (6) halibut in the 
aggregate from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020. Retained halibut shall be 
immediately recorded on the licence. No person shall retain a halibut greater 
than 126 cm head-on length. The possession limit is either of: one (1) halibut 
measuring from 90 cm to 126 cm head-on length, OR two (2) halibut measuring 
under 90 cm head-on length. Note: If you are in possession of one (1) halibut 
90 cm head-on length or longer, you shall not possess any other halibut.

ROCKFISH: No person shall catch and retain in a day in Outside waters more than 
three (3) rockfish, of which only one (1) may be a Quillback Rockfish, a China 
Rockfish, or a Tiger Rockfish. No person shall catch and retain in Outside 
waters the following species of rockfish: Bocaccio Rockfish (zero retention); 
Yelloweye Rockfish (zero retention). Note: Outside waters are Management Areas 
1 to 11, 21 to 27, 101 to 111, 121 to 127, 130, 142 and Subarea 12-14.
Salmon, Trout:  No person shall use a barbed hook when fishing for salmon and 
trout (includes steelhead).

Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reefs:  Use of downriggers is prohibited in portions of 
Subareas 28-2 and 28-4 in the Howe Sound glass sponge reef marine refuges, as 
described at 
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html .

For full details see your 2019/2020 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence for 
recreational Conditions of Licence.

ROCKFISH DESCENDING DEVICES
The use of a descending device is highly recommended to assist in the 
conservation and survivability of rockfish being returned to the water.  
Rockfish brought to the surface suffer barotrauma, causing their swim bladders 
to inflate and reducing the probability of their survival upon release. To 
improve rockfish survival rates, use a descending device to quickly return 
incidental catch to the water.  Handle catch as little as possible, using wet 
hands to preserve the protective slime coat.  To avoid catching rockfish, move 
to another fishing location.

HARD COPIES OF LICENCE
You are required, by regulation, to have a printed copy of your licence to 
record catch in ink for Chinook Salmon, Halibut, and Lingcod in specified 
areas.  Your licence must be produced on request of a fishery officer, 
conservation officer or fishery guardian, so ensure you have your licence with 
you while fishing or transporting your catch, either in hard copy or readily 
available on your mobile device.

RECREATIONAL FISHING SURVEY SELECTION
You may be randomly selected at time of licence purchase to participate in a 
recreational fishing survey, details will be printed to your licence.  Your 
accurately recorded catch data assists us with conservation of our shared 
marine resources for future generations of fishers.  Use the FishingBC App or 
space on your licence to record catch details for later submission to the 
online recreational catch survey (iREC).

For assistance or questions regarding your NRLS account or TWSF Licence please 
contact our toll-free line at 1-877-535-7307 from 08:00 am EST to 16:00 pm PST 
Monday - Friday, excluding statutory holidays.

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0277
Sent March 25, 2019 at 1417

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Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 30, 2026 at 2109