Fishery Notice

Fishery open in Ucluelet Harbour 00:01 hours April 01 until 23:59 hours 
September 30, 2019 to commercial fishing for Dungeness and Red Rock crabs by 
ring net, dip net, and trap.

Fishery continues 00:01 hours April 01, 2019 until further notice to commercial 
fishing for Dungeness and red rock crab by ring net, dip net, and trap in the 
following Pacific Fishery Management Areas:

Area 11

Area 12 except for Subarea 12-19 (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access 
Closure in Nimpkish River estuary). 

Area 13 except:
Discovery Passage dioxin closures in Subareas 13-3 to 13-6; 

That portion of Subarea 13-7 southeast of a line that begins at 50°10.827'N 125°
21.137'W [Separation Head] then to 50°11.487N 125°20.344W; 

That portion of Subarea 13-10 east of a line that begins at 50°17.702N  125°
18.922W [Chonat Point] then to 50°17.367N 125°18.922W; 
Subarea 13-11; 

That portion of Subarea 13-14 inside a line that begins at 50°00.696'N 125°
08.802'W [Francisco Point] then northerly along the shore for 5 km to 50°
03.208'N 125 10.347W then true east to the 200 m contour then following the 200 
m contour south to 50°00.696'N 125°06.956'W then to the beginning point;

That portion of Subarea 13-12 north of a line from 50°18.872'N 125°14.203'W 
[Walters Point] to 50°18.872'N 125°13.339'W. (Owen Bay Dioxin Closure);

That portion of Subarea 13-43 westerly of a line that begins at 50°35.649'N 125°
33.219'W then to 50°34.700'N 125°33.652'W (First Nations FSC and Recreational 
Access Closure  in Heydon Bay);

Area 14 except for Subareas 14-11 and 14-14 (First Nations FSC and Recreational 
Access Closure in Comox Harbour).

Area 15

Area 16 except:
Subarea 16-4;

That portion of Subarea 16-5 southerly of a line that begins at 49°31.389'N 123°
46.759'W [Four Mile Point] then to 49°31.943'N 123°47.393'W [Carlson Point] 
First Nations and Recreational Access Closures in Sechelt Inlet).

Area 17 except:
Those portions of Subareas 17-4 and 17-5 west of a line that begins at 49°
05.799'N 123°48.039'W [Reynolds Point] then to 49°02.255'N 123°42.580'W [Miami 
Islet] then to 49°00.466'N 123°45.806'W [south of Kulleet Bay]  (Stuart Channel 
north Dioxin Closure);

Those waters in portions of Subareas 17-6,  17-7 and all of Subarea 17-9 lying 
inside a line that begins at 48°57.934'N 123°39.673'W [Donckele Pt] 48°58.155'N 
123°40.417'W [south-eastern entrance to Preedy Harbour, Thetis Island] then to 
48°58.241'N 123°41.441'W [Dayman Island] then to 48°58.283'N 123°41.706'W 
[Scott Island] then to 48°58.882'N 123°46.105'W [Sharpe Point] then to 48°
58.296'N 123°47.239'W then following the westerly shoreline of Vancouver Island 
to 48°50.851'N 123°35.530'W [Grave Point] then to 48°51.000'N 123°34.242'W 
[Erskine Point] then following the easterly shoreline of Saltspring Island to 
48°53.963'N 123°35.559'W [Parminter Point] then to then to 48°56.031'N 123°
37.921'W [Josling Point] then following the westerly shore of Kuper Island to 
the beginning point (Stuart Channel south Dioxin Closure);

Subarea 17-14 (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure);

That portion of Subarea 17-8 that begins at 48°59.397'N 123°39.126'W [Thetis 
Island] then to 48°59.181'N 123°38.201'W [navigational buoy near Centre Reef] 
then to 48°58.897'W 123°37.627'W [Norway Island] then following the northerly 
shoreline of Norway Island to 48°58.549'N 123°37.021'W then to 48°58.121'N 123°
36.838'W then to 48°57.981'N 123°36.575'W then to 48°56.031'N 123°37.921'W 
[Josling Point] then following the easterly shoreline of Penelakut Island to 48°
59.043'N 123°39.648'W then to 48°59.122'N 123°39.648'W then following the 
southerly shoreline of Thetis Island to the beginning point (First Nations FSC 
and Recreational Access Closure near Penelakut Island).

Area 18 except:
That portion of 18-2 inside a line from 48°50.427'N 123°19.984'W then to 48°
50.010'N 123°19.675'W [Dinner Point] then following the shoreline to the 
beginning point  (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure in Dinner 
Bay);

That portion of 18-5 inside a line that begins at 48°50.123'N 123°14.703'W then 
to 48°50.062'N 123°14.571'W then following the shoreline to 48°49.566'N 123°
14.230'W then to 48°49.481'N 123°14.206'W then following the shoreline to the 
beginning point  (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure in Horton 
Bay);

Those portions of Subareas 18-6 and 18-7 that begins at 48°42.472'N 123°
30.216'W then to 48°42.815'N 123°28.800'W then to 48°41.883'N 123°28.285'W then 
to 48°41.540'N 123°29.699'W then to the beginning point. (British Columbia 
Provincial Ecological Reserve #67)  Note:  some electronic charts do not 
correspond to these boundaries.  You must ensure that you use the above 
coordinates when determining the closure area;

That portion of Subarea 18-7 east of a line that begins at 48°47.259'N 123°
33.235'W [Bold Bluff Point] then to 48°48.820'N 123°33.235'W  (Burgoyne Bay 
Dioxin Closure);

Those waters of Subarea 18-7 westerly of a line from 48°48.500'N 123°35.322'W 
[Paddy Mile Stone] to 48°49.257'N 123°35.318'W [Arbutus Point]  (Maple Bay 
Dioxin Closure);

Subareas 18-8 and 18-10.  (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closures 
in Cowichan Bay and Fulford Harbour);

Area 19 except:
That portion of Subarea 19-1 inside a line that begins at 48º26.444'N 
123º23.267'W [Chapman Point] then to 48º26.409'N 123º23.317'W then following 
the shoreline to 48°25.024'N 123°24.494'W [Macauley Point] then to 48°24.814'N 
123°23.633'W [the light at the western end of the Ogden Point breakwater] then 
following the shoreline to the beginning point (Victoria Harbour Dioxin 
Closure); 

Those portions of Subarea 19-3 inside a line that begins at 48°24.814'N 123°
23.633'W [the light at the western end of the Ogden Point breakwater] then to 
48°24.387'N 123°23.280'W [Brotchie Ledge Light] then to 48°24.649'N 123°
22.701'W [Holland Point]  (Ogden Point Marine Reserve); 

Those waters of Subareas 19-3 and 20-5 within 0.5 nautical miles of Great Race 
Rock.  (Marine Reserve)  This closure is within both Area 'H' and Area 'E';

Those waters of Subarea 19-5 inside a line that begins at 48º35.990'N and 
123º23.400'W [Turgoose Point] then to 48º37.040' N 123º22.780' W [light off NW 
point of James Island] then following the shoreline of James Island to 
48º35.370' N 123º20.960' W then to 48º33.490'N 123º21.750'W [Cowichan Head] 
then northerly following the shoreline to the beginning point (First Nations 
FSC and Recreational Access Closure in Cordova Channel);

Those waters easterly of a line that begins at 48º39.223'N 123º 20.763'W 
[navigation light at the north end of Sidney Island] then to 48º38.245'N 
123º20.437'W then following the shoreline to the beginning point.  
(Recreational Access Closure in Sidney Spit);

Area 20 except:
That portion of Subarea 20-2 northerly of a line that begins at 48°32.574'N 124°
29.861'W [Owen Point] then to 48°34.395'N 124°24.440'W  (First Nations FSC and 
Recreational Access Closure Area in Port San Juan);

Those waters of Subareas 19-3 and 20-5 within 0.5 nautical miles of Great Race 
Rock.  (Marine Reserve)  This closure is within both Area 'H' and Area 'E';

That portion of Subarea 20-5 starting at 48°20.196'N 123°37.377'W then to 48°
19.848'N 123°37.243'W [Lamb Islet] then to 48°19.848'N 123°35.568'W then 
following the Becher Bay shoreline to the beginning point  (First Nations FSC 
and Recreational Access Closure in Becher Bay);

That portion of Subarea 20-5 north of a line that begins at 48°19.927'N 123°
32.892'W [Manor Point] then to 48°20.245'N 123°32.458'W then following the 
Pedder Bay shoreline to the beginning point;

That portion of Subarea 20-6 inside a line that begins at 48°22.500'N 123°
42.012'W [Trollope Point] then to 48°22.651'N 123°42.643'W then to 48°22.770'N 
123°42.684'W then following the shoreline to 48°22.684'N 123°41.487'W [Billings 
Point] then to 48°22.444'N 123°41.487'W then following the shoreline to the 
beginning point  (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure Area in 
Sooke Harbour);

Area 21 and 22

Area 23 except:
Subarea 23-1  (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure Area in 
Alberni Inlet);

Those portions of Subareas 23-6, 23-7, 23-8, 23-9 and 23-11 inside a line that 
begins at 48°57.752'N 125°19.689'W then to 48°55.575'N 125°12.795'W then to 48°
50.221'N 125°18.865'W then to 48°51.757'N 125°23.699'W then to 48°54.318'N 125°
23.719'W then to the beginning point  (Pacific Rim National Park, Broken Group 
Islands);

Area 24 except for that portion of Subarea 24-4 inside a line that begins at 49°
18.030'N 126°04.140'W [northern end of McNeill Peninsula] then to 49°18.030' N 
126°03.710' W then to 49°17.483' N 126°03.024' W then to 49°16.814' N 126°
02.960' W then to 49°16.439' N 126°02.608' W then to 49°16.226' N 126°02.823' W 
[Yates Point]  (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure Area in 
Millar Channel);

Area 25 except for Subareas 25-1 to 25-3.  (Dioxin Closure)

Area 26 and 27.

Subarea 29-5. 

Offshore Areas 111, 121, 123 to 127.

Variation Order No. 2019-188.  Variation Order 2019-150 is revoked.


NOTES FOR 2019:
 
The maximum number of traps that may be fished by a vessel in Areas: 

Area E: 350 traps per licence with the following exceptions:

Quatsino: 200 traps per licence from January 1 to June 30 and October 1 to 
December 31. 37 traps per licence from July 1 to September 30.

Tofino:In the Tofino Trap Limit Area, Area 24, the maximum number of traps 
permitted to be fished is 48.
In the Outside Tofino Trap Limit Area ("the Hole"), the maximum number of traps 
permitted to be fished is 97. 
In Areas 23, 24, 124 and Subareas 123-2 to 123-9, (E-Tofino Option Area), the 
maximum number of traps permitted to be fished is 254 (inclusive of the traps 
fished in area 24 and the Hole).

Sooke: 60 traps per licence within subarea 20-6 and 60 traps per licence within 
subarea 20-7.

Area G: 350 traps per licence.

Area H: 208 traps per licence.

Holding Cages
The language in the Conditions of Licence for holding cages has been updated to 
clarify marking and transportation requirements. Please review your licence 
conditions

Plastic Trap Tags 
Plastic trap tags will be required for the 2019 to 2020 fishing seasons. The 
tags will be specific to each vessel. A 10% allowance will be is issued for 
lost traps. If the vessel master requires more tags than the 10% allotted for 
lost traps a replacement request must be made to the area Manager. 

RFID Chips
All crab traps fished shall be marked with a Radio Frequency Identification 
(RFID) chip registered in the vessel's RFID chip inventory for this licence 
period. Where single traps are marked by individual buoys, the RFID chip may be 
attached to the buoy rather than to the trap. The vessel master shall scan 
every RFID chip as the trap is hauled on board.  If an RFID chip fails to be 
read, that trap shall be removed immediately from the water until the chip is 
either repaired or replaced.

Harvest Logs and Reporting
The vessel master shall maintain a log of all harvest operations and provide 
this information in both hard (paper) copy and electronic copy to the 
Department in accordance with the timing set out in the conditions of licence.

Soft-shell
The durometer measurement, which measures shell hardness, remains unchanged at 
70 units based on industry advice. No person shall catch or retain any soft-
shell crab as a condition of licence.
Haul Restrictions

Area E common areas and Quatsino Option Areas: harvesters may only haul their 
traps once per calendar week from February 1 to April 30.
 
Tofino Option Area: harvesters may only haul their traps once per calendar week 
from January 1 to March 31.

Sooke Option Area: harvesters may only haul their traps once per calendar week 
from February 1 to April 30.
In Subareas 20-1 and 20-2 Harvesters may only haul their traps 3 times per 
calendar week from May 1 to January 31.
In Subareas 20-3 to 20-7 harvesters may only haul their traps two times per 
calendar week from May 1 to January 31.

Area G: harvesters may only haul their traps once per calendar week from 
January 15, to April 15.

Area H: harvesters may only haul their traps once per calendar week from 
January 15, to April 15.

A calendar week is described as 00:01 hours Sunday to 23:59 hours Saturday 
evening.

Maximum Soak Time
The maximum soak time for fishing gear remains unchanged at 18 days.


Best Management Practices
Area G commercial harvesters have agreed as part of the Best Management 
Practices to not set their gear in Stag Bay at Hernando Island. There is a map 
on page 24 of the Commercial Harvest Plan or you contact the fishery manager 
for a description of this area.

Refer to the 2019/2020 Integrated Fishery Management Plan and the 2019/2020 
Commercial Harvest Fishing Plan for the detailed commercial fishing plan and 
area descriptions, information on the North Coast and the Area 28/29 fishery, 
closed area descriptions, and contact numbers. 

For more information contact:

Areas E & G - David Fogtmann 250-339-3799, david.fogtmann@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Area H - Mike Kattilakoski 250-756-7315, mike.kattilakoski@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0302
Sent March 29, 2019 at 1416

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on June 13, 2026 at 0625