Fishery Notice

Invertebrates

Crab - Fraser River Waters - Area I (Areas 28 and 29, excluding Subareas 29-5 
and 29-8):

Open 08:00 hours June 15 to 16:00 hours November 30, 2019 to commercial fishing 
for Dungeness and Red Rock Crabs by ring net, dip net, and trap in the 
following areas:  

Area 28: Subareas 28-4 to 28-7, 28-9 and 28-11 to 28-14 excluding Porteau Cove 
Marine Reserve, Whytecliff Park, Point Atkinson Reef, and sponge reef closures 
in Howe Sound (for coordinates and more information see 
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html). 

New glass sponge reef closures were introduced in 2019. For more information 
please read FN0205-Glass Sponge Reefs - Pacific Region - Area 28 - Bottom 
Contact Fishery Closures - Effective April 1, 2019 at https://notices.dfo-
mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=view_notice&DOC_ID=219517&ID=all

Area 29: Subareas 29-4, 29-6, 29-7, 29-9 and 29-10, and portions of 29-2 and 29-
3 excluding dioxin and furan closure areas as outlined in the current 
Integrated Fisheries Management Plan and 2015 Fishery Notice FN0804, excluding 
the Deltaport Roberts Bank Restricted Area, and excluding sponge reef closures 
in the Strait of Georgia near Passage Island/Queen Charlotte Channel, Foreslope 
Hills, Halibut Bank, Sechelt, and the Outer Gulf Islands (for coordinates and 
more information see http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-
fermetures-eng.html).

Descriptions of year-round closures in Area I are included at the end of this 
notice. 

Variation Order NO 2019-313 IS IN EFFECT


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 a RFID chip fails to be 
read, that trap shall be removed immediately from the water until the chip is 
either repaired or replaced.

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. 
 
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. 
All harvesters must use the new logbook design issued in 2018 (available from 
your Service Provider).

Each line must have the Vessel Master's name and signature, as well as your 
individual Fisher Identification Number (FIN). Know your FIN. It will be on 
your Fisher Registration Card (FRC). If you do not know your FIN, you can call 
the National Online Licencing System (NOLS) and they can help you.

The new logbook needs one entry per day of fishing in the same Subarea at the 
same depth and same soak time. If you are fishing in different Subareas on the 
same day, you will need entries for each of the different Subareas. For 
example, if you haul 10 strings of 10 traps in the same subarea at the same 
depth range, you will have one line representing 100 traps for that day if they 
all had the same soak time. If you haul 50 more traps on the same day in a 
different Subarea, you will record those traps on a separate line.

Each entry needs to have a single set of representative coordinates 
latitude/longitude) for each Subarea where fishing occurred.

Nearly all of the crab caught are Dungeness, but remember to note the species 
on your logbook. Some crab harvesters still keep red rock crabs on occasion.  

Soak time is how long your traps have been in the water before you haul them. 
This can be recorded in days or hours. 
 
Know your Subarea. Your Service Provider can help you with this if you need 
maps or other tools to let you know which Subarea you are fishing in.

Section B - Octopus by-catch.  When you catch and keep an octopus, record it in 
Section B.  Use the line number from the crab catch above in Section 'A' and 
record the count and weight.

Section C - Description of Traps.  This is where you will record the 
measurements for the traps you are using.  You can do this once at the start of 
the year if your traps do not change during the year.  Otherwise, record any 
changes to trap types that you make on another page. 

Changes to Vessel Movement and Fishing Restrictions near Vancouver Harbour:
The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority has implemented changes including 
restrictions on vessel movements and fishing activities in areas near the Lions 
Gate and Iron Workers Memorial Bridges (i.e. First and Second Narrows Bridges) 
near Vancouver Harbour. The new Traffic Control Zone (TCZ) -1 and -2 procedures 
supersede the Fisheries and Oceans Canada regulations in subareas 28-9 and 28-
11. Please review the Port Information Guide updates at 
https://www.portvancouver.com/marine-operations/port-information-guide/ 

ADDITIONAL REMINDERS:

2019 Trap limits:
During the period 08:00 hours June 15 to 07:59 hours July 5, 2019 a maximum of 
100 traps in total may be fished. 
  
During the period from 08:00 hours July 5 to 16:00 hours November 30, 2019 a 
maximum of 200 traps in total may be fished. 
 
The maximum size of traps used to fish for Dungeness Crab is 355 litres in 
volume. A trap with a diameter of 44 inches (112 cm) and a height of 14 inches 
(36 cm) is 355 litres in volume. 

Escape Holes:
All crab traps must be fitted with at least two escape holes that are 105 mm in 
diameter and not more than 100 mm below the top of the frame.

Hanging Bait Ban:
The use of hanging bait is prohibited in Area I. All bait must be contained 
within hard plastic bait containers having a screw top lid. Bait containers may 
have holes that are 8 mm in diameter or smaller drilled in them. Bait 
containers that do not meet the requirements described above are not permitted 
in any traps fished.

Single Haul:
Hauling of crab trap gear will be permitted only once per day. This is called 
single hauling.

Daylight Fishing Only: 
Setting and hauling of crab traps is permitted only between one hour before 
sunrise and one hour after sunset.

Male Retention Only:
No person shall catch and retain or possess any female crab.

Soft Shell Crab:
Soft-shell crab may not be retained or possessed in the commercial crab 
fishery. This prohibition also applies to crab buyers and processors. 

"Soft-shell crab" means a crab whose shell is not fully hardened, and yields to 
finger pressure. A crab with a durometer measurement of 70 units or less is 
defined as a soft-shell crab.
  
Size Limits:
No person shall retain or possess any Dungeness crab smaller than 165 mm, 
measured as the maximum distance in a straight line through the greatest 
breadth of the shell. 

No person shall retain or possess any red rock crab smaller than 115 mm, 
measured as the maximum distance in a straight line through the greatest 
breadth of the shell.

Each fisher shall ensure that their measuring gauge is accurate.
 
Best Management Practices:
Release all by-catch species with the least possible harm. Retention of 
flatfish, finfish, and soft, female, and undersized Dungeness crab is 
prohibited.

To improve FSC access and to reduce conflicts, keep gear away from areas 
fronting First Nation reserves. 

Buoy lines should be appropriate for water depth and tide cycles.

Keep crab buoys brightly painted and in accordance with licence conditions. 

Minimize wash in harbours, particularly at boat launches, marinas and other 
wharves.

Avoid pulling crab traps through beds of eel grass.

If commercial harvesters are replacing active crab traps with ones that have 
been inactive for more than 18 days they should transfer the RFID chip from the 
active trap to the replacement trap.  This RFID replacement activity will help 
minimize errors associated with reporting violations of soak and trap limits.

Service Provider:
The service provider for Area I is Pacific Coast Fishery Services Inc. (250-931-
7686).

This service provider can provide EM coverage, plastic trap tags and RFID 
Chips, enter logbook data, and conduct biological sampling with designated 
observers.

Service providers may require additional information as part of their agreement 
with licence eligibility holders to ensure that observers can locate the active 
vessels for the on-board biological data collection requirement and to ensure 
proper delivery of the electronic monitoring program.

Electronic Monitoring:
All vessels must have installed an electronic monitoring (EM) system or provide 
100% observer coverage; and have approved plastic trap tags and RFID chips for 
all traps fished.

All radio frequency identification (RFID) tags shall be scanned by the on-board 
tag reader immediately upon removal from the water. If an RFID chip fails to be 
read, that trap shall be removed immediately from the water until the chip is 
repaired or replaced.

Plastic Tags:
All crab traps fished under the authority of a commercial crab by trap licence 
shall have approved plastic tags, with the current licence year and an 
identification number unique to each individual vessel, attached to each trap. 
Only those plastic crab trap tags that have been reported and registered to be 
fished shall be attached to traps. Each vessel will be issued a total number of 
tags equal to their trap limit plus 20 percent to allow for replacements.

If the vessel master requires more replacement tags than the 20 percent 
allotted, a complete new set of replacement tags shall be issued. New 
replacement tags shall be marked with the letters "RP" and be a different 
colour than the original set issued. New replacement tags shall also indicate 
the licence year and be unique to each individual vessel.

Please note: 
To receive replacement plastic tags, the harvester must contact their area crab 
manager. The area crab manager will contact the service provider regarding 
issuing a complete new set of replacement tags. If the harvester is issued a 
new set of replacement plastic tags, all other plastic tags must be removed and 
returned to DFO not later than the 21st day of the month following the issue 
date. Tags that have been replaced are invalid after that date.

Harvest Log and Fishing Location Information:
The harvest log shall be kept on board the licenced vessel.

The harvest log shall be produced for examination on demand of a fishery 
officer or an observer.

The licence holder shall ensure the completed log pages (original copy) and 
electronic copy of the log are forwarded not later than 28 days following the 
end of each month in which fishing occurred to: 
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Shellfish Data Unit, Pacific Biological Station, 
3190 Hammond Bay Road, Nanaimo, BC, V9T 6N7
Tel: (250) 756-7022 or (250) 756-7306

In the event that a licence holder does not fish under authority of this 
licence, the licence holder shall submit a nil report. 

Fish slip Information:
An accurate written report shall be provided on a fish slip of all fish caught 
and retained under the authority of this licence. A report shall be made even 
if the fish are used for bait, personal consumption or disposed of otherwise.

The vessel master shall submit slips not later than seven days after landing. 
Slips shall be mailed to:
Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Fisheries Management Data Unit, Suite 200 - 
401 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, V6C 3S4 

Fish slip books may be purchased directly from the printer, Proforma Business 
Forms, phone (604)596-6133. Alternately fish slips can be downloaded free of 
charge, from the DFO website. For more information, see the website 
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/stats/fishslips-carnets/index-eng.html,
or phone the FM Data Unit message line at (604)666-2716.

Licencing: 
Please see the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) at http://www.dfo-
mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/sdc-cps/licence-permis-eng.htm

AREA I YEAR-ROUND CRAB CLOSURES:
Please enter these coordinates into your GPS unit on your vessel prior to the 
2019 fishing season.

Notice: Bottom Contact Fishery Closures to Protect Glass Sponge Reefs - Strait 
of Georgia and Howe Sound are now in effect. For more information, closure 
descriptions and maps see 
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html 

(a)	Howe Sound - Defence Island Closure
That portion of Subarea 28-4 that lie inside a line:
begins at	49 34.102N	123 17.070W
then southerly to	49 33.730N	123 16.562W
then to	49 33.553N	123 16.462W
then to	49 33.438N	123 16.750W
then to 	49 33.707N	123 17.201W
then to	49 33.993N	123 17.391W
then to the beginning point. [Howe Sound - Defence Islands]

(b) Howe Sound - Queen Charlotte Channel Closures
Those portions of Subareas 28-2 and 29-3 that lie inside the following lines:
Howe Sound - Queen Charlotte Channel 1
begins at	49 21.486N	123 17.254W
then southerly to	49 20.528N	123 17.690W
then to	49 20.401N	123 17.956W
then to	49 20.765N	123 18.794W
then to	49 20.982N	123 18.584W
then to	49 21.098N	123 18.037W
then to	49 21.501N	123 17.737W
then to the beginning point. [Howe Sound - Queen Charlotte Channel 1]
Howe Sound - Queen Charlotte Channel 2
begins at	49 20.288N	123 17.693W
then southeasterly to	49 20.225N	123 17.501W
then to	49 19.993N	123 17.377W
then to	49 19.802N	123 17.444W
then to	49 19.720N	123 17.840W
then to	49 19.937N	123 18.107W
then to the beginning point. [Howe Sound - Queen Charlotte Channel 2]
Howe Sound - Queen Charlotte Channel 3
begins at	49 19.296N	123 19.905W
then southerly to	49 19.918N	123 19.847W
then to	49 19.307N	123 20.344W
then to	49 19.643N	123 20.421W
then to	49 19.819N	123 20.361W
then to	49 19.947N	123 20.097W
then to the beginning point. [Howe Sound - Queen Charlotte Channel 3]
Howe Sound - Queen Charlotte Channel 4
begins at	49 20.637N	123 19.162W
then easterly to	49 20.577N	123 18.720W
then to	49 20.441N	123 18.637W
then to	49 20.068N	123 18.818W
then to	49 20.076N	123 19.135W
then to	49 19.718N	123 19.188W
then to	49 19.726N	123 19.514W
then to	49 20.259N	123 19.828W
then to the beginning point. [Howe Sound - Queen Charlotte Channel 4]
	
c) Foreslope Hills Closure
That portion of Subarea 29-3 that lie inside a line:
begins at	49 09.634N	123 23.048W
then southeasterly to	49 09.389N	123 22.622W
then to	49 09.187N	123 22.587W
then to	49 09.211N	123 23.567W
then to	49 09.646N	123 23.543W
then to the beginning point. [Foreslope Hills]

d) Halibut Bank Closure
That portion of Subarea 29-2 that lie inside a line:
begins at	49 21.768N	123 41.501W
then southerly to	49 21.174N	123 40.045W
then to	49 20.961N	123 40.139W
then to	49 20.803N	123 39.860W
then to	49 20.565N	123 40.182W
then to	49 21.610N	123 41.843W
then to	49 21.673N	123 42.643W
then to	49 21.895N	123 43.908W
then to	49 22.174N	123 44.748W
then to	49 22.555N	123 44.456W
then to	49 22.188N	123 42.167W
then to the beginning point. [Halibut Bank]

e) Sechelt Closure
That portion of Subarea 29-2 that lie inside a line:
begins at	49 25.948N	123 48.889W
then easterly to	49 25.899N	123 47.266W
then to	49 25.373N	123 46.494W
then to	49 24.734N	123 47.083W
then to	49 24.910N	123 47.951W
then to	49 24.253N	123 48.283W
then to	49 24.845N	123 49.914W
then to the beginning point. [Sechelt]

f) Outer Gulf Islands Closure
Those portions of Subareas 18-1 and 29-4 that lie inside the following lines:
Outer Gulf Islands 1
begins at	48 54.936N	123 19.589W
then southerly to	48 54.283N	123 18.529W
then to	48 54.114N	123 18.619W
then to	48 54.065N	123 18.771W
then to	48 54.787N	123 19.929W
then to	48 54.902N	123 19.793W
then to the beginning point. [Outer Gulf Islands 1]
Outer Gulf Islands 2
begins at	48 52.588N	123 15.261W
then easterly to	48 52.520N	123 14.537W
then to	48 51.971N	123 13.768W
then to	48 51.795N	123 13.947W
then to	48 52.150N	123 14.444W
then to	48 52.038N	123 14.678W
then to	48 52.479N	123 15.521W
then to the beginning point. [Outer Gulf Islands 2]
Outer Gulf Islands 3
begins at	48 51.602N	123 13.233W
then southerly to	48 51.309N	123 12.751W
then to	48 50.913N	123 12.938W
then to	48 50.844N	123 13.059W
then to	48 51.163N	123 13.662W
then to	48 51.579N	123 13.378W
then to the beginning point. [Outer Gulf Islands 3]
Outer Gulf Islands 4
begins at	48 50.999N	123 12.391W
then southerly to	48 50.608N	123 11.603W
then to	48 50.097N	123 10.956W
then to	48 49.959N	123 11.182W
then to	48 50.857N	123 12.654W
then to	48 50.959N	123 12.566W
then to the beginning point. [Outer Gulf Islands 4]

(g) East Defence Islands Closure
That portion of Subarea 28-4 that lies inside a line that:
begins at 49 34.731N	123 16.555W
then northeast to	49 34.848N	123 16.357W
then northeast to	49 34.854N	123 16.120W
then southeast to	49 34.580N	123 16.084W
then southwest to	49 34.535N	123 16.539W
then to a beginning point. [East Defence Islands]

(h) Anvil Island Closure 
That portion of Subarea 28-4 that lies inside a line that:
begins at 49 32.874N	123 17.425W
then southeast to 49 32.865N	123 16.815W
then southwest to 49 32.533N	123 16.869W
then southwest to 49 32.482N	123 17.118W
then northwest to 49 32.574N	123 17.483W
then to the beginning point. [Anvil Island]

(i) Howe Sound Dioxin and Furan Closure:  Subareas 28-1, 28-2, 28-3, 29-1 and 
those portions of 29-2 and 29-3 north of a line that begins at 49°28.409'N 123°
53.287'W (Reception Point)to 49°19.615'N 123°25.979'W (a point 1.5 km south of 
Cape Roger Curtis on Bowen Island), then to 49°19.823'N 123°15.880'W (Point 
Atkinson Light)(Dioxin and Furan Closure, see 2015 Fishery Notice FN0804).

(j) Point Atkinson Reef(Conservation Closure): That portion of Subarea 28-6 
bounded by a line commencing at the southwest entrance to Starboat Cove thence 
seaward in a southwest direction for 85 m, thence westerly following the 
shoreline for 100 m, thence in a northeast direction to a point on land.
 
(k)  Burrard Inlet (Navigational Closure): Subarea 28-10. 

(l)  False Creek (Navigational Closure): Subarea 28-8. 

(m) Whytecliff Park (Marine Reserve): That portion of Subarea 28-2 bounded by a 
line commencing from the most southerly point of Whytecliff Park; thence in a 
straight line to a point located 100 m east of the most south-easterly point of 
Whyte Inlet; thence following the southern shoreline of Whyte Inlet at a 
distance of 100 m to a point lying 100 m from the most south-westerly point of 
Whyte Inlet; thence in a straight line to a point lying 100 m west of White 
Cliff Point; thence following the shoreline at a distance of 100 m in a 
northerly direction to a point 100 m north of Lookout Point; thence following 
the shoreline at a distance of 100 m in an easterly direction to a point 100 m 
perpendicular to the most northerly point of Whytecliff Park; thence to the 
most northerly point of Whytecliff Park on the mainland. 

(n)  Porteau Cove (Marine Reserve): That portion of Subarea 28-4, east of a 
line drawn from a white fishing boundary sign located on the south shore of 
Porteau Cove to a white fishing boundary sign located on the north shore of 
Porteau Cove.

(o) Deltaport Roberts Bank Restricted Area (Navigational Closure):
The area surrounding the Deltaport terminal and BC ferry terminal will be a 
navigational closure. No commercial crab fishing is permitted in this area. The 
exact GPS coordinates of this closed area are as follows:
Commencing from the in-shore end of turning basin
49 01.567N	 123 08.783W then to
49 01.467N	 123 08.533W then to
49 00.950N	 123 08.450W then to
49 00.933N	 123 08.183W then to
49 00.600N      123 07.767W then to
49 00.433N	 123 07.983W then to
49 00.367N	 123 07.833W then to
49 00.467N	 123 07.583W then to
49 00.117N	 123 07.117W then to
49 00.117N	 123 11.267W then to
49 00.917N	 123 11.267W then to
49 00.767N	 123 10.583W then to
49 01.083N	 123 10.317W then to
49 00.817N	 123 09.533W 
then following the shoreline of Deltaport to the beginning point.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Further information and requirements are documented in the 2019 Conditions of 
Licence, and in the 2019 Crab Integrated Fisheries Management Plan which can be 
found on the DFO Library website at:
https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/40777613.pdf
These documents are also available upon request from:
Marisa Keefe
Areas I & J A/Crab Manager
Tel: (604) 666-6390
E-mail: marisa.keefe@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0496
Sent June 3, 2019 at 1429

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