Fishery Notice

The following waters of the Skeena River watershed will open for one (1) Sockeye per day as follows:

Effective August 1, 2023 to September 15, 2023
The waters of the Babine Lake, not including tributaries and excluding those waters within a 400 m radius of the following tributary streams: Morrison Creek, Six Mile Creek, Pierre Creek, Pendleton Creek, Hazelwood Creek, Twain Creek, Tachek Creek, Five Mile Creek, Four Mile Creek, Sockeye Creek, Big Loon Creek, Tsezakwa Creek. Also closed east of a line from Gullwing Creek to the south shore of Babine Lake.

Note: Barbed hooks are authorized in Babine Lake.

Effective August 1, 2023 to August 14, 2023
Fulton River.

Effective August 1, 2023 to August 14, 2023
Pinkut Creek, downstream of fishing boundary signs located approx. 25m downstream of fish counting fence.

Effective August 1, 2023 to August 31, 2023
Babine River

Effective July 22, 2023 to September 15, 2023
Skeena River mainstem waters only, upstream of CNR bridge at Terrace to a point above the confluence with the Babine River(Excluding Skeena River mainstem waters near the Kitwanga River mouth, from Mill Creek upstream to the Highway 37 bridge. Also excluding Skeena River mainstem waters within three white triangular fishing boundary signs located at the confluence with the Kispiox River).

Effective July 22 to September 15, 2023
Skeena River mainstem waters only, downstream of CNR Railway bridge at Terrace, B.C.(Excluding the Skeena River mainstem waters near the Kitsumkalum River mouth, from the confluence with the Zymagotitz (also known as the Zymachord River) upstream to the Classified Waters boundary at the top of 'Hells Gate' until 23:59 hours Aug 31, 2023).

Variation Oder #: 2023-RCT-263, 2023-RFQ-264


NOTES AND REMINDERS:

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

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

All anglers must have a licence to fish in tidal waters in BC. Apply for your BC tidal waters recreational fishing licence and salmon conservation stamp at: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/licence-permis/index-eng.html.

Anglers are advised to check http://bcsportfishguide.ca for fishing closures and other recreational fishing information.

Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs) are currently in effect and are closed to all fin-fishing.  Descriptions of RCAs and other closures such as finfish closed areas, salmon non-retention areas, and other recreational fishing information, can be found on the internet at: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html

Fishers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery program by labelling and submitting heads from hatchery marked Chinook and Coho Salmon to head depots. The head-off measurement can be used by enforcement officers to assess compliance on size limits if you remove the head from Chinook or Coho. Recovery of microscopic coded-wire tags found inside hatchery marked Chinook and Coho heads provide critical information for coast-wide Salmon stock assessment programs. Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program toll free at 1-866-483-9994 for further information.

The Government of Canada recognizes that Southern Resident Killer Whales face imminent threats to their survival and recovery. On April 26, 2023, the Government announced a suite of management measures to be implemented this summer that help address the key threats of reduced prey availability (primarily Chinook salmon), and acoustic and physical disturbance. These measures include salmon fishery closures, Interim Sanctuary Zones that restrict vessels from entering (including fishing), Speed Restricted Zones that restrict vessels to a maximum of 10 knots in designated areas (including fishing), minimum approach distances and a number of voluntary measures including to stop fishing (do not haul gear) and reduce speed to less than 7 knots when within 1,000 metres of killer whales and let them pass.

For more information about the 2023 management measures, please visit https://www.canada.ca/southern-resident-killer-whales or contact the Marine Mammal Team at DFO.SRKW-ERS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca. For more information on the best ways to help whales while on the water, please visit: bewhalewise.org.

If a marine mammal becomes entangled in fishing gear, fishers should immediately call the Observe, Record, Report (ORR) line at 1-800-465-4336. Fishers are advised not to attempt to free the animal of the fishing gear as this can pose a serious threat to the safety of the fisher and the animal. If your vessel strikes a whale, or if you observe a sick, injured, distressed, or dead marine mammal in B.C. waters, please contact the hotline immediately: 1-800-465-4336 or VHF Channel 16.

If you see a sea turtle, please call this toll-free phone number: 1-866-I SAW ONE (1-866-472-9663). Please include information such as the species of sea turtle seen (i.e. leatherback), the location and time of sighting.

Report suspicious activity or violations by email at DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or by calling the 24-hour, toll-free Observe, Record, and Report line at 1-800-465-4336 or 604-607-4186 in greater Vancouver.

The 24-hour, toll-free information line for fishery notices regarding openings and closures is 1-866-431-3474 or 604-666-2828 in greater Vancouver.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact your local Area office

Or

Darren Chow
North Coast Recreational Fisheries Coordinator
250 627-3441

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0711
Sent July 21, 2023 at 1359

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 11, 2025 at 1119