Fishery Notice

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

Open 08:00 hours June 15, 2025 to 16:00 hours November 30, 2025 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 marine refuges and fisheries area closures in Howe Sound (for coordinates and more information see http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html). 

For information on glass sponge reef closures, please read 2022 FN0039-Glass Sponge Reefs - Pacific Region - Area 28 - Bottom Contact Fishery Closures - Effective January 17, 2022 at https://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=view_notice&DOC_ID=254231&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 2025-215 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:

2025 Trap limits:
During the period 08:00 hours June 15 to 07:59 hours July 5, 2025 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, 2025 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 & 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 approved service provider. The service provider will contact the area crab manager 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:
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Regional 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 Regional 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 2025 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, see: 
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html

The geographical coordinates of the five new glass sponge reef closures totalling 5.2km² are as follows:
(a) Alberta Bay Closure
That portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies inside a line:
that begins at 49° 28.118' N, 123° 15.050' W 
then easterly to 49° 28.130' N, 123° 14.688' W 
then southeasterly to 49° 27.962' N, 123° 14.600' W 
then southeasterly to 49° 27.646' N, 123° 14.518' W 
then southwesterly to 49° 27.520' N, 123° 14.646' W 
then westerly to 49° 27.523' N, 123° 15.008' W 
then northwesterly to 49° 27.904' N, 123° 15.118' W 
then to the beginning point 49° 28.118' N, 123° 15.050' W.

(b) Carmelo Point Closure
That portion of Subarea 28-1 that lies inside a line: 
that begins at 49° 27.253' N, 123° 23.398' W 
then easterly to 49° 27.259' N, 123° 23.028' W 
then southwesterly to 49° 26.390' N, 123° 23.315' W 
then southwesterly to 49° 26.043' N, 123° 23.610' W, 
then northwesterly to 49° 26.136' N, 123° 24.003' W 
then to the beginning point 49° 27.253' N, 123° 23.398' W.

(c) Langdale Closure
That portion of Subareas 28-1 and 28-3 that lies inside a line:
that begins at 49° 26.283' N, 123° 27.605' W 
then southeasterly to 49° 26.196' N, 123° 26.895' W 
then southerly to 49° 25.398' N, 123° 26.890' W 
then westerly to 49° 25.431' N, 123° 28.034' W 
then northwesterly to 49° 25.634' N, 123° 28.291' W 
then to the beginning point 49° 26.283' N, 123° 27.605' W. 

(d) Mariners Rest Closure
That portion of Subarea 28-3 that lies inside a line: 
that begins at 49° 27.728' N, 123° 27.357' W 
then southeasterly to 49° 27.439' N, 123° 26.871' W 
then southwesterly to 49° 27.212' N, 123° 27.139' W 
then northwesterly to 49° 27.508' N, 123° 27.706' W 
then to the beginning point 49° 27.728' N, 123° 27.357' W.

(e) Collingwood Channel Closure
That portion of Subarea 28-1 that lies inside a line:
that begins at 49° 23.503' N, 123° 24.638' W 
then southeasterly to 49° 23.347' N, 123° 24.625' W 
then southwesterly to 49° 23.068' N, 123° 25.030' W 
then southwesterly to 49° 22.921' N, 123° 25.145' W 
then southwesterly to 49° 22.799' N, 123° 25.296' W 
then northwesterly to 49° 22.947' N, 123° 25.655' W 
then northeasterly to 49° 23.280' N, 123° 25.346' W 
then northeasterly to 49° 23.602' N, 123° 24.885' W 
then to the beginning point 49° 23.503' N, 123° 24.638' W.

For information on other closures, such as dioxin and furan closure areas and the Deltaport Roberts Bank Restricted Area, see below: 
(a) 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).

(b) 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 

(c) Burrard Inlet (Navigational Closure):  Subarea 28-10. 

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

(e) 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. 

(f) 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.

(g) 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 fishing information and requirements are documented in the 2025/26 Crab Integrated Fisheries Management Plan available upon request to DFO.PACFMCrab-CrabeGPPAC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or:

Abigail Mitchell
Areas I & J Crab Manager
Fraser and Interior Area 
Tel: (778) 361-0271
E-mail: abigail.mitchell@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0486
Sent June 2, 2025 at 1547

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on June 13, 2026 at 0508