Fishery Notice

Effective 00:01 hours June 13, 2025 until further notice, Sockeye non-retention in First Nations Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) fisheries will be in effect in the following Areas and Subareas to protect Early Stuart and early-timed stocks of the Early Summer run Fraser River Sockeye management groups:

Areas 11 to 21, 28, 111, 121, 123 to 127 and Subareas 26-11, 27-4, 27-6, 29-1 to 29-6.

Variation Order number 2025-511-00055 is in effect.

Note:

The 2025/2026 draft Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) for Southern B.C. Salmon proposes an approximately 4- or 5-week moving window closure to protect early-timed Fraser Sockeye management groups. Based on the proposed window closures, the earliest possible dates that the window closure will be lifted are July 21, 2025 in Areas 11 to 17, 19 to 21, 111, 121, 123 to 127 and Subareas 26-11, 27-4, and 27-6 and July 26, 2025 in Areas 18 and 29. If the decision is made to implement an approximately 5-week moving window closure, the latter dates will be July 28 and August 2, respectively. The actual dates will be subject to in-season assessment information.

The Fraser Sockeye management plan is yet to be finalized however it will be strongly influenced by in-season run size estimates and management adjustments to account for environmental conditions during the return migration. Should fisheries for Fraser Sockeye occur, they will start conservatively, due to conservation concerns for Early Stuart and the early-timed stocks of the Early Summer run management groups. Gill net test fisheries are scheduled to begin in early July, and purse seine test fisheries are scheduled to begin in late July in marine approach areas to provide in-season assessment information.

The Department is beginning the season by implementing an early season Sockeye moving window closure for all FSC fisheries in areas where these early-timed Fraser Sockeye management groups are likely to be present. There are also no commercial or recreational Fraser Sockeye-directed fisheries permitted during the window closure.

Further, the window closure overlaps with existing management measures in place to protect Nimpkish River and Sakinaw Lake Sockeye. For Nimpkish origin Sockeye, these measures include Sockeye non-retention in First Nations FSC fisheries occurring in Area 12 above Lewis Point until late July. For Sakinaw origin Sockeye, these measures include gear restrictions in First Nations FSC fisheries prior to July 25 in Queen Charlotte Strait and Johnstone Strait and prior to August 15 in the northern Strait of Georgia.

The 24-hour toll-free phone-in line for fisheries notices is 1-866-431-3474.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact the local DFO office in your area for updated information as it becomes available.

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0527
Sent June 12, 2025 at 1018

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