Fishery Notice

This notice is being issued as a reminder that commercial crab vessels must abide by the following regulations/conditions:

Commercial crab gear must be marked in accordance with Section 27 of the Fishery (General) Regulations. These can be found at:  https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-93-53/page-3.html#h-955791

This means that each end of a string of traps, or single-buoyed traps, must be marked with a float or buoy that has the Vessel Registration Number (VRN) in a contrasting colour. Fishing without floats or buoys is not permitted.  

Holding cages: 
1. Holding cages must only hold crab from a single licensed vessel.  
2. All holding cages shall be marked with a buoy that displays the vessel registration number of the vessel which harvested the impounded crab, attached with a non-floating line, unless the holding cage is tied to the licenced vessel.
3. Holding cages must have an RFID chip attached and be scanned each time the holding cage is lifted from the water.  

As per section 24 of the Fisheries Act, gear must be set in a manner that does not obstruct the navigation of boats or vessels.  https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/F-14/section-24.html

There are several navigation closures or "no float zones" described within the 2025/26 Crab by Trap Commercial Harvest Plan. Other government authorities, such as port authorities, Transport Canada, or Department of National Defence may also have closures that are not listed within the plan. Harvesters must be aware of areas, such as navigation channels or ports, where no fishing is allowed due to regulations by these other regulators. These can generally be found in Notices to Mariners or other publications put out by the governing authority.

Full descriptions of the sponge reef closures may be found at: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html

Full descriptions of the Pacific Fishery Management Areas can be found at:
https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2007-77/FullText.html

For more information contact:

Crab Management Area Areas 'A' and 'B': Sara Dansereau 250-301-3591, sara.dansereau@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Crab Management Areas 'E' and 'G':  Brittany Myhal 250-739-9217, Brittany.myhal@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Crab Management Area H:  Mike Kattilakoski 250-174-4788, mike.kattiakoski@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Areas 'I' and 'J': Abigail Mitchell 778-361-0271, abigail.mitchell@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0705
Sent July 23, 2025 at 1545

Return to Main Menu

Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on June 13, 2026 at 0509