Fishery Notice

Closes 00:01 hours December 19, 2025 until further notice to commercial fishing for Dungeness and red rock crabs by ring net, dip net, and trap in the Blunden Harbour seasonal closure (portion of Subarea 12-13).

Fishery continues 00:01 hours December 19, 2025 until further notice to commercial fishing for Dungeness and Red Rock Crab by ring net, dip net, and trap in the following Pacific Fishery Management Areas:

Areas 11, 15, 21, 22, 26, and 27. 

Area 12 except;

That portion of Subarea 12-13 that lies southeast of a line that begins at 50°54.238'N and 127°16.571'W on Robinson Island to a point at 50°54.388'N and 127°16.292'W on Edgell Island, following the southerly shoreline of Edgell Island to 50°54.571'N and 127°15.977'W across to 50°54.578'N and 127°15.968'W then following the westerly shoreline to 50°53.545'N and 127°13.867'W, then northwest of a line from a point at 50°53.545'N and 127°13.867'W to a point at 50°53.528'N and 127°13.976'W on the one of the Raynor Group islands, following the northerly shoreline of that island to 50°53.515'N and 127°14.289'W, then to a point at 50°53.515'N and 127°14.586'W on another island in the Raynor Group then following the northeasterly shoreline of that island to a point at 50°53.648'N and 127°15.057'W on the northwest side that island, then easterly of a line from a point at 50°53.648'N and 127°15.057'W on the Raynor Group Island to Shelf Head located at 50°54.067'N and 127°16.277'W on the southeast tip of Robinson Island, then following the shoreline to the beginning point. (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure, seasonal portion)

That portion of Subarea 12-13 that lies northwest of a line that begins at 50°54.238'N and 127°16.571'W on Robinson Island to a point at 50°54.388'N and 127°16.292'W on Edgell Island, following the northerly shoreline of Edgell Island to 50°54.571'N and 127°15.977'W to 50°54.578'N and 127°15.968'W on the mainland, following the shoreline to 50°54.132'N and 127°17.797'W and across to a point located at 50°54.135'N and 127°17.762'W on Robinson Island then following the northerly shoreline of Robinson Island to the beginning point. (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure in Blunden Harbour, year-round portion); 

Subarea 12-19 (First Nations FSC and domestic, and Recreational Access Closure);

Area 13 except:

Discovery Passage dioxin closures in Subareas 13-3 to 13-6; 

That portion of Subarea 13-7 southeast of a line that begins at 50°10.827'N 125°21.137'W [Separation Head] then to 50°11.487N 125°20.344W; 

That portion of Subarea 13-10 east of a line that begins at 50°17.702N  125°18.922W [Chonat Point] then to 50°17.367N 125°18.922W; 

Subarea 13-11; 

That portion of Subarea 13-14 inside a line that begins at 50°00.696'N 125°08.802'W [Francisco Point] then northerly along the shore for 5 km to 50°03.208'N 125 10.347W then true east to the 200 m contour then following the 200 m contour south to 50°00.696'N 125°06.956'W then to the beginning point.

That portion of Subarea 13-12 north of a line from 50°18.872'N 125°14.203'W [Walters Point] to 50°18.872'N 125°13.339'W. (Owen Bay Dioxin Closure)

That portion of Subarea 13-43 westerly of a line that begins at 50°35.649'N 125°33.219'W then to 50°34.700'N 125°33.652'W (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure  in Heydon Bay).

Area 14 except for Subareas 14-11 and 14-14 (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure in Comox Harbour).

Area 16 except:

Subarea 16-4;

That portion of Subarea 16-5 inside a line that begins at 49°29.917'N 123°44.798'W then to 49°29.917'N 123°46.401'W then following the shoreline to the beginning point, (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure).

Area 17 except:

Those portions of Subareas 17-4 and 17-5 west of a line that begins at 49°05.799'N 123°48.039'W [Reynolds Point] then to 49°02.255'N 123°42.580'W [Miami Islet] then to 49°00.466'N 123°45.806'W [south of Kulleet Bay].  (Stuart Channel north Dioxin Closure)

Those waters in portions of Subareas 17-6, 17-7 and all of Subarea 17-9 lying inside a line that begins at 48°57.934'N 123°39.673'W [Donckele Pt] 48°58.155'N 123°40.417'W [south-eastern entrance to Preedy Harbour, Thetis Island] then to 48°58.241'N 123°41.441'W [Dayman Island] then to 48°58.283'N 123°41.706'W [Scott Island] then to 48°58.882'N 123°46.105'W [Sharpe Point] then to 48°58.296'N 123°47.239'W then following the westerly shoreline of Vancouver Island to 48°50.851'N 123°35.530'W [Grave Point] then to 48°51.000'N 123°34.242'W [Erskine Point] then following the easterly shoreline of Saltspring Island to 48°53.963'N 123°35.559'W [Parminter Point] then to then to 48°56.031'N 123°37.921'W [Josling Point] then following the westerly shore of Kuper Island to the beginning point. (Stuart Channel south Dioxin Closure)

Area 18 except:

That portion of 18-2 inside a line from 48°50.427'N 123°19.984'W then to 48°50.010'N 123°19.675'W [Dinner Point] then following the shoreline to the beginning point.  (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure in Dinner Bay)

That portion of 18-5 inside a line that begins at 48°50.123'N 123°14.703'W then to 48°50.062'N 123°14.571'W then following the shoreline to 48°49.566'N 123°14.230'W then to 48°49.481'N 123°14.206'W then following the shoreline to the beginning point.  (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure in Horton Bay)

Those portions of Subareas 18-6 and 18-7 that begins at 48°42.472'N 123°30.216'W then to 48°42.815'N 123°28.800'W then to 48°41.883'N 123°28.285'W then to 48°41.540'N 123°29.699'W then to the beginning point. (British Columbia Provincial Ecological Reserve #67)  Note:  some electronic charts do not correspond to these boundaries.  You must ensure that you use the above coordinates when determining the closure area.

That portion of Subarea 18-7 east of a line that begins at 48°47.259'N 123°33.235'W [Bold Bluff Point] then to 48°48.820'N 123°33.235'W.  (Burgoyne Bay Dioxin Closure)

Those waters of Subarea 18-7 westerly of a line from 48°48.500'N 123°35.322'W [Paddy Mile Stone] to 48°49.257'N 123°35.318'W [Arbutus Point].  (Maple Bay Dioxin Closure)

Subareas 18-8 and 18-10.  (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closures in Cowichan Bay and Fulford Harbour)

Area 19 except for:

That portion of Subarea 19-1 inside a line that begins at 48º26.444'N 123º23.267'W [Chapman Point] then to 48º26.409'N 123º23.317'W then following the shoreline to 48°25.024'N 123°24.494'W [Macauley Point] then to 48°24.814'N 123°23.633'W [the light at the western end of the Ogden Point breakwater] then following the shoreline to the beginning point. (Victoria Harbour Dioxin Closure) 

Those portions of Subarea 19-3 inside a line that begins at 48°24.814'N 123°23.633'W [the light at the western end of the Ogden Point breakwater] then to 48°24.387'N 123°23.280'W [Brotchie Ledge Light] then to 48°24.649'N 123°22.701'W [Holland Point].  (Ogden Point Marine Reserve) 

Those waters of Subareas 19-3 and 20-5 within 0.5 nautical miles of Great Race Rock.  (Marine Reserve)  This closure is within both Area 'H' and Area 'E'.

Those waters of Subarea 19-5 inside a line that begins at 48º35.990'N and 123º23.400'W [Turgoose Point] then to 48º37.040' N 123º22.780' W [light off NW point of James Island] then following the shoreline of James Island to 48º35.370' N 123º20.960' W then to 48º33.490'N 123º21.750'W [Cowichan Head] then northerly following the shoreline to the beginning point. (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure in Cordova Channel)

Those waters easterly of a line that begins at 48º39.223'N 123º 20.763'W [navigation light at the north end of Sidney Island] then to 48º38.245'N 123º20.437'W then following the shoreline to the beginning point.  (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure near Sidney Spit)

Area 20 except for:

That portion of Subarea 20-2 northerly of a line that begins at 48°32.574'N 124°29.861'W [Owen Point] then to 48°34.395'N 124°24.440'W.  (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure Area in Port San Juan)

Those waters of Subareas 19-3 and 20-5 within 0.5 nautical miles of Great Race Rock.  (Marine Reserve)  This closure is within both Area 'H' and Area 'E'.

Area 23 except for:

Subarea 23-1.  (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure Area in Alberni Inlet)

Those portions of Subareas 23-6, 23-7, 23-8, 23-9 and 23-11 inside a line that begins at 48°57.752'N 125°19.689'W then to 48°55.575'N 125°12.795'W then to 48°50.221'N 125°18.865'W then to 48°51.757'N 125°23.699'W then to 48°54.318'N 125°23.719'W then to the beginning point.  (Pacific Rim National Park, Broken Group Islands)

That portion of Subarea 23-11 north of a line that begins at 48°55.289'N 125°30.572'W then to 48°55.295'N 125°31.429W [Francis Island] then following the southerly shore of Francis Island to 48°55.313'N 125°31.572'W then to 48°55.329'N 125°31.711'W then following the shoreline to the beginning point. (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure in Ucluelet Harbour)

Area 24 except for that portion of Subarea 24-4 inside a line that begins at 49°18.030'N 126°04.140'W [northern end of McNeill Peninsula] then to 49°18.030' N 126°03.710' W then to 49°17.483' N 126°03.024' W then to 49°16.814' N 126°02.960' W then to 49°16.439' N 126°02.608' W then to 49°16.226' N 126°02.823' W [Yates Point].  (First Nations FSC and Recreational Access Closure Area in Millar Channel)

Area 25 except for Subareas 25-1 to 25-3.  (Dioxin Closure)

Subarea 29-5. 

Offshore Areas 111, 121, 123 to 127.

Refer to the 2025/2026 Integrated Fishery Management Plan and the 2025/2026 Commercial Harvest Fishing Plan for the detailed commercial fishing plan, information on the North Coast and the Area 28/29 fishery, closed area descriptions including navigational closures, and contact numbers. 

Variation Order Number: 2025-501 is in effect.
Variation Order Number 2025-417 is revoked.

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 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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1249
Sent November 25, 2025 at 1710

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on April 18, 2026 at 0158