Fishery Notice

For 2014, the recreational fishery allocation is 1.057 million pounds. 

The objectives for the recreational fishery are:
- to stay within the allocation (TAC),
- to effectively manage, enforce and assess the fishery,
- to follow the guiding principles of the "Vision for the Recreational Fishery 
in BC" such as providing stable and predictable opportunities and to share 
responsibility for catch monitoring and reporting.

Consultations on the 2014 halibut management options commenced during the fall 
of 2013 through the Sport Fishing Advisory Board (SFAB) process and concluded 
at the Main SFAB meetings January 24-26, 2014.

DFO has received and considered the SFAB recommendations. The following 
measures will be in place for 2014 and assessed at the end of year as to how 
they met the overall fishery objectives.

DFO will be releasing information related to releasing fish safely and in the 
least harmful manner as well as the proper packaging and transport of large 
fish.

The 2013/2014 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licences and Conditions of Licence are 
in effect until 23:59 hours March 31, 2014.

The 2014/2015 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licences will be available 
electronically in mid to late March.  Further updates on Tidal Waters Sport 
Fishing Licences will be provided as information becomes available.


Coast wide:

Open time:
Effective at 00:01 hours February 1, 2014 fishing for halibut will be opened 
coastwide until further notice.

Limits and sizes:

Effective 00:01 hours February 1,2014 until 23:59 hours March 31, 2014:
" The maximum length for halibut is 126cm.
" The daily limit for halibut is one (1). 
" The possession limit for halibut is two (2), only one of which may be greater 
than 83cm in length. 
" The annual limit is six (6) halibut per licence holder. Note: Any halibut 
caught during the period of April 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013 and February 1, 
2014 to March 31, 2014 will count towards the annual limit as authorized under 
the 2013/2014 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence.
" All halibut retained by the licence holder shall be immediately recorded in 
ink on the 2013-2014 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence. The area from which 
each halibut is caught and its length shall immediately be recorded on license.


Effective 00:01 hours April 1, 2014 until further notice:
" The maximum length for halibut is 133cm.
" The daily limit for halibut is one (1). 
" The possession limit for halibut is two (2), only one of which may be greater 
than 90cm in length. 
" There will be an annual limit of six (6) halibut (per licence holder) as 
authorized under the 2014/2015 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence.
" All halibut retained by the licence holder shall be immediately recorded in 
ink on the 2014-2015 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence.  The area from which 
each halibut is caught and its length shall immediately be recorded on license.

The exceptions to these openings are:

Areas 121, 23 and 123: 
Effective 00:01 hours February 1, 2014 to 23:59 hours December 31, 2014:

- No person shall fish for or retain halibut, rockfish and lingcod in Area 121 
outside the 12 nautical mile limit seaward of a line that begins at 48 degrees 
34.000 minutes North latitude and 125 degrees 17.386 minutes West longitude and 
continues south easterly at a bearing of 116 degrees True to a point at 48 
degrees 28.327 minutes North latitude and 125 degrees 01.687 minutes West 
longitude.


Area 121:
A reminder to recreational harvesters, that the waters of Swiftsure Bank, 
inside a line from 48°34.00'N and 125°06.00'W, thence to 48°34.00'N and 124°
54.20'W, thence to 48°29.62'N and 124°43.40'W, thence following the 
International Boundary between Canada and the U.S. to 48°29.55'N and 124°
56.20'W, thence in a straight line to the point of commencement, are closed to 
all finfish, all year.

Non-residents of Canada wishing to fish for and retain halibut in Management 
Areas 121, 23 and 123 must purchase an electronic licence through a Canadian 
vendor.

Note: Rockfish Conservations Areas (RCA's) remain in effect - refer to the 
following website for descriptions:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/restricted-restreint/rca-acs-eng.htm.


Variation Orders 2014-55 and 2014-56.
	
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
 
Contact: Brad Beaith 250-756-7190, Angela Mahboubi 250-627-3409 or Devona Adams 
604-666-3271.

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0076
Sent January 31, 2014 at 1348

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Visit Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Printed from the Pacific Region web site on December 10, 2024 at 1534