Fishery Notice

LICENCE AVAILABILITY
2018 - 2019 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licences and Yukon Salmon Conservation 
Catch Cards will be available for purchase online March 26, 2018 in the 
National Recreational Licensing System (NRLS).  You are encouraged to purchase 
your licence(s) in advance of a planned fishing trip.  Note that the 2018 - 
2019 licences only become valid from April 1, 2018. 
Licences can be obtained via any computer connected to the internet at 
www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/sportfish or by using internet search key words "Recfish 
Licence".  In order to print a licence on a personal computer, you will need a 
printer with 8.5 x 11 letter-sized paper, Adobe Reader, a compatible web 
browser, and a valid credit or debit card.

BEST TIMES TO BUY
To minimize system delays, the best time to access NRLS is outside peak 
periods.  Peak times are: daily from 12:00PM to 3:00PM; every Friday, Saturday, 
and Sunday; April 1st of each year; and during a major fishery opening such as 
the Fraser River Sockeye opening.  During peak times you may experience site 
slowdown, timeout and other technical errors.
NOTE: There will be maintenance on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada IT 
infrastructure Saturday, March 24, 2018 from 5:00AM to 11:00PM Pacific Standard 
Time.  Please be advised that during this maintenance, NRLS will not be 
available to issue licences. 
 
ALTERNATIVE PURCHASE OPTIONS
If there is an NRLS outage; if you have limited internet connectivity; or if 
you are having trouble obtaining your licence online, you can also visit an 
Independent Access Provider (IAP), a list of current service locations may be 
found at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/licence-permis/iap-fai-eng.html 

NON-RESIDENT LICENCES 
If you are a non-resident of Canada wishing to fish for Halibut in Areas 23, 
121, or 123, you must acquire a licence through one of the IAP locations.

NON-REFUNDABLE 
Refunds will not be issued for licences purchased online, so please ensure your 
licence selection (including the fishing year) is correct before you complete 
your transaction.  

SPORT FISHING GUIDE
The British Columbia Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Guide (SFG) is available 
online.  For the most current information on recreational fisheries, and to 
download a pdf copy of the SFG visit the online BC Sport Fishing Guide website 
at: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html
Note that the pdf version of the guide is condensed and includes static 
information that does not change on a regular basis.  In-season changes are not 
included in the pdf and will instead be communicated through regular website 
updates and via the Fishery Notice system.

CHANGES TO CONDITIONS OF LICENCE FOR 2018/2019

PRAWN: No person shall retain prawns carrying eggs, or remove eggs from the 
underside of prawns carrying eggs.  All prawns carrying eggs externally on the 
underside of the tail shall be returned to the water immediately and in the 
manner that causes the least harm.

HALIBUT: The halibut daily catch limit of one (1), and the possession limit of 
two (2), is unchanged. The new maximum overall length for halibut is 115 cm and 
only one (1) of the two (2) halibut in your possession may be greater than 83 
cm in overall length.

ROCKFISH: No person shall catch and retain in a day in Outside waters more than 
three (3) rockfish, of which only one (1) may be a Quillback Rockfish, a China 
Rockfish, or a Tiger Rockfish. No person shall catch and retain in Outside 
waters the following species of rockfish: Bocaccio Rockfish (zero retention); 
Yelloweye Rockfish (zero retention). Note: Outside waters are Management Areas 
1 to 11, 21 to 27, 101 to 111, 121 to 127, 130, 142 and Subarea 12-14.
For full details see your 2018/2019 BC Recreational Conditions of Licence.

ROCKFISH DESCENDING DEVICES
The use of a descending device is highly recommended to assist in the 
conservation and survivability of rockfish being returned to the water.  
Rockfish brought to the surface suffer barotrauma, causing their swim bladders 
to inflate and reducing the probability of their survival upon release. To 
improve rockfish survival rates, use a descending device to quickly return 
incidental catch to the water.  Handle catch as little as possible, using wet 
hands to preserve the protective slime coat.  To avoid catching rockfish, move 
to another fishing location.

FISHINGBC APP - fishingbcapp.ca
Use your mobile device to quickly access recreational fishery regulations 
information (location specific) by downloading the Sport Fishing Institute's 
free BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing App (which also includes a Catch Log and 
Species ID Guide) and to display your BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence.

HARD COPIES OF LICENCE
NOTE: You are required (by regulation) to have a printed copy of your licence 
to record catch in ink for Chinook salmon, Halibut, and Lingcod (specified 
areas) even if you also have an electronic copy through the FishingBC app.  
Your licence must be produced on request of a fishery officer, conservation 
officer or fishery guardian, so ensure you have your licence with you while 
fishing or transporting your catch.

RECREATIONAL FISHING SURVEY SELECTION
New for 2018/2019, you may be randomly selected at time of licence purchase to 
participate in a recreational fishing survey, details will be printed to your 
licence.  Your accurately recorded catch data assists us with conservation of 
our shared marine resources for future generations of fishers.  Use the 
FishingBC App or space on your licence to record catch details for later 
submission to the online recreational catch survey (iREC).

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0236
Sent March 23, 2018 at 1516

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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 April 16, 2024 at 1517