Fishery Notice

This Fishery Notice supersedes FN0277.  The correct notice is as follows:

LICENCE AVAILABILITY

2019 - 2020 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licences and Pacific Salmon Conservation 
Stamps were available for purchase online Monday, March 25, 2019 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 2019 - 
2020 licences only become valid for use from April 1, 2019.  Licences can be 
obtained via any computer connected to the internet at https://recfish-
pechesportive.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/nrls-sndpp/index-eng.cfm, or by using internet 
search key words 'National Recreational Licensing System'.  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 accepted by Moneris to process payment. 

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.

ALTERNATIVE PURCHASE OPTIONS

If there is an NRLS outage, or 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 Please 
call ahead to ensure licence availability.

NON-RESIDENT LICENCES 

If you are a non-resident of Canada wishing to fish for Halibut in Areas 23, 
121, or 123, you must purchase 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, or 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 rarely 
changes, and does not contain up-to-date information.  In-season changes are 
not included in the pdf and will instead be communicated through updates to the 
online Sport Fish Guide and via the Fishery Notice system.

CHANGES TO CONDITIONS OF LICENCE FOR 2019/2020

There are changes to conditions of licence for the following species - 
rockfish, halibut, crab and clam; in addition new downrigger restrictions are 
in place for Glass Sponge Reef areas in Howe Sound. For full details of these 
changes see your 2019/2020 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence recreational 
licence conditions.

ROCKFISH DESCENDING DEVICES

The use of a descending device is now required by condition of licence to 
assist in the conservation and survivability of rockfish being returned to the 
water.  Because of their closed swim bladders, rockfish brought to the surface 
suffer barotrauma, causing the swim bladder to inflate and reducing the 
probability of their survival upon release. Handle catch as little as possible, 
using wet hands to preserve the protective slime coat, and return to the water 
at depth of capture as quickly as possible (under two minutes).  To avoid 
catching rockfish, move to another fishing location.

HARD COPIES OF LICENCE

You are required, by regulation, to have a printed copy of your licence to 
record catch in ink for Chinook Salmon, Halibut, and Lingcod in specified 
areas.  Your licence must be produced on request of a fishery officer, 
conservation officer or fishery guardian. If you are fishing with only an 
electronic copy of your licence on your mobile device, you must be able to show 
the licence on demand to a fishery officer, conservation officer or fishery 
guardian, and you may not retain Halibut, Chinook, or Lingcod in specified 
areas (see your licence conditions).

RECREATIONAL FISHING SURVEY SELECTION

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). Please keep your licence available 
until after the end of the season for potential follow-up by our surveyors.

For assistance or questions regarding your NRLS account or fishing licence 
please contact our toll-free line at 1-877-535-7307 from 08:00 am EST to 16:00 
pm PST Monday - Friday, excluding statutory holidays.

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0285
Sent March 27, 2019 at 1150

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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 20, 2024 at 0413