Fishery Notice

Effective May 1, 2019, the new Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area 
Reserve and Haida Heritage management plan will be implemented by closing all 
commercial and recreational fishing in strict protection zones. These zones 
will supersede and replace South Moresby, and Lyell Island Rockfish 
Conservation Areas (RCA).   

In November 2018, following an extensive consultation process, a new management 
plan for Gwaii Haanas was approved by Canada and the Haida Nation (available 
at: 
www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas/info/consultations/gestion-management-2018 
and www.haidanation.ca/?p=8450). The plan includes a shared vision, guiding 
principles based on Haida cultural values, goals and objectives, and zoning for 
the land and the sea.

Effective May 1, 2019, all commercial and recreational fishing activities for 
groundfish, fin fish (other than salmon), shellfish, invertebrates, salmon, and 
pelagics are prohibited within the marine strict protection zones identified in 
the Gwaii Haanas Gina 'Waadluxan KilGuhlGa Land-Sea-People Management Plan 
(Portions of Area 2, 102, 130 and 142).

This includes the following commercial and recreational fishing activities: 

all salmon by gill net, purse seine net and hook and line; 

all pelagics by gill net, purse seine net and hook and line including: tuna, 
herring, sardine;

all invertebrates  by diving, gill net, hand picking, hook and line, seine, 
trap and trawl net including: geoduck and horse clams, red sea urchin, green 
sea urchin, sea cucumber, euphausiid, intertidal clam, razor clam, shrimp, 
prawn, Pacific oyster, crab, scallop, octopus; 

all groundfish by trap, mid-water trawl, bottom trawl, hook and line gear and 
jigging including: sablefish, halibut, rockfish, lingcod, dogfish, skate, sole, 
turbot, hake, cod and pollock. 
  
These closures will be in effect until further notice.

Variation Order No 2019-213 (commercial fishing) and 2019-RCT-214 (Recreational 
fishing).


In addition, all fishing restrictions associated with South Moresby and Lyell 
Island Rockfish Conservation Areas are superseded and replaced by the new zones 
for the Gwaii Haanas Gina 'WaadluXan KilGuhlGa Land-Sea-People Management Plan. 
The remaining portion of the Lyell Island RCA in Crescent Inlet outside of the 
Gwaii Haanas NMCAR boundary will also be removed; that is, existing commercial 
and recreational fisheries restrictions will be lifted in Crescent Inlet.

The Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve (NMCAR) was 
established on June 17, 2010 and is cooperatively managed by Canada and the 
Council of the Haida Nation through the Archipelago Management Board (AMB). 

Maps and description of all 162 RCAs in the Pacific Region are also available 
on DFO's website at: 
(www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index.html)


Schedule I:
Rockfish Conservation Areas Replaced by new Gwaii Haanas Zoning Plan	 

1. Lyell Island
Subarea 2-9 and those waters of Subareas 2-8 and 2-11 that lie westerly of a 
line that:

begins at	52°48.259'N	131°39.218'W	 Porter Head  
then to	52°48.259'N	131°29.400'W	 Lost Island  
then to	52°42.300'N	131°23.500'W	 in water  
then to	52°33.300'N	131°18.200'W	 in water  
then to	52°33.300'N	131°21.000'W	 south of Yadus Point  
then following the northerly shoreline of Ramsay Island to	
52°33.833'N	
131°26.339'W	
 Ramsay Point  
then to	52°34.839'N	131°34.858'W	 Richardson Point   

Note: Subarea 2-10 not included in RCA. [Chart No. 3902]


2. South Moresby

Subareas 2-31 to 2-37. [Chart No. 3002]


Schedule II
GWAII HAANAS GINA 'WAADLUXAN KILGUHLGA 
LAND-SEA-PEOPLE MANAGEMENT PLAN 
Final Zoning (Nov. 2018)
Strict Protection Areas

1. Those waters of Subareas 2-38 to 2-41 and 142-1 inside a line commencing at 
a point on land on T'aaxwii XaaydaGa Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay (Moresby Island) at 
52°23.311'N and 131°35.794'W northwesterly to a point on land on GuuGaalas 
Gwaay (south Gowdas Islands) at 52°23.340'N and 131°35.859'W, thence northerly 
following the shoreline of GuuGaalas Gwaay (south Gowdas Islands) to 52°
23.489'N and 131°36.092'W, thence southwesterly to a point in water at 52°
18.982'N and 131°43.957'W, thence northwesterly to a point in water at 52°
38.115'N and 132°09.939'W, thence southeasterly to a point on land on T'aaxwii 
XaaydaGa Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay (Moresby Island) at 52°38.114'N and 131°10.004'W, 
and thence southerly following the western shoreline of T'aaxwii XaaydaGa 
Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay (Moresby Island) to the beginning point. [Kun Skuujii sda 
GawGaay.ya (Kwoon Cove to Gowgaia Bay)]

2. Those waters of Subareas 2-31 and 142-1 inside a line commencing at a point 
on the western shoreline of T'aaxwii XaaydaGa Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay (Moresby 
Island) at 52°07.210'N and 131°15.838'W easterly following the shoreline to 52°
07.440'N and 131°14.307'W, thence southeasterly to a point on the northern 
shoreline of K'il (Flatrock Island) at 52°06.468'N and 131°10.300'W, thence 
easterly following the shoreline to 52°06.388'N and 131°10.079'W, thence 
southeasterly to the westernmost point of Sii.niihl Gwaay.yaay (Gordon Islands) 
at 52°06.018'N and 131°09.391'W, thence southerly following the shoreline of 
Sii.niihl Gwaay.yaay (Gordon Islands) to 52°05.884'N and 131°09.283'W, thence 
southeasterly to 52°05.806'N and 131°09.208'W, thence easterly following the 
shoreline of Sii.niihl Gwaay.yaay (Gordon Islands) to 52°05.787'N and 131°
09.097'W, thence northeasterly to the shoreline of Sii.niihl Gwaay.yaay (Gordon 
Islands) at 52°05.788'N and 131°08.938'W, thence easterly following the 
shoreline and thence crossing the channel to 52°05.778'N and 131°08.861'W, 
thence southeasterly following the shoreline to 52°05.741'N and 131°08.788'W, 
thence following the shoreline of Sii.niihl Gwaay.yaay (Gordon Islands) to 52°
05.708'N and 131°08.697'W, thence easterly across the channel to 52°05.709'N 
and 131°08.673'W, thence southerly following the shoreline of Sii.niihl 
Gwaay.yaay (Gordon Islands) to 52°05.468'N and 131°08.425'W, thence 
southeasterly to a point on the western shoreline of GangXid Gwaay.yaay 
(Kunghit Island) at 52°04.414'N and 131°07.720'W, thence northerly and 
southerly following the shoreline of GangXid Gwaay.yaay (Kunghit Island) to 52°
04.366'N and131° 07.720'W, thence southwesterly to a point in water at 52°
03.175'N and 131°14.399'W, thence northwesterly to a point in water at 52°
05.826'N and 131°17.913'W, and thence northeasterly back to the beginning 
point. [SGang Gwaay (Wailing Island)]

3. Those waters of Subareas 2-19, 102-3, 130-3 and 142-1 inside a line 
commencing at a point on the western shoreline of GangXid Tllgaay (South 
Kunghit Island) at 51°57.689'N and 131°03.375'W easterly following the southern 
shoreline of GangXid Tllgaay (South Kunghit Island) to 52°00.343'N and 130°
59.788'W, thence southeasterly to a point in water at 51°50.159'N and 130°
53.207'W, thence southwesterly to a point in water at 51°47.954'N and 130°
53.613'W, thence northwesterly to a point in water at 51°54.927'N and 131°
07.801'W, and thence northeasterly to the beginning point. [GangXid Tllgaay 
(South Kunghit Island)]  

4. Those waters of Subareas 102-2 and 102-3 inside a line commencing at a point 
on land of Kildaga T'awts'iiGaay (islet) at 52°04.541'N and 130°56.293'W 
following the shoreline of the islet to 52°04.591'N and 130°56.348'W, thence 
northwesterly to the eastern shoreline of GangXid Gwaay.yaay (Kunghit Island) 
at 52°04.652'N and 130°56.414'W, thence northerly following the eastern 
shoreline of GangXid Gwaay.yaay (Kunghit Island) to 52°05.734'N and 130°
56.365'W, thence northeasterly to a point in water at 52°10.225'N and 130°
49.512'W, thence southwesterly to a point in water at 52°02.632'N and 130°
50.910'W, thence northwesterly back to the beginning point. [Gangxid Xyuu Kun 
sda Kan 'Láas Kun (Lyman Point to Receiver Point)]

5. Those waters of Subareas 2-17, 2-18 and 102-2 inside a line commencing at a 
point on the eastern shoreline of T'aaxwii XaaydaGa Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay 
(Moresby Island) at 52°10.262'N and 131°01.993'W northerly following the 
eastern shoreline to 52°13.232'N and 131°00.777'W, thence northeasterly to a 
point in water at 52°17.724'N and 130°55.078'W, thence southeasterly to a point 
in water at 52°12.476'N and 130°49.103'W , and thence southwesterly back to the 
beginning point. [Kayjuu Kun (Benjamin Point)]

6a. Those waters of Subarea 2-37 north of a line drawn from a point on T'aaxwii 
XaaydaGa Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay (Moresby Island) at 52°14.455'N and 131°22.232'W 
southeasterly across St'aa K'ii GawGa (Flamingo Inlet) to a point on land on 
the opposite shore at 52°14.228'N and 131°21.503'W. [St'aa K'ii GawGa (Flamingo 
Inlet) - Head]

6b. Those waters of Subarea 2-34 north of a line drawn from a point on land on 
T'aaxwii XaaydaGa Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay (Moresby Island) at 52°11.841'N and 131°
15.670'W northeasterly across the inlet to a point on the opposite shoreline of 
GawGajaang (Louscoone Inlet) at 52°12.245'N and 131°14.568'W. [GawGajaang 
(Louscoone Inlet) - Head]

6c. Those waters of Subarea 2-18 north of a line drawn from the western 
shoreline of K'insiGid (Rose Inlet) on T'aaxwii XaaydaGa Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay 
(Moresby Island) at 52°11.327'N and 131°08.370'W northeasterly across the inlet 
to a point on the opposite shore at 52°11.328'N and 131°07.115'W. [K'insiGid 
(Rose Inlet) - Head]

6d. Those waters of Subarea 2-15 south of a line drawn from a point on the 
western shoreline of GawGan (Huston Inlet) at 52°15.732'N and 131°15.643'W 
northeasterly across the inlet to a point on the opposite shore at 52°16.111'N 
and 131°14.231'W. [GawGan (Huston Inlet) - Head]

7. Those waters of Subareas 2-13 to 2-16 and 102-2 inside a line commencing at 
a point on the eastern shoreline of SGwaay Kun Gwaay.yaay (Burnaby Island) at 
52°26.521'N and 131°14.153'W southeasterly to a point in water at 52°25.980'N 
and 131°04.477'W, thence southeasterly to a point in water at 52°22.825'N and 
131°00.885'W, thence southwesterly to a point on the eastern shoreline of 
T'aaxwii XaaydaGa Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay (Moresby Island) at 52°18.124'N and 131°
18.347'W, thence northerly following the eastern shoreline of T'aaxwii XaaydaGa 
Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay (Moresby Island) to 52°23.055'N and 131°23.441'W, thence 
northeasterly to the western shoreline of Gwaay GudgiiGaagid (Kat Island) at 52°
23.082'N and 131°22.916'W, thence easterly following the southern shoreline of 
Gwaay GudgiiGaagid (Kat Island) to 52°23.147'N and 131°22.260'W, thence 
northeasterly to the western shoreline of SGwaay Kun Gwaay.yaay (Burnaby 
Island) at 52°23.276'N and 131°21.333'W, thence southerly following the western 
shoreline of SGwaay Kun Gwaay.yaay (Burnaby Island) to 52°20.949'N and 131°
15.569'W, thence northeasterly to the easternmost point of SGwaay Kun 
Gwaay.yaay (Burnaby Island) at 52°22.315'N and 131°14.689'W, thence following 
the western shoreline of SGwaay Kun Gwaay.yaay (Burnaby Island) to 52°22.377'N 
and 131°14.683'W, thence northwesterly to a point on the eastern shoreline of 
SGwaay Kun Gwaay.yaay (Burnaby Island) at 52°24.494'N and 131°15.832'W, and 
thence following the eastern shoreline to the beginning point. [Suu Kaahlii sda 
SGwaay Kun Gwaay.yaay (Skincuttle Inlet to Burnaby Island)]

Those waters of Subarea 2-14 south of a line drawn from a point on the 
shoreline of SGwaay Kun Gwaay.yaay (Burnaby Island) in Gid Gwaa GyaaGa GawGa 
(Poole Inlet) at 52°22.764'N and 131°18.249'W southeasterly across the inlet to 
a point on the opposite shore at 52°22.505'N and 131°17.665'W. [Gid Gwaa GyaaGa 
GawGa (Poole Inlet)]

8. Those waters of Subareas 2-12 and 2-13 inside a line commencing on the 
eastern shoreline of T'aaxwii XaaydaGa Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay (Moresby Island) at 
52°30.038'N and 131°28.071'W southeasterly to a point on land on Gwaay 
Guusdagang (All Alone Stone Island) at 52°29.081'N and 131°24.042'W, thence 
southeasterly to a point on the northern shoreline of Gaaduu Gwaay (Huxley 
Island) at 52°28.066'N and 131°21.772'W, thence southerly following the western 
shoreline of Gaaduu Gwaay (Huxley Island) to 52°25.934'N and 131°21.927'W, 
thence southwesterly to the northern shoreline of GaysiiGas K'iidsii Gwaay 
(Section Island) at 52°25.435'N and 131°22.425'W, thence westerly following the 
northern shoreline of GaysiiGas K'iidsii Gwaay (Section Island) to 52°25.460'N 
and 131°22.513'W, thence northwesterly to a point on the eastern shoreline of 
T'aaxwii XaaydaGa Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay (Moresby Island) at 52°26.039'N and 131°
25.343'W, thence northerly following the eastern shoreline of T'aaxwii XaaydaGa 
Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay (Moresby Island) to 52°28.460'N and 131°27.972'W, and 
thence northerly to the beginning point. [Kuuniisii Xaw GawGa sda Gaaduu Gwaay 
(Matheson Inlet to Huxley Island)]

9. Those waters of Subareas 2-11 and 102-2 inside a line commencing on the 
eastern shoreline of Tllga Kun Gwaay.yaay (Lyell Island) at 52°42.074'N and 131°
26.535'W southeasterly to a point in water at 52°41.073'N and 131°14.523'W, 
thence southeasterly to a point in water at 52°38.666'N and 131°12.987'W, 
thence southwesterly to 52°35.106'N and 131°22.254'W, thence following the 
northern shoreline of Xiina Gwaay.yaay (Ramsay Island) to 52°34.964'N and 131°
22.963'W, thence southwesterly following the shoreline to 52°34.116'N and 131°
25.603'W, thence southwesterly following the shoreline to 52°33.844'N and 131°
26.324'W, thence southwesterly to a point on Gandaawuu.ngaay Gwaay.yaay (Marco 
Island) at 52°31.498'N and 131°30.354'W, thence northwesterly to a point on 
Gandaawuu.ngaay Gwaayts'idaay (Hoskins Islets) at 52°32.405'N and 131°32.946'W, 
thence following the northern shoreline of Gandaawuu.ngaay Gwaayts'idaay 
(Hoskins Islets) to 52°32.435'N and 131°33.055'W, thence southwesterly to a 
point on the eastern shoreline of T'aaxwii XaaydaGa Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay 
(Moresby Island) at 52°32.211'N and 131°34.475'W, thence easterly following the 
eastern shoreline to 52°32.956'N and 131°37.729'W, thence northeasterly to a 
point on the shoreline of Kingts'ii Gwaay.yaay (Bischof Islands) at 52°34.143'N 
and 131°33.379'W, thence easterly following the southeastern shoreline of 
Kingts'ii Gwaay.yaay (Bischof Islands) to 52°34.340'N and 131°33.098'W, thence 
northeasterly to a point on an islet at 52°34.530'N and 131°32.890'W, thence 
northeasterly to a point on the southern shoreline of Tllga Kun Gwaay.yaay 
(Lyell Island) at 52°35.767'N and 131°32.891'W, and thence easterly and 
northerly following the shoreline of Tllga Kun Gwaay.yaay (Lyell Island) to the 
beginning point. [Gandaawuu.ngaay Xyangs sda Tllga Kun Gwaay.yaay (Juan Perez 
Sound to Lyell Island)]

10. Those waters of Subarea 2-10 inside a line commencing at a point on land on 
Shuttle Island at 52°40.053'N and 131°42.328'W northeasterly to a point on the 
western shoreline of Tllga Kun Gwaay.yaay (Lyell Island) at 52°40.466'N and 131°
41.105'W, thence southerly following the western shoreline of Tllga Kun 
Gwaay.yaay (Lyell Island) to 52°37.301'N and 131°38.800'W, thence northwesterly 
to a point on land of Gwaay DaaGaaw (Shuttle Island) at 52°38.522'N and 131°
41.409'W, and thence following the eastern shoreline of Shuttle Island to the 
beginning point. [Didxwahxyangs (Darwin Sound)]

11. Those waters of Subareas of 2-7 and 2-8 inside a line commencing on a point 
of the eastern shoreline of T'aaxwii XaaydaGa Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay (Moresby 
Island) at 52°48.570'N and 131°39.433'W northeasterly to a point in water at 52°
49.383'N and 131° 29.039'W, thence southeasterly to a point in water at 52°
48.148'N and 131°28.849'W, thence southwesterly to a point in water at 52°
44.898'N and 131°34.035'W, thence northwesterly to 52°45.113'N and 131°
34.125'W, thence following the northern shoreline of K'ang.Guu Gwaay.yaay 
(Kunga Island) to 52°45.220'N and 131°35.574'W, thence southwesterly to a point 
on T'aanuu Gwaay (Tanu Island) at 52°45.002'N and 131°36.770'W, thence 
northerly following the eastern shoreline of T'aanuu Gwaay (Tanu Island) to 52°
46.725'N and 131°38.878'W, thence northwesterly across to a point on T'aaxwii 
XaaydaGa Gwaay.yaay iinaGwaay (Moresby Island) at 52°47.837'N and 131°39.371'W, 
and thence northerly following the eastern shoreline to the beginning point. 
[T'aanuu K'aadxwah Xyangs sda Gwaay Xaa'ans (Klue Passage to Lost Islands)]


FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT:
https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas/info/consultations

Or CONTACT Jacinthe Amyot at Jacinthe.Amyot@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or 250-627-3417

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0378
Sent April 23, 2019 at 1516

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