Fishery Notice

Category(s):
ABORIGINAL - General Information
ABORIGINAL - Salmon: Economic Opportunities
COMMERCIAL - General Information
COMMERCIAL - Salmon: Troll
RECREATIONAL - General Information
RECREATIONAL - Salmon
Subject:
FN0673-COMMERCIAL, RECREATIONAL and ABORIGINAL - Salmon - 2020 Fraser River Chinook Conservation Measures and Coast-wide Recreational Annual Aggregates - Amendment to FN0569


This fishery notice amends FN0569 to correct the boundary area description within Portions of Southern Strait of Georgia, Howe Sound and Burrard Inlet section. It also 
updates the measures in Area 19 by including all the Subareas.

It also reminds fishers that there are local finfish and salmon fishing closures and vessel traffic prohibitions still in effect and to check the area regulations or 
contact your local DFO office before going fishing.

This notice provides the Fraser Chinook fisheries management measures for the 2020 fishing season. 

Chinook Conservation Measures:

To address conservation concerns for Fraser River Chinook salmon, DFO is implementing updated fishery measures to support conservation of at risk Chinook. 

Updated management measures for Fraser River Chinook are outlined below.   

Northern Commercial Fisheries

Area F Troll - Chinook non-retention in effect until August 15, 2020.  

Southern BC Commercial Fisheries

Area G Troll: Delayed start for WCVI AABM Chinook fishery until August 1, 2020.

Southern BC Recreational Fisheries:

This Fisheries Notice supersedes FN0569. The following measures are now in effect for the following areas:

WCVI Subareas 20-1, 20-2, Areas 121, and seaward of a 1 nm Boundary Line (defined below) in Areas 123 to 127:
 
Effective immediately to 23:59 hours July 14: Chinook non-retention; 00:01 hours July 15 to 23:59 hours July 31:  2 Chinook per day with a maximum size limit of 80 cm 
on marked and unmarked Chinook.

00:01 hours August 1 to 23:59 hours December 31: 2 Chinook per day.

Please refer to Fishery Notices 0491 and 0561 outlining fisheries management measures in place to support the recovery of Southern Resident Killer Whales for any 
additional fishing restrictions in the areas listed above.

The Boundary Line is approximately 1nm seaward of the surf line and is defined as follows:

A line that begins at Pachena Point lighthouse at 48 degrees 43.327' N 125 degrees 05.855' W
then to 48 degrees 42.456' N 125 degrees 06.583' W seaward of Pachena Point,
then to 48 degrees 46.420' N 125 degrees 13.997' W seaward of Cape Beale,
then to 48 degrees 54.572' N 125 degrees 33.622' W seaward of Amphitrite Point,
then to 49 degrees 05.100' N 125 degrees 54.646' W seaward of Cox Point,
then to 49 degrees 10.280' N 126 degrees 04.790' W seaward of Blunden Island,
then to 49 degrees 16.472' N 126 degrees 15.140' W seaward of Rafael Point,
then to 49 degrees 20.008' N 126 degrees 17.188' W seaward of Sydney Inlet,
then to 49 degrees 23.807' N 126 degrees 24.483' W seaward of Hesquiat Point,
then to 49 degrees 21.620' N 126 degrees 28.478' W seaward of Matlahaw Point,
then to 49 degrees 22.113' N 126 degrees 33.508' W seaward of Estevan Point, 
then to 49 degrees 23.869' N 126 degrees 35.333' W seaward of Homais Cove,
then to 49 degrees 27.766' N 126 degrees 35.971' W seaward of Split Cape,
then to 49 degrees 31.494' N 126 degrees 35.669' W seaward of Escalante Point,
then to 49 degrees 34.042' N 126 degrees 41.611' W seaward of Maquinna Point,
then to 49 degrees 36.254' N 126 degrees 50.538' W seaward of Bajo Point,
then to 49 degrees 39.892' N 126 degrees 55.125' W seaward of Skuna Bay,
then to 49 degrees 44.400' N 127 degrees 00.289' W seaward of Ferrer Point,
then to 49 degrees 50.767' N 127 degrees 10.151' W seaward of Tatchu Point,
then to 49 degrees 59.142' N 127 degrees 28.125' W seaward of Lookout Island,
then to 50 degrees 06.948' N 127 degrees 41.617' W seaward of  Jackobson Point,
then to 50 degrees 03.599' N 127 degrees 47.722' W seaward of  Clerke Point,
then to 50 degrees 05.868' N 127 degrees 57.906' W seaward of  Solander Island,
then to 50 degrees 19.284' N 128 degrees 00.130' W seaward of  Lawn Point,
then to 50 degrees 31.501' N 128 degrees 14.238' W seaward of  Topknot Point,
then to 50 degrees 35.683' N 128 degrees 19.249' W seaward of  Cape Palmerston,
then to 50 degrees 39.280' N 128 degrees 23.459' W seaward of  Winifred Island,
then to 50 degrees 41.116' N 128 degrees 24.166' W seaward of  Cape Russell,
then to 50 degrees 44.137' N 128 degrees 26.559' W seaward of  Strange Rock,
then to 50 degrees 47.926' N 128 degrees 27.363' W seaward of  Cape Scott,
then to Frederiksen Point.

Chinook daily limits remain at 2 per day shoreward of this Boundary Line, and also in Areas 21 to 27.

Queen Charlotte Strait and Johnstone Strait (Area 12, excluding Subarea 12-14):
 
Immediately to 23:59 hours July 14: Chinook non-retention in the majority of Area 12: 
00:01 hours July 15 to 23:59 hours August 16: 1 Chinook per day with a maximum size limit of 80 cm on marked and unmarked Chinook.
00:01 hours August 17 to 23:59 hours August 31: 1 Chinook per day
00:01 hours September 1 to 23:59 hours December 31: 2 Chinook per day

A small number of terminal and non-Fraser Chinook retention opportunities in Area 12 were announced in a separate Fishery Notice (FN0611).

For clarity, Chinook daily limits remain at 2 per day in Area 11 and Subarea 12-14. 

Strait of Georgia - North - Areas 13 to 17, Subareas 29-1 and 29-2:

Immediately to 23:59 hours July 14: Chinook non-retention.  
00:01 hours July 15 to 23:59 hours August 31: 1 Chinook per day with a maximum size limit of 80 cm on marked and unmarked Chinook.
00:01 hours September 1 to 23:59 hours December 31: 2 Chinook per day

A small number of terminal and non-Fraser Chinook retention opportunities in Areas 13 and 15 were announced in a separate Fishery Notice (FN0611).

Strait of Georgia - South and Juan de Fuca - Areas 18 and 19 (excluding Subarea 19-2 which is closed to all fishing activities), Subareas 20-3 to 20-7, Area 28 and 
Subareas 29-3 to 29-5 (with the exception of those portions of Areas 28 and 29 listed in the section below), and Subarea 29-8:

Immediately to 23:59 hours July 31: Chinook non-retention; 
00:01 hours August 1 to 23:59 hours August 31:  1 Chinook per day with a maximum size limit of 80 cm on marked and unmarked Chinook.
00:01 hours September 1 to 23:59 hours December 31: 2 Chinook per day.

A small terminal and non-Fraser Chinook retention opportunity in Subarea 20-5 was announced in a separate Fishery Notice (FN0611).

Please refer to Fishery Notices 0491 and 0561 outlining fisheries management measures in place to support the recovery of Southern Resident Killer Whales for any 
additional fishing restrictions in the areas listed above.

Portions of Southern Strait of Georgia, Howe Sound and Burrard Inlet - Subareas 28-7 to 28-9; Subarea 28-1, and that portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies southerly of a 
line drawn due east from Halkett Point on Gambier Island (49 26.735'N, 123 19.302'W) to a point (49 26.550'N, 123 14.317'W) on the mainland corresponding with the 
southeast point of the Lions Bay RCA; and those portions of 29-3 to 29-5 that lie east of a line from Gower Point (49 23.021'N, 123 32.166' W) near Gibsons to Shah 
Point on the southern tip of Valdes Island (49 01.695'N, 123 35.721'W):

Immediately to 23:59 hours August 31: No fishing for Chinook; 
00:01 hours September 1 to 23:59 hours December 31: 2 Chinook per day.

Approaches to Fraser River - Subareas 29-6, 29-7, 29-9 to 29-17 and the non-tidal waters of the Fraser River from Mission Bridge to the confluence with Sawmill Creek:
00:01 Hours January 1 to 23:59 Hours November 1: No fishing for salmon (Fishing opportunities for specific salmon stocks may be considered at a later date)

Freshwater Regions 3,5,7 & 8:
Year round: Closed to fishing for salmon (Fishing opportunities for specific salmon stocks may be considered at a later date)

Coast-wide Recreational Fisheries:

For the recreational fishery, the annual aggregate limit for Chinook salmon is ten (10) in all tidal waters coast-wide.

Variation Order: 2020-RFQ-190


Fishers are reminded that minimum legal size limits apply and to check the species regulations for the areas being fished.

Southern BC Food, Social and Ceremonial Fisheries:

Priority access will be provided for First Nations Treaty and FSC harvests in South Coast marine waters and the Fraser River.  

South Coast FSC fisheries opportunities on mixed stocks will be permitted in marine areas with the exception of the approaches to the Fraser River (Subareas 29-6, 29-
7, 29-9 and 29-10).  

Very limited Fraser River FSC fisheries will be permitted into July to reduce encounters of at-risk Fraser Chinook, with opportunities to target healthy Summer 4(1) 
Chinook in August.   

Variation Order: 2020-305


Further information on specific management actions will be communicated by separate Fishery Notices. You can view or subscribe to fisheries notices 
at: http://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Contact your local DFO office
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/contact/regions/pacific-pacifique-eng.html


Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0673
Sent July 13, 2020 at 1606