Fishery Notice

Category(s):
RECREATIONAL - Salmon
Subject:
FN0678-Recreational - Salmon - Chinook - Southwest Vancouver Island - Areas 21 to 24 and 121 to 124 - West Coast Vancouver Island Chinook Management Measures


The following is a description of July 15 until December 31, 2021 Chinook management measures, which include finfish closures, salmon non-retention areas and Chinook non-retention areas for Area 21 (Nitinat), Area 22 (Nitinat Lake), Area 23 (Barkley Sound), Area 24 (Clayoquot Sound), and associated offshore waters in Areas 121 to 124.

Unless otherwise specified below, the daily limit for Chinook is two (2) per day with a minimum size of 45 centimetres in Areas 21 to 24, 121, 123, and 124.

PLEASE NOTE THAT NEW FOR 2021: THE RAINY BAY FINFISH CLOSURE IN AREA 23 HAS BEEN REMOVED. ALL OTHER CLOSURES REMAIN THE SAME AS IN 2020.


Areas 21 and 22 

SALMON FISHING CLOSURE:

Effective July 16, 2021 until October 31, 2021 you may not fish for salmon in that portion of Subarea 121-1 inside a line drawn from Bonilla Point Light at 48°35.732' N and 124°43.063' W, then southwesterly to a point at 48°29.618' N latitude and 124°43.553' W, then northwesterly to a point at 48°34.000' N and 124°54.200' W, then northeasterly back to the point of commencement. This is a Southern Resident Killer Whale Management Zone.


Area 121

DAILY QUOTA AND SIZE RESTRICTION:

Effective July 15 until July 31, 2021 the daily limit is two (2) Chinook, with a minimum size limit of 45 cm, and a maximum size limit of 80 cm, in all portions of 121 with the following exceptions:

SWIFTSURE BANK FINFISH CLOSURE - All Year 

Effective January 1 until December 31 you may not fish for finfish in those portions of Subareas 121-1 and 121-2 inside a line from 48 degrees 34.00'N and 125 degrees 06.00'W, then to 48 degrees 34.00'N and 124 degrees 54.20'W, then to 48 degrees 29.62'N and 124 degrees 43.40'W, then following the International Boundary between Canada and the United States of America to 48 degrees 29.55'N and 124 degrees 56.20'W, then returning in a straight line to the point of commencement.

FINFISH CLOSURE:

Effective August 1, 2021 until October 31, 2021 you may not fish for finfish in that portion of Area 22 (Nitinat Lake) northeasterly of a line from a boundary sign at Windy Point to a boundary sign on the opposite shore.


Area 23 

FINFISH CLOSURES: 

Effective June 30, 2021 until October 31, 2021 the following areas closed to fishing for all finfish:

Uchucklesit Inlet - that portion of Subarea 23-3 northwest of a line between boundary signs at Brooksby Point and Burrough Point.

Effective August 1, 2021 until September 30, 2021 the following areas closed to fishing for all finfish:

Numukamis Bay - that portion of Subarea 23-4 inside a line from a boundary sign on the eastern shore near the entrance to Poett Nook harbour to San Jose Islets light then to a boundary sign on Vancouver Island 0.3 nm east of the southern tip of Congreve Island;

San Mateo Bay - that portion of Subarea 23-3 northeast of a line between a boundary sign at Mutine Point and the Chup Point light and southwest of a line drawn between Star Point and a boundary sign near the mouth of Handy Creek;

Nahmint Bay - that portion of Subarea 23-2 north of a line between a boundary sign near Chesnucknuw Creek west to a boundary sign on the opposite shore and southwest of a line drawn  from Hocking Point 127 degrees true to a boundary sign on the opposite shore;

Toquart Bay - that portion of Subarea 23-10 shoreward of a line beginning at a point on the Vancouver Island shoreline located at 49 degrees 01.170'N and 125 degrees 21.497'W then to the southern tip of Snowden Island then across to the southern tip of Refuge Island then ending at a point on the Vancouver Island shoreline located at 49 degrees 01.691'N and 125 degrees 18.624'W.

CHINOOK NON-RETENTION AREAS:

Effective August 1, 2021 until September 30, 2021 the following areas are Chinook non-retention areas:

Approach waters to the Nahmint River - that portion of Subarea 23-3 east of a line drawn between Star Point and a boundary sign near the mouth of Handy Creek, and south of a line drawn between a boundary sign near Chesnucknuw Creek to a boundary sign on the opposite shore;

Effingham Inlet - that portion of Subarea 23-6 shoreward of from a line beginning at a point on the Vancouver Island shoreline at 48 degrees 59.963'N and 125 degrees 11.526'W across to the western tip of Webster Island, continuing along the shoreline to the northeastern tip of Webster Island then across to a point on the Vancouver Island shoreline located at 49 degrees 00.295'N and 125 degrees 10.445'W.


Area 123 

DAILY QUOTA AND SIZE RESTRICTION:

Effective July 15 until July 31 2021 in that portion of Area 123 seaward of the 1 nm Boundary Line, the daily limit is two (2) Chinook, with a minimum size limit of 45 cm, and a maximum size limit of 80 cm. The Boundary Line is approximately 1nm seaward of the surf line. For full definition of the Boundary Line please see the bottom of this fisheries notice.


Area 24 

FINFISH CLOSURES:

Effective August 1, 2021 until October 31, 2021 the following areas closed to fishing for all finfish:

Subareas 24-1 to 24-5, 24-7, 24-12 to 24-14;

Ahousaht/Millar Channel - that portion of Subarea 24-6 northerly of a line commencing at Kutcous Point (49 degrees 14.961'N, and 126 degrees 04.817'W) on Flores Island to 49 degrees 14.637'N, and 126 degrees 00.825'W on Vancouver Island near the Chetarpe I.R.;

Browning Passage - that portion of Subarea 24-9 easterly of a line commencing at Ginnard Point (49 degrees 08.069'N, and 125 degrees 51.169'W) on Meares Island to 49 degrees 07.483'N, and 125 degrees 51.811'W on Vancouver Island, and westerly of a line commencing at Auseth Point continuing true south to the Vancouver Island 
shoreline;

Warn Bay - that portion of Subarea 24-10 inside a line between boundary signs at the entrance to the Warn Bay;

Grice Bay - that portion of Subarea 24-11 inside a line between boundary signs approximately half way inside Grice Bay to the head of Grice Bay;

Subarea 24-13;

That portion of Subarea 124-3 approximately 1 nm seaward of the surf line beginning at Ahous 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.

FINFISH CLOSURE - YEAR ROUND

Effective January 1 until December 31 each year you may not fish for finfish in that portion of 24-12 described as the waters of Kennedy Cove inside or northwesterly of a line between two fishing boundary signs on the outer southwest corner and the outer northeast corner of the cove.

CHINOOK NON-RETENTION AREAS:

Effective August 1, 2021 until October 31, 2021 you may not retain Chinook salmon in the following waters:

That portion of Subarea 24-6  southerly of a line commencing at Kutcous Point (49 degrees 14.961N, and 126 degrees 04.817'W) on Flores Island to 49 degrees 14.637 N, and 126 degrees 00.825'W on Vancouver Island near the Chetarpe I.R.;

That portion of 24-8 shoreward of a line drawn from Cox Point to the Lennard Island light, to Echachis Island to Wickaninnish Island to Moser Point;

That portion of Subarea 24-9 westerly of a line commencing at Ginnard Point (49 degrees 08.069'N, and 125 degrees 51.169'W) on Meares Island to 49 degrees 07.483'N, and 125 degrees 51.811'W on Vancouver Island, and westerly of a line commencing at Auseth Point continuing true south to the Vancouver Island shoreline;

That portion of Subarea 24-10 outside or southwest of a line between boundary signs at the entrance to the Warn Bay;

That portion of Subarea 24-11 outside or west a line between boundary signs approximately half way inside Grice Bay to the head of Grice Bay.


Area 124

DAILY QUOTA AND SIZE RESTRICTION:

Effective July 15 to July 31, 2021 in that portion of Area 124 seaward of the 1 nm Boundary Line and southeast of the 124-3 finfish closure described above, the daily limit is two (2) Chinook, with a minimum size limit of 45 cm, and a maximum size limit of 80 cm.

Full Description of the one (1) nautical mile boundary seaward of the surf line for Areas 123 and 124:

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.

Variation Orders: 2021-RCT-378.


Notes:

Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal waters of British Columbia.  

The term "marked" means a hatchery fish that has a healed scar in place of the adipose fin.

Sport anglers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery program by labelling and submitting heads from adipose fin-clipped Chinook and Coho salmon.  Recovery of coded-wire tags provides critical information for coast-wide stock assessment. Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program toll free at (866) 483-9994 for further information.

Anglers are advised to check http://bcsportfishguide.ca for fishing closures and other recreational fishing information.

Tidal Water Sport Fishing Licences can be purchased via any computer connected to the internet at 
https://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/nrls-sndpp/index-eng.cfm 
or by using Google search key words "Recfish Licence".

Did you witness suspicious fishing activity or a violation?  If so, please call the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line at (800) 465-4336.

For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at 1-(866)431-FISH(3474).


FOR MORE INFORMATION:
 
Contact the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Port Alberni office at 250 720 4440 or visit our website at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0678
Sent July 13, 2021 at 1315