Fishery Notice

The Chum Salmon return to Southern BC has been poor to date this season. Test fishing catches in Johnstone Strait are indicating the return has a low likelihood of meeting the 1.0 million critical threshold and test fishing catches in the Fraser River are estimating a terminal return of 481,000 Chum. Returns to many Strait of Georgia systems have also been low and suggest that many systems will likely see returns below target. In an effort to conserve Chum stocks returning to Southern BC waters, a decision has been made to take a precautionary in-season approach to recreational fisheries.

Effective 00:01 hours October 27, until 23:59 hours December 31, the daily limit of Chum salmon is zero (0) in the following waters:

Areas 11/111, 12 to 20, 28, 121, 123 to 127 and Subareas 29-1 to 29-5, 29-8.

Variation Order: 2021-RFQ-588

Test fishing catches and abundance estimates will continue to be monitored, with updates provided at the next Chum Working Group meeting scheduled for October 28, 2021.  

Notes:

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

Anglers are further reminded that intentionally (willfully) foul-hooking fish or attempting to foul hook fish is illegal and that non-compliance may result in closure. Foul hook is defined as: hooking a fish in any part of its body other than the mouth.

Information about finfish closed areas and salmon non-retention areas, and other recreational fishing information, can be found on the Internet at:
www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish

The term "hatchery marked", "marked", or "adipose fin clipped" means a 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 labeling 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 1-866-483-9994 for further information.

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 1-800-465-4336 or by email at DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Brad Beaith, WCVI Recreational Fisheries Manager, Brad.Beaith@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Barbara Mueller, Fraser River and Interior Resource Manager, Barbara.Mueller@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Erika Watkins, ECVI Recreational Fisheries Manager, Erika.Watkins@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1129
Sent October 26, 2021 at 1455

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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 May 20, 2024 at 2143