Fishery Notice

Effective January 17, 2022, all commercial and recreational bottom contact fishing activities for prawn, shrimp, crab and groundfish are prohibited within portions of Subareas 28-1, 28-2 and 28-3, to protect five additional Howe Sound glass sponge reefs. This includes the following fishing activities: 

Prawn and crab by trap, Shrimp and groundfish by trawl, Groundfish by hook and line. 

Downrigger restrictions will follow for recreational salmon trolling and will be implemented as of April 1, 2022(restricted via Condition of Licence) at the five sites. Downriggers have been determined to be a risk at the existing Howe Sound - Queen Charlotte Channel marine refuge and restrictions will be implemented at this site as well. Changes will be reflected in the BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Guide and the online Sport Fishing Guide at 
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html.  

These closures will be in effect for the long term.
Since 2016, 17 marine refuges have been established under the Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reef Conservation Initiative to protect glass sponge reefs from all commercial, recreational, and Indigenous food, social, and ceremonial bottom-contact fishing activities in alignment with DFO's Policy for Managing the Impacts of Fishing on Sensitive Benthic Areas. Following input from First Nations and stakeholder consultations, DFO has made the decision to proceed with commercial and recreational fishery closures for five areas containing glass sponge reefs and adhere to a protection boundary of 150 metres from the reef's edges as a precautionary measure, while consultations with Indigenous groups are ongoing around food, social, and ceremonial bottom-contact fishing in these five sites.

Details are provided here: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html

The geographical coordinates of these new closures totalling 5.2km² are as follows:

Alberta Bay 
That portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies inside a line:
that begins at 49° 28.118' N, 123° 15.050' W 
then easterly to 49° 28.130' N, 123° 14.688' W 
then southeasterly to 49° 27.962' N, 123° 14.600' W 
then southeasterly to 49° 27.646' N, 123° 14.518' W 
then southwesterly to 49° 27.520' N, 123° 14.646' W 
then westerly to 49° 27.523' N, 123° 15.008' W 
then northwesterly to 49° 27.904' N, 123° 15.118' W 
then to the beginning point 49° 28.118' N, 123° 15.050' W.

Carmelo Point 
That portion of Subarea 28-1 that lies inside a line: 
that begins at 49° 27.253' N, 123° 23.398' W 
then easterly to 49° 27.259' N, 123° 23.028' W 
then southwesterly to 49° 26.390' N, 123° 23.315' W 
then southwesterly to 49° 26.043' N, 123° 23.610' W, 
then northwesterly to 49° 26.136' N, 123° 24.003' W 
then to the beginning point 49° 27.253' N, 123° 23.398' W.

Langdale 
That portion of Subareas 28-1 and 28-3 that lies inside a line:
that begins at 49° 26.283' N, 123° 27.605' W 
then southeasterly to 49° 26.196' N, 123° 26.895' W 
then southerly to 49° 25.398' N, 123° 26.890' W 
then westerly to 49° 25.431' N, 123° 28.034' W 
then northwesterly to 49° 25.634' N, 123° 28.291' W 
then to the beginning point 49° 26.283' N, 123° 27.605' W. 

Mariners Rest
That portion of Subarea 28-3 that lies inside a line: 
that begins at 49° 27.728' N, 123° 27.357' W 
then southeasterly to 49° 27.439' N, 123° 26.871' W 
then southwesterly to 49° 27.212' N, 123° 27.139' W 
then northwesterly to 49° 27.508' N, 123° 27.706' W 
then to the beginning point 49° 27.728' N, 123° 27.357' W.

Collingwood Channel
That portion of Subarea 28-1 that lies inside a line:
that begins at 49° 23.503' N, 123° 24.638' W 
then southeasterly to 49° 23.347' N, 123° 24.625' W 
then southwesterly to 49° 23.068' N, 123° 25.030' W 
then southwesterly to 49° 22.921' N, 123° 25.145' W 
then southwesterly to 49° 22.799' N, 123° 25.296' W 
then northwesterly to 49° 22.947' N, 123° 25.655' W 
then northeasterly to 49° 23.280' N, 123° 25.346' W 
then northeasterly to 49° 23.602' N, 123° 24.885' W 
then to the beginning point 49° 23.503' N, 123° 24.638' W. 

Variation Order No 2022-RCT-077 and 2022-078 are in effect

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT: 
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html

Or CONTACT 
Lindsay Galbraith at Lindsay.Galbraith@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or 604-404-4432

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0039
Sent January 14, 2022 at 1442

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on July 26, 2024 at 2011