Fishery Notice

Vancouver Island is continuing to experience drought conditions including low water levels and warm temperatures, with little precipitation forecasted. It is anticipated that these trends may continue for several weeks. These low flow levels, coupled with warm water temperatures, are creating challenging migratory conditions for salmon throughout much of  Region 1. Increased mortality of migratory salmon in these Region 1 systems is expected until conditions improve. As a result of these poor environmental conditions the Department is closing most freshwater systems to salmon fishing on Vancouver Island until further notice.

Effectively 00:01 hours October 8, 2022, until further notice, there is no fishing for salmon in the Region 1 (freshwater) systems on Vancouver Island, with the following exceptions:

Campbell River; Puntledge River and Courtenay River; Little Qualicum River; Qualicum River; Stamp River; and Somass River.

The Department will continue to monitor the water conditions in these systems and systems may open again if conditions improve.

Fishers are reminded to review the DFO Region 1 webpage and the Province of BC's Freshwater Synopsis for additional time, area and gear regulations for the above noted systems.

Variation Order: 2022-RCT-466


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:

Recreational fishing limits, openings and closures in British Columbia | Fisheries and Oceans Canada (dfo-mpo.gc.ca)

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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN1139
Sent October 7, 2022 at 1047

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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 March 25, 2023 at 0919