Fishery Notice

As part of the longer-term work under the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) to explore mass marking (MM) and mark-selective fisheries (MSFs) as part of an integrated management approach, the Department is announcing new pilot recreational MSFs for 2023. These openings are located away from primary migratory routes or during times when there is a low prevalence of Fraser River Chinook stocks of concern and increased abundance of other stocks including hatchery-marked Chinook. In addition to creel surveys (dockside interviews and overflight effort counts) and the iREC reporting program that will be conducted, these pilot MSF openings will be subject to enhanced monitoring including biological sampling and independent verification of at-sea releases. These MSFs will also be subject to evaluation of available post-season information and potential adjustments may be made prior to reopening in Spring 2024. 

The new pilot MSF are as follows: 

Victoria: 

Effective 00:01 hours May 3, 2023, until 23:59 hours May 31,2023, the daily limit for Chinook is one (1) Chinook per day, hatchery marked only, in the following waters: 

Subareas 19-1, 19-3, 19-4, 19-5 and 19-6. 

Reminder: Unmarked Chinook may not be retained. The Chinook minimum size in Subareas 19-1, 19-3, and 19-4 is 45 cm, and the minimum size in Subareas 19-5 and 19-6 is 62 cm. 

Gulf Islands and Saanich Inlet: 

Effective 00:01 hours May 3, 2023, until 23:59 hours May 31, the daily limit for Chinook is one (1) Chinook per day, hatchery marked only, in the following waters: 

Subareas 17-6, 17-9, 18-6, 18-7, 18-10, 19-7, 19-8.  

Effective 00:01 hours June 1, 2023, until 23:59 hours July 14, the daily limit for Chinook is one (1) Chinook per day, hatchery marked only in the following waters: 

Subareas 17-6 and 17-9.  

Effective 00:01 hours June 1, 2023, until 23:59 hours July 31, the daily limit for Chinook is one (1) Chinook per day, hatchery marked only, in the following waters: 

Subareas 18-7, 19-7, 19-8, and 

That portion of Subarea 18-6 west of a line from Isabella Point on Saltspring Island (48 degrees 44.0239' N, 123 degrees 25.5622'W) to a point on Piers Island (48 degrees 48.4586'N, 123 degrees 25.3965'W) then to a point on the Saanich Peninsula near 48 degrees 41.8550'N, 123 degrees 26.1056'W. 

Reminder: Unmarked Chinook cannot be retained. The Chinook minimum size in Areas 17 and 18, and Subareas 19-7 and 19-8 is 62 cm. 

Variation Orders: 2023-RFQ-171; 2023-RSL-063 

Coast-wide Recreational Fisheries: 

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

Variation Order: 2023-RFQ-009 

Notes: 

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

The term "hatchery marked" or "marked" means a fish that has a healed scar in place of the adipose fin. This is also referred to as an adipose fin-clipped (AFC) fish. Unmarked fish still have an adipose fin present. 

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. 

Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs) are currently in effect and are closed to all fin-fishing.  Descriptions of RCAs, other closures such as finfish closed areas and salmon non-retention areas, and other recreational fishing information, can be found on the Internet at: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/maps-cartes/restricted-restreint-eng.html#rca 

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: 

Contact the Pacific Salmon Resource Management Team DFO.PacificSalmonRMT-EGRSaumonduPacifique.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca, the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office, or visit our website at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0426
Sent May 2, 2023 at 1654

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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 14, 2024 at 0345