Fishery Notice

This notice advises fishers of the recreational Chinook fishing opportunities and other local closures and non-retention areas for Areas 18, 19, 20, and Subareas 29-3 to 29-5 that are in effect August 1, 2023. This notice also includes measures in effect July 15, 2023, for Subareas 20-1, 20-2, 29-1, and 29-2.

For all areas, any in-season changes or terminal opportunities based on abundance will be announced by subsequent Fishery Notice(s). Fishers are reminded to check the DFO website before they go fishing for current regulations in effect that day.

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Area 18:

SALMON FISHING CLOSURE:

-Those waters around the Gulf Islands (Pender and Saturna Islands, Subarea 18-9, and those portions of 18-2, 18-4, and 18-5) previously announced are closed to salmon fishing until 23:59 hours November 30, 2023, to support Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery in Fishery Notice 0514.

FINFISH CLOSURES:

Effective 00:01 hours August 1 until 23:59 hours October 15, 2023, the following areas are closed to fishing for all finfish:

-That portion of Subarea 18-7 that lies southerly of a line from a square white boundary sign on Vancouver Island, near 48°46.179'N and 123°34.654'W, to a square white boundary sign on Saltspring Island SE of Burial Islet, near 48°45.992'N and 123°33.777'W, AND northerly of a line from a square white boundary sign on Saltspring Island approximately 1.5 nautical miles ESE of Musgrave Point, near 48°43.982'N and 123°31.418'W, to a square white boundary sign on Vancouver Island approximately 0.5 nautical miles NW of Cherry Point, near 48°43.197'N and 123°33.708'W.

-That portion of Subarea 18-8 that lies easterly of a line from a square white boundary sign at Separation Point to a square white boundary sign at Wilcuma Wharf in Cowichan Bay

Effective 00:01 hours August 1 until 23:59 hours October 31, 2023, the following areas are closed to fishing for all finfish:

-In Subarea 18-8, the waters of Cowichan Bay inside a line from a fishing boundary sign near Separation Point on Vancouver Island to Wilcuma Wharf.

CHINOOK NON-RETENTION AREAS:

Effective 00:01 hours August 1 until 23:59 hours October 15, 2023, the following areas are Chinook non-retention:

-Subareas 18-6

-That portion of Subarea 18-7 that lies northerly of a line from a square white boundary sign on Vancouver Island, near 48°46.179'N and 123°34.654'W, to a square white boundary sign on Saltspring Island SE of Burial Islet, near 48°45.992'N and 123°33.777'W, AND southerly of a line from a square white boundary sign on Saltspring Island approximately 1.5 nautical miles ESE of Musgrave Point, near 48°43.982'N and 123°31.418'W, to a square white boundary sign on Vancouver Island approximately 0.5 nautical miles NW of Cherry Point, near 48°43.197'N and 123°33.708'W

-That portion of Subarea 18-8 that lies easterly of a line from a square white boundary sign at Wilcuma Wharf in Cowichan Bay.

-Subarea 18-10

AREA 18 Chinook retention opportunities (excluding those closed and non-retention areas/periods listed above):

-Effective 00:01 hours August 1 to 23:59 hours August 31: One (1) Chinook per day with a maximum size limit of 80 cm on marked and unmarked Chinook.

-Effective 00:01 hours September 1 to 23:59 hours December 31: Two (2) Chinook per day, no maximum size limit.

REMINDER: Chinook minimum size limit is 62 cm in Area 18.

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AREA 19:

Subarea 19-2 is closed to all fishing activity all year due to ongoing pollution.

FINFISH CLOSURES:

Effective 00:01 hours September 1 until 23:59 hours November 30, 2023, the following area is closed to fishing for all finfish:

-Subarea 19-12 [Saanich Inlet, south of Christmas Point]

Effective 00:01 hours September 15 until 23:59 hours November 30, 2023, the following area is closed to fishing for all finfish:

-Whiskey Point: The waters of Saanich Inlet in Subarea 19-8 inside a line from Whiskey Point to Verdier Point.

CHINOOK NON-RETENTION:

Effective 00:01 hours August 1 until 23:59 hours October 15, 2023, the following areas are Chinook non-retention areas:

-Subareas 19-7 to 19-12 [Saanich Inlet]

AREA 19 Chinook retention opportunities (excluding those closed and non-retention areas/periods listed above):

-Effective 00:01 hours August 1 to 23:59 hours August 31: One (1) Chinook per day with a maximum size limit of 80 cm on marked and unmarked Chinook.

-Effective 00:01 hours September 1 to 23:59 hours December 31: Two (2) Chinook per day, no maximum size limit.

REMINDER: Chinook minimum size limit is 45 cm in Subareas 19-1, 19-3, and 19-4. The Chinook minimum size limit in Subareas 19-5 to 19-12 is 62 cm.

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AREA 20:

SALMON FISHING CLOSURES:

Fishers are advised that portions of Subarea 20-1 are closed to salmon fishing from 00:01 hours July 15 to 23:59 hours October 31, 2023. Portions of Subarea 20-5 are closed to salmon fishing from 00:01 hours August 1 to 23:59 hours October 31, 2023. These measures are in place to support Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery. More details will be announced in a subsequent Fishery Notice.

FINFISH CLOSURES:

Effective 00:01 hours August 15 until 23:59 hours September 4, 2023, the following areas are closed to fishing for all finfish:

-In Area 20, those waters that are inside a line that begins at a white square boundary sign located approximately .8 nautical miles west of Owen Point, then to 48°32.45' north latitude and 124°32.05' west longitude, then to the Port San Juan Light and Whistle Buoy, then to Woods Nose, then across Port San Juan to a white square boundary sign at 48°33.23' north latitude and 124°28.55' west longitude.

CHINOOK NON-RETENTION AREAS:

Effective 00:01 hours July 15 until 23:59 hours October 25, 2023, the following areas are Chinook non-retention areas:

- Those portions of Subareas 20-1 and 20-2 shoreward of a line between a square white boundary sign at Owen Point, the Port San Juan Light, and Whistle Buoy, and to Woods Nose.

Effective 00:01 hours August 1 until 23:59 hours October 15, 2023, the following areas are Chinook non-retention areas:

-Subareas 20-6 and 20-7

AREA 20 Chinook retention opportunities (excluding those closed and non-retention periods listed above):

Subareas 20-1 and 20-2 (excluding those portions listed above):

-Effective 00:01 hours July 15 to 23:59 hours July 31: One (1) Chinook per day with a maximum size limit of 80 cm on marked and unmarked Chinook.

-Effective 00:01 hours August 1 to 23:59 hours December 31: Two (2) Chinook per day, no maximum size limit

Subareas 20-3 to 20-7 (excluding those portions listed above): 

-Effective 00:01 hours August 1 to 23:59 hours August 31: One (1) Chinook per day with a maximum size limit of 80 cm on marked and unmarked Chinook.

-Effective 00:01 hours September 1 to 23:59 hours December 31: Two (2) Chinook per day, no maximum size limit.

REMINDER: Chinook minimum size limit is 45 cm in Area 20.

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SUBAREAS 29-3 to 29-5:

CHINOOK FISHING CLOSURE:

Effective 00:01 hours April 1 until 23:59 hours August 31, 2023, the following areas are closed to fishing for Chinook:

-Those portions of Subareas 29-3 to 29-5 that lie east of a line from Gower Point (49°23.021'N, 123°32.166' W) near Gibsons to Shah Point on the southern tip of Valdes Island (49°01.695'N, 123°35.721'W).

SALMON FISHING CLOSURES:

Fishers are advised that portions of Subarea 29-3 are closed to salmon fishing from 00:01 hours August 1 to 23:59 hours September 30, 2023. These measures are in place to support Southern Resident Killer Whale Recovery. More details will be announced in a subsequent Fishery Notice.

SUBAREAS 29-3 to 29-5 Chinook retention opportunities (excluding those closed and non-retention areas/periods listed above):

-Effective 00:01 hours August 1 to 23:59 hours August 31: One (1) Chinook per day with a maximum size limit of 80 cm on marked and unmarked Chinook.

-Effective 00:01 hours September 1 to 23:59 hours December 31: Two (2) Chinook per day, no maximum size limit.

REMINDER: Chinook minimum size limit is 62 cm in Subareas 29-1 to 29-5.

Variation Orders: 2023-RFQ-256 2023-RCT-058


Coast-wide Recreational Fisheries:

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

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 "marked", "hatchery marked", or "adipose fin clipped" means a fish that has a healed scar in place of the adipose fin.

All anglers must have a licence to fish in tidal waters in BC. Apply for your BC tidal waters recreational fishing licence and salmon conservation stamp at: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/licence-permis/index-eng.html.

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

Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs) are currently in effect and are closed to all fin-fishing.  Descriptions of RCAs and other closures such as finfish closed areas, 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/rec/index-eng.html
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html

Fishers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery program by labelling and submitting heads from hatchery marked Chinook and Coho Salmon to head depots. The head-off measurement can be used by enforcement officers to assess compliance on size limits if you remove the head from Chinook or Coho. Recovery of microscopic coded-wire tags found inside hatchery marked Chinook and Coho heads provide critical information for coast-wide Salmon stock assessment programs. Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program toll free at 1-866-483-9994 for further information.

The Government of Canada recognizes that Southern Resident Killer Whales face imminent threats to their survival and recovery. On April 26, 2023, the Government announced a suite of management measures to be implemented this summer that help address the key threats of reduced prey availability (primarily Chinook salmon), and acoustic and physical disturbance. These measures include salmon fishery closures, Interim Sanctuary Zones that restrict vessels from entering (including fishing), Speed Restricted Zones that restrict vessels to a maximum of 10 knots in designated areas (including fishing), minimum approach distances and a number of voluntary measures including to stop fishing (do not haul gear) and reduce speed to less than 7 knots when within 1,000 metres of killer whales and let them pass. 

For more information about the 2023 management measures, please visit https://www.canada.ca/southern-resident-killer-whales or contact the Marine Mammal Team at DFO.SRKW-ERS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca. For more information on the best ways to help whales while on the water, please visit: bewhalewise.org.

If a marine mammal becomes entangled in fishing gear, fishers should immediately call the Observe, Record, Report (ORR) line at 1-800-465-4336. Fishers are advised not to attempt to free the animal of the fishing gear as this can pose a serious threat to the safety of the fisher and the animal. If your vessel strikes a whale, or if you observe a sick, injured, distressed, or dead marine mammal in B.C. waters, please contact the hotline immediately: 1-800-465-4336 or VHF Channel 16.

If you see a sea turtle, please call this toll-free phone number: 1-866-I SAW ONE (1-866-472-9663). Please include information such as the species of sea turtle seen (i.e. leatherback), the location and time of sighting. 

Report suspicious activity or violations by email at DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or by calling the 24-hour, toll-free Observe, Record, and Report line at 1-800-465-4336 or 604-607-4186 in greater Vancouver.

The 24-hour, toll-free information line for fishery notices regarding openings and closures is 1-866-431-3474 or 604-666-2828 in greater Vancouver. 

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0653
Sent July 13, 2023 at 0943

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 11, 2024 at 1626