Fishery Notice

This notice advises fishers of the recreational Chinook fishing opportunities and Chinook management measures, which include finfish closures, salmon non-retention areas and Chinook non-retention areas for Area 25 (Nootka Sound and Esperanza Inlet), Area 26 (Kyuquot Sound), Area 27 (Quatsino Sound) and associated offshore waters in Areas 125 to 127 that are in effect July 15 2023.

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.

Unless otherwise specified below the daily limit for Chinook salmon is two (2) per day with a minimum size limit of 45 cm in Areas 25 to 27 and 125 to 127. 

PLEASE NOTE FOR 2023, ALL MANAGEMENT MEASURES REMAIN THE SAME AS IN 2022.

AREA 25:
FINFISH CLOSURES: 

Effective July 15 until October 15, 2023 the following areas are closed to fishing for all finfish:

That portion of Subarea 25-1 located southerly of a line drawn from 49 degrees 36.971'N, 126 degrees 03.560'W to a point located north of Matchlee Creek at 49 degrees 37.129'N 126 degrees 03.006'W. 

That portion of Subarea 25-1 located north easterly of a line drawn from the Vancouver Island shoreline located at 49 degrees 40.790'N 126 degrees 07.232'W then southerly to a point located at 49 degrees 40.620'N 126 degrees 07.087'W then easterly to a point located on the opposite side of the Gold River located at 49 degrees 40.694'N and 126 degrees 06.377'W. 

That portion of Subarea 25-1 located south westerly of a line drawn from a point located at 49°40.264'N and 126°10.955'W near McCurdy Creek across Muchalat Inlet to the light on Victor Island then to a point located at 49°39.496'N and 126°08.581'W.

Subareas 25-2 and 25-3;

That portion of Subarea 25-4 located southerly of a line drawn from a point located at 49 degrees 39.752'N and 126 degrees 28.795'W located on Concepcion Point across Hanna Channel to a point located at 49 degrees 40.175'N and 126 degrees 28.161'W;

That portion of Subarea 25-4 inside Hisnit Inlet northwesterly of a line beginning at 49 degrees 43.903'N and 126 degrees 29.639'W, then drawn southwesterly across the inlet to a point located at 49 degrees 43.680'N and 126 degrees 30.322'W. Boundary signs near these locations may be erected;

That portion of Subarea 25-5 inside Nesook Bay easterly of a line beginning at 49 degrees 46.205'N and 126 degrees 24.997'W, then drawn southerly across the bay to a point located at 49 degrees 45.594'N and 126 degrees 25.018'W. Boundary signs near these locations may be erected;

That portion of Subarea 25-5 northwesterly of a line drawn between square white fishing boundary signs on the opposite sides of the entrance to Head Bay;

That portion of Subarea 25-8, Tahsis Inlet, north of a line beginning at the northeastern tip of Strange Island located at 49 degrees 43.314'N and 126 degrees 37.486'W, then drawn easterly across the inlet to a point located at 49 degrees 43.315'N and 126 degrees 36.817'W;
 
Subareas 25-9, 25-10, 25-11, and 25-12;

Subarea 25-14; 

That portion of Subarea 25-15 located easterly of a line drawn from a point located at 49 degrees 38.640'N and 126 degrees 29.877'W across Zuciarte Channel to a point located at 49 degrees 38.319'N and 126 degrees 28.867'W;

Subarea 25-16;

That portion of Subareas 25-13, 125-1, 125-2 and 125-3 shoreward of  a line drawn from Belmont Point located at 49 degrees 47.528'N and 126 degrees 55.605'W to a point located at 49 degrees 44.965'N and 127 degrees 01.823'W (located approximately 1.9 nautical miles west of Ferrer Point), then southeasterly approximately 13 nautical miles to a point located at 49 degrees 37.900'N and 126 degrees 52.600'W, then southwesterly to a point at 49 degrees 33.500'N and 126 degrees 52.600'W, then to the Red Can Buoy located at 49 degrees 33.806'N and 126 degrees 49.976'W then to a point located approximately 2 nautical miles east at 49 degrees 34.125'N and 126 degrees 46.942'W, then to the Nootka Island shoreline at a point located near Beano Creek at 49 degrees 36.341'N and 126 degrees 45.141'W. The Bajo Reef RCA is located 
adjacent to this closed area;

That portion of Subareas 25-7, 125-1 and 125-2 inside a line beginning at a point on Vancouver Island at 49 degrees 33.445'N and 126 degrees 33.845'W (north of Escalante Point), then westerly to a point approximately 1 nautical mile offshore located at 49 degrees 33.445'N and 126 degrees 35.967'W, then southerly approximately 8.8 nautical miles to a point intersecting the Estevan Point RCA boundary located at 49 degrees 24.688'N and 126 degrees 35.593'W, then to a point on Vancouver Island (on Hesquiat Peninsula) at 49 degrees 25.067'N and 126 degrees 34.598'W;

Effective 00:01 hours August 15 until 23:59 hours December 31 the following waters have a 15mm point to shank maximum hook size restriction:

Conuma River estuary - That portion of Subarea 25-5 located westerly of a line drawn from the Vancouver Island shoreline located at 49 degrees 47.383'N 126 degrees 27.104'W then southerly to a point located at 49 degrees 47.085'N 126 degrees 26.797'W


AREA 125:
DAILY QUOTA AND SIZE RESTRICTION:

Effective July 15 until July 31, 2023 in that portion of Area 125 seaward of the 1 nm Boundary Line, the daily limit is two (2) Chinook, with a minimum size limit of 45 cm, and a maximum size limit of 80 cm, excluding the finfish closures listed above. The Boundary Line is approximately 1nm seaward of the surf line. For full definition of the Boundary Line please see the bottom of this fisheries notice.


AREA 26:
FINFISH CLOSURES: 

Effective July 15 until October 15, 2023 the following areas are closed to fishing for all finfish:

That portion of Subareas 26-1 and 26-6 shoreward of a line drawn from the Rugged Point shoreline beginning at 49 degrees 57.618'N and 127 degrees 15.077'W to a point approximately 0.8 nautical miles south located at 49 degrees 56.904'N  127 degrees 15.677'W, then continuing  approximately 5.2 nautical miles northwest to the light on Amos Island located at 50 degrees 00.768'N and 127 degrees 21.173'W, then from the northwest tip of Amos Island at 50 degrees 01.153'N and 127 degrees 21.554'W, then to the Vancouver Island shoreline to a point located at 50 degrees 01.368'N and 127 degrees 21.529'W;

Subareas 26-2 to 26-5;

That portion of Subareas 26-7 and 26-10 shoreward of a line drawn from a point on Vancouver Island located at 50 degrees 02.149'N and 127 degrees 25.637'W, then to a point on McLean Island located at 50 degrees 01.790'N and 127 degrees 25.556'W, then to a green navigational marker located approximately 3 nautical miles west at 50 degrees 02.587'N and 127 degrees 29.916'W, then continuing northwest approximately 3.2 nautical miles to Cautious Point in the Bunsby Islands Group located at 50 degrees 04.960'N and 127 degrees 33.310'W, then continuing northwest approximately 2.5 nautical miles to the boundary of the Checleset Bay RCA located at 50 degrees 06.097'N and 127 degrees 36.868'W;
 
Subareas 26-8 and 26-9.

SALMON NON-RETENTION: 

Effective July 15 to October 15, 2023 the following areas are salmon non-retention:

That portion of Subareas 26-11 and 126-4 shoreward of a line drawn from Clerke Point on Vancouver Island located at 50 degrees 04.870'N and 127 degrees 48.856'W, then to a point along the Checleset Bay RCA boundary approximately 1 nautical mile from shore located at 50 degrees 04.059'N and 127 degrees 49.949'W, then to a point approximately 5.4 nautical miles to the northwest located at 50 degrees 06.079'N and 127 degrees 57.696'W, then to Solander Island light at 50 degrees 06.662'N and 127 degrees 56.434'W, then north-easterly approximately 0.8 nautical miles to a point on Vancouver Island (Brooks Peninsula) located at 50 degrees 06.840'N and 127 degrees 54.980'W.

AREA 126:
DAILY QUOTA AND SIZE RESTRICTION:

Effective July 15 to July 31, 2023, in that portion of Area 126 seaward of the 1 nm Boundary Line, the daily limit is two (2) Chinook, with a minimum size limit of 45 cm, and a maximum size limit of 80 cm, excluding the finfish closures listed above. The Boundary Line is approximately 1nm seaward of the surf line. For full definition of the Boundary Line please see the bottom of this fisheries notice.

AREA 27:
FINFISH CLOSURES: 

Effective July 1 to December 31, 2023 the following area is closed to fishing for all finfish:

That portion of Subarea 27-10, from the Marble River tidal boundary downstream to the fishing boundary signs at the entrance to Varney Bay.

DAILY QUOTA AND SIZE RESTRICTION:

Effective July 15 to September 30, 2023 the daily limit is one (1) Chinook, with a maximum size limit of 77cm in the following areas:

Subareas 27-7 to 27-11 (Quatsino Sound east of the Cliffe Point Light)

SALMON NON-RETENTION: 

Effective July 15 until September 30, 2023 the following areas are salmon non-retention:

That portion of 27-3 in Winter Harbour north of a line drawn from Hazard Point at 50 degrees 30.055'N and 128 degrees 01.866'W west to the opposite shore at 50 degrees 30.060'N and 128 degrees 02.510'W;

That portion of Subarea 27-11 west of the Holberg Inlet RCA;

That portion of 27-8 southeast of a line drawn from a point located at 50 degrees 24.201'N and 127 degrees 29.979'W to a point on the opposite shore of Neroutsos Inlet located at 50 degrees 24.477'N and 127 degrees 29.138'W.

AREA 127:
DAILY QUOTA AND SIZE RESTRICTION:

Effective July 15 until July 31, 2023 in that portion of Area 127 seaward of the 1 nm Boundary Line, the daily limit is two (2) Chinook, with a minimum size limit of 45 cm, and a maximum size limit of 80 cm.. The Boundary Line is approximately 1 nm seaward of the surf line. 

Full Description of the one (1) nautical mile boundary seaward of the surf line for Areas 125 to 127:

The Boundary Line is approximately 1nm seaward of the surf line and is defined as follows:

A line that begins at Estevan Point, then to 49 degrees 23.869' N 126 degrees 35.333' W seaward of Homais Cove, then to 49 degrees 27.766' N 126 degrees 35.971' W seaward of Split Cape, then to 49 degrees 31.494' N 126 degrees 35.669' W seaward of Escalante Point, then to 49 degrees 34.042' N 126 degrees 41.611' W seaward of Maquinna Point, then to 49 degrees 36.254' N 126 degrees 50.538' W seaward of Bajo Point, then to 49 degrees 39.892' N 126 degrees 55.125' W seaward of Skuna Bay, then to 49 degrees 44.400' N 127 degrees 00.289' W seaward of Ferrer Point, then to 49 degrees 50.767' N 127 degrees 10.151' W seaward of Tatchu Point, then to 49 degrees 59.142' N 127 degrees 28.125' W seaward of Lookout Island, then to 50 degrees 06.948' N 127 degrees 41.617' W seaward of  Jackobson Point, then to 50 degrees 03.599' N 127 degrees 47.722' W seaward of  Clerke Point, then to 50 degrees 05.868' N 127 degrees 57.906' W seaward of  Solander Island, then to 50 degrees 19.284' N 128 degrees 00.130' W seaward of  Lawn Point, then to 50 degrees 31.501' N 128 degrees 14.238' W seaward of  Topknot Point, then to 50 degrees 35.683' N 128 degrees 19.249' W seaward of  Cape Palmerston, then to 50 degrees 39.280' N 128 degrees 23.459' W seaward of  Winifred Island, then to 50 degrees 41.116' N 128 degrees 24.166' W seaward of  Cape Russell, then to 50 degrees 44.137' N 128 degrees 26.559' W seaward of Strange Rock, then to 50 degrees 47.926' N 128 degrees 27.363' W seaward of Cape Scott, then to Frederiksen Point.

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


Notes:

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

Consult the online BC Sport Fish Guide at https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html for the latest closures, regulations, and restrictions

Tidal Water Sport Fishing Licences can be purchased via any computer connected to the internet at https://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/nrls-sndpp/index-eng.cfm or by using Google search key words "Recfish Licence".

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)

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:
www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish

Fishers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery program by labeling and submitting heads from hatchery marked Chinook and Coho Salmon to head depots. Current conditions of license for Chinook and Coho head-off length equivalents support participation. 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 stock assessment. 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 vessel approach distances and a number of voluntary measures including to stop fishing (do not haul gear) 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

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 type of sea turtle seen (i.e. leatherback), the location and time of sighting. 

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.

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 Fisheries and Oceans Canada Port Alberni office at 250 720 4440 or visit our website at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0654
Sent July 13, 2023 at 1003

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 11, 2024 at 0015