Fishery Notice

In 2025, Area E Gillnet Fraser River Sockeye Salmon harvest opportunities will be managed as an Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) demonstration fishery and will be based on available commercial Total Allowable Catch (TAC). 

The individual quotas of Fraser Sockeye for each Area E licence are cumulative for the season. The initial Area E individual transferable quota share for Sockeye Salmon for each Area E licence is 0.10040% of the commercial TAC and the bycatch allowance for Pink Salmon is 0.01205% of the commercial TAC, prior to any quota reallocations that have been made.  
 
For each Area E Licence, the cumulative individual quota in pieces is 235 Sockeye Salmon based on a share of 0.10040% and a commercial TAC of 234,200 Fraser Sockeye Salmon.  

For each Area E Licence, the cumulative individual bycatch allowance in pieces is 2,257 Pink Salmon based on a share of 0.01205% and a commercial TAC of 13,696,600 Fraser Pink Salmon. This bycatch allowance is not transferrable among vessels, each vessel must stop fishing if they reach this catch amount.

Each individual quota amount (in pieces) will change if the available commercial TAC changes in-season. These commercial TACs are for the purpose of calculating the individual quota amounts for Area B, E and H vessels only. 

It is the responsibility of the vessel master to cease fishing when the vessel quota for Fraser River Sockeye Salmon and/or Pink salmon is achieved. For further details, please refer to the guidelines for the 2025 ITQ demonstration fishery, which are available in Appendix 5 of the 2025/26 Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for Southern BC Salmon.

Area E Gillnet will open daily 06:00 to 20:00 hours effective August 19, 2025 until August 20, 2025 in Subareas 29-11 to 29-17. Vessel Masters are requested to avoid fishing in the vicinity of Killer Whales when they are present in these areas.

The target species in this fishery are Sockeye Salmon, and retention of incidentally caught Pink Salmon. There will be non-retention of Chum, Coho, Chinook, Steelhead and sturgeon in effect (none of these species may be onboard a vessel that is engaged in fishing unless they are being revived in the revival tank immediately prior to release). This fishery has been designed to address stocks of concern constraints.

Maximum mesh size is 140 mm (approximately 5.5 inches). Maximum depth 60 meshes. Maximum hang ratio 3:1. Maximum corkline to web distance 45 cm. A maximum net length of 100 fathoms is in place for this opening. This means that a maximum net length of 100 fathoms (approximately 187.5 metres) is on the drum of the vessel (note: spare nets on board a vessel actively fishing are to be kept in a stowed condition). All vessels must have operating revival tanks (specifications are outlined in the Conditions of 2025-26 Salmon Area E licence).

Vessel masters are reminded that a Start Fishing Report must be filed to announce their intention to fish as early as possible prior to beginning fishing by phoning Archipelago Marine Research Ltd. (AMR) at 1-888-387-0007. Start fishing reports are critical for the proper management of the fishery to help determine the number of gillnet vessels participating in an opening. As such, gillnet vessel masters may be requested by Fisheries Officers to provide the Trip Identification Number received after completing the Start Fishing Report.

Vessel masters are reminded that at the end of each fishing day prior to 08:00 hours of the next day, the vessel master must report their catch by calling AMR at 1-888-387-0007. 

Recorded updates for fisheries notices are available at 1-866-431-3474.

Variation Order Nos. 2025-030-SAL-E-29-GN and 2025-039-SAL-E-29-GN in effect

NOTES AND REMINDERS:

Lost Gear Reporting:

The licence holder/operator must report any of their lost fishing gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of lost gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by completing the Lost Fishing Gear form available online at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/reporting-declaration-eng.html. If using an electronic logbook, the licence holder/fishing vessel operator must report any of their lost fishing gear to DFO by completing the section reserved for that purpose in the electronic logbook. 

Retrieved Gear Reporting:

The licence holder/operator must report the retrieval of any of their own previously reported, lost gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of retrieved gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by completing and submitting the Retrieval of Previously Reported Lost Fishing Gear form available online at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/index-eng.html. Retrieval can only occur during the validity period of these licence conditions and only in relation to the specific type of gear authorized to be used by these licence conditions. If using an electronic logbook, the licence holder/fishing vessel operator must report the retrieval of any of their own, previously reported, lost gear to DFO by completing the section reserved for that purpose in the electronic logbook. 

As required by the US Marine Mammal Protection Act regulations, all countries exporting fish and fish products to the United States must comply with the updated import provisions, which include requirements to report and record all incidental fishery-related interactions with marine mammals. This aligns with reporting requirements under the Marine Mammal Regulations. The link to the online National form and instructions for filling in and reporting can be found at: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/species-especes/mammals-mammiferes/report-rapport/page01-eng.html. For more information, please see FN0388 (2018).

The Government of Canada recognizes that Southern Resident Killer Whales face imminent threats to their survival and recovery. In May, the Government of Canada shared the 2024 and 2025 management measures to be implemented this spring and 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, and a voluntary speed reduction zone in Tumbo Channel. 

For more information about the 2025 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, when on both sides of the border, 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 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 (e.g.  leatherback), the location and time of sighting. 

Environment and Climate Change Canada continues to monitor seabird by-catch in net fisheries. Please retain and provide all dead birds entangled in nets to DFO, or call the BC Wild Bird Mortality Line (1-866-544-4744). Handle birds with gloves, double bag dead birds and label each with date, time, location, and store them on ice. Alternatively, send a photograph of birds with a reference object (e.g. coin) to Laurie.Wilson@ec.gc.ca. For more information contact Laurie Wilson (Laurie.Wilson@ec.gc.ca, 604-862-8817).

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.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Please contact the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office or visit our website at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0824
Sent August 15, 2025 at 1825

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 9, 2026 at 2324