Fishery Notice

The first round of crab area designations for April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2029 is complete. The number of licences designated to each area, and the associated trap limits in each area are as follows: 

Area A
2023-2026: 43 licences
2026-2029: 49 licences

Area B
2023-2026: 21 licences
2026-2029: 17 licences

Area E Quatsino
2023-2026: 1 licences
2026-2029: 1 licence

Area E Sooke
2023-2026: 9 licences
2026-2029: 9 licences

Area E Tofino
2023-2026: 21 licences
2026-2029: 20 licences

Area G
2023-2026: 16 licences
2026-2029: 17 licences

Area H
2023-2026: 58 licences
2026-2029: 57 licences

Area I
2023-2026: 24 licences
2026-2029: 26 licences

Area J
2023-2026: 23 licences
2026-2029: 20 licences

License Numbers that have re-selected a new area in Round 1 are listed below:

AREA A: R455, R105, R106, R414, FR34, FR5

AREA G: R394

AREA I: R53, R144, R138, FR14, FR39 

The associated trap limits in each area are as follows:

Area A
33 licences: 573 traps per licence <13m
4 licences: 765 traps per licence 13-14m
4 licences: 956 traps per licence 14-15.8m
8 licences: 1147 traps per licence >15.8
49 licences total

Area B
17 licences: 400 traps per licence
Seasonal areas: 200 traps per licence

Area E Quatsino 
1 licence: 200 traps per licence
Jan 1 to Jun 30; Nov 16 to Dec 31: 200 traps per licence
July 1 to Nov 15: 75 traps per licence

Area E Sooke 
9 licences: 311 traps per licence
Subareas 20-6 and 20-7: 46 traps per licence

Area E Tofino 
20 licences: 336 traps per licence
Amphitrite Hole Trap Limit: 128 traps per licence
Inside (Area 24) Trap Limit: 44 traps per licence

Area G
17 licences: 329 traps per licence

Area H
57 licences: 226 traps per licence

Area I
26 licences: 200 traps per licence 
June 15 to July 5: 100 traps per licence

Area J
20 licences: 180 traps per licence

These trap limits are preliminary and could change. The final trap limit numbers will be in each vessel's Conditions of Licence when the licence is issued.

2026 to 2029 Area Re-Selection Round 2 

The final round for commercial harvesters to choose a different crab management area will begin August 27th, 2025. This is the final area re-selection process. Please use the contact information below if you did not receive your documents in July.  

The crab management area assigned to each licence will be made final by 2359 hours, September 24, 2025. Another Fishery Notice will be posted with the final results as soon as possible after September 24, 2025.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Karen Martz at DFO.PACFMCrab-CrabeGPPAC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0871
Sent August 25, 2025 at 1512

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on May 9, 2026 at 2228