Fishery Notice

Chinook management measures are implemented annually on the West Coast of 
Vancouver Island to provide protection for wild West Coast Vancouver Island 
(WCVI) chinook stocks. In 2016, the Department reviewed the chinook management 
actions and several changes have been made in portions of Areas 25 to 27 and 
125 to 127 effective July 15, 2016 through October 15, 2016.

The following is a description of those chinook management measures, which may 
include finfish closures, chinook non-retention areas, salmon non-retention 
areas and size limit restrictions. 

Please be aware that Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs) are also in effect in 
many of these areas. Fishers are responsible for knowing the restrictions that 
are in place in the areas that they are fishing. Descriptions of the RCAs can 
be found on the recreational fisheries website at the address below.

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.htm

This Notice provides information 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. 

Unless otherwise indicated below the daily limit for chinook salmon in Areas 25 
to 27 and 125 to 127 is two per day with a minimum size of 45 centimetres and 
the possession limit is four (4). 

AREAS 25 AND 125: 

Effective July 15, 2016 through October 15, 2016 the following areas are closed 
to fishing for all fin-fish:

That portion of Subarea 25-1 located northerly of a line drawn from Gauquina 
point at 49 degrees 39.449'N and 126 degrees 06.040'W to a point located north 
of Black Creek at 49 degrees 39.369'N and 126 degrees 05.165'W, and southerly 
of a line drawn from a point at 49 degrees 36.971'N and 126 degrees 03.560'W to 
a point located north of Matchlee Creek at 49 degrees 37.129'N and 126 degrees 
03.006'W.

Subareas 25-2 and 25-3.

That portion of Subarea 25-4 southeasterly of a line beginning at a boundary 
sign on Bligh Island near 49 degrees 39.732'N and 126 degrees 28.815'W, then 
drawn northeasterly across Hanna Channel to a boundary sign on the opposite 
shore near 49 degrees 40.181'N and 126 degrees 28.166'W.

That portion of Subarea 25-4 northwesterly of a line beginning at 49 degrees 
43.903'N and 126 degrees 29.639'W, then drawn southwesterly across Hisnit 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 easterly of a line beginning at 49 degrees 
46.205'N and 126 degrees 24.997'W, then drawn southerly across Nesook 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.

Subareas 25-14 and 25-15 and 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 24.125'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. 

AREAS 26 AND 126: 

Effective July 15, 2016 through October 15, 2016 the following areas are closed 
to fishing for all fin-fish:

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 and 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'N, 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 04.966'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.

Effective July 15, 2016 through October 15, 2016 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.

AREAS 27 AND 127:

Effective July 15, 2016 through December 31, 2016 the following area is closed 
to fishing for all fin-fish:

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

Effective July 15, 2016 through September 30, 2016 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)

Effective July 15, 2016 through September 30, 2016 the daily limit is zero (0) 
chinook (chinook non-retention) in the following areas:

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.

Variation Orders: 2016-308 and 2016-294.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
 
Contact the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office or visit our website at 
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Notes:

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

Anglers are requested to release any hatchery marked sockeye.  These fish are 
hatchery raised sockeye and part of a recovery program designed to increase the 
numbers of Cultus Lake sockeye.

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

Sport anglers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery 
program by labelling 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 (866) 483-9994 for further information.

Rockfish Conservation Areas that are currently in effect and are closed to all 
fin fishing.  Descriptions of these closures, and other recreational fishing 
information, can be found on the Internet at:

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

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.

For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at 
1-866-431-FISH (3474).

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0663
Sent July 14, 2016 at 1331

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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 October 30, 2024 at 2251