Fishery Notice

Effective April 1, 2019 all commercial, recreational and Food, Social and 
Ceremonial (FSC) bottom contact fishing activities for prawn, shrimp, crab and 
groundfish, as well as the use of downrigger gear for recreational salmon 
trolling (restricted via Condition of Licence) are prohibited within portions 
of Subareas 28-2 and 28-4 to protect nine Howe Sound glass sponge reefs, as 
marine refuges.  This includes the following fishing activities: 
Prawn and crab by trap
Shrimp and groundfish by trawl
Groundfish by hook and line
Use of downrigger gear in recreational salmon trolling
  
These closures will be in effect for the long term.

In 2016, nine glass sponge reefs were closed to all bottom contact fishing 
activities in the Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound.  During consultations, 
additional reefs in Howe Sound were brought to DFO's attention and assessed to 
determine their ecological significance.  On October 27, 2017, DFO requested 
voluntary avoidance of bottom contact fishing activities in 9 ecologically 
significant sites until consultations could be completed.

Following input from First Nations and stakeholder consultations, DFO has made 
the decision to proceed with formal fishery closures for eight areas containing 
nine significant reefs and adhere to a protection boundary of 150 metres from 
the reef's edges as a precautionary measure.  The use of downrigger gear in 
recreational salmon trolling was also prohibited via a Condition of Licence.  
This reflects a change to the BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Guide; the online 
Sport Fishing Guide will be updated at 
(http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html).  

The geographical coordinates of these new closures totalling 3.5km² are as 
follows (please note that Lions Bay and Kelvin Grove have been combined into 
one closure):

East Defence Islands Closure
That portion of Subarea 28-4 that lies inside a line:
begins at 49° 34.731' N, 123° 16.555' W
then northeast to 49° 34.848' N, 123° 16.357' W
then northeast to 49° 34.854' N, 123° 16.120' W
then southeast to 49° 34.580' N, 123° 16.084' W
then southwest to 49° 34.535' N, 123° 16.539' W
then to the beginning point. 

Anvil Island Closure
That portion of Subarea 28-4 that lies inside a line: 
begins at 49° 32.874' N, 123° 17.425'W
then southeast to 49° 32.865' N, 123° 16.815' W 
then southwest to 49° 32.533' N, 123° 16.869' W 
then southwest to 49° 32.482' N, 123° 17.118' W 
then northwest to 49° 32.574' N, 123° 17.483' W 
then to the beginning point.

Lost Reef Closure
That portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies inside a line: 
begins at 49° 29.799' N, 123° 18.203' W 
then northeast to 49° 29.935' N, 123° 18.007' W 
then southeast to 49° 29.882' N, 123° 17.832' W 
then southeast to 49° 29.591' N, 123° 17.519' W 
then southwest to 49° 29.547' N, 123° 17.941' W 
then to the beginning point.

Brunswick Point Closure
That portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies inside a line:
begins at 49° 28.577' N, 123° 14.965' W 
then southeast to 49° 28.434' N, 123° 14.732' W 
then southwest to 49° 28.177' N, 123° 15.031' W 
then northwest to 49° 28.397' N, 123° 15.377' W 
then to the beginning point.

Lions Bay and Kelvin Grove Closure
That portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies inside a line:
begins at 49° 27.629' N, 123° 15.761' W 
then southeast to 49° 27.315' N, 123° 14.516' W 
then southwest to 49° 26.950' N, 123° 14.595' W 
then northwest to 49° 26.952' N, 123° 15.046' W 
then northwest to 49° 27.195' N, 123° 15.655' W 
then to the beginning point.

Halkett Point Closure
That portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies inside a line:
begins at 49° 27.036' N, 123° 18.686' W 
then southeast to 49° 26.897' N, 123° 18.444' W 
then southwest to 49° 26.696' N, 123° 18.578' W 
then southwest to 49° 26.657' N, 123° 18.776' W 
then northwest to 49° 26.742' N, 123°  18.984' W 
then to the beginning point.

Bowyer Island Closure
That portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies inside a line: 
begins at 49° 24.774' N, 123° 16.219' W 
then northeast to 49° 24.820' N, 123° 15.763' W 
then southwest to 49° 24.096' N, 123° 16.043' W 
then northwest to 49° 24.389' N, 123° 16.408' W 
then to the beginning point.

Dorman Point Closure
That portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies inside a line: 
begins at 49° 22.577' N, 123° 19.379' W 
then southeast to 49° 22.543' N, 123° 19.051' W 
then southwest to 49° 22.287' N, 123° 19.152' W 
then northwest to 49° 22.351' N, 123° 19.454' W 
then to the beginning point. 

Variation Order No 2019-95, 2019-96, 2019-97


FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT:
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html

Or CONTACT Deirdre Finn at Deirdre.Finn@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or 604-666-2606

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0205
Sent March 11, 2019 at 1213

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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