Fishery Notice

Barkley Sound and Alberni Inlet:

Effective 00:01 hours May 1, 2026, until 23:59 hours December 31, 2026, the daily limit for the tidal recreational fishery for Sockeye Salmon will be four (4) per day in Subareas 23-1 to 23-11, from upper Alberni Harbour to the surf line (Cape Beale to Amphitrite Point), except for:  

That portion of Subareas 23-1 north of a line commencing in upper Alberni Harbour at 49°14.184'N and 124°50.302'W then through the southernmost point of Hoik Island then to the flashing green light at the mouth of the Somass River, then due east to the opposite shore at 49°14.279'N and 124°48.912'W (square boundary signs may be present to delineate these boundary locations on the east and west shoreline in the Alberni Harbour); and the following Sockeye non-retention area and finfish closed areas:

San Mateo Bay and the entrance to Alberni Inlet - Effective 00:01 hours June 30, 2026, until 23:59 October 31, 2026, the daily limit for the tidal recreational fishery for Sockeye Salmon will be zero (0) per day in the area known as San Mateo Bay and the entrance to Alberni Inlet. This Sockeye non-retention area includes that portion of Subarea 23-4 east of a line drawn from the light at Chup Point to the light on Assits Island and then to a point on the Vancouver Island shoreline at 48°56.199'N and 125°01.705'W, and that portion of Subarea 23-3 south of a line drawn from the light at Chup Point easterly to Hissin Point at 48°57.453'N and 124°59.325'W (a square boundary sign may be present to delineate the boundary at Hissin Point);

Uchucklesit Inlet and a portion of Alberni Inlet - Effective 00:01 hours June 30, 2026, until 23:59 hours October 31, 2026, the area known as Uchucklesit Inlet and a portion of Alberni Inlet will be closed to angling for all finfish. This closed area includes that portion of Subarea 23-2 south of a line drawn from the light at Bilton Point easterly to a point near Coleman Creek at 49°00.341'N and 124°51.513'W, and that portion of Subarea 23-3 north of a line drawn from the light at Chup Point easterly to Hissin Point at 48°57.453'N and 124°59.325'W (square boundary signs may be present to delineate the boundaries at Coleman Creek and Hissin Point);

Nahmint Bay - Effective 00:01 hours August 1, 2026, until 23:59 September 30, 2026, the area known as Nahmint Bay will be closed to angling for all finfish. This closed area includes that portion of Subarea 23-2 north of line drawn from the Headquarters Bay boat ramp located at approximately 49°02.534'N and 124°50.360'W near Chesnucknuw Creek westerly to a point on the opposite shore located at 49°02.417'N and 124°51.708'W and south of a line drawn from the light at Hocking Point to a point on the opposite shore located at 49°05.057'N and 124°49.354'W (square boundary signs may be present to delineate the boundaries across from Hocking Point and Chesnucknuw Creek);

Numukamis Bay - Effective 00:01 hours August 1, 2026, until 23:59 September 30, 2026, the area known as Numukamis Bay will be closed to angling for all finfish. This closed area includes that portion of Subarea 23-4 inside a line drawn from a point located at 48°53.045'N and 125°02.860'W near the eastern entrance to Poett Nook Harbour to the light at San Jose Islets, then to a point on Vancouver Island east of the southern tip of Congreve Island located at 48°55.242'N and 125°01.193'W (square boundary signs may be present to delineate the boundaries near Poett Nook Harbour and Congreve Island);

Toquart Bay - Effective 00:01 hours August 1, 2026, until 23:59 September 30, 2026, the area known as Toquart Bay will be closed to angling for all finfish. This closed area includes that portion of Subarea 23-10 shoreward of a line from a point on the Vancouver Island shoreline located at 49°01.162'N and 125°21.496'W then to the southern tip of Snowden Island then across to the southern tip of Refuge Island then to a point on the Vancouver Island shoreline located at 49°01.687'N and 125°18.535'W (square boundary signs may be present to delineate the boundaries on the Vancouver Island shoreline); and

Rockfish Conservation Areas (for further description see: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/maps-cartes/rca-acs/index-eng.html).

Tidal portion of the Somass River and Estuary:

Effective daily from 05:00 hours to 22:00 hours from May 1, 2026, until July 23, 2026, the daily limit for the tidal recreational fishery for Sockeye Salmon shall be two (2) per day in that portion of Subarea 23-1 from the tidal boundary signs at the top of the rapids at Paper Mill Dam on the Somass River downstream to a line commencing in upper Alberni Harbour at 49°14.184'N and 124°50.302'W then through the southernmost point of Hoik Island then to the flashing green light at the mouth of the Somass River, then due east to the opposite shore at 49°14.279'N and 124°48.912'W (square boundary signs may be present to delineate these boundary locations on the east and west shoreline in the Alberni Harbour), except for the following closed area:

That portion of Subarea 23-1 in the tidal portion of the Somass River located near the bottom of the rapids directly upstream of Paper Mill Dam Pool, downstream approximately 225 m to near the top end of the vegetated portion of the unnamed island downstream of Paper Mill Dam Pool and the southern end of Tseshaht Park (square boundary signs may be present to delineate these boundaries).

On April 24, 2026, DFO staff met with the Area 23 Harvest Committee to discuss fishery planning for Area 23 Somass Sockeye. The attendees at this meeting were representatives from the Tseshaht, Hupacasath and Maa-nulth First Nations, the commercial gill net and seine fisheries, and the Alberni Valley Sport Fishing Advisory Committee. Based on science advice, a Somass Sockeye pre-season management forecast of "high" (range: 700,000 to 1,000,000) was adopted. At this forecast fisheries are expected for all sectors this season.

The Somass Sockeye in-season stock assessment program will be in place in 2026. This program collects escapement, test fishing, catch and environmental information on a weekly basis. This information is collected and reviewed weekly for the duration of the season. This may lead to in-season management changes if conditions warrant.

Variation Order Numbers 2026-RCT-061, 2026-RFQ-072 in effect.

NOTES AND REMINDERS:

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

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

All anglers must have a licence to fish in tidal waters in BC. Apply for your BC tidal waters recreational fishing licence and salmon conservation stamp at: https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/licence-permis/index-eng.html.

Anglers are advised to check: http://bcsportfishguide.ca for fishing closures and other recreational fishing information.

Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs) are currently in effect and are closed to all fin-fishing.  Descriptions of RCAs and other closures such as finfish closed areas, salmon non-retention areas, and other recreational fishing information, can be found on the internet at: 
https://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html

Fishers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery program by labelling and submitting heads from hatchery marked Chinook and Coho Salmon to head depots. 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 Salmon stock assessment programs. Contact the Salmon Sport Head Recovery Program toll free at 1-866-483-9994 for further information.

Sport fishers are reminded of the importance of catch monitoring programs for recreational fisheries. As a condition of their BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence, fishers are required to provide complete and accurate information regarding their catch and fishing activities upon request of DFO creel surveyors stationed at marinas and boat launches. DFO Creel surveyors are designated authorities of Fisheries and Oceans Canada under s.61(5) of the Fisheries Act; please be respectful when asked to report catch and allow biological sampling. Refusal to report catch and/or harassment of creel surveyors will not be tolerated and may result in charges laid.

Internet Recreational Effort and Catch Reporting program (iREC): Sport Fishers are reminded that it is a condition of their BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence to complete their iREC report online before their reporting deadline. The assigned reporting period, the web address of the iREC reporting program, a unique access ID and the reporting deadline is printed on each adult licence. A report must be completed even if you did not fish during your reporting period, and also if you fished, even if you caught nothing. iREC reports are used to estimate recreational effort and kept and released catches of finfish and shellfish. For further information see FN0330 or contact the Sport Fishing Report Team at DFO.SportFishingReport-RapportPecheSportive.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

The Government of Canada recognizes that Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKW) face imminent threats to their survival and recovery. Management measures have been implemented to 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 current SRKW 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, 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: 1-800-465-4336 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 (i.e. leatherback), the location and time of sighting.

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 or 604-666-2828 in greater Vancouver.

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 - FN0434
Sent April 27, 2026 at 1624

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Printed from the Pacific Region web site on September 21, 2026 at 0615