Fishery Notice

Chinook management measures are implemented annually on the west coast of 
Vancouver Island (WCVI) to reduce fishing impacts on wild WCVI chinook which 
are stocks of concern while allowing harvest opportunities on passing stocks 
and enhanced stocks returning to terminal areas. These measures are a result of 
extensive consultations with local First Nations, the SFAB, local roundtables 
and from DFO staff in Conservation and Protection, Resource Management and 
Stock Assessment. These management measures are also described in the 2017/2018 
Southern BC Salmon IFMP.

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

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 21 (Nitinat), Area 22 (Nitinat Lake), 
Area 23 (Barkley Sound), and Area 24 (Clayoquot Sound) and associated offshore 
waters in Areas 121 to 124. 

AREAS 21, 22, 121 

Annually the daily limit is two (2) chinook, with a minimum size limit of 45 cm 
in all portions of Areas 21 and 22 and 121 with the following exceptions: 

FINFISH CLOSURE - August 1 through October 31 

Effective August 1, 2017 until October 31, 2017 you may not fish for finfish in 
that portion of Area 22 (Nitinat Lake) northeasterly of a line from a boundary 
sign at Windy Point to a boundary sign on the opposite shore.

SWIFTSURE BANK FINFISH CLOSURE - All Year 

Effective January 1 until December 31 each year you may not fish for finfish in 
those portions of Subareas 121-1 and 121-2 inside a line from 48 degrees 
34.00'N and 125 degrees 06.00'W, then to 48 degrees 34.00'N and 124 degrees 
54.20'W, then to 48 degrees 29.62'N and 124 degrees 43.40'W, then following the 
International Boundary between Canada and the United States of America to 48 
degrees 29.55'N and 124 degrees 56.20'W, then returning in a straight line to 
the point of commencement.

AREAS 23, 123 

Annually the daily limit is two (2) chinook, with a minimum size limit of 45 cm 
in all portions of Areas 23 and 123 with the following exceptions: 

FINFISH CLOSURES - August 1 - September 30

Effective August 1, 2017 until September 30, 2017 the following areas closed to 
fishing for all finfish:

Numukamis Bay - that portion of Subarea 23-4 inside a line from a boundary sign 
on the eastern shore near the entrance to Poett Nook harbour to San Jose Islets 
light then to a boundary sign on Vancouver Island 0.3 nm east of the southern 
tip of Congreve Island.

Rainy Bay - that portion of Subarea 23-4 northeast of a line between a boundary 
sign at Chup Point and a boundary sign on Seddall Island excluding the channel 
draining Fatty Basin.

San Mateo Bay - that portion of Subarea 23-3 north east of a line between a 
boundary sign at Mutine Point and the Chup Point light to a line drawn between 
Star Point and a boundary sign near the mouth of Handy Creek.

Nahmint Bay - that portion of Subarea 23-2 north of a line between a boundary 
sign near Chesnucknuw Creek west to a boundary sign on the opposite shore and 
southwest of a line drawn  from Hocking Point 127 degrees true to a boundary 
sign on the opposite shore.

Toquart Bay - that portion of Subarea 23-10 shoreward of a line beginning at a 
point on the Vancouver Island shoreline located at 49 degrees 01.170'N and 125 
degrees 21.497'W then to the southern tip of Snowden Island then across to the 
southern tip of Refuge Island then ending at a point on the Vancouver Island 
shoreline located at 49 degrees 01.691'N and 125 degrees 18.624'W

FINFISH CLOSURE - June 30 - October 31

Effective June 30, 2017 until October 31, 2017 the following areas closed to 
fishing for all finfish:

Uchucklesit Inlet - that portion of Subarea 23-3 northwest of a line between 
boundary signs at Brooksby Point and Burrough Point

CHINOOK NON-RETENTION AREAS- August 1 - September 30

Effective August 1, 2017 until September 30, 2017 the following areas are 
chinook non-retention areas:

Approach waters to Nahmint - that portion of Subarea 23-3 east of a line drawn 
between Star Point and a boundary sign near the mouth of Handy Creek, and south 
of a line drawn between a boundary sign near Chesnucknuw Creek to a boundary 
sign on the opposite shore

Effingham Inlet - that portion of Subarea 23-6 shoreward of from a line 
beginning at a point on the Vancouver Island shoreline at 48 degrees 59.963'N 
and 125 degrees 11.526'W across to the western tip of Webster Island, 
continuing along the shoreline to the northeastern tip of Webster Island then 
across to a point on the Vancouver Island shoreline located at 49 degrees 
00.295'N and 125 degrees 10.445'W

AREAS 24, 124 

Annually the daily limit is two (2) chinook, with a minimum size limit of 45 
cm. in all portions of Areas 24 and 124 with the following exceptions: 

FINFISH CLOSURES - August 1 - October 31

Effective August 1, 2017 until October 31, 2017 the following areas closed to 
fishing for all finfish:

Subareas 24-1 to 24-5, 24-7, 24-12 to 24-14.

Ahousaht/Millar Channel - that portion of Subarea 24-6  northerly of a line 
commencing at Kutcous Point (49 degrees 14.961'N, and 126 degrees 04.817'W) on 
Flores Island to 49 degrees 14.637'N, and 126 degrees 00.825'W on Vancouver 
Island near the Chetarpe I.R.

Browning Passage - that portion of Subarea 24-9 easterly of a line commencing 
at Ginnard Point (49 degrees 08.069'N, and 125 degrees 51.169'W) on Meares 
Island to 49 degrees 07.483'N, and 125 degrees 51.811'W on Vancouver Island, 
and westerly of a line commencing at Auseth Point continuing true south to the 
Vancouver Island shoreline

Warn Bay - that portion of Subarea 24-10 inside a line between boundary signs 
at the entrance to the Warn Bay.

Grice Bay - that portion of Subarea 24-11 inside a line between boundary signs 
approximately half way inside Grice Bay to the head of Grice Bay.

Subarea 24-13

that portion of Subarea 124-3 approximately 1 nm seaward of the surfline from 
Hesquiat Harbour southeast to Cleland Island to Ahous Point.

FINFISH CLOSURE - YEAR ROUND

Effective January 1 until December 31 each year you may not fish for finfish in 
that portion of 24-12 described as the waters of Kennedy Cove inside or 
northwesterly of a line between two fishing boundary signs on the outer 
southwest corner and the outer northeast corner of the cove.

CHINOOK NON-RETENTION AREAS- August 1 - October 31

Effective August 1 until October 31 you may not retain chinook salmon in the 
following waters:

that portion of Subarea 24-6  southerly of a line commencing at Kutcous Point 
(49 degrees 14.961N, and 126 degrees 04.817'W) on Flores Island to 49 degrees 
14.637 N, and 126 degrees 00.825'W on Vancouver Island near the Chetarpe I.R.

that portion of 24-8 shoreward of a line drawn from Cox Point to the Lennard 
Island light, to Echachis Island to Wickaninnish Island to Moser Point.

that portion of Subarea 24-9 westerly of a line commencing at Ginnard Point (49 
degrees 08.069'N, and 125 degrees 51.169'W) on Meares Island to 49 degrees 
07.483'N, and 125 degrees 51.811'W on Vancouver Island, and westerly of a line 
commencing at Auseth Point continuing true south to the Vancouver Island 
shoreline.

that portion of Subarea 24-10 outside or southwest of a line between boundary 
signs at the entrance to the Warn Bay.

that portion of Subarea 24-11 outside or west a line between boundary signs 
approximately half way inside Grice Bay to the head of Grice Bay.

Variation Orders: 2017-330 and 2017-331


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 
finfishing.  Descriptions of these closures, and other recreational fishing 
information, can be found on the Internet at:

http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/maps-cartes/rca-acs/index-eng.html

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


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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0575
Sent June 23, 2017 at 1325

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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 April 18, 2024 at 0814