Fishery Notice

To address conservation concerns for at-risk Fraser River Chinook stocks, DFO is continuing precautionary reductions in commercial, recreational and First Nations' fisheries to support conservation of these stocks. 

This Fishery Notice outlines the interim recreational fishery management measures to provide protection to at-risk Fraser River Chinook stocks in Areas 28, and 29. The plan is to start the 2024 fishing season (beginning April 1, 2024) with measures in place at the beginning of last season, until further notice. As these are interim measures, a further announcement on possible revised management actions will be announced in a subsequent fishery notice. 

The management measures for Fraser Chinook are outlined below.

Southern BC waters: Vancouver Area (Area 28 and portions of Area 29)

Strait of Georgia - South - Area 28 and Subarea 29-8 (excluding those portions listed as closed below):

April 1, 2024, until further notice: Chinook non-retention.

Portions of Southern Strait of Georgia, Howe Sound and Burrard Inlet - Subareas 28-7 to 28-9; Subarea 28-1, and that portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies Southerly of a line drawn due East from Halkett Point on Gambier Island (49 26.735'N, 123 19.302'W) to a point (49 26.550'N, 123 14.317'W) on the mainland corresponding with the SouthEast point of the Lions Bay RCA; and those portions of 29-3 to 29-5 that lie East of a line from Gower Point (49 23.021'N, 123 32.166' W) near Gibsons to Shah Point on the Southern tip of Valdes Island (49 01.695'N, 123 35.721'W):

April 1, 2024 until further notice: No fishing for Chinook.

Approaches to Fraser River - Subareas 29-6, 29-7, 29-9 to 29-17 and the non-tidal waters of the Fraser River from Mission Bridge to the confluence with Sawmill Creek:

January 1 to November 1: No fishing for Salmon (Note: Fishing opportunities for specific salmon stocks may be considered at a later date).

Variation Order: 2024-RCT-017, 2024-RCT-061, 2024-RFQ-066 in effect.


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

The term "hatchery marked" or "marked" means a fish that has a healed scar in place of the adipose fin. This is also referred to as an adipose fin-clipped (AFC) fish. Unmarked fish still have an adipose fin present.

Sport anglers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery program by labeling 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 1-866-483-9994 for further information.

Rockfish Conservation Areas (RCAs) are currently in effect and are closed to all fin-fishing.  Descriptions of RCAs, other closures such as finfish closed areas and salmon non-retention areas, 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 or by email at DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

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

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

Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0290
Sent March 25, 2024 at 1011

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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 6, 2024 at 0304