We had hoped we would have a more positive update on regulations for chinook but unfortunately DFO has yet again chosen to ignore science and data. After an inexcusably long wait DFO has finally provided the subsequent Fisheries Notice (see below for the full notice) to the interim regulations put out in April. We couldn’t say it better than the SFI did, so have shared an excerpt from their mailout here which provided a brief overview of today’s notice.
“The wait was not only inexplicably long, today’s notice is disappointing and failed to deliver a balanced and conservation-minded approach the sport fishing community has been seeking for over a year. While there were some times and areas added to current retention opportunities, rather than adopting an approach supported by many years of study and discussion to begin to implement mark selective fisheries, MSF, for Chinook salmon in additional areas and times across the south coast, the notice approves only some of the areas and times identified in the highly precautionary and conservative approach developed by the SFAB with DFO data in 2020. The notice provides a minimum of the critically needed relief to British Columbians who depend on the public salmon fishery for employment, food and healthy family oriented outdoor activity and many carefully chosen areas and the majority of MSFs proposed were not approved.”
For our readers in the Vancouver area today’s notice provided no update to our local waters (areas 28/29) so it is our understanding that we are still under the restrictive interim fishing regulations put in place on April 1st (See applicable DFO notice here if you need a refresher on those).
To say we are disappointed is an understatement. We can assure you there will be further action to come and that groups like the Sport Fishing Institute of BC and the Public Fishery Alliance will continue to fight for access to our public fishery.
So, stay tuned – we will share how and when you can get involved. We’ve said it before but now more than ever we all need to take action. In the words of Tom Davis from his Op-ed today in Island Fisherman Magazine;
“Every angler, every public fishery business, everyone whose just thinking about taking their friends and family salmon fishing sometime in the future needs to step up to the plate. Write the Minister of Fisheries, the Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition. Bang on your MP’s door and let them know that this type of fisheries management is unacceptable.”
The Time For Action Is Now
– Pacific Angler Team
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, DFO Fisheries Notice as below:
FN0467-RECREATIONAL – Salmon – Chinook – Portions of Areas 12, 13, 15, 16, and Subarea 20-5 – Chinook Management Measures – Effective immediately
Category(s): RECREATIONAL – Salmon Fishery Notice – Fisheries and Oceans Canada Subject: FN0467-RECREATIONAL – Salmon – Chinook – Portions of Areas 12, 13, 15, 16, and Subarea 20-5 – Chinook Management Measures – Effective immediately
This Fishery Notice details Chinook recreational fishery opportunities that have been approved on a trial basis for 2021 in portions of Areas 12, 13, 15, 16, and Subarea 20-5 for the 2021 fishing season. These areas are located outside the primary migratory paths used by Fraser Chinook and are designed to limit impacts on wild Chinook stocks of concern. These opportunities are being implemented on a trial basis with enhanced creel survey monitoring. Anglers are reminded about the importance of reporting catch information, submitting heads for adipose fin clipped Chinook and providing access to fish for sampling when requested. This information will be used to support postseason evaluation and future decision making.
Conservation measures to address conservation concerns for at-risk Southern BC Chinook stocks remain in effect for many southern BC waters. Please check the DFO website for specific restrictions in your area.
Area 12: Subareas 12-27, 12-28, 12-35, 12-38, and 12-40; and
That portion of 12-26 north of line from Dinner Point on Village Island (50°37.628’N, 126°30.322’W) across to a point on the opposite shore on Turnour Island (50°37.536’N, 126°29.845’ W); AND east of the Lower Clio RCA boundary line at 50°35.397’N, 126°31.982’W; 50°34.943’N, 126°32.080’W; and That portion of 12-39 northeasterly of a line from Gordon Point on Broughton Island (50°45.885’N, 126°44.158’W) across to the RCA boundary on Eden Island (50°45.510’N, 126°42.831’W); AND those portions of Subarea 12-39 east of the Eden-Bonwick-Midsummer-Swanson Islands RCA:
Effective immediately until 23:59 hours July 14, 2021, one (1) Chinook per day marked or unmarked, with maximum 80 cm size limit on unmarked Chinook.
Area 13 (Portions of Bute Inlet and Ramsay Arm): That portion of Subarea 13-19 northerly of a line that runs from 50°19.584’N, 125°00.292’W (on Raza Island) to 50°19.9463’N, 125°01.9274’W (southeast of Frances Bay); and
Subarea 13-21:
Effective immediately until 23:59 hours July 14, 2021, one (1) Chinook per day marked or unmarked, with maximum 80 cm size limit on unmarked Chinook.
Area 15 (portions of Toba Inlet):
That portion of 15-5 north of a line from Tibbs Point on Raza Island (50°18.731′N 124°57.980′W) to Connis Point on West Redonda Island (50°18.287′N 124°55.177′W); AND northerly of a line from Dean Point on West Redonda Island (50°17.147’N, 124°47.172’W) across to a point on East Redonda Island (50°17.145’N, 124°46.989’W); AND north of a line from Price Point (50°09.399’N, 124°39.165’W) to East Redonda Island (50°10.075’N,124°41.763’W); and
That portion of Subarea 15-6 (in Toba Inlet) west of a line from a boundary sign at Snout Point to a boundary sign on the opposite shore:
Effective immediately until 23:59 hours July 14, 2021, one (1) Chinook per day marked or unmarked, with maximum 80 cm size limit on unmarked Chinook.
Area 16 (portions of Sechelt and Jervis Inlets):
Subareas 16-6, 16-9, 16-12; and
That portion of Subarea 16-7 westerly of the Salmon Inlet RCA boundary following a meridian passing through at 123°43.00’W (near Black Bear Bluff); and
That portion of Subarea 16-8 west of a line from a point on land at 49°41.5’N, 123°48.4’W, across to a point on the other shore at 49°41.1’N, 123°47.7’W; and
That portion of Subarea 16-10 north of a line from a point on land at 49°40.0’N, 124°04.3’W, across to a point on the other shore at 49°40.0’N, 124°05.1’W; and
That portion of Subarea 16-11 north of a line from a point on land at 49°44.99’N, 124°15.57’W, across to Ball Point (corner of the Hardy Island RCA) at 49°45.100’N, 124°13.750’W; and
That portion of Subarea 16-13 south of a line from a point on land at 49°50.7’N, 123°55.2’W then across to a point on the opposite shore at 49°50.2’N, 123°52.9’W; and
Effective immediately until 23:59 hours July 14, 2021, one (1) Chinook per day marked or unmarked, with maximum 80 cm size limit on unmarked Chinook.
Subarea 20-5 (portions of Beecher Bay):
That portion of Subarea 20-5 northerly of a line drawn from 48°19.554’N, 123°37.768’W to 48°19.589’N, 123°36.533’W, then following the shoreline of Frazer Island east to the RCA boundary at 48°19.700’N, 123°36.267’W, then to 48°19.633’N, 123°35.681’W; and
Effective immediately to 23:59 hours July 31, 2021, one (1) Chinook per day hatchery-marked only.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact the nearest Fisheries and Oceans Canada office or visit our website at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca.