Easy way to manage, just shut er down! I am sure they could have left some sub regions open as they have in the past. I believe there was no test fishery DONE (spawner index) so D.F.O. decided to close most areas. Have a look below.
Winter closures protect large, mature egg-bearing females as their eggs prepare to hatch. The following areas are closed to the harvest of prawn and shrimp by trap, ring net or spear while diving from January 1 to March 31, 2022:
- Subareas 13-1, 13-12 to 13-17 (Quadra/Cortes Islands)
- Subareas 15-1, 15-2, 15-3 (Powell River/Lund)
- Subareas 16-1, 16-2, 16-5 to 16-10, 16-11, 16-16 to 16-18 (Malaspina Strait/lower Jervis Inlet and Sechelt/Salmon Inlets)
- Subareas 17-5, 17-10 to 17-13, 17-15, 17-16, 17-18 (Nanaimo and portion Stuart Channel)
- Subarea 19-7 to 19-12 (Saanich Inlet)
- Subarea 23-1 to 23-4 (Alberni Inlet/Barkley Sound)
- Subareas 25-1 to 25-5, 25-8, 25-16 (Tahsis/Muchalat Inlets)
- Subareas 28-3 (portion Howe Sound)
Subareas 17-6, 17-9 (Stuart Channel) will continue “pulse fishing” (closed in the first half of the month and open in the second half of the month):
- January 1 to January 15
- February 1 to February 15
- March 1 to March 15
Read our Q&A on prawn and shrimp pulse fishing for more information.
Spring closures
Recreational prawn and shrimp fishing is typically closed in the following areas for 1 week in spring to do spawner index testing.
- Subareas 17-5, 17-6, 17-9 (Stuart Channel)
- Subareas 19-7 to 19-12 (Saanich Inlet)
- Subareas 23-1 to 23-3 (Alberni Inlet)
Fall closures and pulse fishing
In Saanich Inlet, Stuart Channel and Alberni Inlet, “pulse” fishing may be implemented in the following areas after Labour Day weekend to increase prawn escapement and prawn abundance.
Subareas 17-5, 17-6, 17-9 (Stuart Channel), 19-7 to 19-12 (Saanich Inlet), and 23-1 to 23-3 (Alberni Inlet) may close:
- The first day after Labour Day to September 15
- October 1 to October 15
- November 1 to November 15
- December 1 to December 15
