We are a few weeks away from having to renew our fishing licenses. Not confirmed yet but looks like regulations for Salmon retention will be the same as last year.
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada Subject: FN0211-Important Information on the BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence Conditions for licence year April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 -- BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licences for the upcoming licence year, starting on April 1, 2023, will be available towards the end of March; a subsequent Fishery Notice will be posted to advise the actual date of availability. -- New and significant conditions of the BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence for April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 are as follows: FORMATTING: -- The licence continues as a two page licence for 2023-24; you must print both pages and attach/keep them together – OR – have your licence immediately available to be viewed on an electronic device. Fishers are reminded that catch records must be immediately permanently recorded on the paper licence (on page 1), or in their National Recreational Licencing System (NRLS) account, for the following species and areas: Chinook and halibut retained in any Management Area, and lingcod retained in Areas 12 to 19 (excluding Subarea 12-14), and Subareas 20-5 to 20-7 and 29-5. CRAB & PRAWN/SHRIMP TRAP FLOATS: This is new.. -- EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2023 – Floats for Crab & Prawn/Shrimp traps. The Department would like to advise that changes to the conditions of licence to standardize crab and prawn/shrimp float requirements will be proceeding for the licence year beginning on April 1, 2023. This change is required to support improved enforcement and catch monitoring. - Crab Traps - The primary float attached to crab traps must be cylindrical in shape (includes bullet shaped) and a minimum of 27cm in length and 12cm in diameter; an optional secondary float may be used of any shape or size other than spherical. - Prawn and Shrimp Traps - The primary float attached to prawn and shrimp traps must be spherical in shape and a minimum of 27cm in diameter; an optional secondary float may be used of any shape or size other than cylindrical/bullet shaped. - Floats must be made of a durable material and suitable for operation in marine waters; floats/materials not suitable for use in marine waters are prohibited, for example re-used plastic bottles and expanded polystyrene blocks. - Only one name can appear on the float attached to your trap(s). Names printed on floats must be legible and visible (at least 7.5 cm high) and printed in capital letters and in a colour that contrasts with their background. - These changes have been reviewed and approved by the Sport Fishing Advisory Board. SALMON HEAD RECOVERY PROGRAM: -- The conditions of licence detail the equivalent head-off lengths for Chinook and coho salmon that may be retained during openings as described in the BC Sport Fishing Guide http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html. The online BC Sport Fishing Guide also provides details on overall length restrictions, how to make length measurements, packaging instructions and the Salmon Head Recovery Program. -- Fishers are encouraged to return Chinook and coho salmon heads to Salmon Head Recovery Depots for analysis by the Department; the recovery of coded-wire tags provides critical information for coast-wide stock assessment. More information on this program can be found in the online BC Sport Fishing Guide or by contacting the toll free phone number at (866) 483-9994. OTHER NOTES: -- 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 (800) 465-4336. -- For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at 1-(866)431-FISH(3474). FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information contact a local DFO office. Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN0211 Sent March 7, 2023 at 15:00 Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca If you would like to unsubscribe, please submit your request at: http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=manage_subscription If you have any questions, please contact us via e-mail to: DFO.PACOpsCentre-CentredesOpsPAC.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca