In the 2022/23 Southern BC Salmon Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) the Department proposed the continuation of an assessment fishery to assist in the development of status information for Georgia Basin Coho. The purpose of the assessment is to use additional fishery sampling to support the determination of the status of natural origin Coho. The Department will use Food, Social, and Ceremonial (FSC), and recreational Coho fisheries to collect samples of both marked and unmarked (wild) Coho by allowing some retention of unmarked Coho (in addition to existing hatchery-marked retention) during a time when Interior Fraser Coho have already migrated through the area. Samples collected will be analyzed using new Parental Based Tagging (PBT) along with regular DNA which will allow accurate determination of hatchery origin Coho from natural origin Coho within a management or assessment unit. The application of these tools will use fishery data from the northern Strait of Georgia area and escapement information from hatcheries on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Recreational harvesters are required to participate in and provide samples to existing creel programs, and through the Avid Angler Program in order to assist with this assessment.
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Areas 13, 14, and Subareas 15-2 to 15-6:
-Effective 00:01 hours September 1, 2022, until 23:59 hours September 30, 2022: Two (2) Coho per day, of which only one may be unmarked (wild).
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-Effective 00:01 hours October 1, 2022, to 23:59 hours December 31, 2022, the above-noted areas revert back to two Coho per day, hatchery marked only, except those portions of Subareas 14-11 and 15-1 that have terminal opportunities as noted below.
For clarification, the Coho quota remains two (2) per day, marked or unmarked, in that portion of Subarea 15-1, north of a line from Albion Point (locally known as Black Point) to Scotch Fir Point, until 23:59 hours October 15. All other portions of Subarea 15-1 remain at two (2) Coho per day, hatchery marked only.
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Also, Subarea 14-11 remains at two (2) Coho per day, of which only one may be unmarked, from 00:01 hours September 1, until 23:59 hours December 31, 2022.
All existing finfish closures and other local area measures remain in effect in these areas. Fishers are reminded that they are responsible for checking their local regulations before commencing any fishing activity.
The minimum size limit for Coho Salmon in these waters is 30 cm.
Variation Order: 2022-RFQ-230 and 2022-RCT-325
Notes:
Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal and non-tidal waters of British Columbia.
The term “marked”, “hatchery marked”, or “adipose fin clipped” means a fish that has a healed scar in place of the adipose fin. The term “unmarked” or “wild” means a fish that still has its adipose fin.
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:
Restricted Fishing Areas – BC sport fishing guide (dfo-mpo.gc.ca)
The Government of Canada recognizes that Southern Resident Killer Whales face imminent threats to their survival and recovery. In the Spring of 2022, the Government announced a suite of management measures to be implemented this summer that help address the key threats of reduced prey availability (primarily Chinook salmon), and acoustic and physical disturbance. These measures include salmon fishery closures, Interim Sanctuary Zones that restrict vessels from entering (including fishing), minimum vessel approach distances and a number of voluntary measures including to stop fishing (do not haul gear) within 1,000 metres of killer whales and let them pass. For more information about the 2022 management measures, please visit https://www.canada.ca/southern-resident-killer-whales or contact the Marine Mammal Team at DFO.SRKW-ERS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca