You’ve probably read about the invasive European green crab in BC waters, its spread and steps being taken to manage that spread. Invasive species are a real problem on land, in lakes and rivers, and at sea. Please do your part to stop their spread.
Happy New Year! …and beware the heftier fines now being levied for contravention of the many and myriad recreational fishery rules.
Common Offenses in the Strait of Georgia (not all offenses included):
BC Sport Fishing Regulations
Section
Offence
Fine
18(1)(a)
Fishing without a licence
$575
22
Fall to record catch (e.g., Chinook or lingood)
$575
24
Fish for finfish other than salmon during closed time (e.g., Rockfish Conservation Areas)
$575
25(1)
Retain finfish other than salmon in excess of quota
$200 + $50 per fish + 15% surcharge
29(d)
Retain undersize lingcod
$200 + $100 per fish + 15% surcharge
34(1)
Fish for shellfish during closed time (e.g., Prawn closed time)
$575
35(1)
Retain overlimit oysters/prawns
$200 + $10 per oyster/prawn + 15% surcharge
36/a)
Retain over limit clams
$200 + $10 per clam + 15% surcharge
36(b)
Retain overlimit crabs
$200 + $10 per crab + 15% surcharge
37(1)(b)
Retain undersize crabs
$200+ $50 + 15% surcharge
38
Fish for crustaceans/shellfish with illegal gear (e.g., too many prawn traps on a line)
$575
41
Fishing with crab trap with no rot cord
$575
41.1
Set crab or prawn gear that does not bear operator’s name
$288
43
Fishing for salmon during closed time
$575
44
Retain overlimit salmon
$200 + $50 per salmon + 15% surcharge
48
Retain undersize salmon
$200 + $50 per salmon + 15% surcharge
49
Fish for salmon with prohibited gear (e.g., Barbed hooks)
$575
Fisheries Act
Section
Offence
Fine
43.4(1)
Fail to comply with terms and condition of licence (e.g., Fail to record halibut, retain female crabs, retain berried prawns, fail to use descending device)
$863
Fishery (General) Regulations
Section
Offence
Fine
11
Fail to carry and produce licence
$115
33(2)(b)
fail to forthwith release incidentally caught fish in manner that causes least harm (e.g., Poor handling or catch and release practices)
$200+ $50 per fish +15% surcharge
34(3)
Wasting fish suitable for human consumption
$200+ $50 per fish + 15% surcharge
35(2)
Buying, selling, trading or bartering fish or offering to do so
$350 + $50 per fish + 15% surcharge
36 (1)(a)
Possessing fish, whose species cannot be readily determined (e.g., removing skin, tail or head before arriving at your home residence)
$230
36(1)(b)
Possessing fish, whose number cannot be readily determined (e.g., Filleting fish into multiple pieces before arriving at your home residence)
$230
Anything used in the commission of the offence may be seized as evidence.
DFO Regional Update for Regional Sport Fish Advisory Committee
Of no small importance is the ongoing effort to modernize the SFAB. There will be changes!
The SFAB modernization project is progressing to the final phase, completion of the new and modernized OM [operating model] design, scheduled for completion by March 31, 2023. This final phase will identify supporting process standards, a revised Terms of Reference, and definition of administrative and technology support requirements. A small team of SFAB and DFO stakeholders have been participating in workshops to complete a revised Terms of Reference (ToR) and new Species Committee Process Standards (PS) that define how each new Committee will function. This revision and development work is scheduled to be completed by December 2022. The new OM, ToR and PS will be shared at the December Main Board and at information sessions for SFAC participants in early 2023. Feedback received from the SFAB will be incorporated into the final ToR and PS. The updated ToR will require DFO approval.
Please provide any comments on the draft plans to the lead fishery managers below, by end of day on Wednesday, November 16, 2022:
Food & Bait:
Jim Meldrum - (250)895-0473
Email: james.meldrum@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Special Use:
Marisa Keefe - (604) 354-0352
Email: marisa.keefe@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Please contact Marisa if you require an additional method of providing feedback.
DFO Science and many other sources recognize that the annual Food & Bait herring fishery is the primary reason for the extirpation of these unique local herring stocks. A commercial catch of 837 MT of food and bait herring in 2021-2022 within the Strait of Georgia does nothing toward the rebuilding of these local stocks. These herring are the life blood of the ocean which support numerous fish, bird and mammal species. Recent research shows that herring are the primary prey species for Chinook and Coho salmon.
Letter from ACS to DFO re: DRAFT 2022/2023 Food & Bait Herring fishery
We encourage you to join with us and voice your concern regarding this low value use of a most valuable marine resource. Please contact DFO before Nov. 16 to provide them your feedback.
Herring ball on the surface off Victoria waterfront.
Esquimalt Anglers to propose membership, launch price increases for 2023
As DFO pummels the recreational fishery with fishery closures on Southern Vancouver Island, marinas and boat launches are feeling the pain. Esquimalt Anglers Association and their Fleming Beach boat launch is no exception. At the December 8, 2022 AGM for the EAA, a motion will be put forward to increase membership fees and the cost of a day launch.
Membership numbers have been declining rather steadily for many years. In 1989 there were a total of 1004 memberships in all categories (owner, associate, junior and commercial). Owner memberships total 354 this year; down from 409 in 2021. This is a 13% decline over one year. Day launches have also decreased from 609 at September 30 last year to only 487 this year – a decline of 20%.
This has very little to do with aging baby boomers, and everything to do with DFO eliminating the opportunity for the SVI recreational fisherperson to target chinook salmon while those fish are passing by SVI. This despite scientific evidence that undermines the very reason the fishery was closed – to protect a dwindling supply of the preferred prey fish of the southern resident killer whale.
At September 1, the 80 cm size limit for chinook is removed for the areas generally fished for this derby, and you may retain up to two (2) chinook per day over the minimum size limit and subject to your coastwide annual allowed catch of chinook. If you fish the waters of Sooke or the Victoria waterfront, we encourage you to support SVIAC and this derby!
The BC Outdoors, Art Downs memorial award is designed to carry on Art’s life work of recognizing excellence in writing and a commitment to conservation and the environment. It is awarded annually to the writer who has produced the best information over the past three years, exemplifying the Art Downs philosophy as evidenced in his “Travellers” column.
This year the Southern Vancouver Island Anglers Coalition (SVIAC) will release 660,000 smolts from our sea pen tied up to the Sooke Harbour Resort & Marina. On completion of this year’s project, SVIAC will have released over 3.16 million smolts with thousands of large adults returning to the Sooke River, in addition to feeding for the local orcas, while also providing salmon for all user groups. To make this happen we have raised over $375K in the last 6 years by generous support from the community.
The success of this project over the years would not be possible without strong support from the area residents who care about the southern resident killer whales and the local salmon populations. As a community-based volunteer driven project, your help is needed to succeed.
Please see below the times and dates that we need volunteers. To sign up to help out please phone
778-426-4141
and we will set you up on a work team. Joining us even once or twice will help us make this effort a success! Many thanks to all who volunteer and show up!
Release of Draft 2022/23 BC Salmon IFMPs for Consultation
With FN0168, DFO has released their draft 2022-2023 Integrated Fisheries Management Plans.
The draft IFMPs set out the policy framework that guides decision making, general objectives relating to management of stocks of concern, enhancement and enforcement, as well as decision guidelines for a range of fisheries.
Please refer to the New for 2022/23 for key changes for the IFMP that may be under consideration.
Section 13 of the IFMPs outline the Species Specific Fishing Plans, …
During March and April, the Department will be meeting with First Nations and recreational, commercial and environmental groups to seek further feedback on the draft IFMPs as part of the IFMP consultation process.
With regard to chinook in southern BC and Fraser River waters, p. 33 says “… management measures similar to 2021 are outlined in this IFMP.” There are also words about mark selective fisheries (MSF) and mass marking (MM) of hatchery salmon, but they see any changes to MSFs occurring only in 2023 (p. 34).
The [SFAB salmon technical working group] proposals were assessed by DFO review to be very low risk or no risk at all to stocks of concern. They offered an important lifeline to the Public Salmon Fishery to avoid further harm, and importantly did not jeopardize the recovery of Fraser River Chinook stocks of concern, yet they have all been rejected.
…we urge that you direct your department to work together with the SFAB, particularly at the upcoming February 11th SFAB Main Board meeting, to explore ways these desperately needed openings can be approved. We particularly want to focus on the period from April 1st to May 31st this year, where there is a documented unique window of opportunity when stocks of concern are not present, while hatchery marked Chinook are prevalent in high numbers.
