Tag «SRKW»

Salmon Fishing Survival Rally – Sunday April 19 at 10:00AM

WhatSalmon Fishing Survival Rally
WhenSunday April 19th between 10:00AM and Noon
WhereLangford Legion Hall, 761 Station Avenue, Langford, BC

A Salmon Fishing Survival Rally will take place this Sunday, April 19, 2026 at the Langford Legion Hall. Please, PLAN TO ATTEND AND FILL THE VENUE TO CAPACITY!

TOPICS: Chinook Fishery Threats

Three major issues are facing our salmon fishery around South Vancouver Island in 2026 and beyond:

Salmon Allocation Policy Update

  • What will DFO Minister Joanne Thompson‘s decide regarding the Salmon Allocation Policy review?
  • Will we lose priority access to Chinook and Coho?
  • Will DFO confirm Canadians’ common property rights to fish by keeping the principle included in the new allocation policy?Explanation of the SAP review and sharing of any updates.

SRKW Salmon Fishing Update

  • CLOSED TO CHINOOK FISHING – DFO’s Southern Resident Killer Whale recovery team presented a suite of new fishing restrictions for 2026 season. The proposed changes will be outlined, and any updates available will be shared.

Fraser River Summer 5-2 Chinook Re-Allocation Concerns

  • OUR AUGUST 2026 CHINOOK FISHING IN DANGER – The Fraser Salmon Management Board (a closed collaboration of Fraser River First Nations and DFO) have presented an allocation transfer proposal document that, if approved, will most likely negatively impact our 2026 August Chinook fishery. At the meeting, we’ll explain this threat in more detail and inform attendees of the risk posed to our Chinook fishery.

and we will let you know how you can help with our important advocacy efforts

Guest Speakers

Event Sponsors

Everyone attending will receive a door prize ticket at no charge with a chance to win one of a number of prizes – donations to help us advocate for the protection of your salmon fishery would be welcome.

PLEASE SHARE THIS INFORMATION WITH ALL YOUR FISHERY CONTACTS

Similar to a townhall meeting, there will be short presentations from our guest speakers followed by an open question period.

This meeting is free to attend, parking is free, and there wil be great door prizes. 

Federal, Provincial and Municipal Politicians are welcome and upon request may address the audience.

Media are welcome and encouraged to attend – media contact Chris Bos – (778) 967-2363 – chris@anglerscoalition.com

Fish eating killer whales do eat non-chinook species – at least in Alaska

This blog post on the Ecological Society of America website sums up a study published recently regarding the prey of southern Alaska resident killer whales, a group that, like the SRKW, enjoys a diet of fish.

The study does recognize the standard take on diet for the SRKW.

Southern residents, in particular, feed almost exclusively on Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in spring and summer—though their diet is significantly more diverse in fall and winter (Hanson et al., 2021).

But introducing DNA analysis in addition to the standard fecal analysis showed some interesting results.

In the case of resident killer whales, extensive data collected from the southern resident killer whale population during summer months have been relied upon to describe the diet of resident killer whales generally (Adams et al., 2016; Chasco et al., 2017; Ohlberger et al., 2019). However, recent studies, including this one, indicate a greater degree of spatiotemporal, population-level, and socially driven variability in diet than had previously been observed (Ford et al., 2016; Filatova et al., 2023; Van Cise et al., 2024).

The ESA blog post summarizes the cogent points nicely:

“Switching between these salmon species — with important contributions from groundfish — is a different narrative from the one we usually hear about the diet of fish-eating killer whales in the North Pacific, which emphasizes Chinook salmon as their primary prey,” said Myers, the lead author of the paper.

One might well wonder if the SRKW are pursuing other than chinook salmon when those non-chinook species are in abundance.

Release of Draft 2026/27 BC Salmon IFMPs for Consultation

With FN0218, DFO has released their draft 2026-2027 Integrated Fisheries Management Plans.

Request your electronic copy by emailing to DFO.PacificSalmonRMT-EGRSaumonduPacifique.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca, or view the documents below.

Deadline for submission of comments is April 10, 2026.


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 2026/27 for key changes for the IFMP that may be under consideration.

Section 13 of the IFMPs outline the Species Specific Fishing Plans, which describe fisheries plans for each of the salmon species and the management units and major fishery areas for each species. This section includes the relevant information on management approach, decision guidelines and specific management measures, as well as, information related to First Nations, commercial and recreational fishing plans for each fishery.

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.

An electronic copy can be requested from DFO.PacificSalmonRMT-EGRSaumonduPacifique.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Comments may be provided in writing via email to the DFO Pacific Salmon Management Team at DFO.PacificSalmonRMT-EGRSaumonduPacifique.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

https://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=view_notice&DOC_ID=347091

Please refer to the “New for 2026/27” section at the beginning for key changes for the IFMP that may be under consideration; these changes have been bolded throughout the document for ease of reference.

DRAFT_Southern IFMP 2026-27Download
DRAFT 2026-27 Northern BC Salmon IFMPDownload

Spring 2026 Greater Victoria SFAC meeting: Feb. 24

Mark Frisson, Fisheries Management, DFO has sent an invitation to the Spring 2026 Greater Victoria Sport Fishing Advisory Committee meeting, which will be held virtually on February 24, 2026.

  • The meeting will be held virtually: Join the meeting now
  • Start time: 7:00 pm
  • Below is the spring 2026 Recreational Fisheries Newsletter for your review.
  • Below are the fall 2025 meeting minutes for review before the meeting.
  • Below is the SFAB motion tracker (with DFO responses) for your review.
  • The agenda is immediately below.
Greater Victoria Spring SFAC Agenda_2026Download

________________________________________________________________________________

FINAL – Winter & Spring 2026 – Rec Fish NewsletterDownload
Greater Victoria Area Fall SFAC_ Draft Meeting Minutes_2025Download
Dropbox SFAB Motions Tracker – updated Feb 2026Download

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 270 665 053 579 73

Passcode: mz6jD2X9

Dial in by phone

+1 647-484-5913,,691931859# Canada, Toronto

Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 691 931 859#

Meeting re: Proposed New SRKW Salmon Fishing Regulations – Oct. 29 at 11:45 am 

There is a proposal from DFO relating to Southern Resident Killer Whale recovery that contains potential changes to chinook fishing in the entire SRKW critical habitat area, which includes Juan de Fuca and Haro Strait where we fish.  Below is the DFO presentation that contains those changes.  

The DFO SRKW Team will host an online meeting about their proposed regulation changes and give you a chance to comment.  A one-hour online MS Teams meeting on Wednesday October 29th at 11:45 am   has been scheduled specifically for you.  This meeting is specifically for sportsfishing participants to review the proposed changes in our area – it is not the local SFAB meeting which is scheduled for Nov 4 of this year. 

You may also want to respond directly to DFO about these proposed changes during the consultation period via email at DFO.SRKW-ERS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca . You will need to respond by the October 31st deadline. 

Southern-Resident-Killer-Whale-Management-Measures-IMAG-TWGs-September-17-2025-PPNT-DeckDownload

Within the proposed changes, there appear to be a few things worth noting for clarification:

  • Chinook non-retention areas are proposed to become chinook closure areas. This will mean no more chinook catch and release in those areas.
  • There is no mention of a slot limit in those areas in which, for the past few years, chinook fishing was allowed and retention was permitted for chinook over the minimum length and under a maximum length.
  • Chinook closures would not apply to an area in which a mark selective fishery (MSF) is allowed; but a MSF typically has a narrow time window and, as ever, is at the discretion of the DFO.

________________________________________________________________________________

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 265 327 058 767 7

Passcode: Yo2rY7Df

Dial in by phone

+1 647-484-5913,,344358975# Canada, Toronto

Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 344 358 975#

Join on a video conferencing device

Tenant key: teams@dfo-mpo.video.canada.ca

Video ID: 113 359 511 1

More info

Fall 2025 Greater Victoria SFAC meeting: Nov. 4

Mark Frisson, Fisheries Management, DFO has sent an invitation to the Fall 2025 Greater Victoria Sport Fishing Advisory Committee meeting, which will be held virtually on November 4, 2025.

  • The meeting will be held virtually on MS Teams. Click here to join: Join the meeting now
  • Start time: 7:00 pm
  • Please review the draft Spring 2025 meeting minutes, below, before the meeting.
  • Please review the Fall 2025 Recreational Fisheries Newsletter, formally known as the Regional Recreational Updates, below.
  • This fall is an election cycle. An election for Committee Chair will be held during the meeting. Please follow this link to read about the SFAC election process and the SFAC roles and responsibilities.
  • An agenda and other meeting materials will be shown here when they’re available.
Greater Victoria Area Spring SFAC_ Draft Meeting Minutes_2025Download
FINAL – Fall 2025 – Rec Fish NewsletterDownload

________________________________________________________________________________

Nov. 4, 2025, 7 pm Virtual Meeting Details

Microsoft Teams Need help?

Join the meeting now

Meeting ID: 222 931 803 521 0

Passcode: Ht76fQ7i

Dial in by phone

+1 647-484-5913,,967142833# Canada, Toronto

Find a local number

Phone conference ID: 967 142 833#

Join on a video conferencing device

Tenant key: teams@dfo-mpo.video.canada.ca

Video ID: 113 816 269 7

More info

Release of Draft 2025/26 BC Salmon IFMPs for Consultation

With FN0152, DFO has released their draft 2025-2026 Integrated Fisheries Management Plans.

Deadline for submission of comments is April 4, 2025.

To obtain an electronic copy for review, please click the link below: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/51r5krj3o5o1e86db7qop/AH1FZORsMWUmAPv5wR3YRZ8?rlkey=qn1tacmnj178rocvvte5lhvga&st=anh8gp79&dl=0

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 2025/26 for key changes for the IFMP that may be under consideration.

Section 13 of the IFMPs outline the Species Specific Fishing Plans, which describe fisheries plans for each of the salmon species and the management units and major fishery areas for each species. This section includes the relevant information on management approach, decision guidelines and specific management measures, as well as, information related to First Nations, commercial and recreational fishing plans for each fishery.

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.

https://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=view_notice&DOC_ID=316953

You may read the northern and southern IFMPs via the fishery notice, or the files below:

DRAFT Northern IFMP 2025-2026Download
DRAFT Southern IFMP 2025-2026Download

Page 37 of the draft Southern Salmon IFMP has a section that speaks to Mark Selective Fisheries. As per last year, please note that for a significant time period, COVID precautionary measures reduced fin clipping at Canadian salmon hatcheries to near zero; there will be a few years where recreational fishers seeking marked salmon will be dependent upon Washington state origin fish for success.

Mass Marking / Mark-Selective Fisheries

The Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) provides new investments to support potential
implementation of Chinook mass marking and mark-selective fisheries as part of an integrated
management approach. To advance this work, DFO sought input from First Nations and
stakeholders during a series of workshops that began in December 2022, leading to DFOs development of An Implementation Framework for Mark-Selective Fisheries for Southern British
Columbia Chinook Salmon (draft MSF Framework). The Department is currently reviewing
feedback on the draft MSF Framework and considering next steps for MSF. Any specific MSF
plans will be consulted on. The Department is also considering changes to gear (i.e., what
fishing hooks are permitted) during Chinook MSFs.

DRAFT Southern IFMP 2025-2026

CBC: Port Renfrew fate in hands of DFO

Our national broadcaster and news organization has recently published an article that looks at how the fate of Port Renfrew seems to lie in the outcome of the decisions yet to be finalized by DFO with respect to chinook salmon fishing closures.

In materials presented to the sport-fishing community Jan. 12, DFO mapped out important foraging areas for the southern resident killer whales. 

…the fishing community rejects the modelling informing the map. Recreational fishers say they almost never see the endangered whales near the shoreline. 

“For DFO to say it will shut an area down when southern residents are rarely there makes no sense, and is negligent,” said Wayne Friesen, chair of the B.C. Recreational Fishing Association. 

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/port-renfrew-fishing-closure-dfo-1.7181011?cmp=rss

It seems curious that to explain DFO’s thinking on this subject, the CBC turned to Misty McDuffy, a non-DFO biologist with an NGO. Strange that DFO didn’t speak to its own decision making process; possibly waiting for political direction?

Greater Victoria SFAC Spring 2024 Meeting: Feb. 14, 7 pm

You are invited to the Greater Victoria Spring 2024 Sport Fishing Advisory Committee meeting which will be held February 14, 2024, at the Esquimalt Anglers Association (1101 Munro Street, Victoria  British Columbia  V9A 5P1, Canada).

Greater-Victoria-SFAC_Spring_Agenda_2024-DRAFTDownload

Release of Draft 2024/25 BC Salmon IFMPs for Consultation

With FN0120, DFO has released their draft 2024-2025 Integrated Fisheries Management Plans.

The emailed fishery notice subject is wrong and says “2023-2024”; the body has it right as 2024-2025.

Deadline for submission of comments is April 15th, 2024.

To obtain an electronic copy for review, please click the link below: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/901xbyj9g0ywppuwkcv46/h?rlkey=m2ia50oj7720q10lsz61ba0h2&dl=0

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 2024/25 for key changes for the IFMP that may be under consideration.

Section 13 of the IFMPs outline the Species Specific Fishing Plans, which describe fisheries plans for each of the salmon species and the management units and major fishery areas for each species. This section includes the relevant information on management approach, decision guidelines and specific management measures, as well as, information related to First Nations, commercial and recreational fishing plans for each fishery.

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.

https://notices.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=view_notice&DOC_ID=296577&ID=all

You may read the northern and southern IFMPs via the fishery notice, or the links below:

Page 37 of the draft Southern Salmon IFMP has a section that speaks to Mark Selective Fisheries. As per last year, please note that for a significant time period, COVID precautionary measures reduced fin clipping at Canadian salmon hatcheries to near zero; there will be a few years where recreational fishers seeking marked salmon will be dependent upon Washington state origin fish for success.

Mass Marking / Mark-Selective Fisheries

Since 2020 the Department approved a small number of recreational Chinook mark selective fishery (MSF) opportunities, which are planned to continue in 2024/2025, pending the post- season review of the available fisheries information. Details can be found here in Table 13- : Approved MSF Openings – Southern ISBM.

The Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative (PSSI) provides new investments to support potential implementation of Chinook mass marking and mark-selective fisheries as part of an integrated management approach. To advance this work, DFO sought input from First Nations and stakeholders during a series of workshops that began in December 2022, leading to DFOs development of An Implementation Framework for Mark-Selective Fisheries for Southern British Columbia Chinook Salmon (Appendix 12). The purpose of this framework is to outline a risk- based, transparent and collaborative process for the evaluation, decision making, mitigation measures, implementation, review and improvements of MSFs targeting adipose fin-clipped hatchery Chinook Salmon in a manner consistent with the regulatory and policy requirements for Pacific salmon management. Proposals for new MSF opportunities may be submitted by all harvest sectors, or by DFO, and they will evaluated against the key criteria laid out in the framework.

https://acsbc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/2023-24-Southern-Salmon-IFMP-Draft.pdf
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