Beginning September 12, 2008, sport anglers taking part in the white sturgeon fishery in the lower and middle freshwater portions of the Fraser River watershed will be required to carry a new White Sturgeon Conservation Licence (WSCL) in addition to a basic provincial angling licence.

The lower and middle portions of the Fraser River watershed, from the Mission Bridge to and including Williams Lake River in the Cariboo Region, are the only fresh waters in B.C. where it is legal to fish for white sturgeon in a unique catch-and-release fishery. All other fresh waters in B.C. are closed to sturgeon fishing. Due to the recent listing of the other white sturgeon populations (the Columbia, Nechako, Kootenay and upper Fraser populations) as endangered under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), these other populations are not open to recreational fishing.

In light of heightened concern for the lower and middle Fraser populations, and the social and economic importance they represent, the Ministry of Environment will be taking additional measures to ensure their sustainable management.

Provincial fisheries managers are committed to closely monitor and assess the health of white sturgeon populations still available for fisheries. To accomplish this, the new WSCL will support the gathering of information on the sturgeon fisheries remaining open and will raise revenue for white sturgeon research and management activities.

The WSCL will be available in one-day, eight-day or annual options. Annual licences for residents will cost $25, with an eight-day WSCL priced at $15 and a one-day licence at $8. For those who do not live in B.C., the cost will be $60 for an annual licence, $30 for an eight-day WSCL and $15 for a one-day licence.

The WSCL will be available in both paper and electronic formats. However, in 2008, anglers who have purchased a paper basic licence will need to obtain a paper WSCL. Anglers who purchased an electronic basic licence are encouraged to purchase an electronic WSCL, but may purchase a paper version if necessary. All revenue generated from the sales of the WSCL will be directed to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation for use in sturgeon stock management activities.

The Conservation Officer Service will be enforcing this new freshwater licensing requirement beginning September 12, 2008. The Conservation Officer Service encourages the public to Report All Poachers and Polluters (RAPP) by calling the 24-hour hotline toll free at 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP), #7277 on the TELUS Mobility Network or by visiting the RAPP website.

Send us a news tip! | Back to Fishy News