Fisheries and Oceans Canada has just issued a fishery notice regarding a total salmon fishing closure in the non-tidal portion of the Fraser River between Mission and Hope, starting on August 16th. Please advise your friends, colleagues and families who have planned to go out so they are aware of the changes.
http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/xnet/content/fns/index.cfm?pg=view_notice&lang=en&DOC_ID=153070&ID=recreationalFN0735-RECREATIONAL - Salmon- Region 2 - Fraser River - Closed time for all Salmon fishing
Effective one hour after sunset on Thursday August 15, 2013 until further
notice, fishing for any salmon species is not permitted on the Fraser River
from the downstream edge of the CPR bridge at Mission, BC to the downstream
edge of the Alexandra Bridge.
Current run size estimates of Fraser River Summer Run sockeye salmon combined
with record water temperatures in the Fraser River have resulted in no
allowable harvest. The Department's priorities are to ensure that there is
sufficient sockeye returning to the spawning grounds. The Department is
continuing to manage fisheries to minimize sockeye impacts and provide priority
access to First Nations' fishing for food, social and ceremonial purposes.
Anglers fishing for chinook salmon in areas that remain open to salmon fishing
are required to take every measure possible to ensure that their fishing
activities are not impacting sockeye salmon. The Department is continuing to
monitor the Fraser River to ensure compliance.
Recreational fishing opportunities for trout, steelhead and sturgeon and other
non-salmon species in this area remain open. In addition, recreational fishing
opportunities on the Fraser River for pink and chum salmon are anticipated.
This reflects a change to the BC Freshwater Salmon Supplement. The on-line
version of this guide will be updated within 24 hours of this notice, please
browse:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.htmlVariation Order No. 2013-371
Notes:
Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal and non-tidal
waters of British Columbia.
Anglers are requested to release any hatchery marked sockeye. These fish are
hatchery raised sockeye and part of a recovery program designed to increase the
numbers of Cultus Lake sockeye.
The term "hatchery marked" means a fish that has a healed scar in place of the
adipose fin.
Sport anglers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Sport Head Recovery
program by labelling 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 (866) 483-9994 for further information.
Rockfish Conservation Areas that are currently in effect and are closed to all
fin fishing. Descriptions of these closures, and other recreational fishing
information, can be found on the Internet at:
www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfishDid 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:
Contact DFO Lower Fraser at (604)666-8266
Fisheries & Oceans Operations Center - FN0735
Sent August 14, 2013 at 1521