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1983 This Guide is not the law, but is only a summary of ish Columbia the regulations pertaining to the tidal (salt water) spunsport iisiici)fishery ofui uimoiiBritish Columbia.vuiuniuia. Wheniiiicm thereuitis-ro n v^ftW^^ r« OC^-^ discrepancy between this guide and the legulfiQ' ^CRICS * r^ dal Waters tions, the regulations are the final authority! fU «** frC^ rt Fishing Fisheries and Oceans Coastal District Offices:\ UO-2W85 Campbell River 287-2102 Alert Bay 974-5216: Port Hardy 949-6422. Guide Kitimat 632-4884 Bella Bella 957-2363; Bella Coola 799-5345; Rivers Inlet Radiotelephone. Nanaimo 754-3257 Duncan 746-6221; Qualicum 752-9712; Powell River 485-9621; Comox 339-2031; Pender Harbour 883-2313; Nanaimo 754-1041. New Westminster 524-7181 Chilliwack 792-6011; Mission 826-3664; Steveston 274-7217; Horseshoe Bay 921-7811; Squamish 892-3230. Port Alberni 724-0195 Tahsis 934-6606; Torino 725-3468. Prince Rupert 624-9137 Terrace 635-2206; Smithers 847-2312: Nass Camp 633-2408; Hazelton 842-6327. Queen Charlotte City 559-4413 Sandspit 637-5340; Masset 626-3316. Victoria 388-3252 Sooke 642-5322 Search and Rescue 112-732-4141 or ask Opertor including Diver Distress for Marine Distress Observe. Record, Report (toll-free) Zenith 2235 except in Vancouver: 666-2185 Environmental Emergency (24-hour) 666-6100 Sport Fishing Information (24-hour) 666-3169 Sport Fishing Information (8 am to 4 pm) 666-1383/ (including Red Tide updates) 1583 Sport Fishing Ombudsman Vancouver 666-2768 Terrace 635-9471 Sport Fishing Coordinator 666-1419 Distress Safety and Calling Channel 16 Weather Broadcast Service Channels 21B. WX1. WX2. WX3. WX4 Spork ft^Jiiltg Prepared by: Communications Branch Department of Fisheries and Oceans 1090 West Pender Street Vancouver, B.C. V6E 2P1 (604)666-1384 PAMPHLt.l C0LLP.CTI0M LIHKAHY Fisheries Peches PACIFIC HI0L0GICAL STATION 1+ and Oceans et Oceans CanadS The BritishColumbia Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Guide is not the law, but is only a summary of the regulations pertaining to the tidal(saltwater) sport fisheryof British Columbia.When there isa discrepancy between this guide and the regulations, the regulations are the final authority. Additional restrictions to those published may be announced from timeto time by Public Notice or local radio broadcast and fishermen are advised to consult a local fishery officer for current regulations and amendments. INTRODUCTION department and all user groups is now more vital than ever before. This is a time of decision for Canada's west coast. Of immediate (and critical) concern is the drastic decline fisheries. The Royal Commission report on Pacific Fisheries.. m salmon stocks of B.C. Chinook salmon, particularly, face a Policy, recently completed by Dr. Peter Pearse, has called for perilous*^ffiure because of habitat degradation and over- sweeping changes. The report contains close to 300 recom exploitation. No one fishery can be held responsible for all the mendations in all. A large number refer specifically to salmon damage. Most chinooks are taken in the commercial troll and will thus be of great concern to sports fishermen, of which fisheries of the U.S.A. and Canada, and by net fishermen. there are about 290,000 on the B.C. coast. Some»2il percent are taken by recreational fishermen in both The Pearse recommendations are now being considered tidal and non-tidal waters. In addition, chinook are also har by a Response Task Group composed of senior level people vested by native food fisheries during the upstream migration. from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The number of chinook returning to spawn has steadily de Managing the salmon resource has never been easy and clined over the last ten years by an average of 6 percent per now the challenge is an even greater one since the demands of year. With spawning numbers less than 50 percent of the user groups are increasing steadily. The Pearse report has optimum required (and still falling) the future of the wild confirmed that the sum of these demands is now greater than chinook is seriously threatened. the resource's capacity to meet them. With the recognition of this over-harvesting problem, the In addition, serious threats to fish habitat are raised by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, in consultation with demands of other land users such as forestry, construction, sport fishermen, began a "7-point conservation package" in human settlement, mining and energy development, espe 1981. The conservation measures include bag and size limits, cially dam building. gear restrictions, seasonal and area closures and chinook Public expectations for the fishery are a legacy of pioneer catch record cards attached to Tidal Waters Sport Fishing use patterns based on the super-abundance of the past. Now, Licences. Further harvesting restrictions may prove to be the need to employ more stringent conservation measures is a necessary. It is hoped that these measures, combined with hard reality that must be faced by managers and users alike. active programs of enhancement and habitat management, Pacific tidal waters provide sport fishing opportunities for will help stem the decline and begin to build these stocks back hundreds of thousands of Canadians and visitors from all over to strength again. There are problems with other species as the world. While Chinook and coho salmon are the most fa well, but the problem of chinook decline is particularly press mous game fish, anglers also catch a range of species such as ing. sea-run cutthroat trout, cod, perch, rockfish and flat fish. Also It is essential that all fishermen support these conserva available are clams, oysters, crabs, prawns and othershellfish tion efforts in order that future generations may share the and crustaceans. benefits of a healthy fishery. You should: For over a century the salmon has been valued by both — be aware of the seriousness of the problem of chinook sports and commercial fishermen, and by native Indians hun decline, and inform others who may not be aware of it. dreds of years before that. Their concerns about the fishery — tryto appreciate the rationale forthe regulations imposed were made known to Dr. Pearse during the course of exten by government, and support and abide by them. sive public hearings in 1981-82. Virtually every sport fishing — assist enforcement staff by reporting any law violation organization, as well as many independent anglers, made through the "Observe, Record and Report" program. presentations on matters such as over-fishing, expansion of — contribute to better management and research of fish commercial fleets, conflicts among various user groups and stocks by providing important data through the Voluntary degradation of marine and freshwater habitat. Sport Head Recovery Program. While the sport fishery has wide social significance and — provide catch-and-effort information, ifrequested, during economic value, the granting of fishing privileges must be a creel census. dependent upon proper management and conservation. The — become involved in the many public involvement or com Department of Fisheries and Oceans is responsible for man munity development projects to enhance streams and agement of the tidal waters sport fishery in B.C., and for fish production. management of all salmon in non-tidal waters. Existing man — use barbless hooks, when practical, while fishing, and agement policy states that longterm conservation, the biologi carefully unhook undersized salmon. cal needs of fish, must be ensured before any harvest of the surplus is taken by fishermen. Close consultation between the Chinook conservation. Be a part of it! Dispomble en francais sous le titre Guide de la peche Sportive 1933 dans les eaux a marees de la Columbie-Britannique. Hang On To Your Guide, and Your Licence Waters Sport Fishing Guide and licences to a fiscal year basis, their distribution to the public will more closely coincide with This edition of the British Columbia Tidal Waters Sport actual gazetting of the regulations, thereby greatly reducing Fishing Guide, and the Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licences confusion in sport fishing circles as to which regulations are in issued in January,1983,are effective from January 1,1983, to effect and which are only proposed. March 31, 1984. This unusual 15-month period will accom This 1983 Guide presents regulations currently in effect, modate a change in validation period from the calendar year as well as proposed regulation amendments for the upcoming (January 1 to December 31) to a fiscal year (April 1 to March season, which are identified in various sections of the Guide 31). The reason for this change is as follows: by an asterisk (*). Anglers are advised to contact a local By January of each year, the Pacific Region of the De Fisheries office in April, 1983, to ascertain which restrictions partment of Fisheries and Oceans submits proposals to Ot are in effect. tawa on tidal waters sport fishing regulation amendments. The ensuing edition of the B.C. Tidal Waters Sport Fish These regulation proposals are not legally in effect, or en ing Guide, as well as the 1984 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing forceable, however, until they are gazetted by Privy Council in Licences, will be valid from April 1, 1984, to March 31, 1985, early April. By changing the validation period of the Tidal and will continue thereafter on a fiscal year basis. CONTENTS Sport Fishing Advisory Board 3 Observe, Record and Report 10 Recreational Fisheries Coordinator 4 Salmonid Enhancement Program (SEP) 10 Ombudsmen 4 Voluntary Sport Head Recovery Program 10 Licencing and Chinook Catch Record 4 Head Depot Locations 11-13 Daily Bay and Size Limits 5 Statistical Area Map: Shellfish Closures 14-15 Seasonal and Area Closures 6,8 Shellfish Contamination (and Schedule 1) .... 16-21 Salmon Closure Map 7 How to Unhook Undersized Salmon 21,26 Possession Limits 9 Pacific Salmon (Identification Photos) 22-23.28 Export Limits 9 Non-salmonids (Identification Photos) 8.24-25 Gear Restrictions 9 Non-Salmonid Sport Fishery 27 Other Prohibitions 10 Tips for the Care of Your Catch 27 Sport Fishing by Divers 10 Boating Safety Tips 27 OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUBLIC tatives nominated by the B.C.

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