Courtesy of the Saltwater Chair, Derek Hardy:
Fishery Notice – Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Subject: FN0277-Licensing Information – Recreational Fisheries – 2019-2020 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licences and Salmon Conservation Stamps available online Monday, March 25, 2019
LICENCE AVAILABILITY 2019 – 2020 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licences and Pacific Salmon Conservation Stamps will be available for purchase online Monday, March 25, 2019 in the National Recreational Licensing System (NRLS).
You are encouraged to purchase your licence(s) in advance of a planned fishing trip.
Note that the 2019 – 2020 licences only become valid from April 1, 2019. Licences can be obtained via any computer connected to the internet at https://recfish-pechesportive.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/nrls-sndpp/index-eng.cfm , or by using internet search key words ” National Recreational Licensing System”.
In order to print a licence on a personal computer, you will need a printer with 8.5 x 11 letter-sized paper, Adobe Reader, a compatible web browser, and a valid credit or debit card accepted by Moneris.
BEST TIMES TO BUY To minimize system delays, the best time to access NRLS is outside peak periods. Peak times are: daily from 12:00PM to 3:00PM; every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; April 1st of each year; and during a major fishery opening such as the Fraser River Sockeye opening. During peak times you may experience site slowdown, timeout and other technical errors.
ALTERNATIVE PURCHASE OPTIONS If there is an NRLS outage; if you have limited internet connectivity; or if you are having trouble obtaining your licence online, you can also visit an Independent Access Provider (IAP), a list of current service locations may be found at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/licence-permis/iap-fai-eng.html
NON-RESIDENT LICENCES If you are a non-resident of Canada wishing to fish for Halibut in Areas 23, 121, or 123, you must acquire a licence through one of the IAP locations. NON-REFUNDABLE Refunds will not be issued for licences purchased online, so please ensure your licence selection (including the fishing year) is correct before you complete your transaction.
SPORT FISHING GUIDE The British Columbia Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Guide (SFG) is available online. For the most current information on recreational fisheries, and to download a pdf copy of the SFG visit the online BC Sport Fishing Guide website at: http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html .
Note that the pdf version of the guide is condensed and includes static information that does not change on a regular basis. In-season changes are not included in the pdf and will instead be communicated through regular website updates and via the Fishery Notice system.
CHANGES TO CONDITIONS OF LICENCE FOR 2019/2020
Crab: No person shall possess female Red Rock, King or Dungeness Crab. Crab traps are required to have two unobstructed circular escape holes or rings, measuring a minimum of 105 mm in diameter.
Clams: No person shall retain a Manila Clam or Littleneck Clam smaller than 35 mm, nor a Butter Clam smaller than 55 mm.
Halibut: No person shall catch and retain more than six (6) halibut in the aggregate from April 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020. Retained halibut shall be immediately recorded on the licence. No person shall retain a halibut greater than 126 cm head-on length. The possession limit is either of: one (1) halibut measuring from 90 cm to 126 cm head-on length, OR two (2) halibut measuring under 90 cm head-on length. Note: If you are in possession of one (1) halibut 90 cm head-on length or longer, you shall not possess any other halibut.
ROCKFISH: No person shall catch and retain in a day in Outside waters more than three (3) rockfish, of which only one (1) may be a Quillback Rockfish, a China Rockfish, or a Tiger Rockfish. No person shall catch and retain in Outside waters the following species of rockfish: Bocaccio Rockfish (zero retention); Yelloweye Rockfish (zero retention). Note: Outside waters are Management Areas 1 to 11, 21 to 27, 101 to 111, 121 to 127, 130, 142 and Subarea 12-14. Salmon, Trout: No person shall use a barbed hook when fishing for salmon and trout (includes steelhead).
Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reefs: Use of downriggers is prohibited in portions of Subareas 28-2 and 28-4 in the Howe Sound glass sponge reef marine refuges, as described at http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html .
For full details see your 2019/2020 Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence for recreational Conditions of Licence.
ROCKFISH DESCENDING DEVICES The use of a descending device is highly recommended to assist in the conservation and survivability of rockfish being returned to the water. Rockfish brought to the surface suffer barotrauma, causing their swim bladders to inflate and reducing the probability of their survival upon release. To improve rockfish survival rates, use a descending device to quickly return incidental catch to the water. Handle catch as little as possible, using wet hands to preserve the protective slime coat. To avoid catching rockfish, move to another fishing location.
HARD COPIES OF LICENCE You are required, by regulation, to have a printed copy of your licence to record catch in ink for Chinook Salmon, Halibut, and Lingcod in specified areas. Your licence must be produced on request of a fishery officer, conservation officer or fishery guardian, so ensure you have your licence with you while fishing or transporting your catch, either in hard copy or readily available on your mobile device.
RECREATIONAL FISHING SURVEY SELECTION You may be randomly selected at time of licence purchase to participate in a recreational fishing survey, details will be printed to your licence. Your accurately recorded catch data assists us with conservation of our shared marine resources for future generations of fishers. Use the FishingBC App or space on your licence to record catch details for later submission to the online recreational catch survey (iREC). For assistance or questions regarding your NRLS account or TWSF Licence please contact our toll-free line at 1-877-535-7307 from 08:00 am EST to 16:00 pm PST Monday – Friday, excluding statutory holidays. Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center – FN0277 Sent March 25, 2019 at 14:16 Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca If you would like to unsubscribe, please submit your request at: http://www-ops2.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fns-sap/index-eng.cfm?pg=manage_subscription If you have any questions, please contact us via e-mail to: DFO.OpsCentreFisheryPacific-CentreOpsPechePacifique.MPO@canada.ca