Area 2 

EXPECT IN-SEASON CHANGES!

The closures and restrictions described in this Area may be varied by Fishery Notice. These management changes and additional openings and closures are indicated in red on this page. You can also click on Updates on the left bar to see Fishery Notices.

Click the following links for the appropriate information:
Salmon | All Finfish (including Salmon) | Finfish (other than Salmon)
Shellfish | Area 2 Map | Area 102 Map | Area 142 Map

All Species

Areas 2 and 102: Commercial and recreational harvesters are reminded that the zones within the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve described below are closed to fishing:

1. Burnaby Narrows Those waters of Subareas 2-13 and 2-16 inside a line commencing at 52º23.071 minutes N and 131º20.427 minutes W east to 52º23.079 minutes N and 131º22.79 minutes W, following the southern shoreline of Kat island east to 52º23.104 minutes N and 131º22.193 minutes W, then east to 52º23.303 minutes N and 131º21.277 minutes W, following the western shoreline of Burnaby Island south to 52º20.982 minutes N and 131º20.427 minutes W, then west to 52º20.733 minutes N and 131º21.063 minutes W, and then north following the eastern shoreline of Moresby Island back to the point of commencement.
2. Louscoone Estuary Those waters of Subareas 2-33 and 2-34 north of a line drawn from 52º11.828 minutes N and 131º15.662 minutes W east to 52º12.269 minutes N and 131º14.579 minutes W.
3. Flamingo Estuary Those waters of Subarea 2-37 north of a line drawn from 52º14.523 minutes N and 131º22.24 minutes W southeast to 52º14.245 minutes N and 131º21.481 minutes W.
4. Gowgaia Estuary Those waters of Subarea 2-41 east of a line drawn from 52º24.947 minutes N and 131º32.13 minutes W southeast to 52º24.233 minutes N and 131º32.021 minutes W.
5. Cape Saint James Those waters of Subareas 2-19, 102-3, 130-3 and 142-1 inside a line commencing at 51º56.509 minutes N and 131º01.547 minutes W, southwest to 51º55.499 minutes N and 131º02.468 minutes W, then southeast to 51º52.493 minutes N and 130º57.907 minutes W, then south to 51º51.655 minutes N and 130º57.780 minutes W, the southeast to 51º50.395 minutes N and 130º56.561 minutes W, then northeast to 51º51.054 minutes N and 130º54.702 minutes W, then north to 51º53.826 minutes N and 130º55.640 minutes W, then northwest to 51º58.517 minutes N and 130º59.468 minutes W, and then west to 51º58.727 minutes N and 131º00.620 minutes W, and then following the southern shore of Kungit Island to the point of commencement.
6. SGang Gwaay Those waters of Subareas 2-31 and 142-1 inside a 3km radius from the centre point on Anthony Island located at 52º05.655 minutes N and 131º13.178 minutes W.

Listed on 3/02/2011 FN0077

Salmon

Barbless hooks must be used when fishing for salmon in all tidal waters of British Columbia.

Openings & Closures:

Species	Min Size	Daily Limit	Possess. Limit	Annual Limit	Season Open	Gear Permitted
Chinook	45 cm	2	4	30	Apr 1-Mar 31	Hook & Line
Chum	30 cm	4	8	N/A	Apr 1-Mar 31	Hook & Line
Coho	30 cm	4	8	N/A	Apr 1-Mar 31	Hook & Line
Pink	30 cm	4	8	N/A	Apr 1-Mar 31	Hook & Line
Sockeye	30 cm	4	8	N/A	Apr 1-Mar 31	Hook & Line
The combined daily limit for all species of Pacific salmon from tidal waters is 4. Coastwide daily limit for chinook is 2. Aggregate daily limit for all species of Pacific salmon from tidal and non-tidal waters combined is 4.

All Species: Apr 1-Mar 31: The waters shoreward of a line between two boundary signs on either side of the Copper River estuary and the Pallant Creek estuary, a single barbless hook restriction applies.

All Trout: Apr 1-Mar 31: Non-retention in the tidal section of the Tlell River. A single barbless hook restriction also applies.

The waters of Fairfax Inlet shoreward of a line from Magneson Pt to Reid Pt. non-retention of sockeye from May 15 to August 15.

The tidal section of the Tlell River non-retention of pink from Apr 1-Mar 31.

The waters of Skidegate Inlet shoreward of a line between two boundary signs on either side of Sachs Creek estuary non-retention of pink and chum from August 15 to October 31.

The waters west of a line from Lawn Pt to Gray Pt non-retention of sockeye form Apr 1-Mar 31.

Coho: The daily limit for coho in the tidal water portions of all streams on Haida Gwaii (Areas 1,  2E and 2W) excluding the Pallant and Braverman system is 2 coho per day over 50 cm.

All Finfish, Including Salmon Closures and Special Measures

For other finfish limits, please visit the species and limits table.

Anglers are reminded that only a single barbless hook may be used in the tidal portions of all streams.

The waters of Cumshewa Inlet east of a line from a boundary sign on McLellan Island to another boundary sign 3.5 km west of Mathers Creek, and west of a line from a boundary sign on McLellan Island to a boundary sign 3.5 km east of Mathers Creek, are closed to fishing for all finfish, August 15 to October 31.

Rockfish Conservation Areas Lyell Island South Moresby

Finfish (Other than Salmon)

All Species: Jan 1-Dec 31: The waters shoreward of a line between two boundary signs on either side of the Copper River estuary and the Pallant Creek estuary, a single barbless hook restriction applies.

Halibut: recreational fishing for halibut is closed until further notice.

Sevengill shark, Shortfin mako, Common thresher, Bigeye thresher, Smooth hammerhead, Pacific angel shark and Pacific sleeper shark; Salmon shark: Effective June 1, 2011 until further notice:

• Sevengill shark, Shortfin mako, Common thresher, Bigeye thresher, Smooth hammerhead, Pacific angel shark and Pacific sleeper shark: The daily limit is zero (0).
• Salmon shark: The daily limit is one (1) and the possession limit is two (2).

Listed on 11/05/2011 FN0389

Shellfish

See the Shellfish Table for limits.
Please see important Additional Shellfish Information.

Be sure to check for both PSP and Sanitary Contamination Closures if you plan on consuming any shellfish.

With the exception of McIntyre Bay (portion of Area 1), the North Coast is closed for the harvest of all bivalve molluscs. This closure is due to the high risk of PSP and ASP contamination concerns, and the absence of biotoxin monitoring and water quality surveys in many North Coast areas.