Area 15

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 15 Map

All Species

These waters are closed to the harvest of all marine life by divers for the preservation of unique underwater habitat: within 0.8 km of Vivian Island, approx. 8 km west of Powell River. All waters within 0.5 km of Rebecca Rock, west of Powell River. All waters within 0.5 km of Dinner Rock, just south of Lund. All waters adjacent to the unnamed reef off Emmonds Beach, approx. 6 km south of Lund. All waters within 1.3 km of Mitlenatch Island, in the upper Strait of Georgia. All waters within a 0.5 km radius of the southerly end of the Beach Garden Breakwater.

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	62 cm	2	4	15	Apr 1-Mar 31	Hook & Line
Chum	30 cm	4	8	N/A	Apr 1-Mar 31	Hook & Line
Hatchery Coho	30 cm	2	4	N/A	June 1-Dec 31	Hook & Line
Wild Coho	TBD	To be determined	To be determined	N/A	Jun 1-Dec 31	Hook & Line
Pink	30 cm	4	8	N/A	Apr 1-Mar 31	Hook & Line
Sockeye**	30 cm	see below	see below	N/A	see below	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.

2011 Coho and Chinook opportunities map - Area 15: Powell River Area (PDF) 2011 Coho and Chinook opportunities map - Area 13 and Subareas 15-3 to 15-6 (PDF)

Chinook: Those waters of Algerine and Shearwater Passages bounded by a line from the southern most point of Harwood Island southerly to the navigational light on Rebecca Rocks hence northwest to the easterly most point to Vivian Island then northerly to the navigational marker at Mystery Reef hence west to the navigational marker on Atrevida Reef then southerly to the northern most point of Harwood Island then hence along the western shore of Harwood Island back to the point of commencement at the most southerly tip of Harwood Island, there is a non-retention of Chinook, June 15 to August 15.

Chinook: That portion of Subarea 15-6 (Toba Inlet) easterly of a line from a boundary sign at Snout Point to a boundary sign on the opposite shore, there is a non-retention of Chinook from January 1 to September 30.

** Sockeye: Effective 23:59 hours Friday, Sept. 16, 2011 and until further notice: daily limit for Fraser sockeye will be reduced to zero (0) in all waters listed in FN0784. Area 23 still remains open for the harvest of sockeye as per Fishery Notice FN0447.  Listed 16/09/2011 FN0901

**Sockeye: Aug. 25 until further notice: the daily limit for sockeye is four (4) per day in:

• Areas 11 and 111
• Area 12
• Area 13 (Johnstone Strait);
• Areas 14, 15, 17, 18 and 19 (Strait of Georgia);
• Area 20 (Juan de Fuca Strait);
• Areas 21, 121 and 123 to 127 (West Coast of Vancouver Island). Note: Area 23 (Barkley Sound and Alberni Inlet) is open to retention of Somass sockeye ( see FN0447);
• Area 28 (Howe Sound, Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm);
• Area 29 (Strait of Georgia and the tidal waters of the Fraser), except Subarea 29-8 (Boundary Bay).

Sockeye retention is not permitted in the following areas:

• Area 16 - remains closed and at this time there is no proposed opening of Subareas 16-19 to 21 (Sabine Channel);
• Area 22 - In Nitinat Lake;
• Areas 24 to 27 inclusive;
• Subarea 29-8 (Boundary Bay)

Listed 24/08/2011 FN0784

All Finfish, Including Salmon Closures and Special Measures

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

Rockfish Conservation Areas
Mitlenatch Island	Pendrell Sound
Teakerne Arm	Desolation Sound
Copeland Islands	Dinner Rock

Finfish (Other than Salmon)

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

Lingcod: Closing Time Reminder: Fishing for lingcod will close October 1, 2011 until further notice. Listed on 20/09/2011 FN0918

Rockfish: Closing Time Reminder: Fishing for rockfish will close October 1, 2011 until further notice. Listed on 20/09/2011 FN0918

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.

Prawn and Shrimp: Subareas 15-2 and 15-3 (Lund area): Jan. 1 - March 31, 2012: the harvest of prawns and shrimp by trap, ring net, or spear while diving will be closed. Map Listed on 06/12/2011 FN1176

The waters within 0.5 nautical miles of Mitlenatch Island, are closed to harvesting clams and oysters, all year.

Shellfish Contamination
Scuttle Bay to Albion Point; Freke Anchorage; Lund Harbour; East Refuge Cove; Lang Bay; Bliss Landing; McRae Cove; Sturt Bay; Frolander Bay; Northwest Refuge Cove; Theodosia Inlet; Grace Harbour; Squirrel Cove; and Cranberry Creek.
May 31 to September 30: Prideaux Haven; Tenedos Bay; Allies Island; Roscoe Bay; Cortes Bay; Grace Harbour; Squirrel Cove; and Mink Island.