Area 17

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 17 Map

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 17: Nanoose, Nanaimo to Chemainus (PDF)

Salmon

** 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.

Subareas 17-14 and 17-15: The waters of Nanaimo Harbour from Duke Point to Gallows Point on Protection Island, then northwesterly along the shore to the most western point, then true north to Newcastle Island, northwesterly along the shore to Shaft Point, to Pimbury Point on Vancouver Island, southerly along the shore to the Cedar Bridge on the Nanaimo River, across the bridge and northerly along the shore to Jacks Point, following the Vancouver Island shore southerly to the point of commencement at Duke Point, are closed to fishing for all finfish July 15 to October 25.
Map

That portion of the Nanaimo River from the Cedar Bridge to the white square boundary signs located approx. 400 m downstream of the Cedar Bridge, is closed to fishing for all finfish, from October 25 to November 30.

The tidal waters of the Chemainus River and off the Chemainus River mouth, commencing at Bare Point on Vancouver Island to the light on North Reef, to Sherard Point on Vancouver Island, thence following the shoreline northerly to a boundary sign on the Chemainus River near the Bald Eagle Campground, thence across the river to the opposite bank, thence following the Vancouver Island shoreline northerly to the point of commencement, is closed to fishing for all finfish, July 15 to October 25.

Rockfish Conservation Areas
Lasqueti South–Young Point	Ballenas Island
Nanoose-Schooner Cove	Departure Bay
Northumberland Channel	De Courcy Island North
Reynolds Point-Link Island	Gabriola Passage
Danger Reefs	Ruxton-Pylades Islands
Coffin Point	Thetis-Kuper Islands
Saltspring Island North	Trincomali Channel

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 17-13 and 17-15 (Nanaimo): 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

Prawn and Shrimp: The harvest of prawns and shrimp by trap, ring net, or spear while diving, will close in the following Subareas:
1. Subareas 17-5, 17-6, and 17-9 (Stuart Channel) Map;
2. Subareas 19-7 to 19-12 inclusive (Saanich Inlet) Map;
3. Subareas 23-2 and 23-3 (portion Alberni Canal) Map.
These areas will be closed for the following periods:

• Dec. 1 - Dec. 15, 2011;
• Jan. 1 -  Jan. 15, 2012;
• Feb. 1 - Feb. 15, 2012;
• March 1 -  March 15, 2012.

These Subareas will open March 16, 2012 until further notice. Listed on 06/12/2011 FN1176

Dioxin contamination - Crofton

Consumption of crab hepatopancreas in a portion of Stuart Channel should not exceed 40 g/week. This area of Stuart Channel is bounded on the north by a line from Donckele Point on Kuper Island to the point at the southeastern entrance to Preedy Harbour on Thetis Island, thence to the most southern point of Dayman Island, thence to the most southern point of Scott Island, westerly to Sharpe Point on Vancouver Island, thence southwesterly across Ladysmith Harbour to a point on the shore 230° true from Sharpe Point; thence southerly along the shore of Vancouver Island to Grave Point; thence north of a line to Erskine Point on Saltspring Island; thence northerly along the shore to Parminter Point, thence west of a line to Josling Point on Kuper Island, thence northerly along the shore to the point of commencement at Donckele Point.

Dioxin contamination - Nanaimo (Harmac)

Consumption of crab hepatopancreas harvested in the waters west of a line from Reynolds Point to Miami Islet to a point at the entrance to Kulleet Bay true south of Deer Point, should not exceed 105 g/week.

Shellfish Contamination
Ladysmith Harbour; Chemainus Bay to Shoal Islands; Nanaimo Harbour; Departure Bay; Degnen Bay; Silva Bay; Montague Harbour; Shaw Road; Walker Hook; Nanoose Harbour; Clam Bay; Telegraph Harbour; Malaview Estates sewage outfall; Hammond Bay; Taylor Bay; south side of Descanso Bay; Lantzville; Duck Bay; Vesuvius Bay; Booth Bay; Porter Creek; Stuart Channel; unnamed bay northwest of Saltspring Island; Stone Cutters Bay; north side Descanso Bay; Vancouver Island between Icarus Point and Neck Point; unnamed bay on east side of Vancouver Island in Stuart Channel; Winchelsea Islands; Ada Islands; Conover Cove; and Preedy Harbour.
May 31 to September 30: Tent Island; Pirates Cove; Conover Cove; and cove northwest of Conover Cove. Sanitary Closure maps