Area 23

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 23 Map | Area 123 Map

Halibut regulations for Areas Areas 121, 23 and 123

All Species

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Portions of Areas 20-24, 121, 123 and 124: All tidal waters within the park are closed to scuba and skin diving for all species, all year.

Endeavour Hydrothermal Vents - Marine Protected Area: Check with your local DFO office for permitted fishing activities.

During the months of June to October, parts of Area 23, particularly Alberni Inlet north of Uchucklesit Inlet, can be highly congested with commercial and aboriginal gillnet and seine vessels. It is also one of the most highly congested areas for recreational vessels on the BC coast. In addition other large commercial vessel and tugboat traffic is present. Recreational anglers are asked to please travel with care during these times and to follow safe rules of navigation when fishing or transiting the area.

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
Hatchery Coho	30 cm	2	4	N/A	June 1-Dec 31	Hook & Line
Wild Coho	30 cm	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.

**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

**Sockeye: Subarea 23-1: in a portion of Subarea 23-1 from the Harbour mouth of the Somass River to the Tidal boundary signs at Papermill Dam:

• In portions of Area 23, Barkley Sound and Alberni Inlet: daily limit of four (4) sockeye (see FN0447).
• In the tidal portions of the Somass River to Papermill Dam: daily limit of two (2) sockeye in that portion of Subarea 23-1 which includes the lower Somass River from a line commencing at a boundary sign in upper Alberni Harbour situated at 49°14.19 north latitude and 124°50.23 west longitude thence through the southern most point of Hoik Island thence to the flashing green light at the mouth of the Somass River thence due east to a boundary sign on the opposite shore and to a line at the tidal boundary markers at Paper Mill Dam on the Somass River.

Listed on 17/06/2011 FN0490

All Species : In Subarea 23-1, the waters of Port Alberni Harbour and the Lower Somass River northerly of a line from a boundary sign in upper Alberni Harbour situated at 49°14.19 N latitude and 124°50.23 W longitude then through the southern most point of Hoik Island thence to the flashing green light at the mouth of the Somass River thence due east to a boundary sign on the opposite shore to the tidal boundary markers at Paper Mill Dam on the Somass River, only one single-pointed hook may be used when fishing for salmon all year.

Chinook: Those waters in the Subareas 23-2 and 23-3 southerly of a line from a square white fishing boundary sign at the mouth of Chesnucknuw Creek to a square white fishing boundary sign on the western shore of Alberni Inlet, and northeasterly of a line from Star Point to a square white fishing boundary sign at the mouth of Hardy Creek, non-retention of chinook is in effect August 1 to September 30.

All Finfish, Including Salmon Closures and Special Measures

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

Subarea 23-1: That portion of Subarea 23-1 southerly of square, white fishing boundary sign at the tidal limit of the Somass River near the Paper Mill Dam and northerly of a line commencing at a boundary sign in upper Alberni Harbour situated at 49°14.19’ N and 124°50.23’ W thence through the southern most point of Hoik Island thence to the flashing green light at the mouth of the Somass River thence due east to a boundary sign on the opposite shore is closed to all finfish July 24 to September 30 and a single barbless hook restriction applies throughout the remainder of the year.

Subarea 23-2: Those waters of Alberni Inlet bounded on the north by line drawn 66° true from Hocking Point to a square white fishing boundary sign on the eastern shore of Alberni Inlet, and on the south by a line from a square white fishing boundary sign at Chesnucknuw Creek to a square white fishing boundary sign on the western shore of Alberni Inlet, are closed to all finfish from August 1 to September 30.

Subarea 23-3: Those portions of Subarea 23-3 bounded on the south by a line from a boundary sign on Vancouver Island on Mutine Pt. to the Chup Pt. Navigation Light and on the north by a line from Star Point to a boundary sign at the mouth of Handy Creek are closed to all fishing for finfish August 1 to September 30.

Subarea 23-4: In Subarea 23-4 that portion of Rainy Bay inside a line commencing at a boundary sign on Seddall Island, south of Ecoole, to a boundary sign on Chup Point is closed to all fishing for finfish August 1 to September 30.

Subarea 23-4: Inside a line from a square white fishing boundary sign near the entrance to Poett Nook, thence to San Jose Islets, thence to the boundary sign on Vancouver Island easterly of the south end of Congreve Island at position 48°55.25’ N, and 125°01.21’ W is closed to all fishing for finfish August 1 to September 30.

Finfish (Other than Salmon)

Halibut: Only a Canadian resident may fish for or retain halibut under an electronic licence in management Areas 121, 23 and 123.

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

In Subarea 23-1, the waters of Port Alberni Harbour and the Lower Somass River northerly of a line from Harbour Quay to a boundary marker on the opposite shore: only a single-pointed barbless hook may be used January 1 to December 31.

Subarea 23-1: in that portion of Subarea 23-1 from the tidal boundary at Paper Mill Dam on the Somass River downstream to a line from a fishing boundary sign at the Harbour Quay Marina at Port Alberni to a boundary sign on the opposite shore of Alberni Inlet (note: this line runs just north of Hohm Island): Effective immediately until further notice: finfish night-time closure from 22:00 hours of each day until 05:00 hours of the following day. Listed on 17/06/2011 FN0491

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.

Prawn and Shrimp: Subareas 23-1 (portion Alberni Inlet): 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

Manila clams, varnish clams, butter clams, native littleneck clams, razor clams and oysters: April 1, 2011 until further notice: In accordance with the Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement (Treaty), the beaches described below will be closed to the harvest of intertidal bivalves between the high water mark and the low water mark. These “Inter-tidal Bivalve Harvest Areas” are set aside for the use of Maa-nulth First Nations members only:

• Toquart Bay:  
  1. “Toquart River Flats”: That portion of Toquart Bay in Subarea 23-10 bounded on the east by a straight line that starts at 49°02.363’ N,  125°20.836’ W, then straight to 49°02.321’ N,  125°20.767’ W, then straight to 49°02.250’ N 125°20.788’ W, then 200° True to the low water mark, then following the low water mark to the southern boundary bounded on the south by a straight line running due east from 49°01.513’ N,  125°21.811’ W to the low water mark and bounded on the northwest by a line that starts at 49°02.318’ N 125°21.438’ W, then straight to 49°02.305’ N,  125°21.468’ W, then straight to 49°02.235’ N,  125°21.468’ W, then straight to 49°02.199’ N,  125°21.553’ W. Closure map
  2. “Maggie River”: That portion of Subarea 23-10 near the mouth of the Maggie River bounded on the east by a line running due south from 49°00.301’ N, 125°21.956’ W to the low water mark, then following the low water mark to the southern boundary, and bounded on the south by a line running due east from 48°59.305’ N, 125°23.155’ W to the low water mark. Closure map 
• Effingham Inlet:  
  1. “Effingham Inlet West”: That portion of Effingham Inlet in Subarea 23-6 west of a line that starts at 49°03.043’ N,  125°09.768’ W, then following the low water mark to 49°02.895’ N,  125°09.944’ W Closure map 
  2. “Coeur d’Alene Creek”: That portion of Effingham Inlet in Subarea 23-6 at the mouth of Coeur d’Alene Creek east of a line that starts at 49°02.930’ N, 125°08.302’ W, then following the low water mark to 49°02.659’ N, 125°08.618’ W, and west of a straight line from 49°02.758’ N, 125°08.272’ W to 49°02.758’ N, 125°08.272’ W. Closure map 
• Tzartus Island:  
  1. “Geer Islets”: That portion of Subarea 23-5 surrounding the Geer Islets inside a line that starts at 48°55.828’ N, 125°06.707’ W, then south following the low water mark to 48°55.673’ N, 125°06.672’ W, then north following the low water mark to the point of commencement, including the intertidal zone between the north and south islets. Closure map  
  2. “Meade Islets”: That portion of Subarea 23-5 surrounding the Meade Islets inside a line that starts at 48°55.650’N, 125°07.290’ W, then south following the low water mark to 48°55.423’ N, 125°07.507’ W, then north following the low water mark to the point of commencement, including the intertidal zone between the east and west islets.  Closure map
• Sarita River:  
  1. “Northeast Numukamis Bay”: That portion of northeast Numukamis Bay in Subarea 23-4 at the mouth of Carnation Creek east of a line that starts at 48°54.920’ N, 125°00.423’ W, then following the low water mark to 48°54.722’ N, 125°00.468’ W. Closure map 
  2. “Kookswiis (Sarita River)”: That portion of Numukamis Bay in Subarea 23-4 at the mouth of the Sarita River (Kookswiis) inside a line that starts at 48°54.434’ N,  125°’00.652’ W, then following the low water mark to 48°53.731’ N, 125°01.278’ W, then following the eastern shoreline of Santa Maria Island to 48°53.529’ N, 125°01.565’ W, then straight across the channel to 48°53.486’ N, 125°01.486’ W, and bounded on the east by a line that starts at 48°54.187’ N, 125°00.540’ W, then straight to 48°54.148’ N,  125°00.612’ W, then straight to 48°54.086’ N, 125°00.632’ W, then straight to 48°54.064’ N, 125°00.592’ W, then straight to 48°54.030’ N, 125°00.599’ W, then straight to  48°53.786’ N, 125°01.034’ W. Closure map

Listed on 23/09/2011 FN0937

Shellfish Contamination
Bamfield Inlet; Grappler Inlet; Ucluelet Inlet; Cigarette Cove; River Point; Crawford Creek; Julia Passage; Toquart Bay; the area between Fatty Basin and Useless Inlet; Useless Inlet; and Roquefeuil Bay.
May 31 to September 30: Poett Nook and Entrance Inlet. Sanitary Closure maps