Areas 8 and 108 (Fitz Hugh Sound, Bella Coola)

Area map

Area maps

For a written description of Areas please see the Pacific Fishery Management Area Regulations 2007.

Area 8: Download a printable PDF version of this map.

Area 108: Download a printable PDF version of this map.

Click thumbnail to enlarge image.

Salmon

Salmon

You're responsible for understanding the regulations and restrictions that may affect an open fishery.

How to follow the rules
  1. Check the Area map. You need to know the location (subarea) where you plan to fish.
  2. Check the Species regulations table for fishing opportunities and basic regulations.
  3. Check the Restrictions table for special exceptions and more detailed regulations.
  4. Get to know the locations of protected areas. Permanent fishing restrictions are in effect in these areas to protect fish and fish habitat.

Species regulations

Always check for restrictions.

Species Areas Min Size Gear Limits
(d/p/a)		 Status
Chinook Salmon 8,108 45cm Barbless Hook & Line 2/4/10 Open (See Restrictions)
Chum Salmon 8,108 30cm Barbless Hook & Line 4/8/- Open (See Restrictions)
Coho Salmon (Hatchery & Wild Combined) 8,108 30cm Barbless Hook & Line 4/8/- Open (See Restrictions)
Pink Salmon 8,108 30cm Barbless Hook & Line 4/8/- Open (See Restrictions)
Sockeye Salmon 8,108 Barbless Hook & Line 0/0/- Closed


2019-04-24 10:05:14

Restrictions

Always check for protected areas.

Species Areas Measure Type Measure Value
Finfish Namu River Closed
Salmon Coastwide Daily Limit Pieces 4 - The daily limit for all species of Pacific salmon from tidal and fresh waters combined is 4. Individual species limits also apply.
Chinook Salmon Coastwide Reminder Keeping your chinook salmon? You must record (in ink) all retained catch on your Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence.
Coastwide Reminder Chinook Salmon Annual Aggregate Counts - The total annual limit for chinook salmon is 10 from all tidal and fresh waters (combined).
Coho Salmon (Hatchery) Coastwide Reminder Hatchery coho (marked): Coho salmon with a healed scar in place of the adipose fin.

Area Descriptions

Area Map Area Description
Namu River The waters of the mouth of Namu River shoreward of a line from a fishing boundary sign located 180 m from a bridge at the mouth of Namu Creek on the west shore to a fishing boundary sign on the opposite side of the bay.


2019-04-19 00:19:23

Other finfish

Other finfish

You're responsible for understanding the regulations and restrictions that may affect an open fishery.

How to follow the rules
  1. Check the Area map. You need to know the location (subarea) where you plan to fish.
  2. Check the Species regulations table for fishing opportunities and basic regulations.
  3. Check the Restrictions table for special exceptions and more detailed regulations.
  4. Get to know the locations of protected areas. Permanent fishing restrictions are in effect in these areas to protect fish and fish habitat.

Species regulations

Always check for restrictions.

Species Areas Min Size Gear Limits
(d/p/a)		 Status
Herring 8,108 Cast Net, Dip Net, Herring Jig, Herring Rake 20kg/40kg/- Open (See Restrictions)
Albacore Tuna 8,108 Hook and Line 20/40/- Open (See Restrictions)
Eulachon 8,108 0/0/0 Closed
Mackerel 8,108 Cast Net, Dip Net, Herring Jig, Hook and Line 100/200/- Open (See Restrictions)
Northern Anchovy 8,108 Cast Net, Dip Net, Herring Jig, Herring Rake 20kg/40kg/- Open (See Restrictions)
Other Finfish species 8,108 Hook and Line, Spear Fishing while diving 20/40/- Open (See Restrictions)
Pacific Sand Lance 8,108 Cast Net, Dip Net, Herring Jig, Herring Rake 5kg/10kg/- Open (See Restrictions)
Pacific Sardine 8,108 Cast Net, Dip Net, Herring Jig, Herring Rake 100/200/- Open (See Restrictions)
Surf Smelt 8,108 Dip Net, Gill Net 20kg/40kg/- Open (See Restrictions)
Tuna, All other species 8,108 Hook and Line 20/40/- Open (See Restrictions)
All other shark species 8,108 0/0/0 Non-retention (See Restrictions)
Bocaccio Rockfish 8,108 Hook and Line, Spear 0/0/0 Non-retention (See Restrictions)
Codfish 8,108 Hook and Line, Spear 8/16/- Open (See Restrictions)
Greenling 8,108 Hook and Line, Spear 3/6/- Open (See Restrictions)
Halibut 8,108 Hook and Line, Spear 1/-/6 Open until Dec 31 (See Restrictions)
Lingcod 8,108 Hook and Line, Spear 2/4/- Open until Nov 15 (See Restrictions)
Perch 8,108 Hook and Line 8/16/- Open (See Restrictions)
Rockfish, All Species Combined 8,108 Hook and Line, Spear 3/6/- Open until Nov 15 (See Restrictions)
Sablefish 8,108 Hook and Line 4/8/- Open (See Restrictions)
Salmon Shark 8,108 Hook and Line, Spear Fishing while diving 1/2/- Open (See Restrictions)
Sculpin 8,108 Hook and Line 8/16/- Open (See Restrictions)
Shark including Basking, Tope, Bluntnose, Sixgill, Blue, Brown Cat and Great White 8,108 0/0/0 Closed
Skate 8,108 Hook and Line 1/2/- Open (See Restrictions)
Sole/Flounder 8,108 Hook and Line, Spear Fishing while diving 8/16/- Open (See Restrictions)
Spiny Dogfish 8,108 Hook and Line 4/8/- Open (See Restrictions)
Sturgeon 8,108 Hook and Line 0/0/0 Non-retention (See Restrictions)
Trout (Hatchery & Wild Combined) 8,108 30cm Hook and Line 2/4/- Open (See Restrictions)
Wolf Eel 8,108 Catch and Release only 0/0/0 Non-retention (See Restrictions)
Yelloweye Rockfish 8,108 Hook and Line, Spear 0/0/0 Non-retention (See Restrictions)


2019-04-24 10:16:15

Restrictions

Always check for protected areas.

Species Areas Measure Type Measure Value
Finfish Namu River Closed
Herring 8,108 Reminder Harvesting of herring roe from marine plants or plants placed in the water for the purpose of harvesting herring roe is prohibited.
Codfish 8,108 Reminder Species includes: Pacific cod, Pacific tomcod, pollock and hake but does not include lingcod.
Halibut 8,108 Maximum Length Head On (cm) 126 cm
Reminder 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.
Perch 8,108 Reminder Includes kelp, shiner and pile perch, and all species of surf and sea perch
Rockfish, All Species Combined Coastwide Reminder Rockfish - Anglers in vessels shall immediately return all rockfish that are not being retained to the water and to a similar depth from which they were caught by use of an inverted weighted barbless hook or other purpose-built descender device
8,108 Daily Limit Pieces 3 Daily limit of 3 Rockfish per day, of which only 1 may be a China Rockfish or a Tiger Rockfish or a Quillback Rockfish
Bocaccio Rockfish 8,108 Non Retention Zero (0) retention for Bocaccio Rockfish
Yelloweye Rockfish 8,108 Non Retention Zero (0) retention of Yelloweye rockfish
Trout (Hatchery & Wild Combined) 8,108 Oversize Daily Limit Pieces - Included in Daily Limit 1
Oversize Length 50 cm

Area Descriptions

Area Map Area Description
Namu River The waters of the mouth of Namu River shoreward of a line from a fishing boundary sign located 180 m from a bridge at the mouth of Namu Creek on the west shore to a fishing boundary sign on the opposite side of the bay.


2019-04-17 14:30:04

Bivalve shellfish

Eating contaminated shellfish can be life threatening! Closures change frequently throughout the year. It is illegal to harvest shellfish from closed or contaminated areas.

Bivalve shellfish and snails

Bivalve shellfish have 2 hinged shells. Because they feed by filtering microscopic plankton from the water, changes in water quality can cause unsafe marine biotoxins, bacteria, or viruses to build up in their tissue. Snails can also accumulate toxins and pollutants.

Is it safe to harvest bivalve shellfish now in this location?
  1. Check for contamination in the subarea where you plan to harvest.
  2. If no contamination closures are in effect, check species regulations and additional harvest restrictions.

Questions? Contact Elysha Gordon, Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program Coordinator:

250-756-7192
Elysha.Gordon@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Bivalve shellfish contamination

Subarea Marine biotoxin update (open bivalve species) Sanitary contamination closures (closed to shellfish harvesting)
8-1 Closed to All Bivalve Species
8-2 Closed to All Bivalve Species
8-3 Closed to All Bivalve Species
8-4 Closed to All Bivalve Species
8-5 Closed to All Bivalve Species
8-6 Closed to All Bivalve Species
8-7 Closed to All Bivalve Species
8-8 Closed to All Bivalve Species
8-9 Closed to All Bivalve Species
8-10 Closed to All Bivalve Species
8-11 Closed to All Bivalve Species
8-12 Closed to All Bivalve Species
8-13 Closed to All Bivalve Species
8-14 Closed to All Bivalve Species
8-15 Closed to All Bivalve Species
8-16 Closed to All Bivalve Species
108-1 Closed to All Bivalve Species
108-2 Closed to All Bivalve Species


2019-04-01 17:34:59

Species regulations

Always check for restrictions.

Species Areas Gear Limits
(d/p/a)
All Species Scallop 8,108 0/0/0
Blue Mussel 8,108 0/0/0
California Mussel 8 0/0/0
Clams 8,108 0/0/0
Cockles 8,108 0/0/0
Geoduck 8,108 0/0/0
Moon Snail 8,108 Hand Picking 2/4/-
Olympia Oyster 8,108 0/0/0
Other Snail 8,108 Hand Picking 75/150/-
Pacific Oyster 8,108 0/0/0
Weathervane Scallop 8,108 0/0/0


2019-04-01 17:35:01

Restrictions

Always check for protected areas.

Species Areas Measure Type Measure Value
Bivalve Species Coastwide Reminder Because of the risk of contamination, you are not allowed to harvest bivalve shellfish (for any purpose) within: (1) 300 metres around industrial, municipal and sewage treatment plant outfall discharges (2) 125 metres around a marina, ferry wharf, floating living accommodation, or any finfish net pen (exceptions described as follows) (3) 25 meters around any floating living accommodation facility located within a shellfish aquaculture tenure where a zero-discharge and appropriate waste management plan is a condition of the Aquaculture Licence and is approved by the Regional Interdepartmental Committee (4) 0 meters of any finfish net pen within an aquaculture tenure where an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Management Plan approved by the Regional Interdepartmental Committee is in operation.
Coastwide Reminder Clams: No person shall retain a Manila Clam or Littleneck Clam smaller than 35 mm, nor a Butter Clam smaller than 55 mm.
Clams Coastwide Daily Limit Pieces 75 - When open, all species aggregate daily limit combined Areas 1 to 27 is 75, except Pacific Rim National Park where the all species aggregate limit is 24.
Pacific Oyster Coastwide Reminder To avoid inadvertently harvesting Olympia oysters while you are harvesting Pacific oysters, do not harvest any oyster less than 5 cm in diameter.


2019-04-01 17:35:19

Crab

Crab

You're responsible for understanding the regulations and restrictions that may affect an open fishery.

How to follow the rules
  1. Check the Area map. You need to know the location (subarea) where you plan to fish.
  2. Check the Species regulations table for fishing opportunities and basic regulations.
  3. Check the Restrictions table for special exceptions and more detailed regulations.
  4. Get to know the locations of protected areas. Permanent fishing restrictions are in effect in these areas to protect fish and fish habitat.

Species regulations

Always check for restrictions.

Species Areas Min Size Gear Limits
(d/p/a)		 Status
Box And Puget Sound King Crab 8,108 Dip Net, Hand Picking, Ring Net, Traps (Crab) 1/2/- Open (See Restrictions)
Dungeness Crab 8,108 165mm Dip Net, Hand Picking, Ring Net, Traps (Crab) 6/12/- Open (See Restrictions)
King Crab 8,108 Dip Net, Hand Picking, Ring Net, Traps (Crab) 2/4/- Open (See Restrictions)
Other Crab 8,108 Dip Net, Hand Picking, Ring Net, Traps (Crab) 4/8/- Open (See Restrictions)
Red Rock Crab 8,108 115mm Dip Net, Hand Picking, Ring Net, Traps (Crab) 6/12/- Open (See Restrictions)
Shore Crab 8,108 Dip Net, Hand Picking, Ring Net, Traps (Crab) 75/150/- Open (See Restrictions)


2019-04-10 10:15:40

Restrictions

Always check for protected areas.

Species Areas Measure Type Measure Value
Crab Coastwide Gear Restriction Rot Cord - All crab traps must have a section in the top or sidewall that has been secured by a single length of untreated cotton twine no greater than No. 120 (approximately 5 mm or 3/16 inch diameter). This twine is often referred to as rot cord. On deterioration this must produce a rectangular opening with a minimum size of 7 cm x 20 cm, or a square opening with a minimum size of 11 cm x 11 cm. This regulation is intended to ensure that if the trap is lost, the section secured by the cord will rot, allowing captive crabs to escape, and preventing the trap from continuing to fish. On traps with a rigid frame and a freely opening hinged lid the trap lid must be secured by a single length of untreated cotton twine no greater than No. 120 so that the trap lid will open freely when the rot cord is broken. No other fastenings may impede the hinged lid of the trap from opening.
Coastwide Gear Restriction Crab traps are required to have two unobstructed circular escape holes or rings, measuring a minimum of 105 mm in diameter
Coastwide Gear Restriction Gear Permitted Maximum of 2 ring nets, dip nets or traps or combination of these per fisher. Ensure gear is properly marked. Hand picking is permitted including by diving. No sharp-pointed instruments are permitted for harvesting crab. It is illegal to use snares in catching or attempting to catch crabs.
Reminder Keep navigation channels clear of buoys and lines. Any fishing gear that interferes with safe navigation can be removed under the Navigation Protection Act.
Crab 8,108 Reminder Combined daily limit for Dungeness crab, red rock crab, box crab, Puget Sound king crab and all other king crab is 6.
King Crab Coastwide Sex Restriction It is prohibited to possess female King crab
Dungeness Crab Coastwide Packaging and Transporting In order to be accurately measured, the carapace of Dungeness crab that you catch must remain attached until the crab arrives at your residence or it is consumed.
Sex Restriction It is prohibited to possess female Dungeness crab
Red Rock Crab Coastwide Packaging and Transporting In order to be accurately measured, the carapace of Red Rock crab that you catch must remain attached until the crab arrives at your residence or it is consumed.
Sex Restriction It is prohibited to possess female Red Rock crab


2019-04-01 14:36:02

Other invertebrates

Other invertebrates

You're responsible for understanding the regulations and restrictions that may affect an open fishery.

How to follow the rules
  1. Check the Area map. You need to know the location (subarea) where you plan to fish.
  2. Check the Species regulations table for fishing opportunities and basic regulations.
  3. Check the Restrictions table for special exceptions and more detailed regulations.
  4. Get to know the locations of protected areas. Permanent fishing restrictions are in effect in these areas to protect fish and fish habitat.

Species regulations

Always check for restrictions.

Species Areas Gear Limits
(d/p/a)		 Status
Abalone 8,108 0/0/0 Closed
Ghost Shrimp 8,108 Hand Digging, Hand Pump 50/100/- Open (See Restrictions)
Giant Barnacles 8,108 Hand Picking 6/12/- Open (See Restrictions)
Goose Barnacles 8,108 Hand Picking 2kg/4kg/- Open (See Restrictions)
Limpet 8,108 Hand Picking 75/150/- Open (See Restrictions)
Octopus 8,108 Diving, Hand Picking, Hook and Line, Traps (Crab) 1/2/- Open (See Restrictions)
Opal Squid 8,108 Cast Net, Jigging 200/400/- Open (See Restrictions)
Other Shellfish species 8,108 20/40/- Open (See Restrictions)
Sand Dollar 8,108 Hand Picking 6/12/- Open (See Restrictions)
Sea Cucumber 8,108 Diving, Hand Picking 12/24/- Open (See Restrictions)
Sea Urchin 8,108 Diving, Hand Picking 12/24/- Open (See Restrictions)
Shrimp/Prawn 8,108 Ring Net, Spear, Trap (Other species of Shellfish) 200/400/- Open (See Restrictions)
Squid, All other species 8,108 Cast Net, Jigging 20/40/- Open (See Restrictions)
Starfish Sea Star 8,108 Hand Picking 6/12/- Open (See Restrictions)


2019-04-16 13:31:43

Restrictions

Always check for protected areas.

Species Areas Measure Type Measure Value
Shrimp/Prawn Coastwide Gear Restriction Floats - Traps must be marked with floating tag or buoy that has your name on it. This includes traps tied to a boat or dock or fished from shore. If two traps are attached to one ground-line, it is sufficient to attach a tag, float or buoy that bears the operator¿s name to one end of the ground-line.
Reminder Combined daily limit for all shrimp species, including prawn, is 200 (aggregate limit)
Shrimp/Prawn Coastwide Gear Restriction Maximum 4 traps or ring nets or combination of these per fisher.
Coastwide Reminder Prawns with eggs: No person shall retain prawns carrying eggs, or remove eggs from the underside of prawns carrying eggs. All prawns carrying eggs externally on the underside of the tail shall be returned to the water immediately and in the manner that causes the least harm.


2019-04-17 14:30:23

Protected areas

Protected areas

Learn about permanent restrictions that are in effect:

Area Type Closure Name
8-1 Rockfish Conservation Area West Calvert
108-1 Rockfish Conservation Area West Calvert

Area Descriptions

Area Map Area Description
West Calvert West_Calvert.png Those waters of Subareas 8-1 and 108-1 that lie inside a line that: begins at 51°28.815'N 128°05.194'W Herbert Point then to 51°28.815'N 128°10.800'W in water then to 51°35.820'N 128°10.048'W in water then to 51°35.820'N 128°08.936'W Calvert Island then southerly following the shoreline to the beginning point.


2019-04-01 01:10:47