Glass Sponge Reef Marine Refuge: Outer Gulf Islands

This map is for information only and should not be used for fishing, navigation or other purposes.

Release date: April 2026

Map — Outer Gulf Islands Marine Refuge — Coordinates and description

Coordinates

Those portions of Subareas 18-1 and 29-4 that lie inside the following lines that:

Outer Gulf Islands 1

**begin at** 48°54.936'N 123°19.589'W

**then southerly to** 48°54.283'N 123°18.529'W

**then southwesterly to** 48°54.114'N 123°18.619'W

**then southwesterly to** 48°54.065'N 123°18.771'W

**then northwesterly to** 48°54.787'N 123°19.929'W

**then northeasterly to** 48°54.902'N 123°19.793'W

**then to the beginning point** 48°54.936'N 123°19.589'W

Outer Gulf Islands 2

**begin at** 48°52.588'N 123°15.261'W

**then easterly to** 48°52.520'N 123°14.537'W

**then northwesterly to** 48°51.971'N 123°13.768'W

**then southwesterly to** 48°51.795'N 123°13.947'W

**then southeasterly to** 48°52.150'N 123°14.444'W

**then southwesterly to** 48°52.038'N 123°14.678'W

**then northeasterly to** 48°52.479'N 123°15.521'W

**then to the beginning point** 48°52.588’N 123°15.261’W

Outer Gulf Islands 3

**begin at** 48°51.602'N 123°13.233'W

**then southerly to** 48°51.309'N 123°12.751'W

**then northwesterly to** 48°50.913'N 123°12.938'W

**then southeasterly to** 48°50.844'N 123°13.059'W

**then southwesterly to** 48°51.163'N 123°13.662'W

**then northeasterly to** 48°51.579'N 123°13.378'W

**then to the beginning point** 48°51.602'N 123°13.233'W

Outer Gulf Islands 4

**begin at** 48°50.999'N 123°12.391'W

**then southerly to** 48°50.608'N 123°11.603'W

**then southwesterly to** 48°50.097'N 123°10.956'W

**then northeasterly to** 48°49.959'N 123°11.182'W

**then southwesterly to** 48°50.857'N 123°12.654'W

**then northeasterly to** 48°50.959'N 123°12.566'W

**then to the beginning point** 48°50.999'N 123°12.391'W

Data sources and notes

Map layers sourced from the Canadian Hydrographic service, Natural Resources Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Government of British Columbia.

Produced by the Fisheries Management Conservation Targets Team, DFO, Pacific Region.

Updated: 2024-01-11

Datum: NAD 83, Projection: BC Albers

Please check our website for current fishing regulations.

Outer Gulf Islands 1
begin at	48°54.936'N	123°19.589'W
then southerly to	48°54.283'N	123°18.529'W
then southwesterly to	48°54.114'N	123°18.619'W
then southwesterly to	48°54.065'N	123°18.771'W
then northwesterly to	48°54.787'N	123°19.929'W
then northeasterly to	48°54.902'N	123°19.793'W
then to the beginning point	48°54.936'N	123°19.589'W

Outer Gulf Islands 2
begin at	48°52.588'N	123°15.261'W
then easterly to	48°52.520'N	123°14.537'W
then northwesterly to	48°51.971'N	123°13.768'W
then southwesterly to	48°51.795'N	123°13.947'W
then southeasterly to	48°52.150'N	123°14.444'W
then southwesterly to	48°52.038'N	123°14.678'W
then northeasterly to	48°52.479'N	123°15.521'W
then to the beginning point	48°52.588’N	123°15.261’W

Outer Gulf Islands 3
begin at	48°51.602'N	123°13.233'W
then southerly to	48°51.309'N	123°12.751'W
then northwesterly to	48°50.913'N	123°12.938'W
then southeasterly to	48°50.844'N	123°13.059'W
then southwesterly to	48°51.163'N	123°13.662'W
then northeasterly to	48°51.579'N	123°13.378'W
then to the beginning point	48°51.602'N	123°13.233'W

Outer Gulf Islands 4
begin at	48°50.999'N	123°12.391'W
then southerly to	48°50.608'N	123°11.603'W
then southwesterly to	48°50.097'N	123°10.956'W
then northeasterly to	48°49.959'N	123°11.182'W
then southwesterly to	48°50.857'N	123°12.654'W
then northeasterly to	48°50.959'N	123°12.566'W
then to the beginning point	48°50.999'N	123°12.391'W

You must follow both Glass Sponge Reef and Rockfish Conservation Area regulations wherever these protected areas overlap.

Glass Sponge Reefs

Regulations in Strait of Georgia Glass Sponge Reef Marine Refuges

Following consultations with First Nations, commercial and recreational harvesters, different levels of government, and conservation organizations, we have put in place measures to protect and conserve glass sponge reefs on British Columbia's south coast.

No commercial, recreational or Indigenous Food, Social and Ceremonial bottom-contact fishing activities are allowed.

This includes fishing for:

prawn by trap
shrimp by trap and trawl
crab by trap
groundfish (including halibut) by trawl and hook-and-line

Rockfish Conservation Areas

Regulations

Prohibited fisheries activities

The fisheries activities listed below are restricted in order to help protect rockfish from mortality and to support their conservation. By following regulations in Rockfish Conservation Areas, you are actively helping to protect these species.

Commercial harvesters may not fish for:

salmon by troll
groundfish by means of bottom trawl, hook and line, mid-water trawl, or trap
tuna by hook and line
shrimp by trawl

Recreational fishers may not fish for:

any species by spearfishing
groundfish by angling
salmon by trolling, jigging or mooching
octopus by angling
squid by jigging

Permitted fisheries activities

Some other fisheries activities may be allowed in RCAs. Check our fishery notice system and our sport fishing guide for current details about fishing opportunities, closures and regulations in the area you want to fish in. Make sure you know and follow your conditions of licence every time you head out to fish.

The use of descending devices is mandatory when recreational anglers release rockfish. Learn more about barotrauma and how you can help protect rockfish.

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Glass Sponge Reef Marine Refuge: Outer Gulf Islands

Coordinates and description

Coordinates

Data sources and notes

Regulations in Strait of Georgia Glass Sponge Reef Marine Refuges

Regulations

Prohibited fisheries activities

Permitted fisheries activities

Related links