Fishing Report Archives
Report Filed: February 21, 2008
Click Image
Halibut quota's
The halibut allocation for this year is dropping from a possession limit of 3 down to 2. The daily limit is 2 and the possession limit is two (used to be 3)
Fisheries in their wisdom of giving 88% of the Coastwide halibut quota to commercial fleet is cranking back the recreational catch so we can live within their allocation. This seems backwards as recreational fishing for halibut in BC is becoming very popular and makes lots of money for the province, and the people that work and live here. DFO would rather limit that recreational fishery so it can protect a commercial fishery that makes about 20% of the value per fish that the recreational fishery does. Tradition is one thing but common sense is another.
The other thing that is changing is electronic licenses cannot be used by U.S. residents that are fishing in areas 23, or 123 to retain halibut. I guess they think that too many guys from Neah Bay are shooting across and loading up on halibut in 123 now, not just in Swiftsure in areas 121. I don't know about this, but if it's really true than this isn't a bad change.
Here is the fisheries notice:
Category(s):
RECREATIONAL - Fin Fish (Other than Salmon)
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Subject: FN0077-Halibut: All Tidal Waters - Further to FN0044 - Changes to the Recreational Fishery
Further to Fishery Notice FN0044:
In order to manage within domestic halibut allocations, the following changes
will be implemented in the 2008 recreational fishery:
Coastwide
---------
March 1 to 31: Daily limit of one. Possession limit of 3.
April 1 to May 31: Daily limit of one. Possession limit of 2.
June 1 to Dec 31: Daily limit of two. Possession limit of 2.
Areas 121, 23 and 123
---------------------
April 1 to Dec 31:
• No person shall fish for or retain halibut, rockfish and lingcod in that
portion of Area 121 seaward of a line that begins at 48 degrees 34.000 minutes
north latitude and 125 degrees 17.386 minutes west longitude and continues
southeasterly at a bearing of 116 degrees true to a point at 48 degrees 28.327
minutes north latitude and 125 degrees 01.687 minutes west longitude. [12
nautical mile limit]
April 1/08 to March 31/09:
• Electronic licence conditions will be expanded as follows:
"no person who is not a Canadian resident may fish for or retain halibut under
this licence in Areas 121, 23 and 123."
Variation Order Nos 2008-80 (close time) and 2008-81 (quota).
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Bill Shaw 250-756-7152 and Gary Logan 604-666-9033
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center - FN0077
Sent February 21, 2008 at 14:01
Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
