Are they moving toward standardizing Commercial crab floats?
I don't know.
I just can comment on what I've heard in the meeting. It's easy to follow the meeting on the form and hook up to view it. You can ask your questions to DFO.
Here is the latest post from DFO.
I suggest people follow the DFO posts or attend the call in SFAB meetings.
RECREATIONAL - General Informationstyle='mso-special-character:line-break'>
Fishery Notice - Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Subject: FN0243-Important Information on the BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence Conditions for licence year April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licences for the upcoming licence year, starting on April 1, 2022, will be available towards the end of March; a subsequent Fishery Notice will be posted to advise the actual date of availability.
New and significant conditions of the BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence for April 1, 2022 to March 31, 2023 are as follows:
--The licence is now a two page licence; you must print both pages and attach/keep them together – OR – have your licence immediately available to be viewed on an electronic device. Note that we were unable to keep the expanding number of conditions of licence on one page. Fishers are reminded that catch records must be immediately permanently recorded on the paper licence (on page 1), or in their NRLS account, for the following species and areas: Chinook and halibut retained in any Management Area, and lingcod retained in Areas 12 to 19 (excluding Subarea 12-14), and Subareas 20-5 to 20-7 and 29-5.
CRAB & PRAWN/SHRIMP TRAP FLOATS:
--Floats must be made of a durable material and designed for operation in marine waters. Avoid plastic jugs, bottles and foam blocks that may deteriorate or sink, or are hard to see or mark. This change supports improved enforcement, the removal of junk from marine waters, and supports cleaner oceans.
SALMON HEAD RECOVERY PROGRAM:
--The conditions of licence detail the equivalent head-off lengths for Chinook and coho salmon that may be retained during openings as described in the BC Sport Fishing Guide href="
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html">
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/index-eng.html. The online BC Sport Fishing Guide also provides details on overall length restrictions, how to make length measurements, packaging instructions and the Salmon Head Recovery Program.
--Fishers are encouraged to return Chinook and coho salmon heads to Salmon Head Recovery Depots for analysis by the Department; the recovery of coded-wire tags provides critical information for coast-wide stock assessment. More information on this program can be found in the online BC Sport Fishing Guide or by contacting the toll free phone number at (866) 483-9994.
SPECIAL NOTES:
1) Under recent regulatory changes, violations of conditions of licence may be subject to a ticket/fine of $750, plus a 15% processing surcharge.
2) EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2023 - Crab & Prawn/Shrimp traps. The Department would like to advise that changes to the conditions of licence to standardize crab and prawn/shrimp float requirements will be proceeding for the licence year beginning on April 1, 2023. This change is required to support improved enforcement and catch monitoring. This advance notice is intended to provide stakeholders and gear manufacturers/distributors adequate time to prepare for these planned changes. Some fishers may be required to purchase new fishing gear over the next year in order to be in compliance on April 1, 2023 with the following requirements.
- Crab Traps - Floats attached to crab traps must be bullet shaped cylindrical floats a minimum of 27cm in length and 12cm in diameter. Typically these are foam floats which can be found at most tackle retailers.
- Prawn and Shrimp Traps - Floats attached to prawn and shrimp traps must be round (spherical) in shape and a minimum of 27cm in diameter. Typically these are ‘Scotchman’ style floats which can be found at most tackle retailers.
These changes have been reviewed and approved by the Sport Fishing Advisory Board.
OTHER NOTES:
--Tidal Water Sport Fishing Licences can be purchased via any computer connected to the internet at
href="
https://recfish-pechesportive.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/nrls-sndpp/index-eng.cfm">
https://recfish-pechesportive.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/nrls-sndpp/index-eng.cfm
--Did you witness suspicious fishing activity or a violation? If so, please call the Fisheries and Ocean Canada 24-hour toll free Observe, Record, Report line at (800) 465-4336.
--For the 24 hour recorded opening and closure line, call toll free at 1-(866)431-FISH(3474).
INFORMATION:
Feliksas Markevicius,
Recreational Fisheries Advisor (Pacific Region) Fisheries & Oceans Canada
href="mailto:
Feliksas.Markevicius@dfo-mpo.gc.ca">
Feliksas.Markevicius@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
