cohochinook
Well-Known Member
Here's the email update I got from DFO:
Dear Stakeholder,
As an active participant in the Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reef Conservation Initiative, I am writing to inform you that today, Minister for Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced the establishment of eight marine refuges totalling 3.5km² in Howe Sound to protect nine newly discovered glass sponge reefs.
Following input from First Nations and stakeholder consultations, the Department decided to proceed with formal fishery closures for eight areas containing nine significant reefs and adhere to a protection boundary of 150 metres from the reefs edges as a precautionary measure (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html). Effective April 1, 2019 all commercial, recreational and First Nations Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) bottom contact fishing activities for prawn, shrimp, crab and groundfish will be prohibited within portions of Subareas 28-2 and 28-4 to protect nine Howe Sound glass sponge reefs, as marine refuges. This includes the following fishing activities:
As shared throughout the consultation process, these closures are being put in place to protect glass sponge reefs, and the important habitat they provide for many invertebrate and fish species including economically important species such as prawns and rockfish.
Nine remaining sites in Howe Sound require further ground-truthing to confirm their status and ecological significance. Following this announcement, DFO plans to work with First Nations and stakeholders to:
DFO News Release and Backgrounder:
New marine refuges in the Howe Sound to protect glass sponge reefs
De nouveaux refuges marins dans la baie Howe pour protéger des récifs d’éponges siliceuses
Sincerely,
Deirdre Finn
Fisheries Management Officer, Sustainable Fisheries Framework
Fisheries and Oceans / Government of Canada
Deirdre.Finn@dfo-mpo.gc.ca / Tel: 604-666-2606
Agente de gestion des Pêches, Cadre pour la pêche durable
Pêches et Océans Canada/ Gouvernement du Canada
Deirdre.Finn@dfo-mpo.gc.ca / Tel: 604-666-2606
Dear Stakeholder,
As an active participant in the Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reef Conservation Initiative, I am writing to inform you that today, Minister for Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, the Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, announced the establishment of eight marine refuges totalling 3.5km² in Howe Sound to protect nine newly discovered glass sponge reefs.
Following input from First Nations and stakeholder consultations, the Department decided to proceed with formal fishery closures for eight areas containing nine significant reefs and adhere to a protection boundary of 150 metres from the reefs edges as a precautionary measure (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/oceans/ceccsr-cerceef/closures-fermetures-eng.html). Effective April 1, 2019 all commercial, recreational and First Nations Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) bottom contact fishing activities for prawn, shrimp, crab and groundfish will be prohibited within portions of Subareas 28-2 and 28-4 to protect nine Howe Sound glass sponge reefs, as marine refuges. This includes the following fishing activities:
- Prawn and crab by trap
- Shrimp and groundfish by trawl
- Groundfish by hook and line
As shared throughout the consultation process, these closures are being put in place to protect glass sponge reefs, and the important habitat they provide for many invertebrate and fish species including economically important species such as prawns and rockfish.
Nine remaining sites in Howe Sound require further ground-truthing to confirm their status and ecological significance. Following this announcement, DFO plans to work with First Nations and stakeholders to:
- Develop an education and awareness campaign on the new closures and prohibition of downrigger gear for recreational salmon trolling
- Pursue options to conduct future research to ground-truth the additional sites in Howe Sound
- Initiate and consult on the development of a long term comprehensive management plan
DFO News Release and Backgrounder:
New marine refuges in the Howe Sound to protect glass sponge reefs
De nouveaux refuges marins dans la baie Howe pour protéger des récifs d’éponges siliceuses
Sincerely,
Deirdre Finn
Fisheries Management Officer, Sustainable Fisheries Framework
Fisheries and Oceans / Government of Canada
Deirdre.Finn@dfo-mpo.gc.ca / Tel: 604-666-2606
Agente de gestion des Pêches, Cadre pour la pêche durable
Pêches et Océans Canada/ Gouvernement du Canada
Deirdre.Finn@dfo-mpo.gc.ca / Tel: 604-666-2606