After the regular January closure, to allow halibut to spawn, it looks like it is "game on" once again, starting February 1st. The halibut limit is one fish per day, two in possession.

There are additional conservation meetings coming up soon, so hopefully this doesn't change....but for now, that's good news!

Fishery Notice Report

DFO has held initial consultations with the Sport Fishing Advisory Board (SFAB)
on halibut management options for the 2010 season.

As an interim measure DFO will open the fishery February 1 at a daily limit of
one (1) and a possession limit of two (2).  When Canada's allocation under the
International Pacific Halibut Commission (IPHC) is known after the IPHC's
annual meeting in late January, DFO will convene meetings with the SFAB to
complete management measures for the 2010 season. These measures will be
announced as soon as possible.


Coastwide

Effective at 00:01 hours February 1, 2010 fishing for halibut will be opened
coastwide.  The daily limit is one (1) per day with a possession limit of two
(2).

The exceptions to this opening are:

Areas 121, 23 and 123:
Effective 00:01 hours February 1, 2010 to 23:59 hours December 31, 2010:
- No person shall fish for or retain halibut, rockfish and lingcod in Area 121
outside the 12 nautical mile limit seaward of a line that begins at 48 degrees
34.000 minutes North latitude and 125 degrees 17.386 minutes West longitude and
continues south easterly 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.
- Electronic licence conditions will be continued as follows:
"Only a Canadian resident may fish for or retain halibut under an electronic
licence in management Areas 121, 23 and 123."

Area 121:
A reminder to recreational harvesters, that the waters of Swiftsure Bank,
inside a line from 48°34.00'N and 125°06.00'W, thence to 48°34.00'N and 124°
54.20'W, thence to 48°29.62'N and 124°43.40'W, thence following the
International Boundary between Canada and the U.S. to 48°29.55'N and 124°
56.20'W, thence in a straight line to the point of commencement, are closed to
all finfish, all year.

Note: Rockfish Conservations Areas (RCA's) remain in effect - refer to the
following website for descriptions:
http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/rec/restricted-restreint/rca-acs-eng.htm


FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact: Devona Adams 604-666-3271 or Tamee Mawani 604-666-9033