No Fishing for Chinook in the Lower Lillooet River

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RECREATIONAL – Salmon

Fishery Notice – Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Subject: FN0253-Salmon: Birkenhead River Chinook – Birkenhead River and Lower Lillooet River in Region 2 – Recreational Management Actions

In 2008, the spawning escapement of Birkenhead River Chinook declined to a very
low level. The 2009 returns are expected to be low as well and the Department
is implementing additional measures to reduce impacts.

Effective 00:01 hrs Thursday April 2, 2009 and until 23:59 hrs Friday July 31,
2009 additional recreational fishery restrictions on salmon will be in effect
on the lower Lillooet River from the confluence of Harrison Lake upstream to
the headwaters of Lillooet Lake and the waters of the Birkenhead River upstream
to Birkenhead Lake in order to protect Chinook salmon.

In these waters for this time period there is no fishing for salmon.

Variation Order No. 2009-206

This action is supported by the Squamish – Lillooet Sport Fishing Advisory
Committee.

Notes:

Barbless hooks are required when fishing for salmon in tidal and non-tidal
waters of British Columbia. This includes all species of fish in the Fraser
River.

Anglers are requested to release any hatchery marked sockeye. These fish are
hatchery raised sockeye and part of a recovery program designed to increase the
numbers of Cultus Lake sockeye.

The term “hatchery marked” means a fish that has a healed scar in place of the
adipose fin.

Sport anglers are encouraged to participate in the voluntary Salmon Sport Head
Recovery program by labelling and submitting heads from adipose fin-clipped
chinook and coho salmon. Recovery of coded-wire tags provides critical
information for coast-wide stock assessment. Contact the Salmon Sport Head
Recovery Program at (866) 483-9994 for further information.

Rockfish Conservation Areas that are currently in effect and are closed to all
fin fishing. Descriptions of these closures, and other recreational fishing
information, can be found on the Internet at:

www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/recfish

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
(866) 431-FISH.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact the local DFO office in your area for further information.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Operations Center – FN0253
Sent April 2, 2009 at 14:54
Visit us on the Web at http://www.pac.dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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