IPHC Regulatory Area 2B

British Columbia—Sport Fisheries

Open: 1 February 2022 unless more restrictive regulations are in place

Close: the recreational (sport) fishery limit allocated by DFO is taken, or 31 December, whichever is earlier

IPHC Regulatory Area 2B is located off of British Columbia, Canada. The IPHC sets the overall total allowable catch and season (called the “fishing period” in IPHC regulations) for the area. The Fisheries and Oceans Canada then allocates Pacific halibut among user groups in IPHC Regulatory Area 2B.

Through 2003, the Canadian sport fishery was managed without any fishery limits, but anglers were restricted by bag and possession limits. However, in 2004 Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) enacted a catch sharing plan that worked from a combined commercial-sport fishery catch limit set by the IPHC. Under the plan, DFO allocated 12% of the combined limit to the sport fishery and 88% to the commercial fishery. DFO used management tools such as adjusting season lengths, reduced bag and possession limits, and area closures to maintain the sport catch within its allocation. In years when the sport fishery exceeded its allocation, the sector purchased unharvested commercial quota to cover the sport harvest overage. Catch statistics are compiled by DFO and provided annually to the IPHC. In 2008 and 2010, the sport fishery reached its allocation and was closed in October. In 2017, it was closed in September. DFO and the commercial and sport fishing sectors are currently exploring methods of more efficiently using the combined catch limit. Beginning with the 2013 fishing season, DFO changed the allocation between sectors to 85% for the commercial fishery and 15% for the sport fishery.

Links

DFO sport fishing webpage – sport fishing requirements, in-season changes to restrictions, and experimental recreational program regulations.