The Government of B.C. is suspending angling for virtually all of the remaining streams on Vancouver Island due to ongoing warm water temperatures and low flows.
Effective Aug. 4 through Sept. 30, 2015, all angling in streams and rivers in Wildlife Management Units 1-7 through 1-13 is suspended. The closure has been put in place to protect fish stocks at a time when they are vulnerable due to low flows and high water temperatures.
Combined with the order that came into effect July 4 for South Vancouver Island, almost all fishing in Vancouver Island streams is now prohibited.
The Campbell, Qualicum (known as “Big Qualicum”) and Quinsam rivers are now the only rivers or streams on Vancouver Island exempt from the closure. On these three rivers fishing can continue as normal. These rivers have sufficient water refuges to adequately protect fish, even with normal angling pressure.
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has also closed fishing on Vancouver Island and the two closures will support one another. B.C. government fisheries biologists are monitoring approximately 40 other key angling streams throughout the province, and if conditions warrant, additional closures are possible. Angling closures are enabled through the British Columbia Sport Fishing Regulations of the federal Fisheries Act.
