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In order to use the FishingBC App, you will need a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet running Apple iOS (version 12 or higher) or Android OS (version 8 or higher) with an internet connection.

As of version 2.5 of the FishingBC App you are not required to have an account or to log in to use some of its features. However, you must be logged in to a FishingBC App account to link your National Recreational Licensing System (NRLS) account, retrieve your official BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence, and use the app to display your licence and to record your mandatory catch.

Once your licence has been added to the FishingBC App, the app will necessarily contain your personal information: a password protected account ensures that your personal information is kept private and accessible only to you.

You can create multiple FishingBC accounts (each will require a unique email address) to allow more than one angler to use a single device to display their licence and record fishing activity as required or necessary.

You must first create an account in NRLS, and then purchase a BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence. You must also download the FishingBC App to your mobile device and create an app account.

Once these steps have been taken, you may voluntarily link your FishingBC App account to your NRLS account following the instructions in the app. Once linked, your licence will be available for display in the app, and is suitable to show to a fishery officer, fishery guardian, conservation officer, or other enforcement authority upon request.

If you purchased a fishing licence from an Independent Access Provider (IAP) and want to add it to the FishingBC App, please contact DFO and request your licence be added to the National Recreational Licensing System (NRLS).

Note that if you previously obtained a licence through an IAP, an NRLS account may already have been created for you. To log in to it, please Recover Your Account.

Yes. If you choose to unlink your FishingBC App account from your NRLS account, your electronic licence will no longer be available in the app. As long as you were in wi-fi or cell range when you unlinked the accounts, your catch will have been uploaded to your NRLS account.

If you do unlink, remember to transfer all of your annual retained catch to a paper licence (in ink) for Chinook salmon and halibut caught in all tidal areas, and lingcod caught in Areas 12 to 19 (excluding Sub-Area 12-14) and Sub-Areas 20-5 to 20-7 and 29-5 so that you can present it to a fishery officer, fishery guardian, conservation officer, or other enforcement authority upon request.

The link between your FishingBC App account and your NRLS account may sometimes be broken due to technical issues. If this happens, please try relinking the accounts, and contact DFO if this doesn't work. In addition, your accounts will need to be relinked for each new licence year.

Yes. You can download a copy of your electronic licence as a PDF file from your NRLS account to your mobile device, however you will not be able to record catches to the PDF. You will either need a paper copy of your licence to record catches on (in ink), or you will need to record your catches to your NRLS account (available only in areas of connectivity) — for Chinook and halibut caught in all tidal areas, and lingcod caught in Areas 12 to 19 (excluding Sub-Area 12-14) and Sub-Areas 20-5 to 20-7 and 29-5 — to present to a fishery officer, fishery guardian, conservation officer, or other enforcement authority, upon request.

Note that the FishingBC App's Catch Log will continue to allow you to record catches and will display mandatory records on your licence while you are outside of cell coverage. You will not be able to access NRLS without a network connection, as NRLS is not available as a standalone mobile app. Therefore, in areas with limited or no connectivity, using the NRLS catch recording system for mandatory catch is not possible.

If you have linked your NRLS account with your FishingBC App account you do not need to and should not carry a paper licence.

Please note, however, that for the purposes of monitoring and enforcement of recreational fisheries, a fishery officer may request that a person possessing a licence provide identification. Please carry identification with you when you are engaging in any recreational fishing and related activities.

If you have forgotten your password, use the app's own password recovery feature to retrieve it. From the app's login screen choose Forgot your credentials?. From there provide either your username or email address, and click the Recover password button.

You will be sent an email with a link that will allow you to create a new password. Please note that for security reasons, the password reset link will expire after 30 minutes. (If you do not receive the message, try looking for it in the spam / junk folder in your email software.)

Important note: The account you created for using the FishingBC App is different and completely separate from your DFO licensing system account, so please ensure that you are using the correct username / email address and password when trying to log into the app.

If you need further assistance, please contact us.

If you are without wi-fi and are outside of cell service coverage, displaying your licence and catch recording will continue to work in the FishingBC App, and can be viewed for inspection upon request. When your mobile device is back within cellular or wi-fi service range, any suitable catch records made will be automatically transmitted to your NRLS account.

While many aspects of the FishingBC App continue to work without a network connection, there are some features and functionality that are limited or unavailable while you are offline. Without data you are still able to:

• Log in to your app account
• Make Catch Log entries; any entries you make while offline will be uploaded the next time you use the app with a network connection
• View Regulations; note that you will be limited to the most recent regulations data downloaded to your device
• View and use the Interactive Map
• View and use the Species Identification section; you will not, however, be able to submit a photo of your catch using the Enhanced Species Identification feature

There are a few things you will not be able to do in the app without a data connection:

• Create a new FishingBC App account
• Make changes to your existing account Profile
• Add a new user to your device
• Update the app with the latest content and Regulations
• Access any of the External Resources

There is just one version of the FishingBC App, but within the app you can switch between English, French, Punjabi, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese. Look for the Change Language option in the main menu.

Note that while regulations are provided in a translated form, the English and French language versions of the regulations should be considered the official versions.

Yes, the FishingBC App works on tablets, and has been updated to include additional support for devices with larger screens: the app can now be used in both portrait and landscape orientations on tablets.

If you encounter a problem of any kind in the FishingBC App, please let us know by using the app's built-in Report a Problem feature. We take these reports seriously, and the extra information the app provides helps us track down and address the issues reported.

You will find links to the problem report form at the bottom of the main menu, and at the bottom of the main regulations screen.

The Sport Fishing Institute of British Columbia is committed to maintaining the integrity and privacy of your personal information. Our Privacy Policy is a part of our Terms and Conditions and it is intended to explain how we handle personal information that we collect from you when you visit this website, use the FishingBC App, or otherwise interact with us.

FishingBC App users who choose to use the electronic licence feature must first give their consent in the app to link their accounts and to share their data between the app and NRLS. App users may withdraw their consent and unlink their app and NRLS accounts at any time. For app users that link or have previously linked accounts with NRLS, the app user's account, licence, and catch record data may be subject to access by DFO under any licence or catch record regulatory enforcement action. In addition, catch record data is routinely shared between the app and NRLS for currently linked accounts.

Tidal / saltwater recreational fishers of all ages are legally required to obtain and have in their possession a valid BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence prior to angling in tidal waters. Anglers intending to retain salmon caught in tidal waters must also purchase a salmon conservation stamp and have it affixed to their licence. This stamp is not required if licence holders are not planning to fish for or retain salmon.

For more information, please refer to the DFO website.

Licences are delivered electronically through the National Recreational Licensing System (NRLS). Once you register, you will also be able to replace a lost licence or renew future licences through NRLS.

Licence cost varies based on the age and residency of the fisher, as well as the term of the licence, which may range from one day to one year. A full list of tidal water licence fees can be found here.

You may be able to purchase pre-printed licences in-person at various locations like tackle shops, sporting goods stores, and fishing lodges. Independent Access Providers can also add a salmon conservation stamp to a new or existing licence. But remember that BC is a big place, and not every region will have a convenient location to buy a pre-printed licence when you need it. Vendors may also charge an additional fee.

It is best to purchase your licence online before you head out, as many fishing locations do not have an Independent Access Provider who sells fishing licences.

A BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence is required to fish for or harvest any species of finfish or shellfish in BC tidal waters. Types of licences, fees, and a link to purchase a fishing licence can be found on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada website.

Licence holders are required to immediately and permanently record all retained Chinook and halibut caught in all Pacific Fishery Management Areas (PFMA), and any lingcod caught in PFMA 12 to 19 (excluding Sub-Area 12-14), Sub-Areas 20-5 to 20-7, and Sub-Area 29-5 when there are time and species openings for retention.

The licence holder's current licence and all catch records must be in possession and available for inspection upon request by a DFO fishery officer or authorized fisheries guardian. Acceptable catch records are as displayed on your valid and current licence on the FishingBC App, or on a paper licence (in ink), or using the NRLS (National Recreational Licensing System) website (which can be accessed only where there is data connectivity).

Children under 16 years old require a licence and a salmon conservation stamp to retain salmon, however there is no fee for their licence, only the stamp.

Annual licences are valid from the date shown on the licence to the following March 31. Licences of a shorter duration expire at midnight on the final day of validity.

It is illegal to hold more than one valid licence. It is permissible to have a combination of one-day, 3-day, or 5-day licences provided dates do not overlap. Annual limits for Chinook, halibut, and lingcod are counted in aggregate for each species across all licences.

Yes. Any individual (whether adult, senior or juvenile) who is planning on retaining any species of Pacific salmon that they catch must first purchase a salmon conservation stamp for their BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence. Once you have purchased the stamp through your NRLS account, it will appear on the electronic copy of your licence, both in NRLS and in the FishingBC App (when you have linked your accounts).

If you want to add a stamp after you have purchased a licence, you can do so through your NRLS account. (Note that if you add the current year's stamp image to your licence and are using a paper copy, the licence will need to be reprinted, and the catch records on the previous licence transferred to the replacement licence.)

The salmon conservation stamp must be purchased annually, and is valid from April 1st to March 31st of each fishing season; one stamp is applicable to multiple copies of any combination of one-day, 3-day, and 5-day licences. Please retain all copies.

For more information, please refer to the DFO website.

Yes. Once you have purchased the stamp through your NRLS account, it will appear on your electronic licence — both in NRLS and in the FishingBC App — when you have linked your accounts.

Once you have a printed copy of your BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence — or have linked your FishingBC App account with your NRLS (National Recreational Licensing System) account and saved a copy of your licence to your electronic device — you can go fishing. Recreational fishers must carry either a printed copy or a digital licence, not both (a signature is not required). Failing to immediately present your licence to a fishery officer when requested is a violation.

Recreational fishers are required to immediately record all retained Chinook and halibut caught in all Management Areas and lingcod caught in Areas 12 to 19 (excluding Sub-Area 12-14), Sub-Areas 20-5 to 20-7, and Sub-Area 29-5. Catches may be recorded on only one of: the FishingBC App Catch Log, appearing on the linked licence; on a paper copy of the licence (in ink); or using the NRLS website (which may only be used in areas with data connectivity). All catch records must be available for immediate inspection upon request of a fishery officer or authorized fisheries guardian.

The FishingBC App was developed for tidal water (saltwater) recreational fishing within British Columbia as managed by the federal government's Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

Non-tidal (freshwater) recreational fishing and licensing is managed by the Province of British Columbia. While there may be a time in the future where both licences and information about fresh and tidal water recreational fisheries are displayed on the FishingBC App, that is not the case as of now.

Any questions related to non-tidal angling and licences should be directed to the Province of BC.

If you have linked your NRLS account with your FishingBC App and retrieved your BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence, you should record all retained Chinook and halibut caught in all Management Areas, and lingcod caught in Areas 12 to 19 (excluding Sub-Area 12-14), Sub-Areas 20-5 to 20-7, and Sub-Area 29-5 in the Catch Log within the app. You do not need to and should not also have a paper licence in your possession.

Failing to immediately record a catch that you are required to document to your licence is a violation. (A fishery officer will be satisfied seeing the catches you have recorded in the app and as displayed on your licence. Remember, failing to show your licence to a fishery officer when requested is a violation.)

Consider using the FishingBC App to record all of your catch. The Catch Log will not only save mandatory catch to your licence, it can also serve as a memory aid for catch survey programs you may be required to complete such as the Internet Recreational Effort and Catch (iREC), or for participation in voluntary programs such as the Coded Wire Tag Program and the Salmon Head Recovery Program.

For more information about the Coded Wire Tag Program, please refer to the DFO website.

If you are wondering about adding another fisher to the app, please refer to the next couple of questions below.

If you have linked your NRLS account with your FishingBC App account, your official licence will automatically be retrieved in the app.

Note that as of version 2.5, it is no longer possible to manually add a licence to your FishingBC App account.

You may wish to refer to the question above regarding “What if I bought my licence from an Independent Access Provider?”

Note that it is illegal to hold more than one active licence at a time.

You can use a single device to record fishing activity for multiple users. Just add additional users to the FishingBC App and switch between users when recording catches (using the Log Out / Switch Users link in the main menu). Note that you must be online (i.e. have a cellular or wi-fi connection) to add a user.

You can add more than one user to the FishingBC App, and switch between users when recording catches. This will allow a family to record all of their fishing activity using a single device, for example.

To switch between users, go to the app's main menu, choose Logout / Switch Users, confirm that you want to Switch Users, and choose from the list of users.

You may also Add an Existing User (someone that already has a FishingBC App account set up) using the form provided in the app, you will just need their account username or email address, and their password.

In order to add a brand new user (someone who doesn't already have a FishingBC App account set up), you must first logout and use the app's register form to create a new account.

Please note that you must be online (i.e. have a data connection) in order to add a user to the FishingBC App.

Yes. If you have dependents associated with your NRLS account, and want to link those dependents to your FishingBC App, you will just need to create a separate app account for each NRLS account dependent. (While the NRLS system allows accounts to share email addresses, the FishingBC App requires a unique email address / username for each separate account.)

Historical Catch Data is a quick high level summary of your Chinook salmon, halibut, and lingcod catches for the current fishing season, and can be a useful resource if you are questioned by a fishery officer.

To monitor the sport fishery, DFO conducts various surveys in person and online. As of April 2013, a condition of possessing a BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence requires that licence holders provide information on their recreational fishing activity and catches to DFO representatives when requested. Responding to these surveys is mandatory.

Internet Recreational Effort and Catch (iREC) Reporting Program

The iREC reporting program is an ongoing program which collects information every month on fishing effort and catch. Randomly selected participants provide information about fishing activity including kept and released catch of over 80 species of finfish and shellfish, as well as effort information by date, area and fishing method.

If you are selected for the iREC reporting program, selection and access information will be provided in two ways:

• This information will be printed near the bottom of your licence.
• You will receive reminder email messages near the beginning of your reporting period. These messages will be sent to the email address associated with your NRLS account, so please ensure that is up to date. (Please note, this is not necessarily the same email address you used when creating your FishingBC App account, which is a different and completely separate account.)

If you wish to have your account deleted, open the FishingBC App, go to Profile > Account Settings, scroll to the bottom of the screen, and follow the instructions in the Delete My Account section. Once confirmed, your account will be disabled and placed in a queue to be deleted.

Please note that any and all Catch Log data you have recorded in the FishingBC App will be retained for legal purposes.

Also note that any and all Catch Log data you have recorded in the FishingBC App will be retained for legal purposes.

Carrying an electronic licence is voluntary, and you may continue to use a paper licence instead. However, you must use only one or the other.

To obtain your electronic licence, link your FishingBC App account to your National Recreational Licensing System (NRLS) account, then your licence is automatically downloaded as a PDF from your NRLS account to the app. If you later decide to unlink your app account from your NRLS account, you will no longer be able to access the licence PDF in the app.

Whether or not you choose to carry an electronic version or a paper copy of your licence, you must still maintain mandatory catch records for Chinook salmon and halibut caught in all tidal areas, and lingcod caught in Areas 12 to 19 (excluding Sub-Area 12-14) and Sub-Areas 20-5 to 20-7 and 29-5, on your licence, and you are required to have the licence available for inspection upon request by a fishery officer, fishery guardian, conservation officer, or other enforcement authority, both while fishing and when transporting catch.

Catch recording requirements are outlined in Section 22 of the British Columbia Sport Fishing Regulations.

You must immediately record your retained catch of Chinook salmon and halibut caught in all tidal areas, and lingcod caught in Areas 12 to 19 (excluding Sub-Area 12-14) and Sub-Areas 20-5 to 20-7 and 29-5 in the FishingBC APP Catch Log (where they will be displayed on your licence PDF), on a paper copy of your licence (in ink), or in your National Recreational Licensing System (NRLS) account (although you must be connected to use the NRLS catch recording system).

Catch data for other species is not required by regulation to be recorded and is not shown on your licence PDF. The FishingBC App Catch Log does allow you to record these additional catches, as well as catches that are “released”, though these records are not uploaded to your NRLS account.

Many of the fields you'll see when recording a new Catch Log entry are optional: you are only required to capture species, location, date / time, mark-type (applies only to certain species), length (applies only to certain species), and whether you kept or released your catch.

In addition to the personal information collected when you purchased your BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence, DFO requires additional information to determine recreational catch and effort statistics. This additional information includes the following: date(s) fished, Management Area(s) fished in, method(s) of fishing used, number of juvenile licence holders fishing with you (if any), days originated from a sport fishing lodge (if any), days fished with a paid fishing guide (if any), the number (by species) of finfish and shellfish kept and released, and length of halibut kept.

The information that you provide may be used to evaluate fish management and stock assessment programs.

Mark-type (or status) for Coho and Chinook salmon refers to whether or not your catch has been hatchery-marked. A hatchery-marked fish will have a healed scar in place of the adipose fin. This is also referred to as an adipose fin-clipped fish. Unmarked fish still have an adipose fin present.

Fishers are encouraged to participate in the Salmon Head Recovery Program by labeling and submitting heads from hatchery-marked Chinook and Coho to Pacific Recreational Fishery Salmon Head Recovery Depots. You will be contributing necessary information for stock assessment and management decisions to protect stocks at risk and guide sustainable fisheries along the west coast of Canada and USA. For more information, please refer to the DFO website.

Both the NRLS and the FishingBC App's Catch Log track the date of each catch record, and those dates are shown in the Catch Records Table on your electronic licence. The app additionally records the time each catch record is made. In both cases, the date and time of the most recent change is recorded on the licence as well.

Because Catch Log entries are intended to be legal records of your fishing activity, it's not possible to go back and make changes to an entry once it has been saved.

If you notice an error with a Catch Log entry in the FishingBC App, or a catch entered in NRLS (National Recreational Licensing System), you can make a request to have it corrected by either calling 1-877-535-7307 weekdays 8:00am–4:00pm, or by email. Please note that DFO licence officers are only able to make corrections to catch records for Chinook salmon, halibut, and lingcod.

You can significantly increase the chance of survival of released fish by following a few simple guidelines:

• Handle as little as possible:
  • Use a gaff and release boat-side to avoid unnecessary handling
  • Avoid using nets to prevent damage to fins and slime coat
• Adjust gear and tackle:
  • Use single hooks 3/0 or smaller to minimize wound severity
  • Use larger profile lures to reduce attractiveness to smaller fish
  • Avoid inline flashers, and utilize dummy flashers on downrigger balls
• Avoid small fish:
  • Change areas or gear when encountering large numbers of sub-legal sized fish

For more information please watch our video here.

While it is quite unlikely, you may encounter an Atlantic salmon in BC tidal waters. These fish are not native to BC waters, and will have escaped from a commercial fish farm, so it is important that they are reported to authorities if encountered.

If you believe you have caught an Atlantic salmon in tidal waters (saltwater) in BC, please keep the fish and report the capture by calling the Atlantic Salmon Watch Program (ASWP) toll-free reporting line at 1-800-811-6010. You will be asked where and when you caught the fish and if you wish to donate the fish or part of it for research purposes. Donation is not mandatory but it does provide valuable samples for the DFO's scientific study. For whole fish donation, the entire fish — including entrails — should be frozen or kept on ice. Alternatively, the head and a small portion of the back including scales can be preserved. ASWP staff will arrange for transport of the sample.

Note that the key distinguishing feature of Atlantic salmon is black spots on the gill cover.

For further information please contact aswp@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

• BC Sports Fishing Regulations — Fisheries Act, Government of Canada Justice Laws website
• FAQs: General licence holders — DFO website
• Fisheries in the Pacific Region — DFO website
• BC Sport Fishing Guide — DFO website
• Glossary of Sport Fishing Terms — DFO website
• Additional Species ID Resources — DFO website
• Pacific Salmon Foundation
• Anglr.ca

Managing Canada's recreational fisheries is a shared responsibility between federal, provincial, and territorial governments. While roles vary between different provinces and territories, generally:

• In BC tidal waters, the federal government is responsible for managing recreational fisheries and licensing for all species; review licensing details and obtain a licence online from DFO at their BC tidal waters licence page
• In BC's freshwaters, the federal government manages recreational fisheries for salmon species only; review details for freshwater regions in BC on the Recreational fishing in British Columbia portion of the DFO website
• In BC's freshwaters, the BC provincial government is responsible for managing recreational fisheries for non-salmon species, and licensing for all species found in BC freshwaters; review details at BC Freshwater Fishing Regulations Synopsis

To fish tidal waters in BC you require a valid BC Tidal Waters Sport Fishing Licence. Types of licences, fees, and a link to purchase a fishing licence can be found on the DFO website.

Regulations are based on adherence to the Federal Fishery Act and are additionally determined on coastal, regional, Pacific Fishery Management Area (PFMA), PFMA Sub-Areas, special management zones, species specific restrictions, and prohibitions for fishing or harvest.

All species have specific regulations that can be determined by time and Area or Sub-Area. It is important to be familiar with regulations based on time, area, and species you may encounter or intend to fish for or harvest.

Here's how the main Regulations screen initially appears in the FishingBC App:

From this screen you select one or more species and a location to:

• View regulations by area and species
• See closures and contamination alerts (if any) by area
• Follow links to boundary maps and conservation areas by area

Here is an example of how species regulations are shown:

• Species limits are often shown as a series of 3 numbers ( # / # / # ) which correspond to the applicable daily, possession, and annual limits.
• No person shall retain more than a daily limit of any species on one day.
• Daily limits for individual species can be described by dates, region, Pacific Fishery Management Area (PFMA), or PFMA Sub-Area.
• Aggregate daily limits of rockfish or salmon species can be described by date, region, Pacific Fishery Management Area, or PFMA Sub-Area.
• Annual limits are noted on the licence and can only be varied season to season.

Where retention of catch is allowed by regulation, in the annual period between April 1 and March 31, you may only retain the annual limit of 10 each of Chinook salmon and halibut in all tidal areas, and lingcod caught in Areas 12 to 19 (excluding Sub-Area 12-14) and Sub-Areas 20-5 to 20-7 and 29-5. These catches must be recorded either on your digital licence through the FishingBC App Catch Log, on a paper copy of your licence (in ink), or in your NRLS account. (Note that to use the NRLS system you must be connected to data.)

Note that area and species closures, and daily and other limits, such as size limits, occur throughout the year; for these important additional requirements, and for catch limits for other species, please see the regulations shown in the app, or refer to the DFO website.

• Size restrictions and hatchery-marked salmon (fish with no adipose fin) retention limits may be imposed at certain times and in specific areas.
• Check your species / area regulations every time you go fishing — in-season changes can occur. Method, gear, and bait restrictions may apply to specific species, times or areas to allow for retention or fishing.

Fishery Notices are available on the DFO website.

You can sign up to receive Fishery Notices by email, either on the DFO Fishery Notices site or on the main Regulations page of the app.

The Sport Fishing Regulations shown in the FishingBC App are updated directly from Fisheries and Oceans Canada. If your copy of the app has downloaded the latest content available, the regulations displayed will be current and the most recent. (Force the app to check for / pull the latest content by choosing the More link in the footer menu, and then Check for Updates from the main menu.)

If you have any questions or concerns about the regulations that appear in the app, please contact DFO via email.

A fisheries violation is when someone engages in:

• polluting
• poaching
• illegal fishing, such as:
  • angling with the wrong gear
  • harvesting fish out of season
  • using fishing techniques that are banned

For fisheries violations related to salmon, contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO):

• Email: DFO.ORR-ONS.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
• Call toll free: 1-800-465-4336
• In greater Vancouver call: 604-607-4186

You can also contact your local RCMP detachment or municipal police, or call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.

If you witness any other violation, please call 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP) or #7277 on the TELUS Mobility Network. If the situation is not an emergency, please report the incident online or contact the nearest Conservation Officer Service district office.

The FishingBC App features basic illustrations of many of the species found in BC's tidal waters, and highlights their key characteristics to help identify and differentiate species in a simple and consistent way.

It would be impossible to accurately depict every species throughout their varied life cycles using illustrations alone. Likewise, it would require a large number of consistent, high quality photos to truly represent the variety found in these many animals, and including those photos would dramatically increase the size of the app.

If you would like some help identifying your catch, we recommend starting on the DFO website.

If you are hoping to identify a type of salmon or other finfish, you may also want to try the app's Enhanced Species ID feature, which will analyze a photo you take of your catch and attempt to identify it. New and improved AI means much greater accuracy and fewer false positives.

The key distinguishing feature of Atlantic salmon is black spots on the gill cover.

While it is quite unlikely, you may encounter an Atlantic salmon in BC tidal waters. These fish are not native to BC waters, and will have escaped from a fish farm, so it is important that they are reported.

If you believe you have caught an Atlantic salmon in tidal waters (saltwater) in BC, please keep the fish and report the capture by calling the Atlantic Salmon Watch Program (ASWP) toll-free reporting line at 1-800-811-6010. You will be asked where and when you caught the fish and if you wish to donate the fish or part of it for research purposes. Donation is not mandatory but it does provide valuable samples for the DFO's scientific study. For whole fish donation, the entire fish — including entrails — should be frozen or kept on ice. Alternatively, the head and a small portion of the back including scales can be preserved. ASWP staff will arrange for transport of the sample.

For further information please contact aswp@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

The DFO website has many resources to help you identify your catch, we recommend starting there:

• Pacific salmon and trout
• Groundfish
• Rockfish and Help Support Rockfish Conservation in BC (PDF)
• Saltwater finfish
• Sturgeon, Sturgeon Found in BC Waters (PDF), and Help Protect BC Sturgeon (PDF)
• Shellfish
• Crab