Fishing smarter: How the FishingBC App is modernizing recreational fisheries management in British Columbia’s tidal waters
There’s nothing quite like fishing in British Columbia’s tidal saltwater, where the Pacific Ocean meets rugged coastlines open to an expansive network of rivers where Pacific salmon originate from and return to for spawning. For centuries, these waters have sustained both ecosystems and communities, providing food, recreation, and livelihoods. Today, over 300,000 anglers hold tidal fishing licences in BC each year, with Pacific salmon the prized catch for most. The recreational fishery’s contribution to BC’s economy is significant, valued at over $1 billion, supports over 9,000 jobs and anchors the social and cultural fabric of coastal communities.
But as the demands on these waters grow and Pacific salmon populations face critical challenges, we’re taking steps to ensure a sustainable future for both fish and fishers. Through the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, we are not only conserving and restoring Pacific salmon populations, we are also working to modernize recreational fisheries management. Enter the Sport Fishing Institute of BC’s FishingBC mobile app, an innovative tool that’s helping recreational anglers access real-time regulations, log their catches, and stay compliant while being on the water.
The app at a glance
Originally launched in 2017, the FishingBC App represents a major leap forward in how the public can access recreational fishing regulations and information. Developed through a partnership with the Sport Fishing Institute of BC and funded in part by the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund (BCSRIF), the App is free to download on smartphones and tablets servicing both Android and iOS platforms. The app allows anglers to digitally access up-to-date fishing regulations for tidal waters, identify fish species with a built-in guide, and maintain catch records.
Under the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative, we completed additional technical improvements in December 2023 so that anglers can now use the FishingBC App to store their tidal waters recreational fishing licence and submit required catch records digitally on that licence. Users have the option to link their App to our National Recreational Licensing System (NRLS) so that the licence and catch data may be shared between the two systems. The App now brings everything an angler needs into the palm of their hand, making recreational fishing more accessible, user-friendly, and sustainable.
Protecting Pacific salmon
At its core, the FishingBC App aligns with the goals of the Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative to address the steep decline of Pacific salmon populations. Pacific salmon face multiple threats beyond harvesting, including habitat loss and environmental stressors from climate change. In recent years, declining stocks have inevitably led to reduced recreational fishing opportunities to support conservation measures, We continue to improve our efforts to help ensure greater certainty for fishers and recreational fishing sustainability.
Supporting the development of this App contributes to our efforts under PSSI in supporting sustainable salmon fishing opportunities and reducing impacts on vulnerable salmon stocks. By providing clear and timely information, the App helps anglers fish responsibly, ensuring that their activities align with Pacific salmon conservation efforts. We worked closely with the Sport Fishing Institute of BC to design a tool that meets the needs of anglers while advancing conservation goals; the BC Salmon Restoration and Innovation Fund provided critical funding, underscoring the importance of partnerships in tackling complex challenges. By streamlining information and empowering anglers to follow conservation guidelines, the FishingBC App is helping protect vulnerable stocks while promoting a resilient recreational fishing sector.
A glimpse ahead
The FishingBC App is already transforming how recreational fishers access critical fisheries information and requirements in BC’s tidal waters, like up-to-date regulations and licence requirements, but the journey doesn’t stop there. We’re working with SFI to explore ways to expand the App’s functionality, including broader catch reporting that could enhance data collection for fisheries managers. The App is just one part of a larger effort to modernize recreational fisheries management. Together, we are making it easier for anglers to access the information they need while contributing to sustainable fisheries management.
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