Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound Glass Sponge Reef Conservation Initiative

British Columbia's ancient glass sponge reefs are a globally unique ecosystem that are areas of high biodiversity and provide important habitat for many marine animals including salmon, spot prawns, rockfish, herring, halibut and sharks. Through the Strait of Georgia and Howe Sound Conservation Initiative, we have put in place measures to protect and conserve glass sponge reefs on British Columbia's south coast.

Glass Sponge Reef Marine Refuges – Strait of Georgia

No commercial, recreational or Indigenous Food, Social and Ceremonial bottom-contact fishing activities are allowed within the areas listed below. Full coordinates can be found in FN0571. This includes fishing for:

• prawn
• shrimp
• crab
• groundfish (including halibut)

Foreslope Hills

That portion of Subarea 29-3 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49°09.634'N	123°23.048'W
then southeasterly to	49°09.389'N	123°22.622'W
then southerly to	49°09.187'N	123°22.587'W
then westerly to	49°09.211'N	123°23.567'W
then northerly to	49°09.646'N	123°23.543'W
then to the beginning point	49°09.634'N	123°23.048'W

Outer Gulf Islands

Those portions of Subareas 18-1 and 29-4 that lie inside the following lines that:

Outer Gulf Islands 1

begin at	48°54.936'N	123°19.589'W
then southerly to	48°54.283'N	123°18.529'W
then southwesterly to	48°54.114'N	123°18.619'W
then southwesterly to	48°54.065'N	123°18.771'W
then northwesterly to	48°54.787'N	123°19.929'W
then northeasterly to	48°54.902'N	123°19.793'W
then to the beginning point	48°54.936'N	123°19.589'W

Outer Gulf Islands 2

begin at	48°52.588'N	123°15.261'W
then easterly to	48°52.520'N	123°14.537'W
then northwesterly to	48°51.971'N	123°13.768'W
then southwesterly to	48°51.795'N	123°13.947'W
then southeasterly to	48°52.150'N	123°14.444'W
then southwesterly to	48°52.038'N	123°14.678'W
then northeasterly to	48°52.479'N	123°15.521'W
then to the beginning point	48°52.588’N	123°15.261’W

Outer Gulf Islands 3

begin at	48°51.602'N	123°13.233'W
then southerly to	48°51.309'N	123°12.751'W
then northwesterly to	48°50.913'N	123°12.938'W
then southeasterly to	48°50.844'N	123°13.059'W
then southwesterly to	48°51.163'N	123°13.662'W
then northeasterly to	48°51.579'N	123°13.378'W
then to the beginning point	48°51.602'N	123°13.233'W

Outer Gulf Islands 4

begin at	48°50.999'N	123°12.391'W
then southerly to	48°50.608'N	123°11.603'W
then southwesterly to	48°50.097'N	123°10.956'W
then northeasterly to	48°49.959'N	123°11.182'W
then southwesterly to	48°50.857'N	123°12.654'W
then northeasterly to	48°50.959'N	123°12.566'W
then to the beginning point	48°50.999'N	123°12.391'W

Gabriola Island

That portion of Subarea 17-11 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49°13.672'N	123°47.577'W
then southerly to	49°13.235'N	123°47.429'W
then westerly to	49°13.185'N	123°47.882'W
then northwesterly to	49°13.391'N	123°48.119'W
then northerly to	49°13.623'N	123°48.166'W
then to the beginning point	49°13.672'N	123°47.577'W

Parksville

Those portions of Subareas 14-2 and 14-3 that lie inside a line that:

begins at	49°21.680'N	124°19.762'W
then southeasterly to	49°21.514'N	124°18.893'W
then southeasterly to	49°21.191'N	124°17.723'W
then southerly to	49°21.064'N	124°17.724'W
then southwesterly to	49°20.725'N	124°18.380'W
then northwesterly to	49°21.432'N	124°19.811'W
then to the beginning point	49°21.680'N	124°19.762'W

East of Hornby Island

That portion of Subarea 14-6 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49°33.490'N	124°29.230'W
then southerly to	49°32.701'N	124°28.760'W
then southwesterly to	49°31.657'N	124°29.434'W
then westerly to	49°31.663'N	124°29.896'W
then northerly to	49°32.651'N	124°29.752'W
then northerly to	49°33.340'N	124°29.935'W
then northeasterly to	49°33.498'N	124°29.773'W
then to the beginning point	49°33.490'N	124°29.230'W

Sechelt

That portion of Subarea 29-2 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49°25.948'N	123°48.889'W
then easterly to	49°25.899'N	123°47.266'W
then southeasterly to	49°25.373'N	123°46.494'W
then southwesterly to	49°24.734'N	123°47.083'W
then westerly to	49°24.910'N	123°47.951'W
then southerly to	49°24.253'N	123°48.283'W
then northwesterly to	49°24.845'N	123°49.914'W
then to the beginning point	49°25.948'N	123°48.889'W

Halibut Bank

That portion of Subarea 29-2 that lie inside a line that:

begins at	49°21.768'N	123°41.501'W
then southerly to	49°21.174'N	123°40.045'W
then southerly to	49°20.961'N	123°40.139'W
then southeasterly to	49°20.803'N	123°39.860'W
then southwesterly to	49°20.565'N	123°40.182'W
then northwesterly to	49°21.610'N	123°41.843'W
then westerly to	49°21.673'N	123°42.643'W
then northwesterly to	49°21.895'N	123°43.908'W
then northwesterly to	49°22.174'N	123°44.748'W
then northeasterly to	49°22.555'N	123°44.456'W
then easterly to	49°22.188'N	123°42.167'W
then to the beginning point	49°21.768'N	123°41.501'W

Glass Sponge Reef Marine Refuges – Howe Sound

No commercial, recreational or Indigenous bottom-contact Food, Social and Ceremonial fishing activities are allowed within the areas listed below. Full coordinates can be found in FN0205. Defence Islands and Queen Charlotte Sound coordinates can be found in FN0571. This includes fishing for:

• prawn
• shrimp
• crab
• groundfish (including halibut)

The use of downrigger gear in recreational salmon trolling is also prohibited in these areas (except Defence Islands) due to the potential risk of damage to shallow reefs.

Defence Islands

That portion of Subarea 28-4 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49°34.102'N	123°17.070'W
then southerly to	49°33.730'N	123°16.562'W
then southeasterly to	49°33.553'N	123°16.462'W
then southwesterly to	49°33.438'N	123°16.750'W
then northwesterly to	49°33.707'N	123°17.201'W
then northwesterly to	49°33.993'N	123°17.391'W
then to the beginning point	49°34.102'N	123°17.070'W

East Defence Islands

That portion of Subarea 28-4 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49° 34.731' N	123° 16.555' W
then northeasterly to	49° 34.848' N	123° 16.357' W
then northeasterly to	49° 34.854' N	123° 16.120' W
then southeasterly to	49° 34.580' N	123° 16.084' W
then southwesterly to	49° 34.535' N	123° 16.539' W
then to the beginning point	49° 34.731' N	123° 16.555' W

Anvil Island

That portion of Subarea 28-4 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49° 32.874' N	123° 17.425' W
then southeasterly to	49° 32.865' N	123° 16.815' W
then southwesterly to	49° 32.533' N	123° 16.869' W
then southwesterly to	49° 32.482' N	123° 17.118' W
then northwesterly to	49° 32.574' N	123° 17.483' W
then to the beginning point	49° 32.874' N	123° 17.425' W

Lost Reef

That portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49° 29.799' N	123° 18.203' W
then northeasterly to	49° 29.935' N	123° 18.007' W
then southeasterly to	49° 29.882' N	123° 17.832' W
then southeasterly to	49° 29.591' N	123° 17.519' W
then southwesterly to	49° 29.547' N	123° 17.941' W
then to the beginning point	49° 29.799' N	123° 18.203' W

Brunswick Point

That portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49° 28.577' N	123° 14.965' W
then southeasterly to	49° 28.434' N	123° 14.732' W
then southwesterly to	49° 28.177' N	123° 15.031' W
then northwesterly to	49° 28.397' N	123° 15.377' W
then to the beginning point	49° 28.577' N	123° 14.965' W

Lions Bay and Kelvin Grove

That portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49° 27.629' N	123° 15.761' W
then southeasterly to	49° 27.315' N	123° 14.516' W
then southwesterly to	49° 26.950' N	123° 14.595' W
then northwesterly to	49° 26.952' N	123° 15.046' W
then northwesterly to	49° 27.195' N	123° 15.655' W
then to the beginning point	49° 27.629' N	123° 15.761' W

Halkett Point

That portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49° 27.036' N	123° 18.686' W
then southeasterly to	49° 26.897' N	123° 18.444' W
then southwesterly to	49° 26.696' N	123° 18.578' W
then southwesterly to	49° 26.657' N	123° 18.776' W
then northwesterly to	49° 26.742' N	123° 18.984' W
then to the beginning point	49° 27.036' N	123° 18.686' W

Bowyer Island

That portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49° 24.774' N	123° 16.219' W
then northeasterly to	49° 24.820' N	123° 15.763' W
then southwesterly to	49° 24.096' N	123° 16.043' W
then northwesterly to	49° 24.389' N	123° 16.408' W
then to the beginning point	49° 24.774' N	123° 16.219' W

Dorman Point

That portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49° 22.577' N	123° 19.379' W
then southeasterly to	49° 22.543' N	123° 19.051' W
then southwesterly to	49° 22.287' N	123° 19.152' W
then northwesterly to	49° 22.351' N	123° 19.454' W
then to the beginning point	49° 22.577' N	123° 19.379' W

Howe Sound – Queen Charlotte Channel

Those portions of Subareas 28-2 and 29-3 that lie inside the following lines that:

Howe Sound – Queen Charlotte Channel 1

begin at	49°21.486'N	123°17.254'W
then southerly to	49°20.528'N	123°17.690'W
then southwesterly to	49°20.401'N	123°17.956'W
then northeasterly to	49°20.765'N	123°18.794'W
then northwesterly to	49°20.982'N	123°18.584'W
then southeasterly to	49°21.098'N	123°18.037'W
then northwesterly to	49°21.501'N	123°17.737'W
then to the beginning point	49°21.486'N	123°17.254'W

Howe Sound – Queen Charlotte Channel 2

begin at	49°20.288'N	123°17.693'W
then southeasterly to	49°20.224'N	123°17.501'W
then northeasterly to	49°19.993'N	123°17.377'W
then southwesterly to	49°19.802'N	123°17.444'W
then southwesterly to	49°19.720'N	123°17.840'W
then northeasterly to	49°19.937'N	123°18.107'W
then to the beginning point	49°20.288’N	123°17.693’W

Howe Sound – Queen Charlotte Channel 3

begin at	49°19.918'N	123°19.847'W
then southerly to	49°19.296'N	123°19.905'W
then easterly to	49°19.307'N	123°20.344'W
then northwesterly to	49°19.643'N	123°20.421'W
then northeasterly to	49°19.819'N	123°20.361'W
then northeasterly to	49°19.947'N	123°20.097'W
then to the beginning point	49°19.918’N	123°19.847’W

Howe Sound – Queen Charlotte Channel 4

begin at	49°20.637'N	123°19.162'W
then easterly to	49°20.577'N	123°18.720'W
then southeasterly to	49°20.441'N	123°18.637'W
then southwesterly to	49°20.068'N	123°18.818'W
then easterly to	49°20.076'N	123°19.135'W
then northerly to	49°19.718'N	123°19.187'W
then westerly to	49°19.726'N	123°19.514'W
then southwesterly to	49° 20.259'N	123°19.828'W
then to the beginning point	49°20.637'N	123°19.162'W

Glass Sponge Reef Fishery Closures – Howe Sound

Fisheries closures are currently in place to protect and conserve 5 glass sponge reefs in Howe Sound, with the aim of creating marine refuges in the future. No commercial or recreational bottom-contact fishing activities are allowed within the areas listed below. Full coordinates can be found in FN0039. This includes fishing for:

• prawn
• shrimp
• crab
• groundfish (including halibut)

The use of downrigger gear in recreational salmon trolling is also prohibited in these areas due to the potential risk of damage to shallow reefs.

Alberta Bay

That portion of Subarea 28-2 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49⁰ 28.118’N	123⁰ 15.050’W
then easterly to	49⁰ 28.130’N	123⁰ 14.688’W
then southeasterly to	49⁰ 27.962’N	123⁰ 14.600’W
then southeasterly to	49⁰ 27.646’N	123⁰ 14.518’W
then southwesterly to	49⁰ 27.520’N	123⁰ 14.646’W
then westerly to	49⁰ 27.523’N	123⁰ 15.008’W
then northwesterly to	49⁰ 27.904’N	123⁰ 15.118’W
then to the beginning point	49⁰ 28.118’N	123⁰ 15.050’W

Carmelo Point

That portion of Subarea 28-1 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49⁰ 27.253’N	123⁰ 23.398’W
then easterly to	49⁰ 27.259’N	123⁰ 23.028’W
then southwesterly to	49⁰ 26.390’N	123⁰ 23.315’W
then southwesterly to	49⁰ 26.043’N	123⁰ 23.610’W
then northwesterly to	49⁰ 26.136’N	123⁰ 24.003’W
then to the beginning point	49⁰ 27.253’N	123⁰ 23.398’W

Langdale

That portion of Subarea 28-1 and 28-3 that lines inside a line that:

begins at	49⁰ 26.283’N	123⁰ 27.605’W
then southeasterly to	49⁰ 26.196’N	123⁰ 26.895’W
then southerly to	49⁰ 25.398’N	123⁰ 26.890’W
then westerly to	49⁰ 25.431’N	123⁰ 28.034’W
then northwesterly to	49⁰ 25.634’N	123⁰ 28.291’W
then to the beginning point	49⁰ 26.283’N	123⁰ 27.605’W

Mariners Rest

That portion of Subarea 28-3 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49⁰ 27.728’N	123⁰ 27.357’W
then southeasterly to	49⁰ 27.439’N	123⁰ 26.871’W
then southwesterly to	49⁰ 27.212’N	123⁰ 27.139’W
then northwesterly to	49⁰ 27.508’N	123⁰ 27.706’W
then to the beginning point	49⁰ 27.728’N	123⁰ 27.357’W

Collingwood Channel

That portion of Subarea 28-1 that lies inside a line that:

begins at	49⁰ 23.503’N	123⁰ 24.638’W
then southeasterly to	49⁰ 23.347’N	123⁰ 24.625’W
then southwesterly to	49⁰ 23.068’N	123⁰ 25.030’W
then southwesterly to	49⁰ 22.921’N	123⁰ 25.145’W
then southwesterly to	49⁰ 22.799’N	123⁰ 25.296’W
then northwesterly to	49⁰ 22.947’N	123⁰ 25.655’W
then northeasterly to	49⁰ 23.280’N	123⁰ 25.346’W
then northeasterly to	49⁰ 23.602’N	123⁰ 24.885’W
then to the beginning point	49⁰ 23.503’N	123⁰ 24.638’W