Replaces the fixed June 15 to November 30 recreational salmon fishing closure in the Gulf Islands with closures that apply only when Southern Resident killer whales are confirmed in a defined area, and reopens those areas once the whales leave. It also asks the Minister to develop science-based pinniped management with Indigenous Peoples and fishing sectors.

Southern Resident killer whales are an endangered species whose recovery is important to all Canadians;

The current Gulf Islands recreational salmon fishing closure remains in effect from June 15 to November 30, regardless of whether Southern Resident killer whales are present in the area;

Southern Resident killer whales are highly mobile and migrate as far south as California and as far north as Southeast Alaska;

A targeted, real-time, science-informed management approach can protect Southern Resident killer whales while reducing unnecessary impacts on recreational anglers, Indigenous communities, coastal communities, tourism operators, guides, and small businesses; and

Growing pinniped populations continue to place significant predation pressure on Chinook and Coho salmon and should be addressed as part of a comprehensive salmon recovery strategy.

We, the undersigned,residents of Canada, call upon theMinister of Fisheriesto:1. Replace fixed seasonal recreational fishing closures with a real-time, science-informed management approach that uses the best available monitoring and tracking technology to determine when Southern Resident killer whales are present; 2. Implement fishing closures only when Southern Resident killer whales are confirmed to be within a defined management area and reopen those areas promptly once the whales have departed; and 3. Develop and implement science-based pinniped management, in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, scientists, recreational and commercial fishing sectors, and other stakeholders, for the long-term recovery of Southern Resident killer whales, and the sustainability of British Columbia’s public fishery.