Conservation Surcharges

Your basic fishing licence can be validated with up to five annual Conservation Surcharge stamps, plus a White Sturgeon Conservation Licence.

On this page

• Rules
• Stamp types
• Stamp fees
• White Sturgeon Conservation Licence and fees

Conservation Surcharge stamp rules

• These stamps are valid for the licence year, April 1 to March 31, starting on the date purchased
• These stamps must be accompanied by a basic fishing licence and any applicable Classified Waters Licences
• You must immediately record all retained fish on the back of your angling licence
• If your basic licence is reprinted due to damage or loss, all your retention records must be transferred to the new copy

Conservation Surcharge stamp types

Steelhead

A conservation surcharge stamp when fishing for steelhead is required anywhere in B.C. whether you intend to keep or release your catch. In addition, a steelhead stamp is mandatory when fishing on most classified waters during certain specified periods, even when fishing for species other than steelhead. Refer to the regional water-specific tables for dates and exceptions.

This stamp is available with all annual and short-term basic licences but you are limited to one stamp per year, regardless of how many short-term licences you buy. You must immediately record your catch on the back of your angling licence when keeping a hatchery steelhead. Please retain your basic licence for the entire licence year as you may be requested to complete an annual steelhead survey.

The annual province-wide quota for hatchery steelhead is 10. All wild steelhead must be released.

Non-tidal salmon

Regulations regarding salmon fishing in both tidal and fresh waters are the responsibility of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

Your basic licence must be validated with a salmon conservation stamp to keep a salmon of any legal size or species (other than kokanee) from non-tidal waters. A stamp is not required if you release all salmon caught. You must immediately record your retention of adult chinook salmon on your basic angling licence.

An adult chinook in most non-tidal waters is defined as measuring over 50 cm from the tip of the nose to the fork of the tail, with the following exceptions:

• Measuring over 62 cm from the tip of the nose to the fork of the tail in the following rivers:
  • Fraser River from the CPR Bridge at Mission upstream to the powerline crossing situated about one kilometre upstream from the Agassiz-Rosedale Bridge, from September 5 to December 31
  • Harrison River downstream from white fishing boundary signs situated near the mouth of the Harrison River, from September 5 to December 31
  • Chilliwack/Vedder River downstream from Slesse Creek, from July 1 to December 31
  • Sumas River downstream from the Barrowtown pumping station, from July 1 to December 31
• Measuring over 65 cm from the tip of the nose to the fork of the tail, year round in the following rivers:
  • Bella Coola
  • Atnarko
  • Iknouk
  • Kemano
  • Khutzeymateen
  • Kildala
  • Kincolith
  • Kitimat
  • Kitlope
  • Kwinimass
  • Nass
  • Skeena

Kootenay Lake rainbow trout

A conservation surcharge stamp is required to keep rainbow trout over 50 cm from the main body of Kootenay Lake. You must immediately record your retention on your basic angling licence. No conservation surcharge stamp is required if you release all Kootenay Lake rainbow trout over 50 cm.

Shuswap Lake rainbow trout

Shuswap Lake includes the main body of Shuswap Lake, Little Shuswap Lake, South Thompson River between Shuswap Lake and Little Shuswap Lake, Seymour, Anstey and Salmon Arms and Mara Lake.

Your basic licence must be validated with a conservation surcharge stamp to keep rainbow trout over 50 cm from Shuswap Lake. You must immediately record your retention on your basic angling licence. No conservation surcharge stamp is required if you release all Shuswap Lake rainbow trout over 50 cm.

Your basic licence must be validated with a conservation surcharge stamp to keep char over 60 cm caught in Shuswap Lake. You must immediately record your retention on your basic angling licence. No conservation surcharge stamp is required if you release all Shuswap Lake char over 60 cm.

Conservation Surcharge stamp fees

Prices subject to change. Tax not included.

White Sturgeon Conservation Licence

You must purchase a White Sturgeon Conservation Licence, in addition to your basic licence, if you fish for white sturgeon in the Fraser River Watershed (including tributaries) from the CPR Bridge at Mission to and including Williams Lake River in the Cariboo. This is a catch and release only fishery - all sturgeon must be released. See the Guidelines For Angling White Sturgeon in B.C. (PDF 159 KB) document for more information.

Lower Fraser River voluntary sturgeon angling closure areas

If you plan to fish for white sturgeon in the lower Fraser River from May 15 - July 31, there are currently seven voluntary and three mandatory sturgeon angling closure areas (PDF 779KB) located between the Harrison River confluence and just upstream of Hope, B.C. These closure areas were established to protect confirmed white sturgeon spawning areas. If you would like more information on the location of these voluntary sturgeon angling closure areas, please contact SCFishandAquaticWildlife@gov.bc.ca.

Prices subject to change. Tax not included. All revenue generated from the sales of the White Sturgeon Conservation Licence is directed to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation for use in sturgeon stock management activities.