Race Rocks and the surrounding islets are within a Rockfish Conservation Area (RCA). These areas were established to protect rockfish and lingcod populations and it is illegal to fish in them. There are 164 along the BC Coast.

Rockfish Conservation Areas around Vancouver Island. The purple arrow is Race Rocks. To see all marine conservation areas in the Canadian Pacific Ocean visit the DFO website

This afternoon a small private boat with four people on board was fishing in the area.  I tried calling a small, local ecotourism zodiac boat to ask if they could let the folks know about the RCA. I couldn’t reach them and then tried calling the Glacier Spirit a grand, classic-style boat that visits often. The friendly and helpful captain offered to head toward the small vessel. The information was not well received and they were told to Go Home!  The Glacier Spirit is an American flagged boat that operates out of Port Angeles.  Had I known all the passengers on the deck would be greeted with such hostility I would never have made that call. The Naturist onboard provided the vessel registration information and photos (I could not photograph the boat as we are still without a camera) needed to report the violation to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. The small boat continued to fish until another local (BC based) ecotourism boat who heard our radio conservation went over.  To all the passengers onboard the Glacier Spirit, I send my sincere apologies. I am ashamed it never occurred to me at the time that I asked an American boat to tell a Canadian boat in Canadian waters it was not allowed to fish. I just thought we all have the same objectives to preserve what is here.  The passengers on all the ecotourism boats regardless of origin were here today to enjoy a beautiful day on the water and marvel at the abundant marine life, which carries on unaware of our borders and politics.

The track of the Glacier Spirit this afternoon from Port Angeles to Race Rocks and back again. The track is colour coded by speed of travel. Slow speeds (were whales and marine life are observed) are in yellow and red.

Their track near Race Rocks.  The purple arrow is near to where they chatted with the small boat with their fishing gear in the water.

People aboard the Glacier Spirit. This photo was taken on June 6th 2026. I have been photographing ecotourism boats all summer in preparation for a post. As our camera is not yet repaired, I will be using these old photos.

Facility Work

• settling in
• fence patrol

Vessels

• Ecotourism: 27
• Private: 4 plus one fishing infraction

Weather

Clear skies. Westerlies 12 to 20 knots. Daytime temperatures 11 to 13 degrees.