B.C.'s environment minister says the Cheakamus, Mamquam and Lower Squamish rivers will be off-limits for fishing starting Monday until likely the end of September.
Barry Penner's comments Friday came after crews succeeded in lifting a derailed tanker car out of the Cheakamus Canyon near Squamish.
The tanker spilled thousands of litres of caustic soda into the Cheakamus River when nine cars of a CN train derailed one week ago.
Penner says it's safe to swim and play in the Cheakamus River again.
The spill killed hundreds of fish and the ban is part of an effort to preserve remaining fish stocks