Notices to Fish Harvesters

Gaspé – April 6, 2023

Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Quebec Region announces the reopening of the competitive 4RST Atlantic Halibut fishery for the licence holders of the Gaspé fixed gear fleet of less than 13.71 m from the Lobster fishers group.

The residual quota allocated to this third competitive fishing period is 26,835 t. A random drawing was made from the list of fishers who had participated in the first opening and who had indicated their interest. 20 fishers will be allowed to participate in this fishery. A maximum individual catch limit (MICL) of 1 340 kg has been established for each fisher.

Fishing will be authorized from April 10 2023 at 5:00 am (EDT) to April 27, 2023 at 11:59 pm (EDT).

Only longline is authorized, with a maximum of 1500 hooks.

Fishery closures

Fishers are advised to note the following temporary closures of the directed Atlantic halibut fishery for all fixed gear fleets in Quebec in view of the significant cod by-catch:

closure of a portion of Area 4T within the straight lines delineated by the following points:

1. 49°02’00" N  64°10’00" W
2. 48°31’00" N  62°37’00" W
3. 48°23’00" N  63°08’00" W
4. 48°46’00" N  64°10’00" W
5. 49°02’00" N  64°10’00" W

Closure of the waters of NAFO's Divisions 4RS divisions of less than 201.2 metres (110 fathoms).

Please note that the temporary closure initiated on September 2, 2022 for all Quebec fixed gear fleets in a portion of sub-division 4T3a due to significant cod by-catch will be opened as of April 10, 2023 at 5:00 a.m. EDT.

This temporary closure was included within the straight lines bounded by the following points:

1. 48°38’34.67" N    63°50’00.00" O
2. 48º34’52.09" N    63º40’00.00" O
3. 48º25’00.00" N    63º40’00.00" O
4. 48º25’00.00" N    63°50’00.00" O
5. 48°38’34.67" N    63°50’00.00" O

Other management measures are grouped into the 2022-2023 4RST Atlantic Halibut Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) for the Gaspe peninsula fixed gear fleet of less than 13.71 m licence holders of the Lobster fishers group, approved on June 29, 2022 and amended on April 5, 2023.

It should be noted that, should an Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) management regime be implemented, landings recorded during the second competitive period 2020-2021 fishing season will not be considered for the purposes of calculating and establishing ITQs.

Selected fishers will automatically receive their Conditions of Licence effective April 6, 2023. To obtain their Conditions of licence, fishers must access the National Online Licensing System. For National Online Licensing System assistance, please contact customer support by phone at 1-877-535- 7307 or by email at fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

For additional information

Please visit our website at the following address: Quebec Region

For more information, please call 1-877-898-5559.

Caroline Leclerc

Gaspe ‑ Lower St. Lawrence Area

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Note: In case of discrepancies between the English and the French versions, the latter prevails.