Area Offices: Gateway to the Department
Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Area offices on the North Shore, in Gaspe-Lower St. Lawrence Area and on the Magdalen Islands are the gateway to the Department for the communities in these areas. Because of its privileged relationship with DFO clients and partners, area staff plays an essential role in the planning, co-ordination and delivery of Departmental services.
Some hundred employees, fishery officers, technicians, biologists and managers, work in the Area offices. They provide services related to fisheries, commercial shipping and pleasure boating, fishing ports, fish habitat, resource management and protection, aquaculture, and marine mammal watching.
North Shore Area
The North Shore Area covers a huge territory between Tadoussac and Blanc-Sablon, including the banks of the Saguenay and the shores of Charlevoix and of Anticosti Island. Dotted with small isolated communities, on the Lower North Shore, which depend almost exclusively on the fishery, the Area also has a significant marine mammal watching industry.
In addition to North Shore Area office in Sept-Iles, DFO has three district offices, in Baie-Comeau, Havre-St-Pierre and Blanc-Sablon. Two Coast Guard search and rescue bases, one in Tadoussac, the other in Havre-St-Pierre, also watch out for users safety. Finally, there is a Marine Communications and Traffic Services centre in Les Escoumins.
How to reach us
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
North Shore Area Office
701 Laure Boulevard, Room 203
Sept-Iles, Quebec G4R 1X8
Telephone: 418-962-6314
Toll Free: 1-800-463-1729
Fax: 418-962-1044
Gaspe-Lower St. Lawrence Area
The Gaspe-Lower St. Lawrence Area covers the south shore of the St. Lawrence from Québec to Gaspé and the north shore of Chaleur Bay. The Sector has an extensive network of fishing ports all along the Gaspe shore and generates more than half the landings of marine species in Quebec.
The Area has a main office in Gaspé and two district offices in Grande-Rivière and Ste-Anne-des-Monts. A Coast Guard search and rescue base is located in Rivière-au-renard.
How to reach us
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Gaspe-Lower St. Lawrence Area Office
120, rue de la Reine
Gaspé Quebec G4X 2R2
Telephone: 418-368-5559
Toll Free: 1-877-898-5559
Fax: 418-368-4349
Magdalen Islands Area
The Magdalen Islands Area serves the public of this archipelago in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The fishery industry, in particular lobster, plays a major role in the Magdalen Islands economy, while the seal hunt is still an important socioeconomic activity.
The Area office Is located in Cap-aux-Meules. A Coast Guard search and rescue base in Cap-aux-Meules looks out for seafarers safety with its ship the CCGS Cap-aux-Meules.
How to reach us
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Magdalen Islands Area Office
235, chemin Principal, door 206
Cap-aux-Meules, Quebec G4T 1R7
Telephone: 418-986-2095
Fax: 418-986-5353