Notices to Fish Harvesters

Approved July 13, 2021

Amended July 18, 2022

1. Application

This Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) applies to the Sea Cucumber (Curcumaria frondosa) dredge fishery in areas A, B and C for seasons 2021, 2022 and 2023.

Sea Cucumber dredge fishery in the Gaspé is an exploratory fishery (phase II – commercial and stock assessment stage according to the New Emerging Fisheries Policy, 2001), under a competitive regime. 

It should be noted that this CHP is subject to change at any time.

2. Fishing Areas

Based on valid Licence Conditions and subject to a Variation Order, the three fishing areas located on the north side of Gaspé are defined as follows:

Area A:

Area between the straight lines connecting the following coordinates, in the order listed, and closing off at the coast:

• 49° 07’ 47’’ N     66° 33’ 00’’ W

• 49° 12’ 51’’ N     66° 33’ 00’’ W

• 49° 18’ 18’’ N     66° 00’ 50’’ W

• 49° 13’ 24’’ N     66° 00’ 50’’ W

No dredge fishing is permitted in Area A.

Area B:

Area between the straight lines connecting the following coordinates, in the order listed, and closing off at the coast:

• 49° 18’ 18’’ N     66° 00’ 50’’ W
• 49° 13’ 24’’ N     66° 00’ 50’’ W
• 49° 19’ 00’’ N     65° 56’ 30’’ W
• 49° 13’ 35’’ N     65° 07’ 58’’ W
• 49° 17’ 37’’ N     65° 07’ 08’’ W

Sub-areas B-1 to B-5 are defined as follows:

Area between the straight lines connecting the following coordinates, in the order listed, and closing off at the coast:

Sub-area B-1

• 49° 13’ 24’’ N     66° 00’ 50’’ W
• 49° 18’ 18’’ N     66° 00’ 50’’ W
• 49° 19’ 00’’ N     65° 56’ 30’’ W
• 49° 18’ 51’’ N     65° 50’ 00’’ W
• 49° 14’ 00’’ N     65° 50’ 00’’ W

Sub-area B-2

• 49° 14’ 00’’ N     65° 50’ 00’’ W
• 49° 18’ 51’’ N     65° 50’ 00’’ W
• 49° 18’ 37’’ N     65° 40’ 00’’ W
• 49° 14’ 56’’ N     65° 40’ 00’’ W

Sub-area B-3

• 49° 14’ 56’’ N     65° 40’ 00’’ W
• 49° 18’ 37’’ N     65° 40’ 00’’ W
• 49° 18’ 20’’ N     65° 30’ 00’’ W
• 49° 15’ 11’’ N     65° 30’ 00’’ W

Sub-area B-4

• 49° 15’ 11’’ N     65° 30’ 00’’ W
• 49° 18’ 20’’ N     65° 30’ 00’’ W
• 49° 18’ 00’’ N     65° 20’ 00’’ W
• 49° 15’ 05’’ N     65° 20’ 00’’ W

Sub-area B-5

• 49° 15’ 05’’ N     65° 20’ 00’’ W
• 49° 18’ 00’’ N     65° 20’ 00’’ W
• 49° 17’ 37’’ N     65° 07 ’08’’ W
• 49° 13’ 35’’ N     65° 07’ 58’’ W

Fishing with a dredge in Area B is only permitted at depths between 32 and 42 m.

Area C

Area between the straight lines connecting the following coordinates, in the order listed, and closing off at the coast:

• 49° 17’ 37’’ N     65° 07’ 08’’ W
• 49° 13’ 35’’ N     65° 07’ 58’’ W
• 49° 17’ 00’’ N     64° 44’ 00’’ W
• 48° 51’ 22’’ N     64° 12’ 02’’ W
• 49° 02’ 00’’ N     64° 08’ 30’’ W

Sub-areas C-1 to C-6 are defined as follows:

Area between the straight lines connecting the following coordinates, in the order listed, and closing off at the coast:

Sub-area C-1

• 49° 13’ 35’’ N     65° 07’ 58’’ W
• 49° 17’ 37’’ N     65° 07’ 08’’ W
• 49° 17’ 22’’ N     65° 00’ 00’’ W
• 49° 12’ 56’’ N     65° 00’ 00’’ W

Sub-area C-2

• 49° 12’ 56’’ N     65° 00’ 00’’ W
• 49° 17’ 22’’ N     65° 00’ 00’’ W
• 49° 17’ 06’’ N     64° 50’ 00’’ W
• 49° 10’ 41’’ N     64° 50’ 00’’ W

Sub-area C-3

• 49° 10’ 41’’ N     64° 50’ 00’’ W
• 49° 17’ 06’’ N     64° 50’ 00’’ W
• 49° 17’ 00’’ N     64° 44’ 00’’ W
• 49° 15’ 20’’ N     64° 40’ 00’’ W
• 49° 07’ 18’’ N     64° 40’ 00’’ W

Sub-area C-4

• 49° 07’ 18’’ N     64° 40’ 00’’ W
• 49° 15’ 20’’ N     64° 40’ 00’’ W
• 49° 11’ 08’’ N     64° 30’ 00’’ W
• 49° 03’ 47’’ N     64° 30’ 00’’ W

Sub-area C-5

• 49° 03’ 47’’ N     64° 30’ 00’’ W
• 49° 11’ 08’’ N     64° 30’ 00’’ W
• 49° 06’ 56’’ N     64° 20’ 00’’ W
• 48° 57’ 57’’ N     64° 20’ 00’’ W

Sub-area C-6

• 48° 57’ 57’’ N     64° 20’ 00’’ W
• 49° 06’ 56’’ N     64° 20’ 00’’ W
• 49° 02’ 00’’ N     64° 08’ 30’’ W
• 48° 51’ 22’’ N     64° 12’ 02’’ W

Fishing with a dredge in Area C is only permitted at depths between 32 and 42 m.

Sub-area change

No change of sub-area during a fishing trip is allowed unless an at-sea observer is present on board the fishing vessel. When fishing in more than one sub-area on the same fishing trip, different logbooks shall be used for each sub-area change.

3. Fishing closures

3.1. Permanent closure of fishing areas

Sea Cucumber fishing is prohibited in five protected areas. The coordinates of these areas are indicated on the Sea Cucumber fishing Licence conditions. Here are the locations of these protected areas:

• PA-2: located inside area A
• PA-3: located inside sub-area B-1
• PA-4: located inside sub-areas B-3 and B-4
• PA-5: located inside sub-areas C-2 and C3
• PA-6: located inside sub-areas C-5 and C6

These protected areas are defined as the area covered between the straight lines connecting the following coordinates, in the order listed, and closing off at the coast:

PA-2

• 49° 09’ 34’’ N     66° 25’ 00’’ W
• 49° 14’ 14’’ N     66° 25’ 00’’ W
• 49° 14’ 54’’ N     66° 21’ 00’’ W
• 49° 10’ 23’’ N     66° 21’ 00’’ W

PA-3

• 49° 13’ 24’’ N     66° 00’ 50’’ W
• 49° 18’ 18’’ N     66° 00’ 50’’ W
• 49° 19’ 00’’ N     65° 56’ 30’’ W
• 49° 18’ 57’’ N     65° 54’ 35’’ W
• 49° 13’ 37’’ N     65° 54’ 35’’ W

PA-4

• 49° 15’ 15’’ N     65° 35’ 30’’ W
• 49° 18’ 31’’ N     65° 35’ 30’’ W
• 49° 18’ 12’’ N     65° 26’ 00’’ W
• 49° 15’ 12’’ N     65° 26’ 00’’ W

PA-5

• 49° 12’ 07’’ N     64° 54’ 57’’ W
• 49° 17’ 09’’ N     64° 53’ 02’’ W
• 49° 17’ 06’’ N     64° 50’ 00’’ W
• 49° 17’ 00’’ N     64° 44’ 00’’ W
• 49° 10’ 27’’ N     64° 48’ 54’’ W

PA-6

• 49° 00’ 34’’ N     64° 23’ 57’’ W
• 49° 05’ 31’’ N     64° 16’ 42’’ W
• 49° 04’ 28’’ N     64° 14’ 15’’ W
• 48° 59’ 30’’ N     64° 22’ 19’’ W

Sites that are closed for post-season surveying are also closed to exploratory fishing. These sites are defined as the sectors between the straight lines connecting the following points, in the order listed, and closing to the coast:

 

Closed site 1

• 49° 14’ 47’’ N     65° 41’ 00’’ W
• 49° 18’ 38’’ N     65° 41’ 00’’ W
• 49° 18’ 37’’ N     65° 40’ 00’’ W
• 49° 14’ 56’’ N     65° 40’ 00’’ W

Closed site 2

• 49° 15’ 09’’ N     65° 36’ 45’’ W
• 49° 18’ 32’’ N     65° 36’ 45’’ W
• 49° 18’ 31’’ N     65° 36’ 00’’ W
• 49° 15’ 13’’ N     65° 36’ 00’’ W

Closed site 3

• 49° 15’ 12’’ N     65° 26’ 00’’ W
• 49° 18’ 12’’ N     65° 26’ 00’’ W
• 49° 18’ 11’’ N     65° 25’ 15’’ W
• 49° 15’ 11’’ N     65° 25’ 15’’ W

Closed site 4

• 49° 12’ 21’’ N     64° 55’ 45’’ W
• 49° 17’ 13’’ N     64° 55’ 45’’ W
• 49° 17’ 12’’ N     64° 55’ 00’’ W
• 49° 12’ 07’’ N     64° 55’ 00’’ W

Closed site 5

• 49° 04’ 36’’ N     64° 32’ 15’’ W
• 49° 12’ 05’’ N     64° 32’ 15’’ W
• 49° 11’ 46’’ N     64° 31’ 30’’ W
• 49° 04’ 28’’ N     64° 31’ 30’’ W

Closed site 6

• 49° 01’ 56’’ N     64° 26’ 45’’ W
• 49° 09’ 46’’ N     64° 26’ 45’’ W
• 49° 09’ 27’’ N     64° 26’ 00’’ W
• 49° 01’ 27’’ N     64° 26’ 00’’ W

 

3.2. Coral and Sponge Conservation Areas in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

On December 15, 2017, Fisheries and Oceans Canada created eleven coral and sponge conservation areas in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in order to protect areas with high concentrations of sponges and sea pens.

All fishing activities that use bottom-contact gear or gear designed to come into contact with the sea bed, including but not limited to bottom trawls, dredges, gillnets, bottom longlines, bottom seines and traps, are forbidden in the conservation areas.

For more information and maps of the eleven coral and sponge conservation areas, please visit the dedicated DFO website: Coral and Sponge Conservation Measures in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

3.3. Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area

On March 6, 2019, Fisheries and Oceans Canada created, jointly with the Quebec government, the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area (MPA) in order to the ensure the conservation and protection of this marine ecosystem.

Provisions of the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area Regulations apply to licence holders. In order to comply with them, please refer to the clauses that apply to your fishing activities: Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area Regulations

4. Fishing seasons

The following seasons will be in effect for the duration of this CHP. They represent the maximum duration of fishing periods. Opening dates may vary according to particular circumstances such as industry requests and the TAC announcement while closing dates may be advanced according to factors such as the reach of quotas or when risks of exceeding them are high. Opening and closing fishing dates of each fleet will be confirmed through Notices to Fish Harvesters.

The fishing season is 10 weeks long, running from mid-July to the end of September.

Fishing schedule:

• from the beginning pf the season until August 15: fishing is authorized from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.;
• from August 16 to the end of the season: fishing is authorized from 6:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

It should be reminded that it is the responsibility of the captain to acquaint himself with the marine safety notices published by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Transport Canada as well as with the standards and best practices in marine safety and to take all measures necessary to insure a safe fishery during the period where fishing is authorized.

5. Quotas

The method of calculating biomass and TAC used in 2015 has been the subject of a formal validation upon the scientific workshop in the Fall of 2015. The TAC were reassessed in 2017 taking into account the exact surfaces of the harvested areas and the recommendations made during the scientific pear review of the sea cucumber in June

For seasons 2021, 2022 and 2023, TAC in the table below apply for dredge fishing carried out at depths between 32 and 42 m:

TAC for dredge fishing carried out at depths between 32 and 42 m (Area B)

Sub-area	Initial TAC (t)*
B-1	45
B-2	90
B-3	32
B-4	37
B-5	121
Area B Total:	325

TAC for dredge fishing carried out at depths between 32 and 42 m (Area C)

Sub-area	Initial TAC (t)*
C-1	25
C-2	33,8
C-3	49,9
C-4	29,7
C-5	62,4
C-6	70,9
Area C Total:	271,7

* Subject to annual reconciliation of quota overruns from the previous year.

At the request of the licence holders, Fisheries and Oceans Canada will not automatically stop fishing in cases where the TAC is almost reached. If the TAC is exceeded, the reconciliation of quota will be applied and the TAC of the zone will be reduced by the equivalent of the excess or excesses in the following season.

6. Management Regime

Exploratory fishing under competitive regime.

7. Minimum catch size

The minimum size is set at 114 mm.

8. Fishing Gear

The dredge authorized in this CHP, is installed on runners or wheels and is comprised of a ventral side (mouth, chain matrix and chafing mat), dorsal side (net) and basket (net).

• Ventral side :
  • Mouth: Maximum width of 3.65 metres with vertical grates situated in front of the mouth at maximum intervals of 0.22 metres. No element that increases penetration of the mouth into the substrate should be added.
  • Chain matrix: Maximum length of 1.83 metres and same width as the mouth. Consists of mesh of a maximum of 13 mm forming square openings a minimum of 0.15 x 0.15 metres.
  • Chafing mat: Maximum length of 2.60 metres, with a width equal to or narrower than the mouth. Consists of 100 mm diameter metal rings, attached together by small, wire rings and a maximum of four rubber washers.
• Dorsal side : Maximum length of 5.79 metres, extending the full width of the dredge. Consists of a mesh polyethylene net, the total length of the net forming the two sides next to a single mesh measuring a minimum of 80 mm (not including the knots at the two ends).
• Basket :
  • Maximum length of 2.60 metres, with a width equal to or narrower than the mouth.
  • Consists of a mesh polyethylene net, the total length of the net forming the two sides next to a single mesh measuring a minimum of 80 mm (not including the knots at the two ends), with the end of the basket consisting of a polyethylene net with square mesh, the total length of the net forming the two sides next to a single mesh measuring a minimum of 80 mm (not including the knots at the two ends), over a length of at least 1 metre.
  • When a clasp is used, it must be designed and installed so that it does .not come into contact with the substrate.
• Runners (where applicable): located at the front of the mouth, with the rear end passing under the mouth, and disposed at maximum intervals of 0.40 m perpendicular to the mouth. Consists of smooth slats curved in the opposite direction of the bottom at the anterior end with a minimum length of 0.90 m, with the exception of two lateral rollers with a minimum length of 0.70 m.

Only one dredge per licence holder/vessel operator is authorized on a single fishing trip. The dredge used for fishery or aboard the vessel must be identified by a valid identification number given by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. This number must appear in relief on the lateral part of the dredge. Each figure of the number must have a minimal height of 75 mm and a minimal width of 25 mm.

Any changes to the design of the gear intended to change its performance must be fully documented and beforehand approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada before the start of fishing activities.

At all times, the dredging speed must be less than 3 knots. In addition, the licence holder/vessel operator must verify the physical state of the dredge on a regular basis (gear matrix and mouth) and quickly repair any damage to maintain the dredge's selectivity.

It should be noted that the specifications of the dredge authorized for the sea cucumber fishery are likely to be modified following the results of the work of the working group on the development of a lower impact approach for the sea cucumber fishery and the recommendations resulting from the scientific advices and reports. 

9. Management measures to minimize the risks of interactions with the North Atlantic Right Whale

Since 2017, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has put in place additional management measures to protect marine mammal including the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale from entanglement in fishing gear and ship strikes. These measures take into account the best available scientific data and can be adapted if necessary to take into account future developments regarding interactions prevention.

The following requirements have been implemented in order to reduce the risk of entanglement of North Atlantic Right Whales:

9.1. Requirement to report lost and retrieved gear 

Lost gear reporting - Lost fishing gear is defined as any active fishing gear previously set by the licence holder and fishing vessel operator which was sought but not found.

The licence holder/operator must report any of their lost fishing gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of lost gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) through the Fishing Gear Reporting system available online or by completing the Lost fishing gear form available online or in Annex of Conditions of licence, according to instructions on the form.Retrieved gear reporting

The licence holder/operator must report the retrieval of any of their own previously reported lost gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of retrieved gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)  through the Fishing gear reporting system available online or by completing the Retrieval of previously reported lost fishing gear form available online or in Annex of Conditions of licence, according to instructions on the form. Retrieval can only occur during the validity period of the Conditions of licence and only in relation to the specific type of gear authorized to be used by the Conditions of licence..

Retrieval can only occur during the validity period of these licence conditions and only in relation to the specific type of gear authorized to be used by these licence conditions.

9.2. What to do if you observe a North Atlantic right whale

First of all, it is important to maintain a minimum distance of 100 meters from the animal and 200 meters if the whale is accompanied by a calve. Details regarding sightings of live and free-swimming right whales may be provided to DFO at: XMARWhalesightings@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or by phone at 1-844-800-8568. If you observe this species, please send us your contact information and information about the sighting (date, time, geographical position, number of individuals, etc.). If possible, you can also send us photos or videos.

If you see a right whale entangled in fishing gear, you should not under any circumstances attempt to release it on your own. The behaviour of an entangled individual is unpredictable and dangerous. You should contact "Marine Mammal Emergencies" at 1-877-722-5346 as soon as possible to share information that will help to organize an appropriate response by experts (time and position of the entangled animal, behaviour of the individual, details on the weather and the state of the sea, etc.).

10. Marine mammal interaction reporting

In order to comply with the implementation of the US Marine Mammals Protection Act (MMPA) regulations, licence holders must provide information regarding all interactions with a marine mammal that occur during fishing expeditions including: bycatch, collisions and all sightings of entangled marine mammals. To do this, the Marine Mammal Interaction Form must be completed and submitted by email to DFO.NAT.InteractionsMM-InteractionsMM.NAT.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca within 48 hours after the end of a fishing trip.

A copy of the form is attached to the Conditions of licence and can also be downloaded and submitted online at the following address:  Report a marine mammal or sea turtle incident or sighting

The information provided on this form will be used by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to estimate levels of accidental mortality and injury to marine mammals. This information will allow DFO to better assess the types of threats that may affect Canada's marine mammals and to develop mitigation strategies.

In addition, if you observe a dead or distressed animal, please contact Marine Mammal Emergencies as soon as possible at 1-877-722-5346. If possible, do not hesitate to take photos or videos that will allow DFO to assess the situation and identify the species.

11. Hail Prior To Departure

Licence holders/vessel operators are required to contact the vessel hail-out system before 07:00 p.m. the day before each fishing trip.

12. At-sea Observer

Industry-funded at-sea observer coverage applies to this fishery at a minimum of 100% of fishing trips if the vessel being used is equipped with an active DFO approved Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) with a maximum position interval of 15 minutes. However, if the vessel used has a working VMS that is approved by DFO and for which the maximum interval for recording the position is set at 5 minutes, the minimum coverage for fishing trips carried out with this vessel is 30% on a random basis during the dredge fishery.

 

Prior to starting a fishing trip, the licence holder/vessel operator must have an agreement with a company designated by the Quebec Region of DFO, whose list is available at the following address: List of Qualified and Designated Companies, with regard to at-sea observer coverage.

13. Dockside Monitoring

Before the beginning of a fishing trip, the licence holder/vessel operator must have an agreement relative to dockside monitoring and hail-in with a dockside monitoring company legally designated by DFO whose list is available at the following address: Qualified dockside monitoring companies

The Dockside Monitoring Program (DMP) is mandatory for 100% of landings.

Verified landing weight must be recorded within three hours after arriving at the dock. Weighing of landings must be done using a fixed landed scale, in kg. 

14. Combined form / Logbook / Purchase slip

Licence holder/vessel operator must acquire their booklet of Combined Forms from a prequalified supplier, identified by DFO, completed it according to the instructions specified in the document and provide it to the dockside monitoring company representative at the time of weighing.

The logbook portion of this form must be properly completed each fishing day before docking.

When a separate purchase slip is used, it must be completed by the buyer and submitted to DFO no later than ten days after landing.

Due to the exploratory nature of this fishery, all licence holders/vessel operators consent to DFO sharing and/or publishing their catch data.

15. Vessel Monitoring System

Vessels must have an active Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Each licence holder must register their approved VMS with DFO prior to commencing fishing activities.

The maximum interval for recording the geographical position is set at:

• 5 minutes based on at-sea observer coverage of 30% of fishing trips; or
• 15 minutes based on at-sea observer coverage of 100% of the fishing trips.

The transmission of data, including geographical position data, must be done at a maximum interval of 60 minutes.

The current list of DFO-approved VMS units and the procedure and form to register a VMS unit are available at the following address: National Vessel Monitoring System

16. Incidental Catches

A scientific bycatch monitoring protocol will be applied by at-sea observers. If bycatch rates are consistently too high, the fishery could be closed immediately.

All bycatch must be returned to the water and released in the exact capture location and, if the fish is still alive, with as little harm as possible. In addition, the information must be recorded in the relevant section of the logbook.

17. Simultaneous fisheries

Simultaneous fishing of sea cucumber and any other species during the same fishing trip is not permitted.

18. Boat

Vessels with an LOA less than 19.81 m may be used, regardless of its cubic number.

Lease of a vessel registered outside DFO – Quebec Region – Gaspé Lower St. Lawrence area (commercial fishing licence) is not permitted. Licence holders/vessel operators are authorized to use:

1. a vessel registered with the DFO – Quebec Region - Gaspé Lower St. Lawrence area or
2. a vessel not registered with the DFO – Quebec Region - Gaspé Lower St. Lawrence area but is owned, since April 1st of the current year, by a person who has had his main residence in the Quebec Region since January 1st of the current year and that has not participated for the current year in commercial fishing activities in another Region.

19. Participation criteria

As for all emerging fisheries, licence holders/vessel operators must demonstrate that they have fully participated in developing the fishery by complying with the minimum, pre-established participation criteria before a permit can be re-issued, if applicable.

The minimum participation criteria are: minimum landings of 25 t by licence holder per season as well as, participation in carrying-out post-season surveys conducted as part of the monitoring of the short-, medium- and long-term impacts of dredging on the sea cucumber and benthic communities.

In the event that a licence holder is not complying with the established participation criteria, the exploratory licence would not be re-issued the following year.

20. Quota reconciliation

Quota reconciliation provides that any quota overruns in a given year, whether under an individual quota regime or as part of competitive fishery, will be accounted for in the quota of the following fishing season. For example, quota overruns incurred during a management year will be deducted from the licence holder or the fleet's quotas for the following season on a one-for-one basis.

21. Post-season inventory

The catch achieved in each sub-area during the post-season surveys is deducted from the TAC.

The annual report of the post-season inventory is the responsibility of the licence holders. The final report must be submitted to DFO no later than March 31 of the year following the completion of the inventory.

22. Species At Risk Act

Pursuant to the Species at Risk Act, no person shall kill, harm, harass, capture, take, possess, collect, buy, sell or trade an individual or any part or derivate of a wildlife species designated as extirpated, endangered or threatened.

At the time this Conservation Harvesting Plan is promulgated, the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence species susceptible to being captured are the following: the Spotted Wolffish, the Northern Wolffish, the Leatherback Turtle and the Striped Bass (St. Lawrence River population). New species could be added during the course of the year.

All incidental captures of species at risk must be immediately returned to the water where they were captured and, if the animal is still alive, in the manner that causes it the least harm. All incidental captures of species at risk must be recorded in the « Species at Risk » section of the logbook. Furthermore, all interactions with species at risk, notably the North Atlantic Right Whale, the Blue Whale (Atlantic population), the Beluga Whale (St. Lawrence Estuary population) and the White Shark (Atlantic population), must be recorded in this section of the logbook.

These requirements are additional to any obligation to declare an interaction with a marine mammal using the prescribed form (see section Marine mammal interaction reporting).

23. Map of fishing areas

24. Crew registry

Since April 1st, 2021, inshore commercial licence holders, and their approved Substitute Operators, must keep records of all the crew members working aboard the vessel on every fishing trip. These records must be maintained by the licence holder for a period of five (5) years. This requirement does not apply to pre-1979 corporation licence and to any licence issued under the authority of the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations. For further details, refer to the March 17th, 2021 Notice to Fish Harvesters or contact the Licensing Office at 1-877-535-7307 or fishingpeche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

25. Conditions of licence

To obtain their Conditions of licence, fish harvesters 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.

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Approved by:

Maryse Lemire

Fisheries Management Regional Director

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Quebec

For any question regarding this CHP

You may call at : 1-877-898-5559

For additional information

Please visit our website.

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