Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) Summary

CAPELIN – AREAS 15 AND 16 – QUEBEC FLEET – SEASON 2024

 

Approved March 15, 2024

Application and Fishing Area

This Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) is applicable to capelin licence holders  in areas 15 and 16 of Quebec region.

Fishing Season

The fishing seasons opening and closing dates will be confirmed through Notices to Fish Harvesters or Variation Orders. 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.

Allocation

The total allowable catches (TAC) for the commercial capelin fishery in divisions 4RST for the 2024 season will be announced through a Notice to Fish Harvesters. Of this TAC, 13.88% will be allocated to capelin areas 15 and 16 (divisions 4ST), available to all capelin licence holders with access to these areas.

Since 2023, a 25 tons interim allocation from the TAC for the commercial capelin fishery in divisions 4RST will be set aside to allow an early opening of the small weir fishery in the Saint-Lawrence estuary in subdivision 4Tp, dependent on the sustainability of the stock.

Fishing gear 

Mobile gear: purse seine and beach seine;

Fixed gear: trap and trapnet (weir).

Other management measures

The 2024 measures for the capelin fishery in 2024 will notably include:

Mandatory hail-in for are 15 fish harvesters using a purse sein or a trap;

Mandatory completion of a logbook;

Mandatory vessel monitoring system (VMS) on vessels used to fish for capelin using a purse seine.

For additional information:                 

Mathieu Pellerin

Resource management

Fishery and Oceans Canada

Québec (Quebec)

Mathieu.Pellerin@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 

 

Magdelen Islands area : 418-986-2095

North shore area: 1-800-463-1729

Gaspe – Lower St. Lawrence area: 1-877-898-5559