Notices to Fish Harvesters

Season 2023

Approved 22 December 2022

 

1. Application

This Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) applies to the Magdalen Islands’ sealing fleet and covers the 2023 Grey seal and Harp seal hunt seasons.

2. Fishing Areas

Subject to any Variation Order and based on valid licences, the fleet is authorized to hunt in the Gulf of St. Lawrence sealing areas. Upon request and subject to various conditions, the fleet may also have access to the Newfoundland and Labrador East Coast sealing areas (the Front). Such access would be subject to a specific Conservation and Harvesting Plan.

 

The fishing areas coordinates are listed in the Conditions of the licence and are also indicated on the fishing areas maps, which are available at the following address: Commercial Fisheries

3. Permanent fishing closures

 

The Marine Mammal Regulations, available at the following address, identifies the areas permanently closed: Justice Laws Website

4. Fishing seasons and license types

The fishing seasons listed below are for guidance only. Opening and closing fishing dates will be confirmed through Notices to Fish Harvesters and Variation

• License Type - Commercial licences (professional and assistant hunter)

  • Grey Seals

    • In zone 20: from 25 January to 1 July and from 15 September to 31 December.

    • In other areas: to be determined.

  • Harp Seal

    • From 15 November to mid-February and from mid-March to 15 June.

• License for personal use

  • Grey Seals

    • In zone 20:  from 25 January to 1 July and from 15 September to 31 December

  • Harp Seal

    • In zone 20: from 15 November to 15 February and from mid-March to 15 June.

• Development quotas

  • Grey Seals

    • Not applicable.

  • Harp Seal

    • Open upon approval of a fishing plan submitted by the promoter.

• Recreation and tourism

  • ​​​​​​​Grey Seals

    • Upon request and after analysis, DFO may issue a limited number of recreational hunting permits. The issuance and conditions of such a permit will be reviewed to ensure adequate supervision.

 

The fishing seasons set out above are in force for the duration of the validity of this FMP. They represent maximum fishing periods, subject to, among other things, specific orders and closed seasons. Thus, openings may vary according to particular circumstances and fishery management considerations, including industry requests and TAC announcements, while closing dates may be advanced according to factors such as the reach of quotas or when risks of exceeding them are high.

In particular, the following parameters can help in the decision to determine the opening date:

Grey seals: estimate the opening date based on when 50% of grey seals have been weaned according to the colony.

Harp seals: estimate opening date based on when 80% of harp seals have been weaned according to the colony.

Furthermore, 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 ensure a safe fishery during the period when fishing is authorized.

5. Quotas

Grey seal: DFO will monitor the landings, and the fishery (hunting) could be closed with short notice.

Harp seal: The Magdalen Islands sealing fleet is granted 20% of the allocation available for the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Subject to the submission of a plan to be approved by DFO, a developmental allocation may also be available.

6. Harvest plan

Before any grey seal fishing (hunting) trip with a vessel greater than 10.7 metres (35 feet), a Harvest Plan must be submitted to DFO at least five days before the fishing (hunting) activity for approval. The information that must be provided to DFO is identified in the Commercial Licence Conditions.

7. Management Regime

Grey seal: The hunt is competitive, and the allocation is available to all sealers from Eastern Canada.

 

The Harp seal:  The hunt is competitive. The allocation granted to the fleet is available to all licence holders from the Magdalen Islands area.

8. Fishing Gear

The gears authorized are the hakapik, club and firearm. Gear specifications and the three-step killing process are described in the Marine Mammal Regulations, available at the following address: Justice Laws Website as well as in the sealers’ licences.

9. 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 behavior 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, behavior 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 assess better 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 to allow DFO to assess the situation and identify the species.

11. Hail out

In Seal Fishing Area 20, the master of any vessel with an engine must contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada by telephone at 418-986-2150 before 9:00 p.m. on the day before the start of each fishing trip (hunt).

 

Outside of Seal Fishing Area 20, the master of any vessel greater than 10.7 metres (35 feet) in overall length must contact Fisheries and Oceans Canada by telephone at 418-986-2150 between 24 and 72 hours before each fishing (hunting) trip.

12. Declaration of catches

All catches must be declared to Fisheries and Oceans Canada by phone at 418-986-2150 (answering machine) on the day of the catches. Details are included in the sealers’ licences.

13. Vessel

A motorized vessel used for sealing must be recorded on a professional sealer's licence. The professional sealer must be on board the vessel during the hunt.

Only a vessel less than 65' feet in length may be used for sealing.

In the case of a vessel not registered as a Commercial Fishing Vessel (VRN), the Seal Vessel Identification Number (SVIN) must be painted or securely affixed to the vessel by other means in conformity with the licences specifications.

A commercial sealing licence holder is authorized to use a maximum of two auxiliary crafts.

• An auxiliary craft is a craft that is taken on board the vessel before leaving the port to use it, if required, to facilitate sealing operations.
• In the case of auxiliary craft, the vessel registration number (VRN) or seal vessel identification number (SVIN) of the main vessel must be painted or securely affixed to the vessel by other means.

Section 26(2) of the Fishery (General) Regulations provides the criteria for the identification of vessels.

 

14. Mandatory training on the three-step killing process

In 2009, the Government of Canada strengthened the Marine Mammal Regulations to formalize already well-established humane harvesting practices. Regulatory amendments articulate a prescribed three-step process that is in keeping with international scientific standards and provides for a safe and humane harvest.

In order to harvest seals, it is mandatory to complete the training on the three-step killing process.

 

Please refer to your licence and the Marine Mammal Regulations for details on the three-step process and other related management measures.

 

15. Category of licenses

The categories of licences used to open and close the hunt and in force for the current season in the Magdalen Islands sector are as follows:

 

• Q100 - Seal licence – commercial use held by a person residing immediately adjacent to Sealing area 20 and who is authorized to catch the quantities of harp and/or grey seals set for the competitive fishery of this fleet.
• Q120 - Seal licence – commercial use held by a person residing immediately adjacent to Sealing area 20 and who is authorized to catch, retain or be in possession of a maximum of six harp seals in total per year.
• Q110 - Seal licence – commercial use held by a person who does not reside immediately adjacent to Sealing area 20 but who participates in the seal fishery from a vessel whose master resides immediately adjacent to this area and who is authorized to catch the quantities of harp and/or grey seals set for the competitive fishery of this fleet.
• Q130 - Seal licence – personal use held by a person residing immediately adjacent to Sealing area 20.
• Q140 - Seal licence – commercial use held by a person authorized to fish the quantities of harp seals in accordance with the Magdalen Islands area developmental allocation.

 

The licence holder is responsible for identifying the licence category under which they are fishing (hunting) to ensure they cease all activity when DFO announces closure for that licence category.

If participating in the seal fishery from a vessel whose master does not reside immediately adjacent to Seal Fishing Area 20, it is the licence holder's responsibility to contact a Fisheries and Oceans Canada office to verify the appropriate seal licence category and to obtain a valid licence for that licence category.

 

16. Supervision of commercial hunting assistants :

A professional sealer may supervise a maximum of two commercial sealers' helpers during a seal hunt.

17. Licences

To obtain their licences, licence holders must log on to the Online National Licensing System. (NOLS)

For NOLS assistance, please contact customer support by phone at 1-877-535-7307 or by email at  fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

18. 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, the Striped Bass (St. Lawrence River population) and exceptionally the White Shark (Atlantic population). New species could be added during the course of the year.

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).

 

 

19. Discharge of waste

In 2022, all commercial fisheries in Canada will have a new condition of licence relating to the discharge of garbage from Canadian fishing vessels. The licence holder is prohibited from discarding in Canadian fisheries waters from their vessel any item that may be harmful to fish or fish habitat. Please refer to the following New condition of licence relating to discharge of garbage season 2022 (2022-03-29) (dfo-mpo.gc.ca)

Approved by:

 

Maryse Lemire

Fisheries Management Regional Director

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Quebec

 

For any question regarding this CHP

You may call at 418-986-2095

For additional information

Please visit our website at the following address Fisheries