Notices to Fish Harvesters

Quebec – May 3, 2023

Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Quebec region informs fish harvesters of Greenland Halibut fixed gear fleets of Quebec region of the management measures for the 2023-2024 season.

The total allowable catch (TAC) for Greenland Halibut is established annually at 2,400 t for the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 fishing seasons. The Québec’s fixed gear fleets allocation corresponds to 82% of the allocation of the fixed gear fleet less than 19.81 m of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Based on the 2,400 t TAC, Québec’s fleets share an overall allocation of 1,657.1 t (including a 157.5 t temporary transfer coming from the less than 19.81 m mobile gear fleet) distributed according to the established sharing formula:

• Fleet under ITQ regime from Gaspé and Upper and Middle Shore: 1,321.8 t
• Fleet 13.71 m and greater under ITQ regime from the Gaspé (Others group): 31.4 t
• Fleet under ITQ regime from the Lower North Shore: 188.3 t
• Fleet from the Lower North Shore non ITQ Program: 9.9 t
• Fleet less than 13.71 m under competitive regime from the Gaspé: 89.3 t
• Fleet under competitive regime from Upper and Middle North Shore: 16.5 t

In accordance with the implementation of quota reconciliation, competitive quotas and ITQs will be adjusted, if applicable, in the next few weeks. Note that carry-forward of the 2022-2023 residual quotas will not be authorized in 2023-2024.

Important reminder about the hail-out system

Please note that as of April 1, 2023, licence holders must now contact the DFO hail-out system by phone at 1-833-699-2021 or 1-506-431-3223 (satellite). Please refer to your licence conditions for more details.

Fishery closure area

For the 2023-2024 season, the directed Greenland halibut fishery is prohibited in part of NAFO division 4S where water depth is less than 229 meters (125 fathoms), for all Quebec region fixed gear fleets under 19.81 m due to high cod bycatch.

The directed Greenland halibut fishery is prohibited in NAFO Subdivision 4Tp due to high levels of small fish.

Other management measures

For the fleets under ITQ regime that were active between April 1 and May 14, 2023, fishing activities will continue until 31 October 2023. For the fleet under ITQ from Lower North Shore and competitive fleets, the opening of the fishery will be announced at a later date, following discussions with the concerned fish harvesters associations.

Other management measures in the Greenland Halibut 2023-2025 Conservation Harvesting Plan remain unchanged, in accordance with the discussions held at the Regional Greenland Halibut Management Committee (RGHMC) in March 2023.

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

For more information

You can obtain additional information concerning the management measures and the fishing areas on our website at Quebec Region

Steve Trottier

Resources Management

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Quebec City, (Quebec)

Resources Management

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

North Shore Area

Gaspé–Lower St. Lawrence Area:

North Shore Area: 1-800-463-1729

Gaspé–Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1-877-898-5559