Notices to Fish Harvesters

Quebec – December 19, 2024

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) - Quebec Region announces that those interested in participating in the Regional lobster knowledge and development plan can now apply for exploratory lobster fishing licences in Lobster Fishing Area 19.

In addition to the licences to be allocated to First Nations, DFO plans to issue, in three phases, a maximum of 35 exploratory lobster fishing licences in Area 19, each giving access to 100 traps. Holders of the new exploratory licences in the first phase will begin fishing in 2025. Licence holders of the two subsequent phases would begin fishing after 2025, depending on the results obtained in the previous phase (Appendix 1).

Persons meeting the eligibility criteria set out below must submit their applications via the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) by January 10, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time).

Roles and responsibilities of future exploratory lobster licence holders

DFO would like to remind that the purpose of exploratory fishing licences is to acquire additional data and knowledge that will enable DFO to determine whether the stock can sustain additional fishing activity in a sustainable manner. Some of the characteristics of exploratory licences, as well as the roles and responsibilities associated with them, are detailed below:

1. In addition to the management measures set out in the Conservation Harvesting Plan, including the possibility of buddy-up arrangements, and in the licence conditions issued, licence holders will be required to comply with participation criteria (minimum fishing effort and DFO data sampling protocol). Management measures and participation clauses are subject to change at any time.

2. Non-compliance with licence conditions and/or participation clauses, including sampling protocol and data submission to DFO, may lead to licence non-issuance the following season.

3. Responsibility for costs related to fishing operations and data collection rests entirely with the licence holder.

4. The exploratory fishing licence may not be requested to be reassigned to another licence holder, may not be issued to another fisherman as a replacement licence, and traps are not transferable.

5. The issuance of an exploratory fishing licence does not imply any commitment on the part of DFO to issue a similar licence the following fishing season. In the event of non-compliance with management measures or participation criteria, or for resource conservation reasons, DFO reserves the right to withdraw the licence.

6. The transition from exploratory to commercial fishing is not guaranteed.

Eligibility

1. To be eligible, interested parties must meet the following common criteria applicable to all anglers:

• be a member of the Independent Core group as of October 1, 2024;
• not hold a lobster license (regular or exploratory) on January 10, 2025;
• not have reassigned or made a transaction leading to the cancellation of a lobster or snow crab licence since January 1, 2014; and
• have resided in the Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence region since at least January 1, 2024.

2. Once the initial validation of applications has been carried out according to the common criteria, other more specific eligibility criteria will be added:

• belong to one of the fleets identified as a priority by DFO;
• not hold a snow crab licence (certain fleets); and
• be contiguous to Area 19 in relation to their place of residence or fishing area (certain fleets).

These criteria apply to all individuals wishing to be issued an exploratory fishing licence, whether they are aboriginal or not.

Prioritization

Eligible candidates will be prioritized according to their level of activity in recent years in the priority fleet fishery, in order to recognize their commitment and resilience while considering the next generation.

If necessary, random draws may be held until the number of licences reserved for each priority fleet is exhausted.

Licence allocation

Permit allocation sessions will be organized. Details of the criteria for priority fleets, the allocation mechanism and the number of licences for each priority fleet will be shared at the allocation sessions.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting your DFO Area Office.

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

 

Dominic Boula

Resource management

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

 

Appendix 1

New map of lobster fishing area 19