Notices to Fish Harvesters

Sept-Iles – April 11, 2024

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is implementing a plan for the knowledge acquisition and development of the lobster fishery in fishing area 18. This plan will include the issuance of exploratory lobster licences for the 2024 season. DFO invites interested licence holders to submit an application for an exploratory licence for lobster in fishing subareas 18A to 18H by April 21, 2024.

Prospective exploratory licence holders will be allowed to sell their catches and will have to comply with all the management measures that will be included in the Conservation Harvesting Plan for the exploratory lobster fishery in subareas 18A to 18H in effect and with the licence conditions issued.

It should be noted that exploratory licence holders will also be required to comply with a protocol to collect data that will document the stock's ability to support a commercial fishery. A dedicated catch measurement technician may be required. In accordance with the New Fisheries Policy, all costs associated with the exploratory fishery, including the hiring of a qualified technician, will be required to be paid by licence holders.

To be eligible to receive an exploratory fishing licence, applicants must meet the following criteria as of April 11, 2024:

• be a licence holder who is categorized as Independent Core;
• be permanent residents of the area between Tadoussac and Natashquan since at least January 1st, 2023;
• has been active in the fishery for at least 4 years in the last 5 years (except for the seal hunt);
• not hold a traditional snow crab (Group A) licence or a lobster licence; and
• have not surrendered (reissued) a snow crab or lobster licence since January 1, 2014.

It should be noted that Indigenous communities are not required to meet the eligibility criteria. In accordance with DFO guidance and policies, special consideration will be given to these applications.

Once applications that meet the eligibility criteria have been identified, the prioritization of applications will be based on prioritization criteria aimed at the following objectives:

• Recognize the commitment and resilience of fish harvesters in their sector of activity while considering the next generation in the fishing industry.
• Respect the contiguity of the place of residence [(subarea of the place of residence or adjacent subarea(s)].
• To allow fishers active in fisheries involving distressed or less profitable resources to take part in exploratory lobster fishing activities and thus strengthen the Upper and Middle North Shore fishing industry.

The issuance of an exploratory licence does not imply any commitment on the part of DFO to issue a similar licence after the exploratory licence has expired or in the event of non-compliance with the participation criteria. In addition, exploratory licences cannot be issued to another fisher in the form of a replacement licence, they are non-transferrable licences.

Those interested in participating in this exploratory fishery must submit an application through the National Online Licensing System under the "Application for New Licences" section by April 21, 2024.

The application must contain the following information:

- Fishing subarea(s) (see map in appendix)

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

Resource Management

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

North Shore Area: North Shore Sector: 418-962-6314 or (toll-free) 1-800-463-1729