Notices to Fish Harvesters
OPENING 4RST GREENLAND HALIBUT GASPÉ FIXED GEAR FLEETS OF THE LESS THAN 13.71 METRES- NOTICE TO FISHERS
Gaspé – July 12, 2023
Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Quebec region announces the opening of the 4RST Greenland Halibut fishery for the licence holders of the Gaspé fixed gear fleet of less than 13.71 m under competitive regime.
Following discussions with industry representatives, fishing under competitive fisheries management will be permitted from July 14, 2023 at 4:30 a.m. to August 22,2023 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT). The allocation available to the fishery is 67,69 t.
A maximum number of 120 gillnets will be authorized, except for the traditional licence holders for the Snow crab fishery, at the exception of the area 12A, or the Lobster fishery of Gaspe, who will be limited to 60 gillnets.
No vessel leasing will be authorized between the fleet under competitive regime and the fleet under ITQ regime in a same management year.
Temporary fishery closure area
Please note that for the 202-2023 season, fishing for Greenland halibut is prohibited in part of NAFO division 4R and 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 Subdivisions 4Tp and 4Tq due to high levels of small fish.
Fishers interested in participating in this fishery will need to access the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) and apply for a Condition of Licence. Licence holders will then receive a form to enter their gear tag numbers as specified in the Notice to Fish harvesters of March 22, 2023. This form must be completed online and returned via the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) to complete the Conditions of Licence process.
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
Other management measures in the Greenland Halibut 2023-2024 Conservation Harvesting Plan approved May 3, 2023 remain unchanged.
For more information
You can obtain additional information concerning the management measures and the fishing areas on our website at Commercial Fisheries.
For more information, please call 1-877-898-5559
Caroline Leclerc
Resources Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Gaspé–Lower St. Lawrence Area