Notices to Fish Harvesters
Scallop – sub-areas 16E, 16F and 18A season 2023-CHP
1 Application
The present Conservation-based Harvesting Plan (CHP) applies for Scallop license holders having access to sub-areas 16E,
2 Fishing areas
Sub-area 16E: From Point sur la Côte to Grande Pointe
Sector named “Field D” within the sub-area 16E
Sub-area 16F: From Grande Pointe to Corneille River
Sub-area 18A: Northwest of Anticosti Island (Cap Henri to Cap Observation)
The fishing areas coordinates are listed in the Conditions of licence and are also indicated on the fishing areas maps, which are available at the following address: Commercial Fisheries (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).
3 Fishing closures
3.1 Coral and Sponge Conservation Areas in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence
On December 15, 2017, Fisheries and Oceans Canada created eleven coral and sponge conservation areas in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in order to protect areas with high concentrations of sponges and sea pens.
All fishing activities that use bottom-contact gear or gear designed to come into contact with the sea bed, including but not limited to bottom trawls, dredges, gillnets, bottom longlines, bottom seines and traps, are forbidden in the conservation areas.
For more information and maps of the eleven coral and sponge conservation areas, please visit the dedicated DFO website: Coral and Sponge Conservation Measures in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).
4 Fishing season
The fishery is authorized from June 5 to December 31, 2023.
The aforementioned fishing seasons are in effect for the duration of this CHP. They represent the maximum duration of fishing periods, subject to specific variation orders and closing periods, among other things. Thus, opening dates may vary according to particular circumstances and fisheries management considerations, such as industry requests and the TAC announcement, while closing dates may be advanced according to factors such as the reach of quotas or when the probability of exceeding them is high. The specific periods will be confirmed by Notices to fish harvesters or Variation orders.
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 insure a safe fishery during the period where fishing is authorized.
5 Number of licences and access
Sub-area 16E: 9 access rights
Sub-area 16F: 9 access rights
Sub-area 18A: 9 access rights
Each of the sub-areas is accessible to all eligible licence holders during the established fishing season.
Each licence is allocated a percentage of the number of fishing days* allocated to all of the sub-areas. The percentage allocated to each licence respects the ratio of fishing days* historically allocated. The fishing day allocation list is available upon request.
All licence holders residing from Sept-Îles to Pointe-Parent inclusively also have access to Sub-area 16D.
The 2 licence holders who historically formed Group A also have access to sub-area 16H.
All licence holders residing from Tadoussac to Pointe-Parent inclusively also have access to Sub-area 18D.
The management measures concerning sub-areas 16D and 18D are described in the CHP for sub-areas 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16G and 18D; the ones concerning sub-area 16H are described in the CHP for area 15 and sub-areas 16H and 16I.
6 Allocation
Sub-area 16E:
In 2023, the total number of fishing days for the sub-area is set at 40, which represents a 50% decrease from the number of fishing days allocated under the 2022 PPAC. The objective of this decrease is to reduce annual fishing effort, as recommended by DFO Science Branch. The 40 fishing days* are divided among licence holders with access to Subarea 16E.
As recommended by the Science Branch, each licence holder is authorized to fish a maximum of 50% of their fishing days within the area known as "Deposit D", the limits of which are set out in the Conditions of Licence.
Sub-area 16F:
The total number of fishing days for the sub-area is set at 25, which represents a status quo compared to the number of fishing days allocated under the 2022 PPAC, as recommended by DFO Science Branch. The 25 fishing days are divided among licence holders with access to Subarea 16F.
Sub-area 18A:
As a precautionary measure, the total number of fishing days allocated for Sub-area 18A is set at 136, which represents a 47% decrease from the number of fishing days allocated under the 2022 PPAC. The 136 fishing days* are allocated to licence holders with access to Subarea 18A.
The sharing of the fishing days for each sub-area is defined in the fishing day allocation list annexed to this CHP and respects the ratio of fishing days* historically allocated.
Temporary transfer of fishing days is not authorized.
7 Management regime
Fishing effort is controlled by the number of fishing days which are allowed in proportion to the historical ratio and by a maximum number of fishing hours per day.
- In sub-areas 16E and 16F, fishing is authorized for a maximum of 10 hours, between 05 h and 20 h.
- In sub-area 18A, fishing is authorized between 06 h and 21 h.
8 Fishing gear
Scallop drag, the total width of all baskets not exceeding 7.32 metres (24 feet).
Rings used in the composition of the dredge baskets must respect the minimum diameter of 76 millimeters (3 inches).
9 Management measures to minimize the risks of interactions with the North Atlantic Right Whale
Since 2017, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has put in place additional management measures to protect marine mammal including the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale from entanglement in fishing gear and ship strikes. These measures take into account the best available scientific data and can be adapted if necessary to take into account future developments regarding interactions prevention.
The following requirements have been implemented in order to reduce the risk of entanglement of North Atlantic Right Whales:
9.1 Requirement to report lost and retrieved gear
Lost gear reporting
Lost fishing gear is defined as any active fishing gear previously set by the licence holder and fishing vessel operator which was sought but not found.
The licence holder or fishing vessel operator must report any of their lost fishing gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of lost gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) through the FISHING GEAR Reporting system available online at Sign in (dfo-mpo.gc.ca) or by completing the Lost fishing gear form available online at Reporting requirements for commercial fisheries (dfo-mpo.gc.ca) or in Annex of Conditions of licence, according to instructions on the form.
Retrieved gear reporting
The licence holder or fishing vessel operator must report the retrieval of any of their own previously reported lost gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of retrieved gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) through the Fishing gear reporting system available online at Sign in (dfo-mpo.gc.ca) or by completing the Retrieval of previously reported lost fishing gear form available online at Reporting requirements for commercial fisheries (dfo-mpo.gc.ca) or in Annex of Conditions of licence, according to instructions on the form. Retrieval can only occur during the validity period of the Conditions of licence and only in relation to the specific type of gear authorized to be used by the Conditions of licence.
9.2 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 behaviour 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, behaviour of the individual, details on the weather and the state of the sea, etc.).
10 Marine mammal interaction reporting
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 (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).
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 better assess 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 that will allow DFO to assess the situation and identify the species.
11 Dockside Monitoring
When licence holders fish in one of the sub-areas covered in this CHP, prior to the beginning of a fishing expedition, they must have signed an agreement relative to hail-in with a dockside monitoring company legally designated by DFO, whose list is available at the following address: Monitoring Programs (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).
Licence holders must contact this same company at least one hour before the scheduled time of arrival at dockside for a landing.
12 Combined Form
12.1 Combinded form /Logbook
Licence holders must acquire their booklet of Combined Forms from a prequalified supplier identified by DFO, whose list is available at the following address : Prequalified Logbook Suppliers (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).
The Logbook section must be completed before arrival at port and the completed form must be sent to DFO after each fishing expedition.
13 Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)
The vessels must be equipped with an active vessel monitoring system (VMS) approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Each licence holder must register their approved VMS with DFO before the beginning of their fishing activities. Data must be transmitted every 15 minutes.
The current list of DFO-approved VMS units and the procedure and form to register a VMS unit are available at the following address : National Vessel Monitoring Service (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).
14 Boat
Boat leasing from outside the Quebec region will not be authorized.
15 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 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).
16 Crew registry
Since April 1st, 2021, inshore commercial licence holders, and their approved Substitute Operators, must keep records of all the crew members working aboard the vessel on every fishing trip. These records must be maintained by the licence holder for a period of five (5) years. This requirement does not apply to pre-1979 corporation licence and to any licence issued under the authority of the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations. For further details, refer to the March 17th, 2021 Notice to Fish Harvesters at Notice detail - Online Publications Tool (dfo-mpo.gc.ca) or contact the Licensing Office at 1-877-535-7307 or fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
17 Discharge of waste
Since 2022, all commercial fisheries in Canada 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 Notice detail - Online Publications Tool (dfo-mpo.gc.ca)
18 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.
Approved by:
Maryse Lemire
Fisheries Management Regional Director
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Quebec
For any question regarding this CHP (lorsqu’applicable)
You may call at 1-800-463-1729
For additional information
Please visit our website at the following address:
Quebec Region | Fisheries and Oceans Canada (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).
|
LICENCE HOLDER |
Number of permit |
16E Number of individual fishing*day (IFD) - including Field D |
16E Maximum of IFD on Field D |
16F Number of individual fishing*day (IFD) |
18A Number of individual fishing*day (IFD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
ARSENAULT, LIONEL |
13755 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
16 |
|
SCHERRER, DANIEL |
13756 |
2 |
1 |
2 |
16 |
|
LES DISTRIBUTIONS BERTRAND DESBOIS INC. |
13752 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
16 |
|
PECHERIES SHIPEK |
902259 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
16 |
|
PECHERIES SHIPEK |
900228 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
14 |
|
PECHERIES SHIPEK |
901992 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
16 |
|
PECHERIES SHIPEK |
900441 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
14 |
|
INNUS DE NUTASHKUAN |
900609 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
14 |
|
INNUS DE EKUANITSHIT |
900615 |
6 |
3 |
3 |
14 |
TOTAL
- 16E : 40
- 16F : 25
- 18A : 136