Notices to Fish Harvesters

1. Application

This Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) applies to exploratory sea cucumber licence holders in Area 3 of the North Shore.

2. Fishing areas

Area 3:

From Sheldrake to Natashquan inclusively, including sub-areas, 3A1 to 3A17.

The fishing sub-areas coordinates are listed in the Conditions of licence

3. Permanent closure of fishing areas

    3.1. Coral and sponges conservation areas in the estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

On December 15, 2017, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) created eleven coral and sponges 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 seabed, including but not limited to bottom trawls, dredges, gillnets, bottom longlines, bottom seines, and traps are prohibited in those conservation areas.

For more information or to consult the maps for the eleven coral and sponges conservation areas, please visit the dedicated DFO website at the following address: Coral and Sponge Conservation Measures in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

    3.2. Restriction

No fishing is permitted at a depth of less than 18 meters (10 fathoms).

4. Fishing seasons

The fishery is authorized annually from May 1 to October 31.

The fishing seasons established in this CHP represent the maximum duration of fishing periods. Thus, openings and closures may vary according to particular circumstances and fisheries management considerations.

Also, it should be reminded that during the period where fishing is authorized, it is the responsibility of the captain to acquaint himself with the marine safety notices published among others 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

5. Number of licences and access

• 1 exploratory licence (non-transferable) giving access to the following sub-areas: 3A1 to 3A5, 3A7 to 3A11, 3A13, 3A14, 3A17;
• 1 exploratory licence (non-transferable) giving access to the following sub-areas: 3A6, 3A12, 3A15, 3A16.

6. Allocations

Maximum number of fishing*days per group of subareas:

• 70 fishing*days in sub-areas 3A1 to 3A5, 3A7 to 3A11, 3A13, 3A14, 3A17;
• 25 fishing*days in sub-areas 3A6 and 3A15;
• 25 fishing*days in sub-areas 3A12 and 3A16.

7. Management regime

Control of fishing effort by allocating a maximum number of individual fishing*days.

8. Minimum catch size

A minimum catch size of 114 mm applies.

9. Fishing gear

Fishery is authorized with a Sea cucumber dredge mounted on skates, as described in the Conditions of licence.

10. 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 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:

    10.1. 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 or by completing the LOST FISHING GEAR FORM available online 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 or by completing the RETRIEVAL OF PREVIOUSLY REPORTED LOST FISHING GEAR FORM available online 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.

10.2. 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 calf. 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 behavior of an entangled individual is unpredictable and dangerous. You should contact the "Marine Mammal Emergencies Network" 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, behavior of the individual, details on the weather and the state of the sea, etc.).

11. Marine mammal interaction reporting

In order to comply with the implementation of the US Marine Mammals Protection Act (MMPA) regulations, 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 expedition.

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

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.

12. Hail prior to departure

Hail-out is mandatory and must be made before 7:00 pm the day before each fishing trip.

13. At-sea observer

The At-Sea Observer Program, financed by the industry, applies on the basis of a minimum coverage of 30% of fishing trips.

The licence holder and the operator must have entered into an at-sea observer coverage agreement with a company designated by DFO-Quebec Region, the list of which is available at the following address: List of Qualified and Designated Companies, prior to the start of a fishing trip.

14. Catch and effort data declaration

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 and Combined Form Suppliers

The Logbook section must be completed before arrival at port and the completed form must be sent to DFO after each fishing trip.

15. Vessel monitoring system (VMS)

The use of a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) approved by DFO is mandatory. Each licence holder must register his DFO-approved VMS unit prior to the beginning of his fishing activities. Data transmission every 15 minutes is required.

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 System

16. Incidental catches

A by-catch monitoring protocol is applied by at-sea observers. If by-catch rates are too high, the fishery may be closed immediately.

No by-catch may be retained. All by-catch must be returned to the water in the same location where it was caught and, if the fish is still alive, in a manner that causes the least harm.

17. Simultaneous fishing

No simultaneous fishing for sea cucumber and any other species during the same fishing trip is allowed.

18. Boats

Vessels with an overall length (LOA) of less than 15.24 m may be used, regardless of the volumetric index.

Boat leasing from outside the North Shore area is not allowed.

19. 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 identified above 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).

20. 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, please refer to the March 17th, 2021 Notice to Fish Harvesters available online or contact the Licensing Office at 1-877-535-7307 or fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

21. Discharge of waste

In 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. For further details, please refer to the March 29, 2022 Notice to Fish Harvesters

22. Conditions of licence

To obtain their Conditions of licence, licence holders must access the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) and make a request. For assistance with the National Online Licensing System, 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 questions regarding this CHP

You may call at: 1-800-463-1729

For additional information

Please visit our website.