Notices to Fish Harvesters

Application and Fishing Areas

This Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) for Greenland halibut applies to all Quebec Region fixed gear groundfish licence holders associated with vessels less than 19.81 metres fishing in NAFO Divisions 4RST from May 15, 2024 to May 14, 2025.

Fishing season

The fishing seasons set out below are in effect for the duration of the validity of this CHP and represent the maximum fishing period. Specific periods will be confirmed by Notice to Fish Harvesters or Variation Orders.

• May 15 to October 31
• April1 to May 14 (following year)

Allocations

Based on a TAC of 2,000 t, the allocations for the Quebec fixed-gear fleets are as follows:

• 1,039.6 t for the Gaspé and Upper and Middle North Shore ITQ fleets
• 18.6 t for the 13.71 m and over fleet under the Gaspésie ITQ regime (Others group)
• 122.1 t for the Lower North Shore ITQ fleet
• 6.4 t for the Lower North Shore fleet outside the ITQ program
• 53.1 t for the Gaspésie competitive fleet under 13.71 m
• 9.8 t for the competitive fleet of the Upper and Middle North Shore.

Fishing Gear

A maximum number of 120 gillnets (maximum length of 50 fathoms per net) is authorized, except for holders of traditional snow crab (except Area 12A) or lobster licenses, whose maximum number is 60 gillnets for competitive fishing. A maximum of 10 gillnets is authorized for fishermen subject to latent effort in the competitive fishery.

Other management measures

Management measures for the Greenland halibut fishery for the 2024-2025 season will also include the following aspects:

Various fishing area closures;

Management measures to reduce the risk of interactions with right whales and the reporting of interactions with marine mammals;

Hail out before each fishing trips;

Daily at-sea hails (competitive fishing, trip duration over 30 hours);

At-sea observer;

Dockside monitoring for all landings;

Daily completion of the logbook section of the combined form (Electronic logbook optional in 2024);

Vessel Monitoring System (VMS);

Monitoring and management of by-catch and small fish;

Simultaneous fishing;

72-hour maximum soak time;

Catch monitoring and test fishing;

Partnership (a maximum of 120 gilnets is authorized per fishing duo);

Exclusive participation (boat rental conditions);

Quota reconciliation and carry-forward;

Prohibition on discarding groundfish at sea (subject to permit conditions);

Species at risk;                                                                                                  

Crew registery;

Discharge of waste; and

National online licensing system.

For any question regarding this CHP:

 

Côte-Nord area: 1-800-463-1729

Gaspésie - Bas-Saint-Laurent area: 1-877-898-5559

 

Steve Trottier

Resource Management

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Quebec (QC)