Avis aux pêcheurs

4RST ATLANTIC HALIBUT

GASPÉ FIXED GEAR FLEET OF LESS THAN 13.71 METRES

LOBSTER FISHERS GROUP

2024-2025 SEASON

Subject: Announcement of fisheries management measures

 

Gaspé – June 21 2024

Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Quebec Region informs the Atlantic halibut 4RST Gaspé fixed gear fishermen of less than 13.71 m fleets (Lobster Fishers Group) of the management measures of the fishery in 2024-2025.

 

Quota and Management regime

The initial allocation of Atlantic halibut for all Gaspé fleets is set at 742,323 t for the 2024-2025 season. In accordance with the permanent sharing agreement between the Gaspé fleet of 13.71 m or more and the Gaspé fleet of less than 13.71 m, established at 63.5%: 36.5% respectively, the allocation of the Gaspé fleet of less than 13.71 m corresponds to 270.911 t. Based on the permanent sharing of the allocation of the Gaspé fixed gear fleet of less than 13.71 m, the share allocated to licence holders in the Lobster fleet group corresponds to 27.75% of this allocation, or 75.178 t.

As announced in the Notice to Fish Harvesters of July 10, 2023, the fishery for the 4RST Atlantic halibut allocation of the Gaspé fixed gear fleet of the Lobster Fishers group is now managed under an individual transferable quota (ITQ) system.

 

Temporary transferts

For the 2024-2025 fishing season, temporary ITQ transfers of 4RST Atlantic halibut will not be authorized, in derogation of the Regional Directive, in order to promote fleet rationalization. This exceptional measure was put in place in 2023-2024 and its end-of-season evaluation confirmed its effectiveness and the relevance of renewing it for a 2nd year.

 

Fishing season

Starting with the 2024-2025 season, licence holders in this fleet will be authorized to fish for 16 weeks. The latter are distributed as follows: 12 weeks for a summer fishery and 4 weeks for the spring fishery.

Summer fishing will be permitted from July 5, 2024 at 4:30 a.m. (EDT) to September 26, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT). The second 4-week fishing period will be authorized in the spring of 2025, the dates will be specified later. Each licence holder in the fleet is authorized to participate in both fishing periods.

 

Vessel Monitoring System

There are no vessel monitoring system (VMS) requirements in effect for the 2024-2025 fishing season.

Unlike the Notice to Fish Harvesters issued on July 12, 2023 for the Gaspé fixed gear fleet of less than 13.71 m (Lobster Fishers Group), the Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) will be mandatory for the directed Atlantic halibut fishery starting in the 2025-2026 fishing season and not in the 2024-2025 fishing season.

 

Other management measures

The other management measures included in the 2024-2025 Atlantic Halibut Conservation Harvesting Plan 4RST, for the Gaspé fixed gear fleet of less than 13.71 m for the Lobster Fishers group, remain unchanged.

 

Licence conditions

To obtain Conditions of Licence, fishers must access the National Licensing System online. For assistance with the National On-Line Licensing System, please contact Client Support by phone at 1-877-535-7307 or by e-mail at fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

 

For additional information :

Please visit our website at the following address: https://inter-l01-uat.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/infoceans/

Julie Bernier

Resources Management

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence area: 1-877- 898-5559