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2014 ROCK CRAB FISHERY IN LOBSTER FISHING AREA 26A

Moncton – July 22, 2014 - The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Gulf Region, wishes to advise that the fishery for rock crab in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 26A will open at 06:00 a.m. on August 4, 2014, and will close at 12:00 a.m. (midnight) on November 29, 2014. These season dates are in keeping with the practice of opening the fishery on the first Monday in August and closing it at midnight on the last Saturday of November.

Biodegradable Panels
The use of modified biodegradable panels on all traps, including modified lobster traps, is mandatory. Please refer to your Licence Conditions for specifications on these panels.
All other management measures remain as per the previous management plan including:

Data entry: Licence holders are responsible for making arrangements with dockside monitoring companies for data entry of catch and effort information; a condition to this effect is included in all licences.
Logbooks: Logbooks/landing reports are mandatory and must be completed as stipulated in licence conditions.
Dockside Monitoring

Program: All of the catch must be weighed in kilograms at one decimal point on an approved scale.
Number of traps: Commercial licences - 90 traps.
Aboriginal organizations communal commercial licences – 90 traps.
Catch limitation: Commercial licences – 23,913 kg.
Aboriginal organizations communal commercial licences – 23,913 kg.
Minimum size: Only male rock crabs, with a minimum carapace width size of 108 mm, may be retained in the directed fishery.
DFO will continue to honour the principle that prioritizes the fishery as follows: lobster by-catch; lobster bait; directed rock crab fishery.

For more information:
Daniel McLaughlin
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Moncton, New Brunswick
5606-851-6234

Leroy MacEachern
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
902-735-7102

Chris Mills
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
902-566-7807

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