Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Assoc.

2011 SHRIMP HARVESTING PLAN
FOR THE GULF OF ST LAWRENCE

QUEBEC CITY – MONCTON – CORNER BROOK – MARCH 23, 2011

The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has released the 2011 Shrimp harvesting plan for the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

I. HARVESTING PLAN

Total allowable catches (TAC) are set at 35,115 tonnes.

TAC per fishing area:

 Estuary: 916 tonnes
 Sept Îles: 15,172 tonnes
 Anticosti Island: 9,938 tonnes
 Esquiman Channel: 9,089 tonnes

• The fishing season will start on Friday, April 1st, 2011.

• General conservation measures applicable to all fishers:

1. Use of the Nordmore grate is mandatory throughout the shrimp season.
2. Use of double liners over the Nordmore grate is forbidden during the season.
3. Any groundfish caught accidentally while fishing may be returned to the water. However, the following species must be returned to the water immediately and, where the fish is alive, in a manner that causes it the least harm: Atlantic halibut less than 85 centimetres, Northern wolffish, Spotted wolffish and Atlantic Leatherback turtle.
4. Northern wolffish, Spotted wolffish and Atlantic Leatherback turtle must be returned to the water as required in Section 73 of the Species At Risk Act.
5. 100% independent dockside monitoring of all landings.
6. At least 5% presence of on-board observers at the industry’s expense.

II. RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION FOR GROUP A FISHERS (WEST COAST OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR AND QUEBEC)
In Newfoundland and Labrador, traditional shrimp harvesters will receive 5,003t while an amount of 914 tonnes will be allocated to other fish harvesters.
For Quebec, traditional shrimp harvesters will receive 674 tonnes while 66 tonnes will be available for groundfish harvesters on the Quebec Lower North Shore.

III. RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION FOR GROUP B FISH HARVESTERS (QUEBEC AND NEW- BRUNSWICK)

Traditional Group B shrimp harvesters and First Nations will receive 24,586 tonnes while an amount of 3,065 tonnes will be allocated to groundfish dependant harvesters.

IV. RESOURCE DISTRIBUTION FOR PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND AND NOVA SCOTIA

An allocation of 404 tonnes goes to core fish harvesters in each of these provinces: Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia.

V. IMPLEMENTATION OF QUOTA RECONCILIATION IN THE GULF SHRIMP FISHERY

As announced at the last advisory Committee meeting of Gulf shrimp, the Department will proceed with the implementation of quota reconciliation beginning this season. Therefore, quota overruns by a licence holder or by a competitive fleet during the 2011 season will be deducted in 2012 (individual quota or fleet) on a one-for-one basis. It is of the responsibility of the licence holder to respect the allocation he is granted (ITQ and IQ) while taking into consideration transfers and landings and to take the necessary arrangements before departing for a fishing expedition to have the necessary quota to cover its expected catches for this expedition.

The general guidelines of quota reconciliation will soon be available at the following DFO Web site: http://www.qc.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/peches-fisheries/commerciale-commercial/index-eng.asp

VI. SPECIES AT RISK

As indicated in Section 73 of the Species At Risk Act, the following species must be returned to the water immediately and, when the fish is alive, in a manner that causes it the least harm: Northern wolffish, Spotted wolffish and Atlantic Leatherback turtle.

For further information, contact:

Bernard Morin
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Quebec Region
Quebec City (Quebec)
(418) 648-5891
Richard Ruest
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Gulf Region
Moncton (New-Brunswick)
(506) 851-3760

Annette Rumbolt
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Newfoundland and Labrador Region
St. John’s (Newfoundland and Labrador)
(709) 772-4911