2009 SNOW CRAB MANAGEMENT PLAN - SOUTHERN GULF CRAB FISHING AREAS 12, 18, 25, AND 26

• New Brunswick (NB): 1,818 t (8.7%)
• Quebec (QC): 1,304 t (6.239%)
• Prince Edward Island (PE): 183 (0.877%)

• The quota for the traditional fleets is 14,459 t (69.184%) and distributed as follows:
  • New Brunswick : 8,236 t (39.408%)
  • Quebec : 4,424 t (21.169%)
  • Nova Scotia : 244 t (1.169%)
  • Prince Edward Island : 718 t (3.436%) 
  • Harvesters from Crab Fishing Area 18 (CFA 18): 836 t (4.002%)
• The quota for new access is 3,135 t (15%) and distributed as follows:

Distribution of 3,135 t (15%) for New Access
NB	1,490 t (7.129%) distributed as follows :
MFU	1,288 t (6.161%)
7 midshore ITQ groundfish harvesters	149 t (0.713%)
5 competitive groundfish specialists	53 t (0.255%)
QC	1,011 t (4.837%)details as to distribution of quota will be provided by Quebec Region.
NS	191 t (0.913%) details as to distribution of quota will be provided by Gulf Region.
PEI	444 t (2.122%) distributed as follows :
PEIFA	390 t (1.867%)
PEI Groundfishermen’s Association	53 t (0.255%)

The following management measures are introduced:

·        As in 2008, all landings must be weighed in kilograms on an electronic scale with a memory and to the nearest decimal.

·        At sea observer coverage will remain at 25% but the existing soft-shell crab protocol is amended whereby information will be needed from two vessels and five traps. This approach will be reviewed prior to the 2010 fishing season. 

 

All other management measures from 2008 are rolled over in 2009 which include amongst others:

·        100% dockside monitoring (catch monitoring).

·        The use of a vessel monitoring system (VMS).

·        Maximum mesh size of 75 mm.

·        A delayed season opening to June 1 applies to an area in CFA 12 for one nautical mile bordering on CFA 19. 

·        The Irving Whale Exclusion Zone is maintained.

·        For proper management and control purposes, the targeted total number of vessels for all fleets on the water at any time is 150 for the Gulf Region and 75 for the Quebec Region. DFO will work with organizations representing non-traditional harvesters to ensure that the number of vessels authorized to fish for the new access fleets at the same time as other fleets is minimized.

·        For proper management and control purposes, traps will be issued on the same basis as in the past:

o       150 for mid-shore vessels

o       75 for the traditional inshore Prince Edward Island fleet

o       75 for Crab Fishing Area 18

o       New access and First Nations: those receiving quotas of up to 50 t will be entitled to 75 traps, while fishers receiving over 50 t will be able to use 150 traps.