Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Assoc.

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Notice to Fish Harvesters

July 11, 2019 EKME # 4074519

2019 Prince Edward Island Catch and Release Bluefin Tuna Season

Charlottetown, PE – July 11, 2019 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) today announces that fishing will be authorized for the 2019 Prince Edward Island (PEI) Catch and Release Bluefin Tuna season.

SEASON DATES: In 2019, the fishery will open on July 15, 2019 and close on October 31, 2019.

MANAGEMENT MEASURES: New for 2019: Requirement to report interactions with Marine Mammals The Marine Mammal Interaction Form will remain included with the licence conditions and must be completed and submitted by email to: DFO.NAT.InteractionsMMInteractionsMM.NAT.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca unless it is filled out online at: http://www.dfompo.gc.ca/species-especes/mammals-mammiferes/report-rapport/fish-harvester-pecheur-eng.asp. The form must be submitted within 48 hours of the end of a fishing trip.

The management measures remain unchanged from the 2018 season and are reflective of the National Guidelines for the Bluefin Tuna Catch and Release Fishery.

DFO would like to remind fishers of the requirement to fill out a log sheet after each fishing trip and to submit the log sheets weekly to the DFO Area Office as per the instructions on the licence conditions. This information is mandatory for our science reporting obligations to ICCAT. Fishers are reminded to forward a copy of their agreement with an at-sea observer company to Carter Russell at the DFO PEI Area Office (contact information below) as this is a requirement for licence issuance.

Fishers are also reminded to forward a copy of any recent Transport Canada certification (Blue Decal) renewals to Carter Russell at the DFO PEI Area Office (contact information below) as this is a requirement for licence issuance.

REQUIRED TRAINING: Mandatory training on safe fish handling is required for fishers to take part in this fishery. During 2017, DFO undertook training for the existing Catch and Release fisher fleet. New fishers who have yet to do this training must register with DFO for the required training. DFO will coordinate and administer the training for these fishers. Licence conditions will only be issued once the training is complete.

For more information, please contact: Carter Russell Resource Management Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans Charlottetown, PEI (902)-368-0740 Carter.Russell@dfo-mpo.gc.ca