Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Assoc.

Click the following link to view the full Notice to Fishers: http://peifa.org/members/docs/2021_LFA_25_ROCK_CRAB_NOTICE_TO_FISH_HARVESTERS_-_BILINGUE[3].docx

Gulf Region

Notice to Fish Harvesters

2021 CONSERVATION AND HARVESTING PLAN FOR THE ROCK CRAB FISHERY IN LOBSTER FISHING AREA 25

Tracadie (NB), Charlottetown (PEI) and Antigonish, (NS) – June 15, 2021

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is announcing the management measures for the rock crab fishery in Lobster Fishing Area 25 (LFA 25) in 2021.

Fishing Season

The summer fishing season in LFA 25 will open at 6:00 a.m. on June 28, 2021 and will remain open until July 31, 2021. These season dates comply with the practice of opening the fishery on the last Monday in June until the last Saturday in July. DFO wishes to remind fish harvesters to take extra care when navigating on the opening day of the fishery as vessels are loaded with gear and traps. Harvesters are encouraged to act diligently in setting their traps and should ensure that vessels are loaded safely by reducing the quantity of gear if necessary.

Opening and closing dates for the fall fishery will be published in a subsequent Notice to Fish Harvesters.

NEW in 2021

Crew Registry: The inshore regulations require inshore commercial licence holders, and their approved Substitute Operators, to keep records of all the crew members working aboard the vessel on every fishing trip. These records must be maintained by the licence holder for a period of five (5) years. More information can be found at: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/atl-arc/inshore-regulations-reglement-peche-cotiere-eng.html#toc03

Management measures in place for the 2021 fishing season

Gear Marking: Gear marking is in place in this fishery. Details of these requirements can be found in your licence conditions and at the following Internet address: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/atl-arc/colour-notice-avis-couleur-eng.html

Management measures to minimize interactions with North Atlantic right whales:

The management measures to protect the right whales are available at the following Internet address: http://dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/atl-arc/narw-bnan/management-gestion-eng.html

Biodegradable mechanisms: The use of biodegradable mechanisms on all traps, including modified lobster traps, is mandatory. Please refer to your licence conditions for specifications on these biodegradable mechanisms.

Data entry: The licence holder is responsible to enter into an agreement with a Dockside Monitoring Company for data entry of catch and effort information; a condition to this effect is included in all licences.

Logbooks: Crab Logbook/Landing Report are mandatory and must be completed as stipulated in the 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: 100 traps

Catch limitation:

Commercial licences – 25,000 kg

Communal commercial licences – 35,000 kg

Community licences – 35,000 kg

Minimum size: Only male rock crab may be retained. No rock crab that is less than 102 mm in carapace size (width) may be retained.

DFO will continue to apply the exploitation principle that prioritizes the rock crab fishery as follows: by-catch in the lobster fishery, bait for the lobster fishery and then directed rock crab fishery.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Diana Fillion

Resource Management

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Tracadie, NB

506-395-7740

Diana.Fillion@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Kim Lowe

Resource Management

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Charlottetown, PEI

902-566-7933