FISHERIES & OCEANS -
Gulf, Québec, Maritimes and Newfoundland & Labrador Regions
Notice to Fish Harvesters
June 13, 2018 EKME # 3921048
Please click on the full DFO Notice to Fish Harvesters:
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A TAC of 1,297 t for Atlantic halibut 4RST will be established for a one year period from May
15, 2018 until May 14, 2019. A quota of 50 t has been identified under Section 10 of the
Fisheries Act to pay the costs associated with the annual scientific longline survey and tagging
program. This allocation will be taken off the top of the 2018/2019 TAC.
The remaining quota (1,247 t) will be distributed based on the sharing formula announced in
2016 following the review of the inshore fixed gear shares. A quota of 310 t, representing
92.5 % of the mobile gear fleets share, will be distributed equally between eight fixed gear
inshore fleets currently involved in the directed Atlantic halibut fishery in 4RST.
As a result, the 2018/2019 initial allocations per fleet (calculated before quota reconciliation or
carry-forward of previously uncaught quota when applicable) are as follows:
Fleets Allocation (t)
Eastern New Brunswick 83.67
Gulf Nova Scotia 56.20
Gulf Prince Edward Island 51.42
Western Newfoundland 317.17
Quebec North Shore 110.36
Gaspe 421.49
Magdalen Islands 86.02
Scotia Fundy 52.89
Mobile Gear ˂ 19.81 m 10.96
Fixed Gear 19.81 m – 30.48 m 42.75
Mobile Gear 19.81 m – 30.48 m 3.21
Vessels ˃ 30.48 m 10.96
Scientific survey 50
Total 1,297
2
Greenland halibut
Although the Greenland halibut TAC was set for a two-year period in 2017, in the fall of 2017,
an update of the Gulf of St. Lawrence Greenland halibut stock status concluded that the threshold
triggering a stock assessment during an interim year was reached. A peer review of the
Greenland halibut stock status was held in March 2018 and concluded that removals should be
reduced for the 2018-2019 fishing season to avoid an increase in the exploitation rate.
Therefore, a TAC of 3,375 t will be established for the period of May 15, 2018 to May 14, 2019
for Greenland halibut (turbot) 4RST representing a reduction of 25% from the 2017-2018 TAC.
For more information:
Cécile Lavoie
A/Senior Regional Advisor
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Moncton, NB
506-851-2033
Steve Trottier
Senior Regional Advisor
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Québec, QC
418-648-4946
David Coffin
Senior Regional Advisor
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
St. John’s, NL
709-772-2916
Penny Doherty
A/Senior Regional Advisor
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Dartmouth, NS
902-402-5508
