Gulf, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador and Maritimes Regions

MANAGEMENT PLAN FOR ATLANTIC HALIBUT IN THE GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE

Moncton, Quebec, Saint John’s and Halifax – June 5th, 2020 – The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) today announces the management plan for Atlantic halibut in the Gulf of St. Lawrence Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) divisions 4RST.

A Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 1,492 t for Atlantic halibut 4RST is established for a one year period from May 15, 2020 until May 14, 2021. From this TAC, a 60 t allocation has been set aside under section 10 of the Fisheries Act to support the industry/DFO longline survey and tagging project.

The remaining quota (1,432 t) is distributed based on the sharing formula announced in 2016 following the review of the inshore fixed gear fleet shares. The inshore fixed-gear fleet sector will receive a transfer of 92.5 % (356 t) of the mobile gear fleets’ allocation, which is distributedequally between the eight inshore fixed-gear fleets involved in the directed Atlantic halibut fishery.

As a result, the 2020-21 initial allocations per fleet (calculated before quota reconciliation or carry-forward of previously uncaught quota where applicable) are as follows:  Please click the following link to view the quota breakdowns and the full DFO Notice:  http://peifa.org/members/docs/MECTS-#4163093-v1-2020-21_Notice_to_Fish_harvesters_4RST_Atlantic_halibut_TAC[1].pdf