Notice to Fish Harvesters

Gulf Region

2020 CONSERVATION AND HARVESTING PLAN
FOR THE ROCK CRAB FISHERY IN LOBSTER FISHING AREA 26A

Charlottetown, PEI and Antigonish, NS – July 24, 2020 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is announcing the management measures for the rock crab fishery in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 26A that will be in effect for the 2020 fishing season. Unless indicated otherwise, existing management measures remain in place. Please refer to your Rock crab licence conditions for further details.

Season dates

The opening date will be 6:00 a.m., Monday August 3, 2020. The last day of fishing will be Saturday, November 28, 2020 (inclusively).

DFO wishes to remind fish harvesters to take extra care when navigating on the opening day of the Rock crab 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.

NEW management measures in place for the 2020 fishing season:

Gear Marking

Gear marking is in place in this fishery. Specific requirements are explained in the Notice to Fish Harvesters issued January 31, 2020. An updated version of the notice was also issued in June 2020 and can be found at the following Internet address:http://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/folios/00090/docs/2020-gear-marking-colour-sche-ver4-eng.pdf. Details of these requirements can also be found in the licence conditions.

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

Other Management Measures which will continue to apply in 2020:

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 Logbooks/landing reports are mandatory and must be completed as stipulated in licence conditions.

Dockside Monitoring: All of the catch must be weighed in kilograms (kg) at one decimal point on an approved scale.

Number of traps:
Commercial licences – 90 traps. Communal commercial licences – 90 traps.

Catch limitation:
Commercial licences – 23,913 kg. Communal commercial licences – 23,913 kg.

Minimum size: Only male Rock crabs, with a minimum carapace width size of 108 mm, may be retained in the directed fishery.

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.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) - Information for industry

Canadian fisheries and aquaculture sectors provide the world with sustainably-sourced, high quality, high value, fish and seafood.

Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard is committed to supporting our fisheries and aquaculture industry during these difficult times. The Government of Canada is taking the necessary steps to ensure that you can continue to operate safely and effectively and we will continue to keep you informed of the latest developments.

Visit our website to find out more:

http://dfo-mpo.gc.ca/covid19/industry-industrie/index-eng.html

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Kim Lowe
Resource Management Fisheries and Oceans Canada Charlottetown, PEI
(902) 566-7933Kim.Lowe@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Barbara MacArthur
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Antigonish, NS
(902) 863-7076Barbara.MacArthur@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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EKME-EN: 4175850 / EKME-FR: 4179736