Gulf Region

UPDATE - 2020 PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND BLUEFIN TUNA FISHERY EKME: 4198475

Charlottetown, PEI – October 2, 2020 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) today announces that new licence conditions will be issued for eligible Prince Edward Island (PEI) Bluefin Tuna licence holders. Licence conditions will be valid until December 31, 2020.

SEASON DATES: The fishery will remain open until December 31, 2020 or until the quota nears 0 metric tonne.

MANAGEMENT MEASURES:

•   Licence holders should note that having a Bluefin Tuna tag in your possession

  allows access to fish but does not guarantee your quota.

•   Partnerships will be valid for the whole season, unless DFO is notified otherwise.

•   The Prince Edward Island Bluefin Tuna fleet will have access to a portion of quota

  transferred from Mexico to Canada.

•   For licence holders to hail out, they must call the Vessel Hail-Out System at

  1-800-561-2467, at least 3 hours prior to departure for any fishing trip. Licence holders must select an At Sea Observer Company in the IVR system, even though an observer will not be deployed.

•   Licence holders that are requesting a temporary dart tag must record the dart tag number in Annex II, prior to fishing. Dart tags are non-transferrable.

•   Licence Holders will have to print Licence Conditions for 4RST and 4WD separately.

  NEW management measures in place for the 2020 fishing season:

  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