Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Assoc.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Gulf Region
Notice to Fish Harvesters
Gouvernement Government
du Canada of Canada

2011 ATLANTIC HALIBUT FISHERY FOR
THE PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND FLEET

Moncton – July 8, 2011 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) today approved
the 2011 Atlantic Halibut Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) for the Prince Edward Island
fixed gear fleet sector.

The Atlantic Halibut allocation available to this fleet is 25.56 metric tonnes. The season will
commence at 06:00 hrs (Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT)) on August 3, 2011, and end at
18:00 hrs (ADT) on the same day.

The approved gear for this fishery is longline. The maximum number of hooks per fish harvester
has been set at 600. To determine the actual effort expected for this fishery, fish harvesters must
pre-register with their association by 12:00 (noon) on July 15, 2011.

Please refer to the attached CHP for further details concerning management measures for this
fishery.

For more information on this fishery, please contact:
Luc Légère
Senior Advisor, Groundfish
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Moncton, NB
(506) 851-2382

Colin MacIsaac
Area Chief, Resource Managment
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Charlottetown, PE
(902) 566-7815

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2011 CONSERVATION HARVESTING PLAN
Atlantic Halibut (4RST) – Prince Edward Island Fixed Gear Fleet
Less than 19.817 meters
Approved July 8, 2011

This Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) applies to all Prince Edward Island fixed gear licence
holders fishing Atlantic Halibut in NAFO Divisions 4RST with vessels less than 19.817 meters
(65 feet) in overall length from May 15, 2011 to May 14, 2012.

When fishing in a particular area, the conservation harvesting plan for that area will apply. It is to
be noted that this conservation harvesting plan is subject to change following ministerial
decisions or annual review.
Directed fishing for any other groundfish species will require a separate harvesting plan.
The conservation measures during the fishery are as follows:
1. Protection of spawning fish and concentration of juveniles
The protection of fish during the spawning period and areas where there are concentrations of
juveniles is a priority that the department and the industry consider very important for the
reconstruction of the Cod stock in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. The following conservation
measures will apply:
􀂾 Closure of all groundfish fisheries from April 1st to June 23rd in part of the Northwest Atlantic
Fisheries Organisation (NAFO) Division 4R offshore from St. Georges Bay and Port au Port
Bay.
􀂾 Closure by variation order of all groundfish fisheries from January 1st to December 31st in part
of sub division 4T3 know as Miscou Bank.
􀂾 Permanent closure of all groundfish fisheries from January 1st to December 31st in sub
division 4T5 known as a juvenile area.

2. Participants
For the purposes of this Conservation Harvesting Plan, fishers who belong to the Prince Edward
Island fixed gear fleet are fishers having their home port in the province of Prince Edward Island
using Vessel Class A-68.

3. Allocation
The Atlantic Halibut allocation for the Prince Edward Island fixed gear fleet will be 25.56 metric
tonnes in total for 2011. This includes an initial allocation of 6.10 t, a 17.12 t temporary reallocation
from the mobile gear fleet sectors' by-catch quotas, and a 10.00 t allocation due to the
2011 CONSERVATION HARVESTING PLAN
Atlantic Halibut (4RST) – Prince Edward Island Fixed Gear Fleet
Less than 19.817 meters
initial increase in TAC, and an additional 0.58 t due to a subsequent increase in TAC. As well, a
quota overrun from 2010 in the amount of 8.25 t was deducted from the 2011 allocation. Any
overrun of the 2011 allocation will be taken on a one-to-one basis from the 2012 allocation of
Atlantic Halibut assigned to this fleet.

4. Fishing gear
􀂾 Longline only
i. Minimum hook size: opening must be equal to or greater than 15.4 mm.
ii. Minimum hook spacing of three (3) fathoms when fishing in NAFO Division 4R or sub-
Division 3Pn
iii. Maximum number of hooks: 600

5. By-Catch Limits
By-catch is defined as the weight of a by-catch species divided by the weight of the directed
species, in this case, Atlantic Halibut. If below by-catch limits are exceeded, the fishery may be
closed. By-catch of groundfish species may not be released unless a condition of licence
authorizes to do so. For management purposes, the individual by-catch limits of groundfish while
directing for Atlantic Halibut are as follows:
Cod Maximum daily limit of 50 kg or 30% whichever is greater
White Hake Maximum daily limit of 10%
Sharks Maximum daily limit of the lesser of 500 kg or 10% of weight on
board the vessel providing the vessel has a condition of license
authorizing by-catch of sharks.
Other species of groundfish 25%

6. Fishing effort
To minimize chances of overharvesting, it is recognized that the Prince Edward Island fixed gear
fleet will have to limit its fishing effort. Limits on fishing can take several forms, such as:
􀂾 The number of boats on the water
􀂾 The duration of the fishery, or
2011 CONSERVATION HARVESTING PLAN
Atlantic Halibut (4RST) – Prince Edward Island Fixed Gear Fleet
Less than 19.817 meters
􀂾 The amount of fishing gear used.
Following consultations with industry representatives, it was decided that the number of
participants in the fishery would not be limited, but the duration of the fishery and the number of
hooks will be limited to control the level of effort.

7. Small Fish Protocol
The small fish protocol that will apply:
a. Cod 43 cm
b. American Plaice 30 cm
c. Witch Flounder 30 cm
d. White Hake 45 cm
e. Winter Flounder /Yellowtail Flounder 25 cm
f. Atlantic Halibut 85 cm
g. Greenland Halibut 44 cm
h. Redfish 22 cm
Areas will be closed for specified fleet sectors when the number of undersized fish reaches or
exceeds 15% of the catch of any of the above species. Where there is a requirement by
condition of licence to release undersized fish to the water, it will not be counted within the small
fish protocol. Undersized fish may not be released unless a condition of licence authorizes to
do so.

8. Logbook
Logbooks are mandatory for all vessels.

9. Dockside Monitoring
Dockside Monitoring Program (DMP) will apply at 100%.

10. Observer CoverageIndustry-funded at-sea observer coverage at a minimum of 10% will apply for vessels less than 13.716 meters (45 feet). For vessels greater than 13.716 meters (45 feet), a minimum of 15%will apply.
Fishers are required to contact the DFO Vessel Hail-Out System at 1-800-561-2467, at least
10 hours before leaving on each fishing trip (mandatory hail-out).
The PEIFA has requested that fishers pre-register with their Association’s office before
2011 CONSERVATION HARVESTING PLAN
Atlantic Halibut (4RST) – Prince Edward Island Fixed Gear Fleet
Less than 19.817 meters

12 p.m. (noon) on July 15th, 2011, in order to better define the actual anticipated effort in this
fishery. A conference call with members of the PEI Fixed Gear Advisory Committee is scheduled
for the last week of July, to finalize effort controls.

11. Catch Monitoring and Test Fishery
Small fish and by-catch closures will be of a minimum duration of 10 days. The cost of
conducting all test fisheries must be borne by industry. If a fishery is closed, it will not re-open
unless DFO feels that it can be effectively monitored and controlled. If any particular fishery is
closed twice during the year because of high levels of small fish or incidental catch, the fishery
may remain closed for the remainder of the year.

12. Fishing Seasons
The following seasons will be in effect during the year. However, the actual opening dates for the
Prince Edward Island geographical fleet will be from August 3rd, 2011 at 6:00 a.m. (ADT) until
6:00 p.m. (ADT) the same day. Adjustments to this period may be required given the actual effort
in the fishery and the abundance of Atlantic Halibut during this fishery. Any unused quota may be
made available to this fleet before May 14th, 2012, pending approval of an amended CHP.
4T1
4T2 (a)
4T2 (b)
4T3 (a)
4T3 (b)
4T4
4T5
4T6
4T7
4T8
4T9 (a+b)
􀂃 May 15, to December 31st
􀂃 May 15, to December 31st
􀂃 May 15, to December 31st
􀂃 May 15, to December 31st, except Miscou bank
􀂃 May 15, to December 31st, except Miscou bank
􀂃 May 15, to December 31st
􀂃 No directed fishery
􀂃 No directed fishery
􀂃 No directed fishery
􀂃 No directed fishery
􀂃 May 15, to December 31st

2011 CONSERVATION HARVESTING PLAN
Atlantic Halibut (4RST) – Prince Edward Island Fixed Gear Fleet
Less than 19.817 meters
The fleet's choice to concentrate the fishing of the quota in a single fishing period is part of a
management approach aimed at not exceeding the quota allocated. However, this initiative
involves the risk of not reaching the quota. A mechanism must therefore be provided to get closer
to this quota.
If, after the prescribed fishing period, the total catch is over 90% of the quota, the objective will be
considered to have been reached and the fishery will not reopen. If, after the prescribed period,
the 90% threshold has not been harvested, the industry and the department will consider a
reduced period of fishing to reach the objective. Members of the PEI Fixed Gear Advisory
Committee have already agreed to a tentative opening on August 23rd, 2011 should the quota
threshold not be reached.

13. Other Management Measures
The Department will continue to monitor the level of dumping and discarding of groundfish at sea.
An industry funded sampling program is already in place to collect data to monitor small fish and
by-catch. The sampling program will further be enhanced to include the collection of additional
data to monitor discard of groundfish. If a fleet sector or an individual is suspected of dumping
and discarding groundfish at sea, the industry funded at-sea observer coverage may be
increased up to 100%.
The overrun of quotas is a problem that needs to be addressed. To do so, the Department has
agreed to implement quota reconciliation starting with the 2010 season. Any fleet quota overruns
in the present season (2011) will be deducted on a one-to-one ratio from the following season's
quota (2012).