Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Assoc.

Click on the link to view the DFO Notice to Fishers: https://peifa.org/members/docs/2017_ROCK_CRAB_LFA_25_(June)_Notice_to_Fish_Harvesters (003).pdf

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Notice to Fish Harvesters

May 29, 2017 - EKME # 3779316

2017 ROCK CRAB FISHERY IN LOBSTER FISHING AREA 25

Moncton – The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), Gulf Region, wishes to advise the industry that the summer fishery for rock crab in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 25 will open, subject to weather conditions, at 06:00 a.m. on June 26, 2017 and will remain open until July 29, 2017. These season dates are in keeping with the practice of opening the fishery on the last Monday in June until the last Saturday in July.

The fall rock crab fishery will open five calendar days after the closure of the fall lobster fishery (unless the rock crab opening date would fall on a Sunday in which case it will open on the Monday) with the season closure being the last Friday of November. Opening and closing dates for this fishery will be published in a later Notice to Fish Harvesters.

Licence conditions will be valid for both the summer and fall fishery periods.

All other management measures remain as per the previous management plan and include, amongst others:

Biodegradable mechanisms The use of biodegradables 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 Logbook/Landing Report are mandatory and must be completed as stipulated in the licence conditions.

Dockside Monitoring

Program: All of the catch must be weighed in kilograms at one decimal point on an approved scale.

Number of traps: Commercial licences - 100 traps.

Communal commercial licences – 100 traps.

Community licences– 100 traps.

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Catch limitation: Commercial licences – 25,000 kg.

Communal commercial licences – 35,000 kg. Community licences – 35,000 kg.

Minimum size: Only male rock crabs, with a minimum carapace width of 102 mm, may be retained.

DFO will continue to apply the principle that prioritizes the rock crab fishery as follows: by-catch in the lobster fishery, bait for the lobster fishery; directed rock crab fishery.

For more information:

Josiane Massiéra

Resource Management

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Moncton, NB

(506) 851-7290

Diana Fillion

Resource Management

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Tracadie, NB

(506) 395-7740

Chris Mills