Prince Edward Island Fishermen's Assoc.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Notice to Fish Harvesters

September 20, 2012
EKME # 2672472

2012 Re-allocation of remaining bluefin tuna quota within the PEI tuna fleet sector

September 20, 2012 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) today announced the details of the
Prince Edward Island (PEI) bluefin tuna fleet sectors tag re-allocation process, which completes the Conservation Harvesting Plan for Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organizations (NAFO) Divisions 4RST-4Wd for the PEI fleet sector.

Following discussions with fleet representative, the DFO has determined that the remaining tags to complete the PEI bluefin tuna fleet allocation will be distributed in the following manner:

Native Council of PEI 1 additional tag
Abegweit First Nation 2 additional tags
Lennox Island First Nation 3 additional tags
Commercial fleet sector Remaining tags following a draw of 2012 active license holders.

DFO has requested a list of sequential names of 2012 active tuna license holders, as defined in the July 25, 2012 Bluefin Tuna Conservation Harvesting Plan, from the PEI Fishermen’s Association (PEIFA). There will be a requirement for Fish Harvesters in the commercial fleet sector to register with the PEIFA from September 25-27 for the re-allocation draw. Only those who have registered for the redraw on or before September 27th and who meet the “active” definition in the approved CHP will be re-allocated additional tags up to a predetermined number by DFO managers to ensure that the entire 2012 allocation is captured before season end. Catch history from 2011 will have no bearing on the 2012 eligibility for this draw. Details of their draw will be published in local media or can be found on their website at http://www.peifa.org/ .
An ‘active’ license is defined as a license to which a tag has been assigned to it by condition of license, has registered at least 1 hail-out with a Dockside Monitoring Company during the regular season, Aug 1-Sept 30, and/or landed a fish within that timeline.

For further information on the 2012 Conversation Harvesting Plan for bluefin tuna within the PEI tuna fleet sector, please contact DFO or your respective organization.

For more information contact:

Colin MacIsaac
Area Chief, Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
902-566-7815
Area Director’s Office
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
902-566-7810