April 21, 2014
Fisheries and Oceans Canada April 17, 2014
Notice to Fish Harvesters
EKME: 3064904
CONSERVERATION AND HARVESTING PLAN FOR THE SOUTHERN GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE HERRING FISHERIES
MONCTON – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announced today the spring and fall Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence herring (Herring Fishing Areas 16A to G and 17) Conservation and Harvesting Plan. Given that the spring component of the stock remains at low levels, the TAC will remain at 2,000 t for the next two years (2014-2015). Also, as part of the rebuilding plan for this component of the stock, all 2012-2013 management measures for the spring component are being rolled over in 2014 and 2015.
For the fall herring fishery, given that the abundance indicators show a decrease of the fall biomass, the TAC will be set at 35,000 t for 2014 only. A decrease in the TAC for the fall herring fishery is necessary to protect the future of the stock. A science review of the assessment framework and a new stock status assessment will be prepared prior to the 2015 fishing season. The use of a reserve will continue for 2014 and 2015. All other 2014-2015 fall fishery management measures will be announced at a later date.
Distribution of Quotas – Spring and Fall Component (metric tonnes)
FLEET SPRING 2014-2015 FALL 2014
Inshore fleet Areas 16A-G
1,524
26,622
Inshore fleet in Area 17
16
350
Gulf large purse seine fleet
460
8,028
TOTAL
2,000
35,000
Inshore fleet quota distribution ( metric tonnes) in HFAs 16A to 16G
SPRING 2014-2015 FALL 2014
Reserve (initially distributed)
0
1,954
Remaining reserve *
762
0
TOTAL RESERVE
762
1,954
Basic allocation with no initial distribution of reserve
Basic allocation including the distribution of reserve
16A
4
43
16B
71
12,656
16C
130
5,176 (C & E)
16D
22
175
16E
454
see above
16F
7
5,317
16G
9
3,535
16A-G (June 1 – 30)
62
N/A
17
16
350
* For more details on inshore quota distribution rules, please refer to Annexe I.
Large Purse Seine fleet fishery on “the Edge” (4T)
This fishery, designed to target fall spawners during the month of May and June, will continue in 2014-2015 with the same parameters and management measures as in 2013. This fleet is authorized to fish their fall herring quota along the Edge in 4T during the spring season (May-June) using purse seine gear. A small fish protocol that reduces the remaining available quota according to the percentage of herring smaller than 23.5 cm (fork length) in the catch will be maintained. As in 2013, management measures will include: 20% independent at-sea observer coverage, 100% dockside monitoring, and mandatory vessel monitoring system to monitor this fishery. (See appendix 2 for details).
Quota reconciliation
Quota reconciliation in the Gulf herring fisheries will continue to be applied in 2014-2015. Quota overruns from the 2013-2014 fisheries will be deducted, in equal amounts, from the quota of the following year in the same Herring Fishing Area and season. Quantities will be rounded to +/- 10 kg.
For more information on the management of the herring fishery, see the Gulf Region Herring Fishery Information Website at http://www.glf.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Gulf/FAM/herring-information/Home
INFORMATION
Chris Mills
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Charlottetown, PE
(902) 566-7807
Kim Theriault
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Tracadie, NB
(506) 395-7714
Leroy MacEachern
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Antigonish, NS
(902) 735-7102
David Courtemanche
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans
Gaspé, QC
(418) 368-6818 ext. 250
Josée Richard
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans
Cap-aux-Meules, QC
(418) 986-2390 ext. 214
2014-2015 Conservation Harvesting Plan
Spring Inshore Gillnet Fishery
A Dockside Monitoring Program (DMP) with 100% dockside verification will be required in all Herring Fishing Areas (HFA) except 16A, 16B (Québec) and 16D, where a Catch Monitoring Program (CMP) with 100% radio hail and a minimum of 25% verification at dockside, as well as logbook will be in place. The DMP companies will have to provide, on a daily basis to DFO, the amount of herring landed/hailed per fish harvester. In addition, a logbook will be mandatory for any herring landed in the Québec Region. Fish harvesters from New Brunswick, landing their catches in the Québec Region must acquire a logbook (FC-EP-01) from one of the suppliers listed at the following website address: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/sdc-cps/nir-nei/log-suppliers-eng.htm.
Weekly landing limits of 10,206 kg will be implemented in all HFAs except 16A, 16D and 16F, where no restrictions will apply.
Spawning areas will be closed in all HFAs except 16A and 16F (Charts 1to 6).
No nets or herring will be allowed to be on board during a fishing trip between 18:00 and 04:00 (ADT) every day (due to safety considerations), in all HFAs, except 16A and 16B, where no nets or herring will be allowed to be on board during a fishing trip between 22:00 and 03:00 (ADT) every day.
Landings are counted against the quota in the area where the fish is landed when the said area is open. Landings are counted against the quota in the adjacent area when the fish is landed in a closed area.
Other management measures are outlined in Table 1.
Bait fishery
Bait licences are issued to fish harvesters who hold a licence for a species and gear that requires bait. With the bait licence, a fish harvester may only fish for their own use up to a maximum of 50 fathoms of gillnets.
Monitoring of bait landings will continue in 2014 and 2015. As detailed in the conditions of licence, bait licence holders will be required to maintain a log of catches and report these catches.
The minimum mesh size will be 57.1 mm from January 1 to June 30 and 66.7 mm (63.5 mm in 16A) from July 1 to December 31. In 2014 and 2015, the maximum quantity of herring or mackerel or the combination of both species a fish harvester is permitted to catch and retain at any time is 907 kg in total.
While fishing under the authority of a commercial herring, mackerel or gaspereau licence, bait licences are not valid. Furthermore, a fish harvester cannot fish under the authority of a bait licence in the same calendar day that they have landed herring, mackerel or gaspereau under the authority of a commercial licence. It is strictly forbidden to sell any species of fish caught under the authority of a bait licence.
TABLE 1
SUMMARY OF THE SPRING INSHORE MANAGEMENT MEASURES BY HFA – 2014 and 2015
Fishing Area
Dockside Monitoring Program (DMP) or Catch Monitoring Program (CMP)
Quota
Period
Net (size / mesh depth / length)
Weekend
Closures
Trip
Limit
16A – Île Verte
CMP - declaration of 100% of catches through the radio and dockside verification for 25% of landings
4
April 1 to May 31
57.1mm min /
100 meshes / 375 fath.
None
No limit
16B – Baie des Chaleurs (fixed gear)
Small purse
Seiners
DMP (in NB)
CMP in Québec - declaration of 100% of catches through the radio and dockside verification for 25% of landings
71
April 1 to May 31
57.1mm min /
100 meshes / 300 fath.
None
Weekly limit of
10,206 kg
(22,250 lb)
Up to 22.75% (16 t) of 16B spring allocation
April 1 to May 31
N/A
None
Weekly limit of
10,206 kg
(22,250 lbs)
16 C– Escuminac
DMP
130
April 23 to May 31
57.1mm min /
125 meshes / 343 fath.
12:00 (noon) Friday to 12:00 (noon) Saturday
Weekly limit of
10,206 kg
(22,250 lb)
16D – Magdalen Islands
CMP - Well-keeping of a combined logbook /sales slip, declaration of 100% of catches through the radio and dockside verification for 25% of landings
22
April 9 to May 31
57.1mm min /
125 meshes / 200 fath.
None
No limit
16E – Western PEI, south-eastern NB and northern GNS
DMP
454
April 23 to May 31
57.1mm min /
125 meshes / 343 fath.
12:00 (noon) Friday to 12:00 (noon) Saturday
Weekly limit of
10,206 kg
(22,250 lbs)
16F – Pictou
DMP
7
April 26 to May 31
57.1mm min /
150 meshes / 180 fath.
12:00 (noon) Sunday to 12:00 (noon) Monday
No limit
16G – Fishermen’s Bank
DMP
9
April 26 to May 31
57.1mm min /
100 meshes / 343 fath.
12:00 (noon) Friday to 12:00 (noon) Saturday
Weekly limit of
10,206 kg
(22,250 lbs)
16A-G
As per individual areas (above)
62
June 1 – June 30
As per individual areas (above)
None
As per individual areas (above)
CHART 1
Closure of the commercial inshore herring fishery off northeast PEI (April 1 to June 30) and of the large purse seiners herring fishery (year round)
Note: These reference points are based on the geodesic system North American Datum 1927 (NAD27)
CHART 2
Closure of the commercial fishery in a portion of HFA 16E near Cape Egmont
CHART 3
Exclusion zone in the Grande-Entrée Channel in HFA 16D
1. 47° 32' 30'' N - 61° 32' 39'' W
7. 47° 34' 39'' N - 61° 32' 46'' W
2. 47° 31' 16'' N - 61° 34' 26'' W
8. 47° 34' 37'' N - 61° 32' 43'' W
3. 47° 31' 40'' N - 61° 35' 48'' W
9. 47° 34' 06'' N - 61° 33' 00'' W
4. 47° 33' 26'' N - 61° 35' 48'' W
10. 47° 33' 31'' N - 61° 33' 27'' W
5. 47° 33' 31'' N - 61° 35' 48'' W
11. 47° 33' 25'' N - 61° 33' 43'' W
6. 47° 34' 00'' N - 61° 35' 48'' W
Exclusion zone in the Havre Aubert harbour in HFA 16D
1. 47° 14' 09.20'' N - 61° 49' 40.10'' O
2. 47° 13' 57.30'' N - 61° 49' 09.90'' O
Note: These reference points are based on the geodesic system North American Datum 1983 (NAD83)
CHART 4
Closure of the spring commercial fishery on spawning beds in New Mills, Carleton and St-Omer in HFA 16B (Grey zones)
Note: These reference points are based on the geodesic system North American Datum 1983 (NAD83)
CHART 5
Closure of the spring commercial fishery on a spawning bed near Point Escuminac (N.B.) in HFA 16C (Grey zones)
Note: These reference points are based on the geodesic system North American Datum 1983 (NAD83)
CHART 6
Closure of the spring commercial fishery on a spawning bed near Cape Jourimain (N.B.) in HFA 16E (Grey zones)
Note: These reference points are based on the geodesic system North American Datum 1983 (NAD83)
Appendix 1
Spring Herring Reserve Distribution Rules for the 2014-2015 Sharing Plan
1. Each HFA will maintain its existing quota share at the end of the sharing plan.
2. Establishment of a 762 t reserve taken by removing 400 t from the top of the total inshore quota before distribution to HFAs according to actual shares and by removing 8 t of the HFA 16A, 235 t of the HFA 16C, 85 t of the HFA 16D, 20 t of the HFA 16F and 14 t of the HFA 16G allocations (Bringing those HFA’s to their 2007 catch level).
3. All HFAs will have access to the reserve when their initial allocation has been caught before June 1.
4. On June 1, uncaught area quotas and remaining reserve are transferred to the June 1-30 quota. Starting on June 1, any fisher may fish against the HFA 16A-G, June 1-30 quota.
5. The spring inshore fishery will be closed if the total inshore quota is caught.
Fall Herring Reserve Distribution Rules for the 2014-2015 sharing plan
1. Each HFA will maintain its existing quota share at the end of the sharing plan.
2. Establishment of a 1,954 t reserve consisting of 80% of the HFA 16A allocation, 80% of the HFA 16D allocation, 80% of the HFA 17 allocation* and 805 t of the HFA 16G allocation. (*HFA 17 will provide 80% (280 t) of its allocation on a risk management basis to supply the reserve)
3. The 1,954 t reserve will be initially allocated equally to HFA 16C&E (977 t) and HFA 16F (977 t).
4. The initial reserve distribution will be evaluated yearly to take in consideration any conservation concerns.
5. If the allocation for HFA 16A, 16D or 16G proves insufficient due to an apparent increase in abundance, the scenario will have to be revised.
Appendix 1 (continued)
SPRING - SHARE SCENARIO BASED ON ESTABLISHEMENT OF A RESERVE
(2014 and 2015 REFERENCE FIXED GEAR QUOTA = 1,537 t) TAC 2,000 t
HFA
CURRENT SHARE
Quota based on current shares
Quota after deduction from HFA 16A, C, D, F, G
Initial Allocation
Rules for accessing the reserve / (762 t)
16A
1.03%
12 4
4
Total catches prior to May 31 no higher than original share (12 t) /
16B
6.36%
71
71
71
50 t increments to the level of 2007 catches (471 t) /
16C
32.60%
365 130
130
50 t increments to the level of original share (365 t) /
16D
9.54%
107 22
22
50 t increments to the level of original share (107 t) /
16E
40.56%
454
454
454
50 t increments to the level of 2007 catches (815 t) /
16F
2.39%
27 7
7
Total catches prior to May 31 no higher than original share (27 t) /
16G
2.01%
23 9
9
Total catches prior to May 31 no higher than original share (23 t) /
16A-G (June 1-30 )
5.50%
62
62
62
100% of remaining reserve and unused area allocations after June 1 /
17
16
16
16
final
TOTAL
100%
1,137
775
775
FALL - SHARE SCENARIO BASED ON ESTABLISHEMENT OF A RESERVE
(2014 and 2015 REFERENCE FIXED GEAR QUOTA = 26,972 t) TAC 35,000 t
Reserve=1,954t
HFA
CURRENT SHARE
Quota based on current shares
Area reduction for the 1,954t reserve
Quota after deduction of 1,954t reserve
Distribution of the reserve
Basic allocation
16A
0.79%
211
168
43
43
16B
47.54%
12,656
12,656
12,656
16C&E
15.77%
4,199
4,199
977
5,176
16D
3.29%
876
701
175
175
16F
16.30%
4,340
4,340
977
5,317
16G
16.30%
4,340
805
3,535
3,535
17
350
280*
350
350
TOTAL
100%
26,972
1,954
1,954
*Risk managed
Appendix 2
Large Purse Seine Fleet Fishery on “the Edge” (4T)
All Gulf large purse seine licence holders are authorized to conduct fishing activities in the spring on the Edge of 4T (see map). This herring fishery targets fall origins spawners
The large purse seine fleet is authorized to fish their fall herring quota along the Edge in 4T during the spring season (May-June). Catches will be counted towards this quota.
All vessels must be equipped with an operational Vessel Monitoring System during fishing activities.
There will be a 20% observer coverage at sea during the spring fishery along the Laurentian channel (“Edge fishery”).
The maximum authorized by-catch of mackerel and capelin is set at 10% each of the directed species. The maximum authorized by-catch of groundfish is set at 5% of the directed species. Monitoring and sampling for by-catch species will be conducted at sea and the by-catch may be verified at dockside by fishery officers.
A small fish protocol is in place to control the capture of juvenile herring during the purse seine fishery with a 100% dockside monitoring. The small fish protocol reduces the remaining available quota according to the percentage of herring smaller than 23.5 cm (fork length) in the catch.
A scientific protocol has been developed to verify the spawning component of the herring caught. The proportion of spring and fall spawners in the catch will be determined by DFO. If at any time the amount of spring spawners in the catch reaches the spring allocation, the purse seine fishery will be closed until July 1.
Chart 7: Area where the large purse seine fleet « Edge » fishery will occur (area in blue).
Points Latidude North Longitude West
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
48°42’00”N
47°50’00”N
47°11’06”N
47°11’06”N
47°51’33”N
48°09’33”N
62°32’00”W
60°00’00”W
60°20’07”W
60°35’52”W
61°10’07”W
62°32’02”W
Note: When the geographic boundary of an area is expressed in Latitude and Longitude, these
point references are based on the geodesic system North American Datum 1927 (NAD27)
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