Notices to Fish Harvesters
4RST Atlantic Halibut Gaspé fixed gears fleet of less than 13.71 metres _Gaspé Area_Announcement of fisheries management measures
Gaspé – May 9, 2023
Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Quebec Region informs the Atlantic halibut 4RST Gaspé fixed gear fishermen of less than 13.71 m fleets (Turbot fishers group, Association es morutiers traditionnels de la Gaspésie (AMTG) et and Others group) of the management measures of the fishery in 2023-2024.
The initial allocation of Atlantic halibut for the Gaspé fleet as a whole is set at 686.567 t for the 2023-2024 season. According to the permanent sharing agreement, between the fixed gear fleet of 13.71 m and over and of less than 13.71 m, established at 63.5% : 36.5% respectively, the allocation of the fleet of less than 13.71 m corresponds to 250. 597 t.
In accordance with the permanent sharing agreements between the Gaspe-Lower St. Lawrence fleets, the allocations are divided as follows:
Table 1: Share of allocations by fleet
- Turbot fishers group : 47.75% or 119.660t
- AMTG group: 9.75% or 24.433t
- Others group: 14.75% or 36.963t
In accordance with the application of quota reconciliation, both the competitive quotas and the individual transferable quotas will be revised, if required, in the coming weeks.
Temporary closure area and change for Atlantic Halibut directed fishery
Please note the following change in the management measure regarding the depth limit for the 2023-2024 season. The Atlantic halibut fishery will be authorized as of May 15, 2023 in NAFO Divisions 4R and 4S waters less than 201.2 meters (110 fathoms), for all fixed gear fleets in the Gaspé Peninsula. This closure was initiated because of the high number of cod by-catches. New measures may be required during the season to limit cod by-catches.
As a reminder, licence holders are advised of the continued temporary closure of part of the 4T division, considering the excessive by-catch of cod previously observed. This area will remain closed until further notice, and is bounded by straight lines delineated by the following points:
- 49°02’00" N 64°10’00" W
- 48°31’00" N 62°37’00" W
- 48°23’00" N 63°08’00" W
- 48°46’00" N 64°10’00" W
- 49°02’00" N 64°10’00" W
Important reminder about the hail-out system
Please note that as of April 1, 2023, licence holders must now contact the DFO hail-out system by phone at 1-833-699-2021 or 1-506-431-3223 (satellite). Please refer to your licence conditions for more details.
Other Management Measures
The other management measures are grouped in the 2023-2024 Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) for Atlantic halibut 4RST and Greenland halibut 4RST of the Gaspé fixed gear fleet of less than 13. 71 m -Turbot fishers group AMTG and Others group approved on May 5, 2023.
Licence conditions
To obtain Conditions of Licence, fishers must access the National Licensing System online. For assistance with the National On-Line Licensing System, please contact Client Support by phone at 1-877-535-7307 or by e-mail at fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
For additional information
Please visit our website at the following address: Quebec Region
Caroline Leclerc
Resource management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence area: 1-877-898-5559
Note: In case of discrepancies between the English and the French versions, the latter prevail.