Notices to Fish Harvesters

Quebec City – May 13, 2019

The purpose of this notice is to inform you of regulatory measures concerning fishing and navigation activities in the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area. This is the federal portion of the joint marine protected area project created under the Canada-Quebec Collaborative Agreement for the Establishment of a Network of Marine Protected Areas in Quebec.

Covering an area of 1,000 km², the Banc-des-Américains area shown in Appendix 1 has the conservation objective of protecting benthic and pelagic habitats, as well as forage species (prey), and contributing to the recovery of species at risk, such as whales and wolffish.

The table in Appendix 2 summarizes the regulatory measures concerning fishing and navigation activities in the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area.

For more information, consult Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area (MPA) or contact the Gaspé–Lower St. Lawrence sector office at 1-877-898-5559.  

Maryse Lemire
Regional Director, Fisheries Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Quebec Region

Appendix 1 – Map showing the location of the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area

Source: Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area Regulations: SOR/2019-50, details available online at Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area Regulations: SOR/2019-50.

Appendix 2 – Table summarizing the regulatory measures concerning fishing and navigation activities in the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area

REGULATIONS

Commercial fishing

ZONE 1 (ROCKY CREST)

• No activities permitted

ZONE 2 (ADJACENT PLAINS)

• Fishing with traps, longlines and lines permitted provided that it does not target the following forage species: capelin, herring, mackerel, sand lance, krill, copepods
• Fishing with gillnets and all types of trawls prohibited

Recreational fishing

ZONE 1 (ROCKY CREST)

• No activities permitted

ZONE 2 (ADJACENT PLAINS)

• Line fishing permitted

Indigenous fishing

ZONE 1 (ROCKY CREST)

• Fishing for food, social and ceremonial purposes permitted

ZONE 2 (ADJACENT PLAINS)

• Fishing for food, social and ceremonial purposes permitted

Aquaculture

ZONE 1 (ROCKY CREST)

• No activities permitted

ZONE 2 (ADJACENT PLAINS)

• No activities permitted

Commercial or recreational navigation

ZONE 1 (ROCKY CREST)

• Permitted
  • No anchorage permitted
  • No discharge of untreated water permitted for vessels of ≥400 tonnes or carrying more than 15 passengers

ZONE 2 (ADJACENT PLAINS)

• Permitted

• No discharge of untreated water permitted for vessels of ≥400 tonnes or carrying more than 15 passengers

Emergency, safety, security and sovereignty

ZONE 1 (ROCKY CREST)

• Any activity carried out for these purposes is permitted:
  • emergencies
  • public health and safety
  • national defence and security
  • law enforcement

ZONE 2 (ADJACENT PLAINS)

• Any activity carried out for these purposes is permitted:
  • emergencies
  • public health and safety
  • national defence and security
  • law enforcement

Scientific research, ecological monitoring, habitat restoration, educational activities and commercial marine tourism

ZONE 1 (ROCKY CREST)

• Authorized if
  • the proponent submits an activity plan to the Department,
  • the activity plan is approved, and
  • the achievement of conservation objectives is not compromised.

ZONE 2 (ADJACENT PLAINS)

• Authorized if
  • the proponent submits an activity plan to the Department,
  • the activity plan is approved, and
  • the achievement of conservation objectives is not compromised.