Notices to Fish Harvesters
CHP- STIMPSON CLAM – AREAS 1 TO 4 SEASONS 2024 TO 2026 AMENDED
Amended September 08, 2025
Approved May 28, 2024
1. Application
This Conservation Fishing Plan (CFP) applies to Stimpson clam licence holders of areas 1 to 4 of the North Shore area.
2. Fishing Areas
Sub-area 1A: From Les Escoumins wharf to Cap Colombier
Sub-area 1B: From Cap Colombier to Pointe-des-Monts
Area 2: From Pointe-des-Monts to Pointe Jambon
Sub-area 3A: From Pointe Jambon to Chaloupe River
Sub-area 3B: From Chaloupe River to Magpie River
Sub-area 4A: From Magpie River to Corneille River
Sub-area 4B: From Corneille River to Musquaro River
Sub-area 4C: From Musquaro River to Labrador border.
The fishing areas coordinates are listed in the Conditions of licence and are also indicated on the fishing areas maps, which are available at the following address: Commercial Fisheries.
3. Fishing closures
3.1 Coral and Sponge Conservation Areas in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence
On December 15, 2017, Fisheries and Oceans Canada created eleven coral and sponge conservation areas in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in order to protect areas with high concentrations of sponges and sea pens.
All fishing activities that use bottom-contact gear or gear designed to come into contact with the sea bed, including but not limited to bottom trawls, dredges, gillnets, bottom longlines, bottom seines and traps, are forbidden in the conservation areas.For more information and maps of the eleven coral and sponge conservation areas, please visit the dedicated DFO website: Coral and sponge conservation measures in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence.
3.2 Other Area Closures
It is prohibited to fish for Stimpson clams in the exclusion areas listed in the Conditions of licence. In addition, it is the licence holder’s responsibility to respect the closures under the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP).
In addition to fishery closures for conservation purposes, areas for shellfish fishing may also be closed under the Management of Contaminated Fisheries Regulations. For the latest information concerning the areas closed for contamination reasons, please dial one of the following telephone numbers: 1 800 463-8558 or 1-800-463-1736.The CSSP has equipped itself with an interactive cartography tool to allow visualisation of open or closed sectors for bivalve mollusc harvesting in Canada. This tool is called SHELLI: (S)hellfish (H)arvest (E)xtents (L)atitude (L)ongitude (I)nformation and can be accessed online at the following address: Shellfish harvesting openings and closures.
4. Fishing Seasons
Annually from June 1st to October 31
The fishing seasons etablished above are in effect for the duration of this CHP. They represent the maximum duration of fishing periods, subject among other things to orders and specific closure periods. Opening dates may vary according to particular circumstances such as industry requests and the TAC announcement while closing dates may be advanced according to factors such as the reach of quotas or when risks of exceeding them are high. Opening and closing fishing dates of each fleet will be confirmed through usual communication means, particularly Notices to Fish Harvesters. It should be reminded that it is the responsibility of the captain to acquaint himself with the marine safety notices published by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Transport Canada as well as with the standards and best practices in marine safety and to take all measures necessary to insure a safe fishery during the period where fishing is authorized.
5. Management Regime
Sub-areas 1A, 1B, 3A, 3B, 4A and 4C : Individual quotaArea 2 and sub-area 4B : Competitive fishery
5.1 Number of access
- Sub-area 1A : 1 commercial access
- Sub-area 1B : 1 commercial communal access
- Area 2 : 2 commercial accesses
2 commercial communal accesses
- Sub-area 3A : 1 commercial access
1 commercial communal access
- Sub-area 3B : 1 commercial access
1 commercial communal access
- Sub-area 4A : 1 commercial access
1 commercial communal access
- Sub-area 4B : 2 commercial accesses
3 commercial communal accesses
- Sub-area 4C : 1 exploratory access
1 exploratory communal access
5.2 Quotas
Total allowable catches (TAC) by fishing area and sub-area :
- Sub-area 1A : 80 tons
- Sub-area 1B : 68.6 tons
- Area 2 : 54.9 tons
- Sub-area 3A : 90.3 tons (45.15 tons by licence holder)
- Sub-area 3B : 93.7 tons (46.9 tonnes by licence holder)
- Sub-area 4A : 174.5 tons (87.25 tonnes by licence holder)
- Sub-area 4B : 425 tons
- Sub-area 4C : 20 tons (10 tons by licence holder)
In accordance with the recommendation from Sciences, it should be emphasized that is important the fishing effort within each zone be distributed over the entire shellfish bed while protecting the portion of the bed with a high density of juveniles. Considering the low growth rates of the species protection areas could eventually be implemented and as a preventive measure. Under the decision rules in effect and following the Advisory Committee meeting on March 28, 2024, the TACs constitute status quo compared to the period 2021-2023.
6. Minimum Catch Size
A minimum catch of 80 mm measured in the longest axis of the shell applies.
7. Fishing Gear
7.1 Number of Authorized Fishing Gear
Only one dredge per boat is authorized.
7.2 Characteristics of Fishing Gear
A dredge for which the width of the basket does not exceed 1.83 m (6 feet), and the spacing between the rods is of 3.2 cm at least.
7.3 Requirement to Report Lost and Retrieved Gear
Lost gear reporting
Lost fishing gear is defined as any active fishing gear previously set by the licence holder and fishing vessel operator which was sought but not found.
Lost fishing gear must be reported within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of lost gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) through the FISHING GEAR Reporting system available online at Sign In or by completing the Lost fishing gear form available online at Reporting requirements for commercial fisheries or in Annex of Conditions of licence, according to instructions on the form.
If the licence holder and fishing vessel operator are using an Electronic logbook, lost fishing gear must be reported to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of lost gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by completing the section reserved for that purpose in its electronic logbook. The licence holder and fishing vessel operator can also use the reporting methods indicated in the previous paragraph.
Retrieved gear reporting
The licence holder and fishing vessel operator must report the retrieval of any of their own previously reported lost gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of retrieved gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) through the Fishing gear reporting system available online at Sign In or by completing the Retrieval of previously reported lost fishing gear form available online at Reporting requirements for commercial fisheries or in Annex of Conditions of licence, according to instructions on the form. Retrieval can only occur during the validity period of the Conditions of licence and only in relation to the specific type of gear authorized to be used by the Conditions of licence.
If the licence holder and fishing vessel operator are using an Electronic logbook , the retrieval of any of their own previously reported lost gear must be reported within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of retrieved gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by completing the section reserved for that purpose in its electronic logbook. The licence holder and fishing vessel operator can also use the reporting methods indicated in the previous paragraph.
8. What to Do if You Observe a North Atlantic Right Whale
First of all, it is important to maintain a minimum distance of 100 meters from the animal and 200 meters if the whale is accompanied by a calve. Details regarding sightings of live and free-swimming right whales may be provided to DFO at: XMARWhalesightings@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or by phone at 1-844-800-8568. If you observe this species, please send us your contact information and information about the sighting (date, time, geographical position, number of individuals, etc.). If possible, you can also send us photos or videos.If you see a right whale entangled in fishing gear, you should not under any circumstances attempt to release it on your own. The behaviour of an entangled individual is unpredictable and dangerous. You should contact "Marine Mammal Emergencies" at 1-877-722-5346 as soon as possible to share information that will help to organize an appropriate response by experts (time and position of the entangled animal, behaviour of the individual, details on the weather and the state of the sea, etc.).
9. Marine Mammal Interaction Reporting
Licence holders and fishing vessel operator must provide information regarding all interactions with a marine mammal that occur during fishing expeditions including: bycatch, collisions and all sightings of entangled marine mammals. To do this, the Marine Mammal Interaction Form must be completed and submitted by email to Report a marine mammal or sea turtle incident or sighting within 48 hours after the end of a fishing trip.
The information provided on this form will be used by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) to estimate levels of accidental mortality and injury to marine mammals. This information will allow DFO to better assess the types of threats that may affect Canada's marine mammals and to develop mitigation strategies.In addition, if you observe a dead or distressed animal, please contact Marine Mammal Emergencies as soon as possible at 1-877-722-5346. If possible, do not hesitate to take photos or videos that will allow DFO to assess the situation and identify the species.
10. Fishing Activities Declaration and Monitoring
Licence holders must keep a true record of their fishing activities and catches in their Combined form or in their Electronic logbook.
10.1 Combined form / Logbook
Licence holders must acquire their booklet of Combined Forms from a prequalified supplier identified by DFO, whose list is available at the following address: Prequalified Logbook Suppliers (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).The Logbook section must be duly filled before arrival at port and the completed form must be sent to DFO each week in which fishing activities have been realized.
10.2 Electronic logBook
The use of an electronic logbook (Elog) is optional in 2024 and 2025. Fish harvesters must use a client application approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada for the Quebec region for the form ELOG – Logbook – Bivalve Mollusks, Squid and Whelk. Furthermore, fish harvesters must have obtained and installed their Elog Key in their client application in order to allow data transmission to the Department.
The Elog must be completed for each fishing expedition and “closed” before arriving at port. A fishing expedition means a voyage that commences at the time a fishing vessel leaves a port to engage in fishing and terminates at the time fish caught during that period are offloaded. Hence, when a fisher goes back to port for a reason other than for offloading fish and leaves port again, the fishing expedition goes on until fish are offloaded.To consult the list of client applications approved by the Department and to obtain you Elog key, visit Fisheries and Ocean’s web page at the following address: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/elogs.To request a modification to data that has been transmitted to Fisheries and Oceans, you must communicate with the client support service at 1-877-535-7307.
10.3 Vessel Monitoring System
The use of a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) approved by DFO is mandatory. Each licence holder must register his DFO-approved VMS unit prior to the beginning of his fishing activities. Data transmission every 5 minutes is required.The current list of DFO-approved VMS units and the procedure and form to register a VMS unit are available at the following address: National Vessel Monitoring Service.
10.4 Hail in
Hailing-in to a dockside monitoring company is mandatory.The list of accredited and designated companies is available on the DFO website: Commercial fishery requirements - Regional List of Qualified and Designated Companies.
11. Particularities Applicable to the Fishery
11.1 Vessel leasing
Lease of a vessel registered outside DFO – Quebec Region – is not permitted.
11.2 Participation Criteria
Only for sub-area 4C :As with all emerging fisheries, licence holders in sub-area 4C will need to demonstrate that they have fully participated in the development of the fishery by meeting predetermined minimum participation criteria before being eligible for reissuance of the licence, if applicable.The minimum annual participation criteria are :
1. the achievement of a minimum of three (3) fishing days during the fishing season. A minimum of ten (10) tows by fishing day must be done.
2. data collection in accordance with the protocol provided by Fisheries and Oceans Canada; and
3.submission of data to the local Fisheries and Oceans Canada office each year, no later than the date specified in the licence conditions.
Participation criteria could be adapted and others added in the event of reissuance of licences the following year.
In the event that a licence holder does not meet the established participation criteria during a given year, the exploratory fishing licence may not be reissued the following year.
12. Species At Risk Act
Pursuant to the Species at Risk Act, no person shall kill, harm, harass, capture, take, possess, collect, buy, sell or trade an individual or any part or derivate of a wildlife species designated as extirpated, endangered or threatened.
At the time this Conservation Harvesting Plan is promulgated, the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence species susceptible to being captured are the following: the Spotted Wolffish, the Northern Wolffish, the Leatherback Turtle and the Striped Bass (St. Lawrence River population). New species could be added during the course of the year.
All incidental captures of species at risk must be immediately returned to the water where they were captured and, if the animal is still alive, in the manner that causes it the least harm. All incidental captures of species at risk must be recorded in the « Species at Risk » section of the logbook. Furthermore, all interactions with species at risk, notably the North Atlantic Right Whale, the Blue Whale (Atlantic population), the Beluga Whale (St. Lawrence Estuary population) and the White Shark (Atlantic population), must be recorded in this section of the logbook.These requirements are additional to any obligation to declare an interaction with a marine mammal using the prescribed form (see section Marine mammal interaction reporting).
13. Crew registry
Since April 1st, 2021, inshore commercial licence holders, and their approved Substitute Operators, must keep records of all the crew members working aboard the vessel on every fishing trip. These records must be maintained by the licence holder for a period of five (5) years. This requirement does not apply to pre-1979 corporation licence and to any licence issued under the authority of the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations. For further details, refer to the March 17th, 2021 Notice to Fish Harvesters at New inshore regulation (2021-03-17) or contact the Licensing Office at 1-877-535-7307 or fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
14. Discharge of waste
Since 2022, all commercial fisheries in Canada have a new condition of licence relating to the discharge of garbage from Canadian fishing vessels. The licence holder and fishing vessel operator are prohibited from discarding in Canadian fisheries waters from their vessel any item that may be harmful to fish or fish habitat . Please refer to the following NEW CONDITION OF LICENCE RELATING TO DISCHARGE OF GARBAGE (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).
15. Conditions of licence
To obtain their Conditions of licence, fish harvesters must access the National Online Licensing System. For National Online Licensing System assistance, please contact customer support by phone at 1 877‑535-7307 or by email at fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
Note: In the event of a discrepancy between the French and English versions of the CHP, the French version shall prevail.
Approved by:
Maryse Lemire
Fisheries Management Regional Director
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Quebec
For any question regarding this CHP
You may call at : 1-800-463-1729
For additional information
Please visit our website at the following address: Quebec Region | Fisheries and Oceans Canada (dfo-mpo.gc.ca)