Notices to Fish Harvesters

Approuvé le 11 juillet 2025

 

1. Application

This Conservation Harvesting Plan applies to Bluefin tuna licence holders from the Quebec fleet using vessels of less than 19.81 m.

2. Fishing areas 

Based on valid Conditions of licence and subject to Variation Order, the authorized fishing areas for Bluefin tuna are: 4RST for Gulf fishing (home waters) and 4Wd, 4VsW, 4X and 5 for Ex-Sector fishing.

The fishing areas coordinates are listed in the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985.

3. Fishing closure

3.1  Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area

On March 6, 2019, Fisheries and Oceans Canada created, jointly with the Quebec government, the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area (MPA) in order to ensure the conservation and protection of this marine ecosystem.

Provisions of the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area Regulations apply to licence holders. In order to comply with them, please refer to the clauses that apply to your fishing activities: Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area Regulations

4.Fishing season

Management year for the Bluefin tuna begins on June 24 for all fleets (directed or by-catch) and ends on June 23 of the following year. Traditionally, fishing activities by the Quebec fleet begin near the start of August and end in November. The exact dates are communicated through a Notice 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

This fishery follows a competitive fishery management regime with distribution of the quota among participants through the number of issued tags.

The total number of tags issued has been determined based on the allocation available at the beginning of the fishing season and the average weight of Bluefin tuna landed in the previous two years.

The distribution of tags to eligible licence holders is determined based on the total number of tags available for the current season and the ranking on the eligibility list (Appendix 1).

5.1 Number of licence

The Quebec fleet has 53 bluefin tuna licence holders.

5.2 Quota

The Quebec fleet quota for the 2025-2026 directed fishery is 23.227 t, consisting of 25.190 t from the initial quota to which 1.963 t is deducted due to quota overrun in 2024.

The fleet is authorized to carry forward a maximum of 10% of its initial quota of the current year excluding all quota carried forward from a previous year or received via transfer from another fleet.

Any overrun will be deducted from the fleet’s quota the following year.

Canadian fleets are not authorized to catch more than 35 t ex-sector, including inter-fleet transfers, when applicable.

6. Minimum Size

No person shall have in possession any bluegin tuna that weighs less than 30 kg.

7. Fishing gear

Only angling gear, tended lines or electric harpoon are permitted.

A maximum of 4 lines is authorized of which no more than 2 lines may be tended simultaneously. Only one hook must be attached to each line.

Since 2019 greenstick fishing is allowed. This technique is defined as a fishing technique for tuna by trolling lures or baits along the surface of the water from a pole located on the fishing vessel. One end of the mainline is attached to the greenstick pole and the other end is attached to a bird and a float. Up to four individual trolling rods and reel lines may be attached to the greenstick mainline by breakaways, (such as rubber bands). Fighting the tuna is to be conducted by rod and reel. A hauler may be used for retrieval of the bird and float.

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, behavior of the individual, details on the weather and the state of the sea, etc.).

9. Marine mammal interaction reporting

Licence holders 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 DFO.NAT.InteractionsMM-InteractionsMM.NAT.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca within 48 hours after the end of a fishing trip.

A copy of the form is attached to the Conditions of licence and can also be downloaded and submitted online at the following address:  Report a marine mammal or sea turtle incident or sighting

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

10.1 Logbook

Licence holders must keep a true record of their fishing activities and catches in their Logbook or in their Electronic logbook.

10.1.1 Paper logbook

A Logbook JB-TR-02 must be completed by the licence holder for each fishing trip where fishing effort was conducted (regardless of whether one lands any Bluefin tuna) and submitted to the dockside observer or to any other person designated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, without exception and in sequential order or forwarded to his Fisheries and Oceans area office without exception and in sequential order.

10.1.2 Electronic logbook

The use of an electronic logbook (Elog) is optional in 2025. Fish harvesters must use a client application approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada for the Quebec region for the form ELOG – Logbook – Tunas and Swordfish. 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 the wharf. 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: Electronic logbook (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.

10.2 Bluefin tuna catch document

In addition to the Logbook or the Combined Form, a Bluefin Tuna Catch Document with the current year coding (BFTCD-CAN1X XXXX) must be filled out by the licence holder upon arrival to port for each Bluefin tuna is landed. The dockside observer will check the catch document when the landed Bluefin tuna is weighed.

If the licence holder decides to keep his catch or to sell it directly onto the retail market (i.e. restaurant), he must enter the required information himself in the “Electronic Bluefin Tuna Catch Documentation” (eBCD) monitoring system of Bluefin tuna catches. This information can also be recorded by contacting the Catch Certification Program.

10.3 Hail-out

Licence holders who are conducting a fishing trip must hail-out by contacting the Fisheries and Oceans Canada hail-out system at 1-833-699-2013 or 1-506-431-3223 (satellite phone only). The hail-out must be made at least 3 hours prior to the departure of each fishing trip, in accordance with the requirements specified in the Licence Conditions.

10.4 At-sea Observer

Gulf: not applicable.

Ex-sector: the At-Sea Observer coverage corresponds to the percentage applicable in the fishing area where the fishing occurs.   

10.5 Hail-in and dockside monitoring

Before the beginning of a fishing trip, licence holders must have entered into an agreement with a dockside monitoring company legally designated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Hail-in is required before arrival at the dock.

Dockside monitoring is mandatory for 100% of landings.

Landings in the Québec region must take place at one of the designated ports identified in the Designated Dockside Monitoring Ports list available on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada web site at: Designated Dockside Monitoring Ports (dfo-mpo.gc.ca)

10.6 Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) 

An Electronic Monitoring System (EMS) capable of recording continuous video or photos of all fishing activities may be installed on board a fishing vessel, upon the request of a fishery officer.

Licence holders must provide qualified installers identified by a Fishery Officer, access to the fishing vessel for the installation, removal and maintenance of the EMS, as well as for the installation or retrieval of the memory card/hard drive from the EMS.

Before and while fishing, licence holders must ensure that the cameras lens are kept clean so that the quality of the video or pictures is optimized.

11. Catch management

The possession or the retention of incidental catches is prohibited. Consequently, the licence holder and fishing vessel operator must forthwith return any incidental catch to the place from which it was taken and where it is alive, in a manner that causes it the least harm.

12. Particularities applicable to the fishery

12.1 Vessel

Vessels with an overall length less than 19.81 m may be used.

Lease of a vessel registered outside of the Quebec Region is not authorized. Licence holders from the Quebec Region are authorized to use a vessel registered with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Quebec Region, and linked to a commercial fishing licence.

12.2 Partnership ( buddy-up) 

Partnership agreements for up to three (3) licences on the same vessel are authorized for fishing in the Gulf. All participants in a partnership agreement must hold at least one valid tag at the time the agreement is made.

Prior to departure for a fishing trip, only one hail-out should be made for all licence holders participating in a partnership agreement. Furthermore, licence holders participating in this partnership agreement must only make one hail in to a dockside monitoring company legally designated by Fisheries and Oceans Canada during the same fishing trip. The hail in must indicate that the licence holders are fishing under a partnership agreement.

12.3 Conditions of licence issuance and tags distribution 

Licence holders who intend to fish Bluefin tuna in a given year, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence or ex-sector, must pay tag fees through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS). Once tags are paid, licence holders will be able to print their Licence Conditions.

Tags will be sent to the licence holders by registered post with signature. Licence holders must therefore anticipate the time it will take for tags to be mailed to them in order to plan their fishing operations.

12.4 Tag transfer

Tag transfer or sale is prohibited.

12.5 Eligibility list for tag distribution

At the Bluefin Tuna Regional Advisory Committee held on January 27, 2015, members recommended that the eligibility list established by a random draw on July 26, 2013 (Appendix 1) is made permanent.

The priority order of the eligibility list will remain the same in the case of a licence transfer. The new licence holder will retain the rank assigned to the previous licence holder during the draw.

12.6 Bleeding and Tail cut

When fishing, only an incision made between the second dorsal fin and the tail is permitted in order to bleed the fish. However, the removal of flesh from a Bluefin tuna in order to determine the fat content or cutting the tail is not permitted until the fish has been offloaded and weighed by a dockside monitoring company.

12.7 Interfleet transfer

The interfleet transfer procedure remains the same as in previous years. Only the identified fleet representatives may request a transfer. These transfers will be approved by the Atlantic Large Pelagics Advisory Committee Chair within 4 business days. The representative of the Quebec fleet is Mr. Gilles Duguay.

12.8 Dart tag

All Bluefin tuna shall be tagged immediately after the fish is caught. A tuna is considered caught when the fish is brought next to the fishing vessel and includes swimming it to cool it down. Either a DFO issued Bluefin tuna tag OR a dart-tag with a unique number can be used. If a dart-tag is utilized on a temporary basis, a numbered and valid Bluefin tuna tag issued by Fisheries and Oceans Canada must be attached to the tuna before having it landed and weighed by a dockside monitoring company. Licence holders can order dart tags by contacting the Floy tag company at Floytag manufacturing.

12.9 Tuna with scientific tag

Tuna with one or more external electronic scientific tags (PSAT tag or acoustic) must be released as soon as possible with as little injury as possible. Presence of the tag/s must be documented (picture) and the event hailed in before fishing can resume. No bluefin tuna with an external electronic scientific tag shall be kept stationary beside the vessel or removed from the water. While the tuna is alongside the boat, the boat's clutch must be engaged forward and a portion of the bluefin tuna's gills and mouth must be kept underwater at all times. During this recovery period, the behavior and appearance of the tuna will be the best indicators of when the fish should be released alongside or behind the boat using appropriate methods so that post-release mortality is minimal.

 

Fish with other forms of scientific tags (Spaghetti/Floy tag) may not be released and the tag ID must be recorded on the log. There is a reward for their return (Appendix 3).

12.10 Mackerel bait

All Bluefin tuna licence holders using rod and reel and tended line are permitted to catch and retain 20 live mackerels per fishing trip for bait purposes in the commercial fishery. This is reflected in the conditions of licence.

12.11 Mexican transfer

The transferred amount from Mexico will be allocated under a Use of Fish collaborative agreement to the Quebec inshore fleet. The management of this allocation is delegated to the Regroupement des Pêcheurs professionnels du Sud de la Gaspésie. However, all the management measures described in this Catch Harvesting Plan applies to fishing activities made under this allocation.

13. 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, the Striped Bass (St. Lawrence River population) and exceptionally the White Shark (Atlantic population). New species could be added during the course of the year.

All incidental captures of species identified above must immediately be 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).

14. 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 regulations, effective April 1, 2021 or contact the Licensing Office at 1-877-535-7307 or fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

15. Discharge of waste

In 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 is 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 season 2022 (2022-03-29) (dfo-mpo.gc.ca)

16. Conditions of licence

To obtain their Licence Conditions, licence holders must access the National Online Licensing System (NOLS). For NOLS assistance, please contact customer support by phone at 1-877-535-7307 or by email at fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

 

 

For questions regarding this CHP

Please contact your area office.

Magdalen Islands: 418-986-2095

Gaspé–Lower St. Lawrence: 1-877-898-5559

 

Approved by:

Maryse Lemire

Regional Director

Fisheries Management

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Quebec Region

 

 

Note: In the event of a discrepancy between the French and English versions of the CHP, the French version shall prevail.

 

 

 

Appendix 1

Eligibility list - Draw held July 26, 2013 (see the Original on the next page)

Rank Additional tag	Name	Rank Additional tag	Name
1	Welsh, Ryan	28	Johnson Christian, acquis de Taker, Michael
2	Dany Allard (acquis de JULIA DES MERS INC (Moreau, Marie Josée))	29	Eloquin, Dominic
3	Dickson, Paul W	30	LES DISTRIBUTIONS BERTRAND DESBOIS INC. (Bertrand Desbois) (acquis de Poirier, Gino)
4	Collin, Michel	31	Collin Denis, acquis de Pecheries Trevelo inc. (Dickson, Kendall)
5	Clark, Sidney	32	Lepage, Jimmy
6	Sweeney, Jean-Marc	33	Pinel, Christian
7	Sullivan, Boyd	34	9340-0455 QUEBEC INC. (Gaétane Cloutier) [Acquis de Pêcheries Joey-Jolyane Inc.]
8	Steve Cyr (acquis de Pêcheries Stéphane Dunn Inc.)	35	Aucoin, Eudore
9	Desbois, Nicol	36	Rankin, Devon Acquis de Rankin, Anthony
10	Clark, Adam	37	Turbide, Luc
11	CIE Hugh H.E. Journeaux	38	Desbois, Yan
12	Dickson, Wayne	39	Hautcoeur, Alban
13	9333-5925 Québec inc. (Lelievre, Jean Elie)	40	PÊCHERIES YVON THERIAULT INC (Thériault, Yvon)
14	Roussy, Stevens	41	Syvrais, Michel
15	Les pêcheries Mitch Girard inc.  (Girard, Mitch)	42	Les pêcheries Gilles Chapados inc. (Chapados, Gilles)
16	Desbois, Richard	43	Eloquin, Alex (acquis de Eloquin, Réginald (succession))
17	PECHERIES FRANCIS ELOQUIN INC.	44	CHARLES ÉLÉMENT (Acquis de Denis Éloquin)
18	Gionest, Luc	45	Caron, Kevin
19	PREMIERE NATION WOLASTOQIYIK (MALECITE) WAHSIPEKUK	46	Turbide, Marco
20	9340-5470 QUÉBEC INC. (Huard, David Henri)	47	Josey, Raymond
21	Arsenault, Serge	48	Les pêcheries Keith A. Girard, acquis de Patton, Lyndon
22	Pêcheries Yves Couture inc. (Couture, Yves)	49	AGHAMM
23	Duguay, Carol	50	Alexandre Vibert Daraiche (Acquis de Frederic Collin)
24	Cormier, Denis J	51	Les Pêcheries Keith Girard et Fils Inc. (acquis de Stephan McKinnon)
25	Sullivan, James M	52	11345788 CANADA INC. (Burke, Jeffrey)
26	PÊCHERIES LUC THERIAULT INC (Theriault, Luc)	53	Josey Aaron
27	Duguay, Gilles

 

 

Appendix 2

Eligibility list - Mexican transfer Draw held August 30th, 2017 (see the Original on the next page) 

Rank Additional tags	Name	Rank Additional tags	Name
1	Desbois, Nicol	28	Les pêcheries Keith A. Girard, acquis de Patton, Lyndon
2	Sweeney, Jean-Marc	29	Les pêcheries Gilles Chapados inc. (Chapados, Gilles)
3	Caron, Kevin	30	Dickson, Wayne
4	Arsenault, Serge	31	Syvrais, Michel
5	Josey, Aaron	32	Steve Cyr (acquis de Pêcheries Stéphane Dunn Inc.)
6	CHARLES ÉLÉMENT (Acquis de Denis Éloquin)	33	Collin, Michel
7	Pinel, Christian	34	Hautcoeur, Alban
8	PREMIERE NATION WOLASTOQIYIK (MALECITE) WAHSIPEKUK	35	Les pêcheries Mitch Girard inc. (Girard, Mitch)
9	Sullivan, James M.	36	Johnson Christian, acquis de Taker, Michael
10	Alexandre Vibert Daraiche (Acquis de Frederic Collin)	37	Dickson, Paul W.
11	Collin Denis, acquis de Pecheries Trevelo inc. (Dickson, Kendall)	38	Roussy, Stevens
12	Eloquin, Alex (acquis de Eloquin, Réginald (succession))	39	LES DISTRIBUTIONS BERTRAND DESBOIS INC. (Bertrand Desbois) (acquis de Poirier, Gino)
13	Turbide, Marco	40	Aucoin, Eudore
14	Clark, Adam	41	Welsh, Ryan
15	Sullivan, Boyd	42	9340-0455 QUEBEC INC. (Gaétane Cloutier) [Acquis de Pêcheries Joey-Jolyane Inc.]
16	Cie Hugh H.E. Journeaux	43	Desbois, Daniel
17	PÊCHERIES YVON THERIAULT INC (Thériault, Yvon)	44	Turbide, Luc acquis de Réal Turbide
18	Lepage, Jimmy	45	11345788 CANADA INC. (Burke, Jeffrey)
19	Rankin, Devon  Acquis de Rankin, Anthony	46	Éloquin, Dominic
20	Dany Allard (acquis de JULIA DES MERS INC (Moreau, Marie Josée))	47	9340-5470 QUÉBEC INC. (Huard, David Henri)
21	Gionest, Luc	48	Desbois, Richard
22	PÊCHERIES LUC THERIAULT INC (Theriault, Luc)	49	Duguay, Gilles
23	PECHERIES FRANCIS ELOQUIN INC.	50	9333-5925 Québec inc. (Lelievre, Jean Elie)
24	Pêcheries Yves Couture inc. (Couture, Yves)	51	Clark, Sidney
25	Les Pêcheries Keith Girard et Fils Inc. (acquis de Stephan McKinnon)	52	Duguay, Carol
26	Cormier, Denis J.	53	Josey, Raymond
27	AGHAMM

 

 

Appendix 3