Amended March 30, 2026

Amended March 26, 2026

Approved March 19,  2026

1. Application

This Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) applies fleets that are licensed to fish for snow crab in areas 12A, 12C, 14, 15, 16, 16A and 17.

2. Fishing Areas

The fishing areas coordinates are listed in the Conditions of licence and are also indicated on the fishing areas maps.

3. Fishing closures
   1. Coral and sponge Conservation Areas in the Estuaruy and Gulf of St. Lawrence

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 Coral and sponge Conservation Areas in the Estuaruy and Gulf of St. Lawrence.

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

1. 2. Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area

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

1. 3. Other Area Closures

That portion of the Saguenay River situated upstream of a straight line connecting the following points:

 1.      48°07'24" N 69°43'00’’ W (Pointe Noire)

 2.      48°08'06" N 69°42'06" W (Pointe Rouge)

4. Fishing Seasons

• Area 12A : 10 weeks
• Area 12C : 14 weeks
• Area 14 : 14 weeks
• Area15 : 14 weeks
• Area 16 : 14 weeks
• Area 16A : 14 weeks
• Area 17 : 13 weeks

The following seasons will be 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 infustry 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 or Variation Orders.

A monitoring committee is in place to oversee weather conditions. The opening date will be confirmed by a Variation Order following the final recommendation of the opening committee and an agreement on the opening date.

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. Number of licences and access

• Area 12A : 9 licences
• Area12C : 52 licences*
• Area 14 : 16 licences
• Area 15 : 56 licences*
• Area 16 : 50 licences
• Area 16A : 32 licences
• Area 17 : 33 licences

*48 Group B licences grant access to both areas 12C and 15.

6. Management Regime

All fleets in areas 12A, 12C, 14, 15, 16, 16A and 17 are under an individual transferable quota programs (ITQ).

• 1. TAC and allocations
• Area 12A : 100 tons (100%)
• Area 12C : 282 tons (100%)
  
  • Group A : 193,7 tons (68,7%)
  • Group B : 88,3 tons (31,3%)
• Area 14 : to be determined
• Area 15 : 582 tons (100%)
  
  • Group A : 527,9 tons (90,7%)
  • Group B : 54,1 tons (9,3%)
• Area 16 : 2681 tons (100%)
  
  • Group A : 2485 tons (92,7 %)
• Group B and C : 196 tons (7,3 %) 
• Area 16A : 402 tons (100%)
• Area 17 :  1130 tons (100%)
  
  • Group A : 994,4 tonnes (88%)
  • Group B : 135,6 tonnes (12%)

1. 2. Administrative guidelines of the ITQ program

Administrative guidelines of the ITQ program of the 12A, 12C (groups A and B), 14, 15 (groups A and B), 16 (groups A and B), 16A and 17 (groups A and B) fleets are included in the regional guidelines, which is available on the DFO Quebec Region website at the following adress Regional guideline for the management of ITQ.

As an exception to these guidelines, temporary transfers within area 12A will be permitted at 100% capacity in 2026. It is planned to allow them at 75% capacity in 2027 and at 50% capacity in 2028.

1. 3. Quota reconciliation

Under quota reconciliation, any overrun of individual quota incurred by a licence holder in one season will be deducted, by a factor of one to one, from the individual quota established for the following season. It is the responsibility of license holders to monitor their quotas to ensure that catches made in the course of their fishing activities respect the quotas allocated to them. Fishermen will be notified of the reconciliation of their individual quota by means of a note of information attached to their Conditions of licence.

7. Catch management
   1. Characteristics of authorized catches

The minimum size allowed for keeping catches is 95 mm carapace width.

1. 2. Discarding Incidental Catches

Any accidental catch must be returned to the water. The release of white crabs and juvenile crabs (small claws) is permitted. These must be returned to the water, if still alive, at the exact location where they were caught, so as to cause them as little harm as possible.

1. 3. Follw-up protocol for white crab

Depending on the information gathered during the fishing season, DFO may ask fishermen to avoid a sector in order to reduce the risk of catching white crabs.

To help with monitoring, fishermen are invited to confidentially share their observations of an increase in the proportion of white crab in their catches via the following e-mail: crabeblanc@dfo-mpo.gc.cawhitecrab@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

Area 12A: Fishery closure as soon as an average percentage of 20% of white crab in catches at sea for a period of 14 consecutive days.

Areas 12C, 14, 15, 16 and 16A: A closure of the area will occur upon reaching 20% of white crab in at-sea catches, if applicable.

Area 17: Closure of the fishery as soon as 20% white crab is reached in the catch at sea for a period of 14 consecutive days before May 1st and a period of 7 consecutive days after May 1st.

8. Fishing Gear
   1. Number of Authorized Fishing Gear

A standard trap can be replaced by two conical traps.

If applicable, additional traps may be allocated following the approval of temporary or permanent transfers, in accordance with the procedures set out in the Administrative Directives.

• Area 12A : 75 standard traps ou 150 Japanese traps
• Area 12C :
  
  • Group A : 100 standard traps ou 200 Japanese traps
  • Group B : 50 standard traps ou 100 Japanese traps
• Area 14 : 85 standard traps ou 170 Japanese traps
• Area 15 :
  
  • Group A : 85 standard traps ou 170 Japanese traps
  • Group B : 50 standard traps ou 100 Japanese traps
• Area 16 :
  
  • Group A : 100 standard traps ou 200 Japanese traps
  • Group B et C : 35 standard traps or 70 Japanese traps. A maximum of 50 standard traps or 100 Japanese traps may be used by licence holders who will benefit from temporary transfers totalling more than 8,000 kg.
• Area 16A : 85 standard traps ou 170 Japanese traps
  
  • For licence holders who hold an individual quota equivalent to twice the minimum quota, the number of traps is increased by 25%. The authorized number of traps is increased to 106 standard traps or 213 Japanese traps.
• Area 17 :
  
  • Group A : 85 standard traps ou 170 Japanese traps
  • Group B : 50 standard traps ou 100 Japanese traps

1. 2. Characteristics of Fishing Gear

The requirements regarding dimensions, release mechanisms, and ropes, among other things, are set forth in the Licence Conditions.

1. 3. Hauling and soaking duration

Licence holders or their operators are responsible for hauling in their fishing gear at least once every 72 hours.

1. 4. Gear marking

All traps used for fishing must bear a single valid annual tag with a unique identification number. Fishermen must obtain their tags from suppliers approved by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).

The minimum requirements regarding the number and position of colour markings are details in the Conditions of licence. Please refer to the Notice to Fish Harversters of August 14, 2020.  

It is prohibited to have unmarked fishing gear on board a fishing vessel. In addition to the regulatory requirement to mark buoys with the vessel registration number (VRN), licensees must add a sequential number to each main buoy in order to be able to individually identify each fishing gear.

8.5 Requirement to Report Lost and Retrieved Gear

The licence holder and fishing vessel operator must report any loss or recovery of fishing gear. Reports regarding the loss or recovery of gear must be submitted to DFO through the Online Fishing Gear Reporting System or by completing and submitting the Fishing Gear Loss Report Form or the Previously Lost Gear Recovery Report Form, wich are avaiblable online and attached to the Conditions of licence.

9. Marine Mammal interaction Reporting

Licence holders and fishing vessel operators must provide information regarding all interactions with a marine mammal that occur during fishing expeditions in accordance with the Conditions of Licence. To do so, the licence holder and fishing vessel operator must complete the section reserved for that purpose in its ELOG or the marine mammal interaction form available on the Report a marine mammal or sea turtle incident or sighting page and attached to the Conditions of licence, and it must be submitted as per the instructions provided on the form.

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
    1. Hail out

The departure report is mandatory and must be submitted by 7:00 p.m. on the day before each fishing trip.

1. 2. At-Sea Observer

At-sea observer coverage, at industry expense, is described in terms of the percentage of fishing expeditions in the following table for each fishing area.Indiquez les modalités applicables du programme d’observateurs.

• Area 12A : 10% of coverage
• Area 12C : 10% of coverage
• Area 14 : 5% of coverage
• Area 15 : 10% of coverage
• Area 16 : 10% of coverage
• Area 16A : 10% of coverage
• Area 17 : 10% of coverage

The percentage of coverage must be distributed throughout the season, throughout the area and may be modified according to unexpected conservation needs that may arise during the fishing season.

The list of accredited and designated companies is available on the DFOwebsite: List of Qualified and Designated Companies

1. 3. LogBook

Licence holder must keep a true record of their fishing activities and catches in their in their Electronic logbook (Elog) in accordance with their Conditions of licence.

The use of an Elog is mandatory. Fish harvesters must use a client application approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada for the Quebec region for the form ELOG – Logbook – Crabs. 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 your Elog Key, visit Fisheries and Ocean’s web page at the following address: Electronic logbooks (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.

• 4. Hail in
• Areas 12A, 15, 16 et 17 : A call for entry is required at least 30 minutes prior to arrival at the dock.
• Areas 12C, 14 et 16A : A call for entry is required upon arrival at the dock.
  
  5. Dockside Monitoring

Dockside verification is mandatory for 100% of landings.

Landings must be made at one of the designated dockside monitoring harbors, the list of which is available at the following address: Designated Dockside Monitoring Ports.

When using an Electronic Logbook, you must communicate your unique Electronic Logbook Identifier to the Dockside Monitoring Company before hail in and also provide it to the dockside observer.

1. 6. Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)

Vessels must be equipped with an active vessel monitoring system (VMS) approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Each licence holder must register his DFO-approved VSM unit prior to the beginning of his fishing activities. Data transmission every 15 minutes is required.

The current list of DFO-approved VMS units and the procedure and form to register a VMS unit are available at National Vessel Monitoring System page.

11. Particularities Applicable to the Fishery
    1. Characteristics and Use of Boats

The Maximum Length (ML) of vessels that fishers may use is specified by fishing area and group:

• Area 12A : ML of 15,24 meters

No vessel rental will be allowed with commercial licence holders living outside the Gaspe Peninsula area.

• Areas 12C, 14,15 et 16A : ML of 19,81 meters

Leasing of boats from outside the North Shore area will not be allowed.

• Area 16 :
  
  • Group A : ML of 19,81 meters
  • Group B et C : ML of 15,24 meters

Snow crab licence holders of area 16 group A are not allowed to lease a boat owned by a licence holder of area 16 groups B or C and vice versa.

No boat rentals from outside the North Shore will be permitted.

• Area 17 : ML of 19,81 meters
  
  2. Buddy-up
• General information for all areas

To take advantage of a buddy-up agreement, licence holders must place their request

through the National Online Licencing System (NOLS) at least 5 business days before the first fishing trip. A form sFigned by all license holders in the agreement must be sent with the application, and the first signature must be that of the owner/renter of the boat used.

Only one buddy-up agreement per licence holder is authorized for the fishing season. The buddy-up agreement is effective for the entire duration of the fishing season of the target species. Unless there are exceptional reasons, DFO will not issue replacement

authorizations to fishermen involved in a buddy-up agreement.

No temporary transfers will be processed during the term of the buddy-up agreement. Any transfer of quota with other license holders must be completed and approved prior to

departure from the dock or after termination of the agreement.

License holders must be on board for all fishing expeditions of the target species.

Landings are accounted for in proportion to the individual quotas of license holders who are part of a buddy-up agreement.

Licence holders benefiting from a buddy-up agreement will be jointly responsible for any violation committed during fishing activities resulting from their agreement, if applicable.

• Area 12A :

A temporary buddy-up of two licence holders is authorized. The maximum number of traps authorized will be equal to the sum of the number of traps initially authorized to each of the two licence holders under the valid Harvesting Plan and the Administrative Guidelines. A temporary buddy-up may be renewed annually, and both licence holders may not avail themselves of this opportunity for more than five years (consecutive or not).

• Areas 12C, 14, 15 and 16A :

A temporary buddy-up is authorized between licence holders of the same group and for

no more than five licence holders per agreement.

Licence holders involved in a buddy-up agreement are authorized to use a maximum number of traps equal to the sum of the number of traps initially authorized for two of the parties involved in the buddy-up agreement, without exceeding 200 standard traps.

• Area 16 :

A temporary buddy-up of two licence holders is authorized.

Licence holders involved in a buddy-up agreement are authorized to use a maximum number of traps equal to the sum of the number of traps initially authorized by the two parties involved in the buddy-up agreement, without exceeding 200 standard traps for Group A or 70 standard traps for Group B.

The buddy-up will be re-evaluated on an annual basis.

• Area 17 :

Group A : Buddy-up between two Group A license holders is authorized. The maximum number of traps authorized will be equal to the sum of the number of traps initially authorized to each of the two licence holders. Buddy-up will be re-evaluated on an annual basis.

Group B : Buddy-up between two Group B license holders is authorized. The maximum number of combined traps of the two license holders is 85. For the season 2026, buddy-up between three Group B licence holders is authorized. The maximum number of combined traps of the three license holders is 100.

1. 3. Participation Modalities

On a single fishing trip or on different fishing expeditions, the license holder and fishing vessel operator who hold both valid License Conditions for Greenland halibut or ITQ Atlantic halibut and valid Snow Crab License Conditions may practice both fisheries simultaneously if the Greenland halibut or Atlantic halibut is conducted in the following Subareas:

• Areas 12A : 4S1, 4S4, 4T3a or 4T4.
• Areas 12C, 14, 15 and 16A : Not applicable.
• Area 16 : 4S1, 4S2 or 4T4.
• Area 17 : 4S1 or 4T4.      

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.

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

All independant core licence holder and their approved designated operators must keep records of all the crew members working aboard the bessel on every fishing trip in accordance with its Conditions of licence. 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, New inshore regulations or contact the licensing office at 1-877-535-7307 or fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

14. Discharge of waste

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 Notice to Fish harvesters : New condition of licence relating to discharge of garbage.

15.  Conditions of licence

To obtain their Conditions of licence, fish harvester 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  your maritime sector of DFO :

Noth shore area: 1-800-463-1729

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

For additional information

Please visit our Fisheries web page (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).