Avis aux pêcheurs

SUBJECT: HYDRO ACOUSTIC SURVEY OF HERRING ON THE WEST COAST OF NEWFOUNDLAND AND THE NORTH SHORE OF QUEBEC (NAFO 4RS) 

Quebec City – July 29th 2021 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) – Quebec Region announces that the hydroacoustic survey for herring in NAFO areas 4R and 4Sw will take place in August 2021. The hydroacoustic data collected will be used to estimate the abundance of spawning stocks and used in the next herring stock assessment. 

The hydroacoustic survey will be conducted by a DFO vessel which will be supported by two chartered fishing vessel that will capture pelagic fish samples to validate the observed acoustic signals. These vessels have been selected during a call for tenders released earlier this year. The vessels will work together to ensure that the samples are associated as closely as possible to the acoustic readings. 

Through the project, these vessels will sample "The Box" zone off Blanc-Sablon, since this area is part of the survey area. These samplings are conducted through a scientific licence and no commercial landings are allowed inside the area 4S. 

These activities will generate significant scientific knowledge, while having minimal impact as the following mitigation measures will be in place: 

•   the trawl will not touch the bottom;
•   sampling of fish will only occur only if fish are observed on the echograms; 

For more information, please contact: 

Andrew Rowsell
Area Director, North-shore area
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Quebec (Québec)