In 2006, I had the privilege of leading, for the first time, the team of Fisheries and Oceans Canada employees in the Quebec Region, a team of which I am very proud.

Over this past year, we have worked together and in partnership with many of you to promote the sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture in Quebec and to protect the aquatic environments on which we all depend. In order to rise to the challenges that lie ahead in 2007, we plan to intensify our efforts and work in synergy with stakeholders in the wake of commitments made at the last Forum québécois des partenaires des pêches [Quebec fisheries partners forum].

The DFO employees of the Quebec Region, including all area employees, join me in wishing you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Marc Demonceaux
Regional Director General

Over this past year, all Canadian Coast Guard employees in the Quebec Region have worked diligently to ensure that the shipping industry, recreational boaters and the fishing industry have safe and accessible waterways. We wish to continue our efforts to keep offering you the best possible services in 2007.

On behalf of all Coast Guard employees in the Quebec Region, I would like to wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

René Grenier, Assistant Commissioner
Canadian Coast Guard, Quebec Region

 

On November 23, officials wrapped up intense negotiations to complete a draft sustainable fisheries resolution. This resolution deals with many issues that are important to Canada; particularly, stronger actions to combat illegal fishing and protect straddling fish stocks.

The issue that received the most attention concerned discussions about the best ways to deal with the effects of bottom fishing.

Going into these discussions, Canada made its position clear. We were looking for practical, enforceable and fair ways to protect vulnerable areas of the ocean, while allowing responsible fishing to continue. We have also been working with other UN members to have a realistic agreement with measures that could be respected and implemented by all participants.

I’m pleased that the Canada-Australia joint proposal broke a deadlock. The consensus resolution will be going forward now to the United Nations General Assembly for adoption. The resolution includes strong conservation measures to prevent negative impacts of bottom fishing on sensitive areas in the oceans. These measures would be implemented by regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs) and countries that fish on the high seas.

The resolution outlines in real terms what responsible fisheries management means in relation to vulnerable areas. For example, the measures on seamounts that Canada fought for at the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization meeting would now be the standard practice for RFMOs. It also means basing decisions on sound science, using the precautionary approach, and restricting fishing activities in sensitive marine areas. And, if we can’t adequately protect these vulnerable areas, it simply means not fishing there.

These measures are enforceable because RFMOs have the legal authority to enforce conservation measures, and fishing nations have the legal tools to control the actions of their fishing vessels. In areas of the high seas that are not regulated by RFMOs, the measures that fishing nations adopt would be publicly available so these countries are accountable for the actions of their vessels.

Finally, this resolution is fair because responsible nations will fish responsibly on the high seas, which is as it should be. It is also fair because measures would be transparent; with nations encouraged to name, shame, isolate and pressure those who don’t respect the rules.

I am proud of these results and the role played by Canada in bridging the wide range of views to get consensus on this UN resolution. The measures show how Canada’s New Government is working with the international community to protect vulnerable marine ecosystems and manage fisheries sustainably.

The Honourable Loyola Hearn
Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

 

Several representatives of Fisheries and Oceans Canada participated in the Forum québécois des partenaires des pêches [Quebec fisheries partners forum], which brought together 30 or so commercial fisheries stakeholders and numerous observers in the City of Québec, on November 24.  The plenary discussions with our partners focussed on issues affecting this sector of the economy, one of key importance to Quebec. Above, Minister Loyola Hearn (centre), accompanied by Deputy Minister Larry Murray (left) and Marc Demonceaux, Director General , Quebec Region.

 

May 2006, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) assessed the status of the Atlantic walrus as “of special concern”. Adding Atlantic walrus as a species of special concern to the List of wildlife species at risk would result in the development of a management plan, a document to promote conservation of a vulnerable species by establishing specific management or conservation measures. Before the government makes a decision regarding the listing of this species, affected Canadians must have the opportunity to express their views and concerns.

Atlantic walrus are currently recognized as comprising four existent populations: South and East Hudson Bay, Northern Hudson Bay-Davis Strait, Foxe Basin and Baffin Bay (High Arctic). A fifth population, the Nova Scotia-Newfoundland-Gulf of St. Lawrence population, was hunted to extirpation by the late 18th century.  It is believed to have originally numbered in the tens of thousands. There has been no evidence of the population’s re-establishment over the past 200 years although there have been occasional sightings in recent decades.

You can provide your views on the proposed listing of the above populations by using the consultation workbooks provided on the SARA Public Registry http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca or by contacting the Species at Risk Co-ordination Office, Quebec Region:

Tel.: 1-877-775-0848
E-mail: especesperilqc@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

 

By Michel Plamondon

Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Quebec Region, has released the names of fishermen who have received fines for violations of the Fisheries Act.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada continues to strictly enforce its zero tolerance policy on violations of the Fisheries Act. The Department has a mandate to protect and conserve fishery resources and is ever vigilan in its efforts to prevent poaching of marine resources.  Fisheries and Oceans Canada also encourages the public to report poaching incidents by calling 1-800-463-9057.  All calls are confidential.

Offender	Home		Offence	Sentencing date	Fine	Judge
Massé, André	Étang-du- Nord		Harvesting clams in a closed area.	September 6, 2006	$500	Serge Francoeur
Vigneau, Léon	Havre- Aubert		Possession of lobsters under the 83 mm legal limit.	October 18, 2006	$750	Jean- Paul Decoste
Jomphe, Gérard Renaud, Mauril	Havre- Aubert		Fishing for scallops during closed time (aquaculture stocking site).	October 18, 2006	$1,000	Jean- Paul Decoste
Poirier, François I	Havre- aux- Maisons		Fishing for scallops during closed time (aquaculture stocking site).	October 18, 2006	$1000	Jean- Paul Decoste
Cabot, Jean-Claude	Saint-Georges  de-Malbaie		Failure to pay for his fishing licence or register his boat.	September 11, 2006	$750		Embert Whittom
Bezeau, Jean	Sainte- Anne- des-Monts		Reporting false information to DFO, exceeding catch limit, failure to keep an up-to-date, accurate account of fishing activities and catches in their logbooks, illegal sale or possession of crab, and conspiracy to commit these offenses.	September 8, 2006	$12,000 30 months' probation		Jean- Paul Decoste
Thorn, André	Cap-Chat		Reporting false information...	September 8, 2006	$4,560 30 months' probation		Jean- Paul Decoste
Desrosiers, Viel	Sainte- Félicité		Reporting false information...	September 8, 2006	$19,010 30 months' probation		Jean- Paul Decoste
Collin, Danny	Sainte- Anne- des-Monts		Reporting false information...	September 8, 2006	$3,500		Jean- Paul Decoste
Géhu, Gabriel	Cap-Chat		Reporting false information...	September 18, 2006	$7,500 36 months’ probation		Jean- Paul Decoste
Caissy, Mario	Saint- Jean- Chrysostome		Clam harvesting in a closed area.	September 5, 2006	$300		Luc Marchildon
Cie 3087-5199 Québec Inc.	Sainte- Thérèse- de-Gaspé		Fishing snow crab in a closed area.	September 7, 2006	$1,000		Lucie Morissette
Brière, Jacques	New  Carlisle		Fishing for herring and winter flounder without a licence.	September 25, 2006	$500 Property seized		Jean Bécu
Pichette, Léopold	Nouvelle		Possession of more than 300 clams.	September 25, 2006	$350 $240 for storage and towing costs Property seized		Jean Bécu
Duguay, Norbert	Chandler		1st count: Possession of notched female lobster 2nd count: Possession of mutilated female lobster	October 4, 2006	$500   $500		Julie Dionne
Alain, Edmond	Grande- Rivière		Non-compliance with snow crab licence conditions (hails at sea non-compliant).	October 4, 2006	$500		Julie Dionne
Duguay, Norbert	Chandler		Fishing snow crab without a licence.	October 4, 2006	$1,500		Julie Dionne
Cormier, Alexandre	Dalhousie		Possession of more than 15 groundfish (plaice) from sport fishing.	October 30, 2006	$250 Property seized		Jean Bécu
Landry, Alain	Saint-Omer		1st count: clam harvesting in a closed area. 2nd count: possession of clams under 51 mm.	October 30, 2006	$200 $100 Property seized		Jean Bécu
Noël, Daniel	Matane		Having assisted or encouraged a Dockside Observer, in the course of his or her duties, to provide the DFO with false information, exceeding catch limit, failure to keep and up-to-date, accurate account of fishing activities and catches in their logbooks, illegal sale or possession of crab, and conspiracy to commit these offences.	October 30, 2006	$2,000 24 months' probation		Jean- Paul Decoste
Amyot, Raymond	Cap-Chat		Having assisted or encouraged a Dockside...	October 30, 2006	$2,000		Jean- Paul Decoste
Arseneault, Lionel Barriault, Jacques Beaudin, Edwin Bélanger, Peter Boudreau, Eddy Boudreau, Sylvio Cloutier, Yvan Cousineau, Hugo Dignard, Steve Gallant, Julien-Marie Landry,  Bertin Landry,  Joël Landry, Sylvain Maloney, Jacques Noël, Darry Noël, Steve Rail, André Thibault,  Guy Tremblay, Aimé Vaillancourt, Janick Vibert, Dave Vigneault, Guy Ward, Rémy		Havre- Saint-Pierre Havre- Saint-Pierre Havre- Saint-Pierre Sept-Iles Rivière-au- Tonnerre Sept-Îles Havre- Saint-Pierre Havre- Saint-Pierre Rivière -au-Tonnerre Natashquan Havre- Saint-Pierre Havre- Saint-Pierre Havre- Saint-Pierre Mingan Sept-Îles Sept-Îles Longue- Pointe- de-Mingan Havre-Saint-Pierre Sept-Îles Longue-Pointe- de-Mingan Sept-Îles Longue-Pointe- de-Mingan Longue-Pointe- de-Mingan	Non-compliance with 2005 crab licence conditions in that they failed to make hails before heading out to sea.	September 21, 2006	$500 each	Louise Gallant
Beaudoin, Jean-François		Lourdes- de- Blanc-Sablon	Non-compliance with 2003 cod licence conditions: Exceeding weekly cod quota.	October 26, 2006	$921	Louis Duguay
Blanche, Réginald		Middle Bay	Non-compliance with 2004 crab licence conditions for area 12C (Exceeding snow crab quota by 689 lb).	October 26, 2006	$1,750	Louis Duguay
Buckle,  Daniel		Lourdes- de- Blanc-Sablon	Bait fishing with a monofilament net.	October 26, 2006	$300	Louis Duguay
Etheridge, Uren		Brador Bay	Bait fishing without a licence.	October 26, 2006	$400	Louis Duguay
Fequet, Andrew		Old Fort  Bay	Bait fishing with a monofilament net.	October 26, 2006	$300	Louis Duguay
Fequet, Medrick		Old Fort  Bay	Bait fishing with a monofilament net.	October 24, 2006	$300	Louis Duguay
Fequet, Medrick		Old Fort  Bay	Non-compliance with 2003 licence conditions (Exceeding weekly cod quota).	October 24, 2006	$1,789	Louis Duguay
Fequet,  Ross		Brador Bay	Non-compliance with his 2003 turbot licence conditions (no valid labels on turbot nets).	October 24, 2006	$250	Louis Duguay
Fequet,  Ross		Brador Bay	Non-compliance with his crab quota conditions in area 15 (Exceeding crab quota by 540 lb).	October 24, 2006	$1,492	Louis Duguay
Hobbs,  Daniel		Lourdes-de- Blanc-Sablon	Non-compliance with 2003 licence conditions (Exceeding weekly cod quota).	October 26, 2006	$1,914	Louis Duguay
Hobbs, Samuel		Brador Bay	Allowing another person to fish from his vessel without licence authorization.	October 24, 2006	$300	Louis Duguay
Labadie, Joseph		Lourdes-de- Blanc-Sablon	Non-compliance with his 2003 cod licence conditions. Exceeding weekly cod quota.	October 26, 2006	$921	Louis Duguay
Roberts,  Dany		Rivière- Saint-Paul	Non-compliance with lumpfish licence conditions. Mesh size under the legal limit.	October 26, 2006	$300	Louis Duguay
Roberts,  Dany		Rivière- Saint-Paul	Non-compliance with his 2005 cod licence conditions (no valid labels on cod nets).	October 26, 2006	$500	Louis Duguay
Wellman, Donald		Brador Bay	Non-compliance with 2003 licence conditions (Exceeding weekly cod quota).	October 24, 2006	$1,789	Louis Duguay

 

Did you know that, beginning in January of every year, the St. Lawrence Observatory (OSL) provides daily forecasts of the sea ice concentration and thickness in the St. Lawrence? While you’re waiting for January 2007 to roll around, you can watch coloured animations of the sea ice concentration forecasts for the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence for 2003 to 2006. You can also compare ice concentration maps from 2005 and 2006 (from January to May) and witness the changes from one year to the next.

   These sea ice forecasts for the St. Lawrence are extracted from a three-dimensional numerical model synthesizing the oceanic circulation by taking into account the influence of tides, of fresh water runoff and atmospheric forcing of the St. Lawrence, as well as of sea ice drift, growth and thawing. The ocean forecasts for the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence are issued by the personnel of the Modelling and Operational Oceanography section of the Canadian Hydrographic Service, at the Maurice Lamontagne Institute, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Quebec Region.

Sea Ice Concentration Forecasts

These maps show sea ice concentration forecasts for the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence on February 10, 2005 (left) and on February 10, 2006 (right). The scale represents ice concentration in tenths of the area covered by ice. For example, a dark red area on the chart corresponds to a concentration of 10/10 on the scale or 100%, while a light blue may correspond to 3/10 or 30%. Visit the St. Lawrence Observatory website in order to see the version fo these maps:
 
http://www.osl.gc.ca/en/

 

Harbour Projects

At the La Tabatière harbour, plans and specifications have been completed for the future rebuilding of the fishers’ wharf to increase its stability and restore safe mooring conditions for the local fleet at berthing dock no. 2.  Transport Canada is providing 60 per cent of the funding for this project. 

At the Sept-Iles (Bunge) harbour, plans and specifications are prepared for the installation of cathodic protection on the sheet pile wharf to halt corrosion and thereby increase the useful life of the wharf.

This $195,000 investment, combined with projects previously announced this year, brings the investment for the Small Craft Harbours program in Quebec to $6.6 million. The work will be undertaken by Fisheries and Oceans Canada under the Small Craft Harbours Program, in collaboration with the harbour authorities that manage and operate facilities for the benefit of local users.

Fourth National Science Workshop

From November 21 to 23, some 200 Fisheries and Oceans scientists from across the country gathered at the Maurice Lamontagne Institute to present their research projects. They addressed three major themes reflecting the Department’s current challenges, namely ecosystem research, the health of wild aquatic populations and scientific initiatives in the Arctic.

These discussion and training sessions are an opportunity to co-ordinate the Department’s scientific efforts to address current fishery, aquaculture and aquatic environment challenges.

 

On October 27, representatives of the Department and of the Canadian Coast Guard had the privilege of meeting royalty in Quebec City.  His Majesty Carl XVI Gustaf, King of Sweden, spent several hours aboard CCGS Pierre Radisson docked at Queen’s Wharf, during his visit to Canada. The King, who showed a keen interest in the Canadian Arctic research program, had expressed a desire to talk to specialists from DFO, Laval University and the ArcticNet research network who are engaged in scientific missions in the North.  His Majesty was highly satisfied and impressed with his visit on board and with the people he met and talked to.