Area Offices: Gateway to DFO

DFO’s Area offices on the North Shore, in Gaspe-Lower St. Lawrence Area and on the Magdalen Islands are the gateway to the Department for the communities in these areas. Because of its privileged relationship with DFO clients and partners, area staff plays an essential role in the planning, co-ordination and deli­very of Departmental services related to Fisheries Management, Coast Guard, Science, Oceans, habitat and species at risk or Small Craft Harbours.

Some hundred employees, fishery officers, technicians, bio­logists and managers, work in the Area offices. They provide services related to fisheries, commercial shipping and pleasure boating, fishing ports, fish habitat, resource management and protection, aquaculture, and marine mammal watching.

North Shore Area

The North Shore Area covers a huge territory between Tadoussac and Blanc-Sablon, including the banks of the Saguenay and the shores of Charlevoix and of Anticosti Island. Dotted with small isolated communities, on the Lower North Shore, which depend almost exclusively on the fishery, the Area also has a significant marine mammal watching industry.

In addition to North Shore Area office in Sept-Iles, DFO has three district offices, in Baie-Comeau, Havre-St-Pierre and Blanc-Sablon. Two Coast Guard search and rescue bases, one in Tadoussac, the other in Havre-St-Pierre, also watch out for users safety. Finally, there is a Marine Communications and Traffic Services centre in Les Escoumins.

How to reach us

Fisheries and Oceans Canada North Shore Area Office 701 Laure Boulevard, Room 203 Sept-Iles, Quebec G4R 1X8

Telephone: 418-962-6314 Fax: 418-962-1044

Gaspe-Lower St. Lawrence Area

The Gaspe-Lower St. Lawrence Area covers the south shore of the St. Lawrence from Québec to Gaspé and the north shore of Chaleur Bay. The Sector has an extensive network of fishing ports all along the Gaspe shore and generates more than half the landings of marine species in Quebec.

The Area has a main office in Gaspé and two district offices in Grande-Rivière and Ste-Anne-des-Monts. There is a Marine Communications and Traffic Services centre as well as a Coast Guard search and rescue base in Rivière-au-Renard.

How to reach us

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Gaspe-Lower St. Lawrence Area Office 120 rue de la Reine Gaspé, Quebec  G4X 2R2

Telephone: 418-368-5559 Toll Free: 1-877-898-5559 Fax: 418-368-4349

Magdalen Islands Area

The Magdalen Islands Area serves the public of this archipelago in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The fishery industry, in particular lobster, plays a major role in the Magdalen Islands economy, while the seal hunt is still an important socioeconomic activity.

The Area office Is located in Cap-aux-Meules. A Coast Guard search and rescue base in Cap-aux-Meules looks out for seafarers safety with its ship the CCGS Cap-aux-Meules.

How to reach us

Fisheries and Oceans Canada Fisheries and Oceans Canada Magdalen Islands Area Office 235 chemin Principal, Door 206 Cap-aux-Meules, Quebec G4T 1R7

Telephone: 418-986-2095 Fax: 418-986-5353