Notices to Fish Harvesters

 

Approved June 2, 2025

1. Application 

 

This Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) for Atlantic halibut applies to groundfish licence holders from the Upper and Middle North Shore (UMNS) and Lower North Shore (LNS) fleets of less than 19.81 m when conducting Atlantic halibut fishing activities in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) 4RST zone Divisions from May 15, 2025 until May 14, 2026. It should be noted that this CHP remains subject to change following Departemental decisions.

Separate fishing plans are required for targeted fishing for all other groundfish species.

2. Fishing Areas

Based on valid Licence Conditions and subject to a Variation Order, licence holders are authorized to fish for Atlantic halibut in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Divisions 4RST.

The fishing areas coordinates are listed in the Licence Conditions and are also indicated on the fishing areas maps, which are available at the following address: Commercial Fisheries.

When the fishery is conducted in another division NAFO other than those provided in this CHP, that division’s CHP applies. 

3. Fishing closures 

3.1 Protection of fish during spawn and cod concentrations

The protection of fish during the spawning period and in areas where there are concentrations of cod is a priority that the Department and the industry consider very important for cod stock recovery in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The following conservation measures apply:

• From April 1 to June 23
  • Closure of all groundfish fisheries in part of NAFO Division 4R off shore from St. George’s Bay and Port-au-Port Bay, which is a recognized spawning area.
• From January 1 to December 31
  • Closure of targeted Atlantic halibut fishery in NAFO subdivisions 4T7;
  • Closure of groundfish fisheries in subdivision 4T5 (Shediac Valley);
  • Closure of the groundfish fishery in a part of subdivision 4T3 (Miscou Bank), with the exception of the portion bounded by a line connecting points 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 2 which remains open to the Atlantic halibut fishery using fixed gear from June 24 to December 31. For more details on this subject, please refer to the following:

1.   48º15'00" N   64º22'00" W

2.   47º52'00" N   64º22'00" W

3.   47º52'00" N   64º02'00" W

4.   48º15'00" N   64º02'00" W

5.   48º09'00" N   64º22'00" W

6.   48º09'00" N   64º10'00" W

7.   47º55'00" N   64º10'00" W

8.   47º52'00" N   64º15'00" W

Note: The lines connecting in order points 1, 2, 3, 4 and 1 represent the permanently closed area (red zone), that is, part of the traditional Miscou box.

The lines connecting in order items 2, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 2 represent the open portion for the targeted halibut fishery between June 24 and December 31.

3.2 Coral and Sponge Conservation Areas in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

On December 15, 2017, Fisheries and Oceans Canada created eleven coral and sponge conservation areas in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in order to protect areas with high concentrations of sponges and sea pens.

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 conservation areas.

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

3.3 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 the 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

3.4 Temporary closure for Atlantic Halibut targeted fishery

Licence holders are advised of the continued temporary closure of part of the 4T division, considering the excessive by-catch of cod previously observed. This area will remain closed until further notice, and is bounded by straight lines delineated by the following points:

1.       49°02’00" N   64°10’00" W

2.       48°31’00" N   62°37’00" W

3.       48°23’00" N   63°08’00" W

4.       48°46’00" N   64°10’00" W

5.       49°02’00" N   64°10’00" W

4. Fishing seasons

The following fishing periods apply to the UMNS and LNS fleets:

First period

• UMNS - from May 15 to October 31, 2025
• LNS - from June 6 to October 31, 2025

Second period

•  UMNS and LNS - from April 1 to May 14, 2026

From the 2026-2027 season, the LNS fleet, like the UMNS fleet, will be subject to the maximum groundfish fishing period of May 15 to October 31 and April 1 to May 14 of the following year.

Each licence holder of the UMNS is allowed to participate in both fishing periods, however, he must ensure that he holds sufficient allocations to cover the catches that are likely to be made during the fishery.

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 industry 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.

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. Quotas and Management Regime

5. Management Regime

Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) management regimes apply to the two fleets identified in this CHP. Administrative guidelines of the ITQ program of the Atlantic halibut are included in the regional guidelines, which is available on the DFO Quebec Region website at the following address:

REGIONAL GUIDELINES FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF INDIVIDUAL TRANSFERABLE QUOTA PROGRAMS

5.1 Quotas

The Division 4RST Atlantic halibut allocation is derived from the basic allocation to the Gulf < 19.81m fixed gear fleets and a portion of the allocation for the mobile gear fleets (207.89 t) transferred to the inshore fixed gear fleets and the quota carry-over of the 2024-2025 residual mobile gear fleet allocation (86.25 t), in accordance with the established sharing formulas.

On April 15, 2016, under the coordination of the Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ), representatives of groundfish fishermen's associations holding fixed gear licenses agreed on a sharing agreement of the overall Atlantic halibut quota and the distribution among the three geographic sectors of Québec maritime. The agreement has been recognized by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and it confirms an adjustment to the shares of Quebec's geographic fleets and their relative shares of the Quebec allocation according to the following percentages:

• North Shore = 18.4277%;
• Gaspésie = 66.9401%;
• Magdalen Islands = 14.6322%.

Any additional allocation to the Quebec fixed gear fleets will be shared according to these same percentages.

For 2025-2026, the overall quota allocated to the three Quebec geographical fleets corresponds to 1,496.27 t. The sharing of this quota is therefore as follows:

• - North Shore = 275.727 t;
• - Gaspé = 1001.604 t;
• - Magdalen Islands = 218.937 t.

In accordance with the permanent allocation sharing agreement for the North Shore fixed gear fleets, the sectoral allocation of 275.727 t is divided as follows:

• UMNS = 54% (148.893 t)
• LNS = 46% (126.834 t)

5.2 Quota reconciliation

Under quota reconciliation, any quota overruns in a given year, whether within an ITQ system or in a competitive fishery, are deducted by a one-for-one factor from the quota established for the following season.

Quota reconciliation facilitates the management of all fisheries and promotes compliance with harvest limits. It contributes to the achievement of resource conservation objectives, ensures that quota overruns by one fleet or fisher does not impact others, and holds industry accountable for conservation objectives.

In implementing quota reconciliation, the Department authorizes quota transfers to allow fishers and fleets to cover quota overruns until a cut-off date, after which the Department compares the final fishing data. This date corresponds to the end of the groundfish fishery management year, May 14. Also, during the weeks following this date, the Department makes the necessary adjustments to the current year's quotas by considering the overruns of competitive and individual quotas.

In addition, for the ITQ fishery, it is the responsibility of the license holder to respect the quantity allocated to him taking into account his transfers and landings. They must also make arrangements to cover any quota overruns from previous fishing trips, if applicable, prior to the departure of a fishing trip and hold the necessary quota to cover the catch that is likely to be taken on the trip.

5.3 Carry-over of quotas

The carry-over of residual Atlantic halibut quotas from the 2024-2025 management year is authorized in 2025-2026, up to a maximum of 15% of the initial quota established at the beginning of the management cycle that began on May 15, 2024.

6. Minimum Catch Size

The minimum commercial size is 85 cm.

7. Fishing Gear

The fishing gear allowed is the longline.

7.1 Number of Authorized Fishing Gear 

The quantity of hooks authorized varies depending on the fleet and the allocation held by the licence holder, including the quantities transferred or received by transfer.

Where the licence holder holds an allocation of Atlantic halibut within the following limits, the licence holder may use the number of hooks corresponding to that limit:

UMNS Fleet

- 0 to 250 kg: 100 hooks

- 251 to 500 kg: 250 hooks

- 501 to 1500 kg: 1000 hooks

- 1501 to 3500 kg: 1500 hooks

- 3501 kg and more: 2000 hooks

LNS Fleet

- 0 to 199 kg: 100 hooks

- 200 to 549 kg: 250 hooks

- 550 and over: 1000 hooks

On any fishing trip, each licence holder must carry documentation of the quantities of Atlantic halibut that they have transferred or received through transfers.

It is prohibited to have more fishing gear on board the vessel than the maximum allowed for fishing under the allocation held.

7.2 Characteristics of Fishing Gear

The opening of the longline hooks must be equal to or greater than 15.4 mm.

7.3 Hauling and soaking duration

It is the responsibility of the licence holders to ensure that the soak time of their fishing gear never exceeds 72 hours.

7.4 Fishing Tags and Additional Identification of Buoys

In addition to the regulatory requirement to mark buoys with the vessel registration number (VRN), licence holders are required to add a sequential number on each primary buoy in order to be able to individually identify each fishing gear. This additional requirement will help identify and retrieve lost gear and could also help identify the sector where a NARW may have become entangled.

The sequential number shall be solid block Arabic numerals:

• Without ornamentation;
• Written in a smaller or bigger font size than the VRN so as to be capable of differentiating the number from the VRN; and
• In a colour that contrasts with the buoy’s colour.

7.5 Amount of Rope Floating on the Surface of the Water

The following requirements are in place to minimize the length of rope floating on the surface of the water and reduce the risk of North Atlantic Right Whales entanglements:

• A maximum of 6.4 metres (3.5 fathoms) of rope shall be used when attaching  secondary buoys to a primary buoy.
• At the exception of the rope attaching secondary buoys, no rope shall float on the surface of the water at any time.

Note: A primary buoy is defined as a buoy or other floating device attached to a fishing gear. A secondary buoy is defined as a buoy or other floating device attached to a primary buoy.

7.6 Gear Marking

Licence holders using fixed gear must mark the rope used to attach a fishing gear to a primary buoy with colours specific to the region, targeted species and fishing area in which they are authorized to fish. This requirement is intended to facilitate the identification of the area where an entanglement has occurred. The following colour marks are required for each fleet:

• Groundfish (longline): Green-Pink

The gear marking requirement consisting of interlacing different coloured twine sections within existing rope must be implemented as follows:

1. The first colour to identify specific Region – to be interlaced on the same segment of rope as the second colour.
2. The second colour to identify target Species – to be interlaced on the same segment of rope as the first colour.

The above coloured twine markings must be permanently interlaced within the rope. Each coloured twine must be interlaced in the rope on a minimum length of 15 cm. The use of paint or tape is not an admissible alternative to twine.

For more information

The minimum requirements regarding the number and position of colour markings are detailed in the Licence Conditions. Please refer to the Notice to Fish Harvesters of August 14, 2020 available at the following link: colour-notice-avis-couleur-fra.pdf

7.7 Requirement to Report Lost and Retrieved Gear

Lost gear reporting

Lost fishing gear is defined as any active fishing gear previously set by the licence holder and fishing vessel operator which was sought but not found.

Lost fishing gear must be reported within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of lost gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) through the FISHING GEAR Reporting system available online at Sign In  or by completing the Lost fishing gear form available online at Reporting requirements for commercial fisheries  or in Annex of Licence Conditions, according to instructions on the form.

If the licence holder and fishing vessel operator are using an Electronic logbook, lost fishing gear must be reported to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of lost gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by completing the section reserved for that purpose in its electronic logbook. The licence holder and fishing vessel operator can also use the reporting methods indicated in the previous paragraph.

Retrieved gear reporting

The licence holder and fishing vessel operator must report the retrieval of any of their own previously reported lost gear within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of retrieved gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) through the Fishing gear reporting system available online at Sign In  or by completing the Retrieval of previously reported lost fishing gear form available online at Reporting requirements for commercial fisheries or in Annex of Licence Conditions, according to instructions on the form. Retrieval can only occur during the validity period of the Licence Conditions and only in relation to the specific type of gear authorized to be used by the Licence Conditions.

If the licence holder and fishing vessel operator are using an Electronic logbook , the retrieval of any of their own previously reported lost gear must be reported within 24 hours of returning to port at the end of the fishing trip. Reports of retrieved gear must be submitted to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) by completing the section reserved for that purpose in its electronic logbook. The licence holder and fishing vessel operator can also use the reporting methods indicated in the previous paragraph.

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

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 including: bycatch, collisions and all sightings of entangled marine mammals, within 48 hours after the end of a fishing trip. To do this, 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 online at Report a marine mammal or sea turtle incident or sighting and attached to the Licence Conditions, and it must be submitted as per the instructions provided on the form.

The information provided 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

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

10.1 Combined form / Logbook

Licence holders must acquire their booklet of Combined form from a prequalified supplier identified by DFO, a list of which is available at the following address: Prequalified Logbook Suppliers, complete it in accordance with the instructions specified in the document and give it to the dockside observer or other person designated by DFO at the time of landing

The Logbook section must be duly completed before arrival at port on each fishing day

10.2 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 – Groundfish. 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 you Elog key, visit Fisheries and Ocean’s web page at the following address: www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/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.

10.3 Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)

As announced in the 2024-2025 CHP for Atlantic halibut in divisions 4RST of the North Shore sector ITQ fleets, the VMS is now mandatory as of the 2025-2026 season for licence holders in the LNS fleet.

All vessels in the North Shore fleets must be equipped with an active Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) approved by Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Each licence holder must register their approved VMS with DFO prior to the commencement of their fishing activities. Data must be transmitted every 30 minutes.

The current list of DFO-approved VMS units and the procedure and form to register a VMS unit are available at the following address: National Vessel Monitoring Service

10.4 Hail out

Hail prior departure are mandatory for all participants.

Licence holders must call the DFO hail out system by 19 h the day before each fishing expedition.

10.5 At-sea Observer

Industry-funded at-sea observers program applies to a minimum coverage of 10% of fishing expeditions.

Before the start of a fishing expedition, licence holders must have come to an agreement regarding at-sea observers coverage with a company legally designated by DFO-Quebec Region.

If an individual or fleet is suspected of discarding groundfish at sea, in addition to other regulatory options including fishery closures and court proceedings, there may be increased at-sea observer coverage.

The list of accredited and designated companies is available on the DFO website: Commercial fishery requirements - Regional List of Qualified and Designated Companies

10.6 Dockside Monitoring

The Dockside Monitoring Program (DMP) is mandatory for 100% of landings.

Before the beginning of a fishing expedition, licence holders must have come to an agreement with a dockside monitoring company legally designated by DFO, a list of which is available at the following address:

Monitoring Programs

Landings must be done at a designated port which appears on the list published on DFO’s website at the following address:

Maps of small craft harbours

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.

11 Catch Management

11.1 Bycatch Protocols

Fishers must ensure that they have the necessary ITQs to cover the bycatch likely to be caught on their fishing trip.

The percentage of bycatch is determined by dividing the round weight of the species caught incidentally by the round weight of the species of interest.

Groundfish bycatch limits allowed per fishing trip in 4RST of NAFO are:

• Cod: 30% or 45 kg per fishing trip;
• Greenland halibut: 3% per fishing trip;
• White hake: 5% per fishing trip;
• Shark: the lesser of 10% or 500 kg per fishing trip and the fisher must hold Licence Conditions authorizing the by-catch of shark.
• Other groundfish species: 10% daily

If bycatch limits per fishing trip are exceeded, the fishery may be closed and legal proceedings may be initiated.

If licence holders adhere to an ITQ fishing regime for all groundfish species in 2025-2026, bycatch of those same species will be deducted from the respective fishers' ITQs.

The target species during a fishing trip is the species for which a fisher holds Licence Conditions.

11.2 Small fish protocol

The minimum size of fish under the small fish protocol is:

• Cod                                 43 cm
• American plaice                30 cm
• Witch flounder                  30 cm
• White hake                       45 cm
• Winter flounder                 25 cm
• Yellowtail flounder            25 cm
• Atlantic halibut                  85 cm
• Greenland halibut             44 cm
• Redfish                            22 cm

Areas may be closed to fishing for the fleet or parts of the fleet when the number of undersized fish reaches 15% of the catch of any of the aforementioned species.

All specimens of Atlantic halibut less than 85 cm must be returned to the water immediately and, if the fish is still alive, handled in a manner that causes it the least harm.

11.3 Catch monitoring and test fisheries

Small fish and bycatch closures due to high catch levels are for a minimum duration of 10 days. The cost of conducting all test fisheries is borne by the industry. If a fishery is closed, it will remain closed until DFO determines that it can be effectively monitored and controlled. If any particular fishery is closed twice during the same year because of high levels of bycatch or small fish, it may remain closed for the remainder of the year.

12. Particularities Applicable to the Fishery

12.1 Characteristics and Use of Boats

Unless there are exceptional circumstances, the rental of boats outside the North Shore and the use of boats over 15.24 m will not be permitted.

12.2 Partnership

The partnership agreement is permitted between licence holders of UMNS and LNS fleets less than 19.81 m with fixed gear. 

For the UMNS fleet, a maximum of two licence holders per partnership agreement is allowed.

 For the LNS fleet, a maximum of five licence holders per partnership agreement is allowed.

Only one partnership agreement per licence holder per year is authorized. All licence holders registered in the agreement must be on board the same vessel. Landings are counted in proportion to the respective individual quota.

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

Licence holders involved in a partnership agreement may use a maximum number of gears equivalent to the sum of the maximum number authorized by each licence holder involved in the partnership agreement. Please refer to section 7.1 of this CHP for the number of gear permitted.

The agreement must be submitted to DFO at least 5 working days before the first fishing trip. Except for exceptional reasons, the partnership is effective for the duration of the fishing season of the species concerned. Furthermore, unless there are exceptional reasons, DFO will not issue any replacement authorization to licence holders involved in a partnership agreement.

12.3 Conversion Rate

The conversion rate from gutted Atlantic halibut weight to round (whole) fish weight is 1.14. The conversion rate of head off gutted Atlantic halibut weight to round (whole) fish weight is 1.25. The round weight is the weight before any treatment.

12.4 Simultaneous fisheries

Simultaneous longline fishing for Atlantic Halibut and snow crab, or other groundfish species, may be permitted under certain conditions. The fish harvester must refer to the Licence Conditions and ensure that they comply with them.

In addition, fish harvesters must hold valid Licence Conditions to engage in this simultaneous fishery.

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.

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 and the Striped Bass (St. Lawrence River population). New species could be added during the course of the year.

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).

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 regulation (2021-03-17) or contact the Licensing Office at 1-877-535-7307 or fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

15. Discharge of waste

Since 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 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 NEW CONDITION OF LICENCE RELATING TO DISCHARGE OF GARBAGE (dfo-mpo.gc.ca)

16. Licence Conditions

To obtain their Licence Conditions, fish harvesters 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 :

North Shore Area: 1-800-463-1729

For additional information

Please visit our website at the following address: Quebec Region | Fisheries and Oceans Canada (dfo-mpo.gc.ca)