Notices to Fish Harvesters
CONSERVATION HARVESTING PLAN-LOBSTER – AREA 22 – MAGDALEN ISLANDS FLEET SEASON 2025
Approved April 17, 2025
1. Application
This Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) for Lobster applies to the licence holders from the Magdalen Islands fleet when fishing lobster in Lobster Fishing Area 22 in 2025.
2. Fishing Areas
Subject to any Variation Order and based on valid Conditions of licence, the authorized fishing area is Lobster Fishing Area 22, a coastal area surrounding the Magdalen Islands.
The fishing areas coordinates are listed in the Conditions of licence and are also indicated on the fishing areas maps, which are available at the following address:
3. Fishing closures
3.1 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.
3.2 Other Area Closures
Pursuant to the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985, lobster fishing is prohibited in the Magdalen Islands lagoons.
Fishing is also prohibited in a sector of the Grande-Entrée channel and in the aquaculture sites under federal lease. The coordinates of these areas are described in the Conditions of licence.
4. Fishing Seasons
The fishing season usually runs from early May to early July.
The opening and closing dates of the fishery will be confirmed by a Notice to Fish Harvesters and Variation Order.
Moreover, to encourage the safest possible setting of traps for all lobster licence holders, a Weather Condition Monitoring Protocol updated in winter 2014 is in place in order to postpone the setting of traps when, at 15:30 h the day before the opening, the wind forecast is more than 20 knots for the following morning.
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.
Fishing (lifting of traps) is authorized during the period comprised between 5 h and 21:30 h, from Monday to Saturday, with the exception of the last two fishing days of the season when the fishing schedule does not apply. If, for exceptional reasons beyond his or her control, a licence holder is unable to respect the fishing schedule in effect, he (she) must contact a DFO Fishery Officer to obtain authorization to deviate from the established schedule for that day.
Fishing remains unauthorized on Sundays, the day the traps are set and the day after the traps are set.
The CHP will be in effect for the duration of the fishing season. It represents the maximum fishing period, subject to, among other things, variation orders and specific period of closures. At such, opening date may vary according to particular circumstances and fisheries management considerations, while closing date may be advanced according to factors such as if the entire quota of the fishing area has been caught or when risks of exceeding them are high. Opening and closing fishing dates will be confirmed through usual communication means, such as Notices to Fish Harvesters and Variation Orders.
5. Management Regime
The fishery is managed by control of the fishing effort.
5.1 Number of licences and access
325 licences.
6. Minimum Catch Size
Under the 1985 Atlantic Fishery Regulations, the minimum catch size is 83 mm. Since the 2021 season, a maximum catch size is established at 145 mm.
7. Fishing Gear
7.1 Number of Authorized Fishing Gear
Licence holders are authorized to use 273 traps.
7.2 Characteristics of Fishing Gear
Traps dimensions
Traps autorized have a maximum outside dimensions not exceeding 82 cm in length, 61 cm in width and 50 cm in height, regardless of the shape of the trap
Escape mechanisms
Each trap must be equipped with one rectangular escape vent (minimum 47 mm high by minimum 127 mm long) or two circular escape vents (minimum 65 mm diameter).
Exit panels
Each lobster trap must be equipped with one exit panel compliant with the 1985 Atlantic Fishery Regulations or with a soft cotton twine.
Trap lines (“trawl”)
Minimum seven traps per line; maximum height fathoms between each trap; and maximum 56 fathoms from the first to the last trap, no matter the number of traps per line
7.3 Soaking of traps
Under the Fisheries Act, it is forbidden to place fishing gear in the water or on the shore for the sole purpose of soaking, at any time.
A trap without a net and not capable of catching and/or holding fish is not considered as a fishing gear.
7.4 Hauling of traps
Licence holders are not authorized to haul their traps more than once per day.
7.5 Fishing Tags and Additional Identification of Buoys
All traps used for fishing must have a single valid annual tag with a unique identification number. Fishers must obtain their tags from DFO approved suppliers. A list of these suppliers is available at the following address: Approved Tag Suppliers (dfo-mpo.gc.ca)
It is prohibited to have on board a fishing vessel an untagged trap. Licence holders are authorized to keep on board the fishing vessel two replacement traps, as long as they bear a valid tag.
In 2025, the original tags are brown and the replacement tags are purple.
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.
7.6 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 3.7 metres (2 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.
7.7 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. For the lobster fishery in area 22, the following colored markings are required: Green-Yellow.
The minimum requirements regarding the number and position of colour markings are detailed in the Conditions of licence. Please refer to the Notice to Fish Harvesters of August 14, 2020 available at the following link:
The gear marking requirement consisting of interlacing different coloured twine sections within existing rope must be implemented as follows:
- The first colour to identify specific Region – to be interlaced on the same segment of rope as the second colour.
- 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.
7.8 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 DFO by completing the section reserved for that purpose in its electronic logbook. Reports of lost gear can also be submitted to DFO through the Fishing Gear Reporting system available online at Fishing Gear Reporting System or by completing the Lost fishing gear form available online at Reporting requirements for commercial fisheries or attached to the Conditions of licence.
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 to DFO by completing the section reserved for that purpose in its electronic logbook. Reports of retrieved gear can also be submitted through the Fishing gear reporting system available online at Fishing Gear Reporting System or by completing the Retrieval of previously reported lost fishing gear form available online at Reporting requirements for commercial fisheries or attached to the Conditions of licence.
Retrieval can only occur during the validity period of the Conditions of licence and only in relation to the specific type of gear authorized to be used by the Conditions of licence.
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 Conditions of licence, 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
10.1 Electronic logbook
The use of an electronic logbook (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 - Lobster. 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 landing. 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.
11. Catch Management
11.1 Discarding Incidental Catches
Any fish caught incidentally must be returned to the water and released in the exact capture location and, if the fish is still alive, with as little harm as possible.
Licence holders are authorized to keep male rock crab incidental catches.
12. Particularities Applicable to the Fishery
12.1 Characteristics and Use of Boats
Fishing vessels with a length overall less than 15.24 metres (50 feet) may be used.
12.2 Simultaneous fisheries
No person on board the fishing vessel must participate in recreational fishing activities of any kind.
The licence holder and fishing vessel operator who hold a commercial fishing licence for whelk and/or rock crab and/or toad crab (hyas sp.) are not authorized to fish these species during the whole duration of the lobster fishing season in area
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 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, 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. Conditions of licence
To obtain their Conditions of licence, 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 418-986-2095
For additional information
Please visit our website at the following address: Fisheries