Notices to Fish Harvesters

Approved April 27, 2026

1 Application

This Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) applies to the Lobster licence holder’s fleets of areas 15, 16, 17 and 18.

2 Fishing Areas

The fishing areas coordinates are listed in the Conditions of licence, and on the fishing areas maps.

3 Fishing closures 

3.1 Coral and sponge Conservation Areas in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence

ll 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 Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence coral and sponge 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.

4 Fishing Seasons

The fishing season usually runs from the beginning of May to mid-July.
Area 15, 16 and sub-area 18I: 12 weeks.
Area 17 (A and B): 11 weeks, excluding the soaking period applied exclusively in area 17.

Area 18 (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H): 11 weeks.

The fishing seasons established above are in effect for the duration of this CHP. It represents the maximum fishing periods, subject to, among other things, specific orders and closure periods. Accordingly, opening dates may vary depending on specific circumstances and fisheries management considerations, including industry requests, while closures may be brought forward, particularly for conservation reasons.

Opening and closing fishing dates will be confirmed through 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.

5 Number of licences and access

As of the date of approval of this CHP, the number of licences was:
Area 15: 66.
Area 16 : 9 (also giving access to sub-area 18I).

Area 17 (A and B):

Commercial licences : 16.
Exploratory licences : 27.

Area 18 (A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H):

Commercial licences: 8
Exploratory licences: 25 (22 active in 2026)

6 Management Regime

Competitive fishery managed by controlling fishing effort.

7 Catch management

7.1 Characteristics of authorized catches

The minimum size allowed for keeping catches is 82 mm in areas 15 and 16, and 83 mm in areas 17 and 18. There is no maximum size limit as of the date of approval of this CHP.

7.2 Discarding Incidental Catches

Except for male rock crabs, all fish caught incidentally while fishing under a lobster fishing licence must be returned to the water at the exact location where they were caught, and if the fish are alive, in a manner that causes it the least harm.

8 Fishing Gear

8.1 Number of Authorized Fishing Gear

The maximum number of traps allowed varies depending on the areas, fleets, and type of traps used.
Areas 15 and 16:  175 type 1 traps or 250 type 2 traps

Area 17:

Commercial licence 17A: 125 type 2 traps

Commercial licences 17B: 210 type 1 traps or 300 type 2 traps
Exploratory licences : 125 or 250 type 2 traps.

Area 18: 175 type 1 traps or 250 type 2 traps.

When Type 1 and Type 2 traps are used simultaneously, the maximum number of reaps that may be used is equal to the number permitted for Type 1 traps.For each locence, the maximum number of traps is specified in the Conditions of licence.

8.2 Characteristics of Fishing Gear

The requirements and prohibitions regarding, among other things, dimensions, release mechanisms, and ropes are outlined in the Conditions of licence.

Depending on the areas and fleets, two types of traps may be authorized.

Type 1:   Traps with a maximum length, width, and height of 124 cm x 90 cm x 50 cm (49“ x 36” x 19¾") or less.Type 2:   Traps with a maximum length, width, and height of 92 cm x 71 cm x 50 cm (36“ x 28” x 19¾") or less.

8.3 Soaking and immersion time

It is prohibited to lift or bait traps more than once a day.

Licence holders or their operators are responsible for hauling in their fishing gear at least once every 72 hours.Area 17:   During the first seven days following the opening date of the fishery, lobster fishery licence holders in sub-areas 17A and 17B are authorized to set their traps. At all times from the opening date established by the Variation Order until 5:00 a.m. on the eighth day of the fishery, traps must not contain any bait. The setting period does not increase the number of authorized fishing days.

8.4 Gear marking

All traps used for fishing must bear a single valid annual tag with a unique identification number. Licence holders must obtain their tags from suppliers approved by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).

The minimum requirements regarding the number and position of colour markings of the ropes are detailed in the Conditions of licence. Informations are available in the Notice to Fish Harvesters of August 14, 2020.

It is prohibited to have unmarked fishing gear on board a fishing vessel. In addition to the regulatory requirement to mark buoys with the vessel registration number (VRN), licence holders must add a sequential number to each main buoy in order to be able to individually identify each fishing gear.

Certain specific requirements may apply to exploratory or scientific fishing and are outlined in the Conditions of licence.

Bell Tags (Area 15)The pilot project on the use of bell tags in Area 15, which was in effect in 2024 and 2025, has been extended for the 2026 season. Licence holders must attach one or more bell tags to the rope at the base of each buoy. The number of bell tags attached to the base of the buoy must equal the number of traps set on the trap line. The fishing vessel registration number (VRN) must be written on the bell tag. Licence holders must only use bell tags obtained from a supplier identified in a tagging plan approved by DFO.

8.5 Requirement to Report Lost and Retrieved Gear

The licence holder and fishing vessel operator must report any loss or recovery of fishing gear. Reports regarding the loss or recovery of gear must be submitted to DFO through the online Fishing Gear Reporting System or by completing and submitting the Lost Fishing Gear Form or the Retrieval of previously reported lost fishing gear form, which are available online and attached to the Conditions of licence.

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 in accordance with the Conditions of licence. To do so, the licence holder and fishing vessel operator must complete the section reserved for that purpose in his electronic logbook or the marine mammal interaction form available on the Report a marine mammal or sea turtle incident or sighting page and attached to the Conditions of licence, and submit it as per the instructions provided on the form.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 LogBook

Licence holder must keep a true record of their fishing activities and catches in their in their Electronic logbook (Elog) in accordance with their Conditions of licence.

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” prior to landing. A fishing expedition starts at the time a fishing vessel leaves a port to engage in fishing and ends at the time fish caught during that period are offloaded. Hence, when a fisherman 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, please visit the Electronic logbooks (ELOGs) page.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.

10.2 Vessel Monitoring System (VMS)

Vessels 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 beginning of their fishing activities. Data must be transmitted every 15 minutes.The list of approved units, and the procedure and form for registering VMS with DFO, are available on the National Vessel Monitoring System page.

11 Specific Provisions Applicable to the Fishery

11.1 Characteristics and Use of Boats

Maximum boat length

The maximum overall length (OL) of the boats that licence holders or their operators may use is 15.24 meters.

Auxiliary boat

The use of an auxiliary vessel is authorized under certain conditions. It must be registered in advance with DFO and must be identified on the Conditions of licence. Only one vessel is authorized to take part in the same fishing trip. Landings must be associated with the main vessel.

Transportation of traps

During the fishing closure period, the transportation of traps requires a transportation licence, which authorizes transportation for storage purposes only. Therefore, all transported traps must be unloaded ashore. Furthermore, no traps may be transported within five (5) days prior to the scheduled opening date of the fishing area. To obtain a trap transport authorization, the licence holder must submit a request to a fisheries officer and confirm that their VMS is active.

A trap transport authorization does not exempt the licence holder from the obligation to obtain permission from any other regulatory body and to comply with its requirements for storage, including at Anticosti Island.

Lobster TransportLobster transport requires a licence, and all transport vessels must be equipped with an active SSN set to a transmission frequency of 15 minutes. To obtain a transport licence, the transporter must request it through the National Online Licensing System.

11.2 Buddy-up

Buddy-up agreements are permitted between two licence holders of the same licence type (commercial or exploratory) and from the same fishing subzone.Licence holders involved in a buddy-up agreement are authorized to jointly use the following maximum numbers of traps:

Areas 15, 16 and 18I:
Commercial and exploratory licences:   250 type 2 traps or 175 type 1 traps.

Area 17:

Commercial licences: 300 type 2 traps or 210 type 1 traps.Exploratory licences: 250 type 2 traps.

To take advantage of a buddy-up agreement, the owner or lessee of the vessel used must submit a request through the National Online Licensing System (NOLS) at least 5 business days before the first fishing expedition. A form signed by all licence holders under the agreement must be submitted with the application, and the first signature must be that of the owner/lessee of the vessel used.

Only one buddy-up agreement per licence holder is authorized per fishing season. The pairing agreement is effective for the entire duration of the fishing season for the targeted species. Unless exceptional circumstances apply, DFO will not issue replacement authorizations to fishermen involved in a pairing agreement.

Licence holders must be on board during all fishing expeditions.

Landings are accounted for equally among the licence holders participating in a buddy-up agreement.

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

11.3Participation Modalities

Exploratory licence holders must demonstrate that they have fully participated in developing the fishery by complying with the predetermined minimum annual participation criteria before being eligible for licence reissuance, if applicable.

The minimum annual participation criteria are specified in the Conditions of licence and may include, but are not limited to: a minimum number of fishing expeditions involving trap hauls, compliance with an at-sea sampling protocol, and the format and deadline for data submission.

Participation criteria are reviewed annually and may be modified upon licence renewal the following year.

11.4 Simultaneous fisheries

For exploratory lobster fishing licences, the licence holder and the fishing vessel operator who also hold a fishing licence for whelk and/or rock crab and/or toad crab (Hyas sp.) and/or sea urchin with traps in their licence portfolio are not authorized to fish for these species during the entire lobster fishing season.

However, this prohibition does not apply if the lobster fishing area of the licence holder does not overlap with the area where he holds a licence for these species and if the VMS is active.

12 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 from the country, endangered or threatened.

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) and the Beluga Whale (St. Lawrence Estuary 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).

13 Crew registry

All independent core licence holder and their approved substitute designated operators must keep records of all the crew members working aboard the vessel on every fishing trip in accordance with its Conditions of licence. This requirement does not apply to pre-1979 corporation licence holders, midshore licence holders nor to any holder of a licence issued under the authority of the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations. For further details, please refer to the March 17th, 2021 Notice to fish harvesters, New inshore regulations effective April 1, 2021, or contact the Customer support at 1-877-535-7307 or fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.

14 Discharge of waste

The licence holder and fishing vessel operator are prohibited from discarding in Canadian fisheries waters any item that may be harmful to fish or fish habitat. Please refer to the following Notice to Fish harvesters : New condition of licence relating to discharge of garbage.

15 Conditions of licence

To obtain their Conditions of licence, fish harvester 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 (select the phone number for your area):

North Shore area: 1-800-463-1729

Magdalen Islands area: 418-986-2095

Gaspé-Lower St.Lawrence area: 1-877-898-5559

 

For additional information

Please visit our Fisheries web page (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).