Fisheries Management Decision - Herring Fishing Areas 16A to 16-G and 17

This fisheries management decision covers the herring purse seine fishery in Herring Fishing Areas (HFAs) 16A -16G and 17.

The management plan for herring in HFAs 16A-16G was announced on May 6, 2008, but did not include management measures for the purse seine fleet. This was due to ongoing discussions with stakeholders to develop appropriate measures which would ensure a sustainable fishery while protecting the spring spawning component.

Dates of season (subject to change)

For 2008, access to the Baie des Chaleurs is allowed from July 1 until August 4, and after September 1. Access to the remainder of the open areas in the HFAs 16A-16G begins on July 1. Access to the northern portion of 4Vn (HFA 17) will be authorized. However, the amount and the conditions under which the fishery will take place in 4Vn will be addressed in the Maritimes Region Herring Management Plan.

Total Allowable Catches and Sharing Arrangements (if applicable)

The overall Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for herring in HFAs 16A-16G were announced earlier, and may be found at http://www.glf.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fam-gpa/herring-hareng/index-e.php.

Management Measures

For the 2008 fishery, the following measures will apply:

• Uncaught quota from the spring will be used to cover incidental catch of spring spawners in the large seiner fall fishery.
• Access to the Baie des Chaleurs is allowed from July 1 until August 4, and after September 1.
• The authorization to use a mid-water trawl for three seiners to fish herring in HFA 16 (excluding Chaleurs Bay) from July 1 to December 31 is maintained in 2008 with the appropriate monitoring and control mechanisms to prevent high catches of small fish.
• Access to the northern portion of 4Vn (HFA 17) will be authorized. However, the amount and the conditions under which the fishery will take place in 4Vn will be addressed in the Maritimes Region Herring Management Plan.
• All vessels must be equipped with a functional Vessel Monitoring System during fishing activities.
• There will be a minimum of 10 % at-sea observer coverage during fishing activities.
• As announced in the May 13, 2005 News Release, the large seiner herring fishery will be closed from January 1 to December 31 in a portion of HFA 16G off the northeast coast of PEI.
• The minimum size for herring in HFA 16A to 16G is reduced to 23.5 cm. This represents the current known size of herring maturity for the 4TVn stock. The small fish protocol is no longer a management measure, but is replaced by a 10% limit of herring under 23.5 cm.
• The purse seine fall fishery will not be allowed in the inner part of the Baie des Chaleurs, west of a line between Grande-Anse (NB) and Paspébiac (QC), as this is where spring spawners are typically found.
• Landings in the Baie des Chaleurs are limited to 50% of the overall TAC (inshore and seiners) if the inshore fleet quota is not completely captured in 2008. Otherwise, the landings will be limited to 50% of the seiner quota.

Links to other information:

For more information on the management of the herring fishery, see the Gulf Region Herring Fishery Information Website at http://www.glf.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fam-gpa/herring-hareng/index-e.php.

Gulf Region Herring Fishery Information Website:
http://www.glf.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fam-gpa/herring-hareng/index-e.php.

Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat, Assessment of Herring in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (NAFO Div. 4T):
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/CSAS/Csas/Publications/SAR-AS/2008/2008_019_e.htm.