Archived – Lobster Fishing Areas 3-14C

Species and Area

American lobster (Homarus americanus): nearshore around the island of Newfoundland, Strait of Belle Isle and portion of Labrador coast (Fishing areas 3 – 14C).

Dates of season (subject to change)

LFA	AREA	Season Dates 2009
3	Cape Charles – Cape St. John	May 17 to July 13
4A	Notre Dame Bay West (Cape St. John - North Head)	May 10 to July 6
4B	Notre Dame Bay East (North Head- Cape Freels)	May 10 to July 6
5	Bonavista Bay	May 8 to July 11
6	Trinity Bay	April 28 to July 8
7	Conception Bay	May 1 to July 4
8	Southern Shore	May 5 to July 8
9	Trepassey Bay ( Cape Race to Cape Pine)	May 12 to July 8
9	St. Mary’s Bay ( Cape Pine to Cape St. Mary’s)	May 10 to June 28
10	Placentia Bay	April 18 to June 27
11	Fortune Bay	April 18 to June 20
12	Cinq Cerf to Cape Ray	April 20 to June 27
13A	Cape Ray to Cape St. George	April 20 to June 29
13B	Cape St. George to Cape St. Gregory	April 22 to July 2
14A	Cape St. Gregory to Point Riche	May 4 to June 29
14B	Point Riche to Big Brook	May 5 to June 30
14C	Big Brook to Cape Bauld	May 15 to July 10

Total Allowable Catch and Sharing Arrangements (if applicable)

The lobster fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador utilizes trap limits as a management measure for resource conservation and sustainability of the fishery. Limitations on the number of traps licenced to a specific harvester varies within the region.

LFA	AREA	Trap Limits
3	Cape Charles – Cape St. John	200
4A	Notre Dame Bay West (Cape St. John - North Head)	200
4B	Notre Dame Bay East (North Head- Cape Freels)	200
5	Bonavista Bay	150
6	Trinity Bay	100
7	Conception Bay	150
8	Southern Shore	100
9	Trepassey Bay ( Cape Race to Cape Pine)	200
9	St. Mary’s Bay ( Cape Pine to Cape St. Mary’s)	100
10	Placentia Bay	200
11	Fortune Bay	200
12	Cinq Cerf to Cape Ray	150
13A	Cape Ray to Cape St. George	200
13B	Cape St. George to Cape St. Gregory	250
14A	Cape St. Gregory to Point Riche	300
14B	Point Riche to Big Brook	350
14C	Big Brook to Cape Bauld	300

Management Measures

The lobster fishery is a competitive fishery, which is managed using a number of controls: limited entry of harvesters into the fishery, trap limits and trap specifications, minimum size, released of egg-bearing female lobster, fishing seasons and closed areas, and the voluntary v-notching of female lobster.

DFO consulted on the Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (FRCC) report "Sustainability Framework for Atlantic Lobster,” holding sessions in 13 communities around the province. The consultations focused on current management measures, as well as additional measures for input control and reporting.

DFO-NL Region will extend the main principles of the previous plan into the new Lobster Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (2009-11). The new multi-year plan includes the introduction of a mandatory logbook, which will be implemented for the 2010 fishing season. DFO will work with industry and science on the development of a user-friendly logbook to assist DFO in capturing vital information about the resource.

Links to other information

• The Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) Science Advisory Reports on stock status http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/index-eng.htm
  
  
• http://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/e0012077
  http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/stats-eng.htm
  
  
• The Fisheries Resource Conservation Council (FRCC) report, Sustainability Framework for Atlantic Lobster, can be viewed at http://www.frcc-ccrh.ca/eindex.htm

Prepared by:

• Communications Contact: Sam Whiffen, 709-772-7631
  
  
• Program Contact: Kim Penney, 709-772-2045