Fisheries and Oceans Canada
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Archived – Snow Crab, Area 16 – Quebec Region
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Species and region
Area 16 is fished by 59 regular snow crab licence holders, including 3 First Nations sharing 8 licences. The licence holders are divided into two administrative groups: group A and group B.
Dates of season (subject to change)
Group A: The fishing season will open on April 5, 2010, at 5:00 a.m. and close on July 10, 2010, at midnight, for a total duration of 14 weeks. An ice committee made up of industry and DFO representatives will be established to confirm this date. The opening date may be changed if ice conditions impede participants’ access to the fishing grounds or pose a danger to the fleet.
Group B: The fishing season will open on April 12, 2010 (one week after the opening date for group A fishers), at 5:00 a.m. and close on July 10, 2010, at midnight.
Total Allowable Catches (TAC) and sharing agreements (if applicable)
The TAC for the 2010 season is set at 4,607 tonnes, the same TAC as last year. The minor catch variation in the post-season survey and the predominance of recruits in landings suggest that the exploitation rate should not be increased in 2010.
Management measures applicable to Group A fishers
The 39 licence holders in this group will be allocated 4,270 tonnes (92.7% of the overall quota) in the form of individual quotas of 109,504 kg.
A formula based on the amount of the individual quota will be applied to determine the number of traps permitted. Under this system, regular snow crab licence holders are authorized to use:
- 100 standard traps (or 200 Japanese traps) if the individual transferable quota (ITQ) is over 100 tonnes;
- 90 standard traps (or 180 Japanese traps) if the ITQ is over 90 tonnes;
- 80 standard traps (or 160 Japanese traps) if the ITQ is over 80 tonnes;
- 75 standard traps (or 150 Japanese traps) if the ITQ is under 80 tonnes.
Licence holders will therefore be authorized to use 100 standard traps or 200 Japanese traps in 2010.
For 2010, temporary transfers of up to 50%, in accordance with the established administrative guidelines, will be authorized. Discussions will be held in the future to establish new administrative guidelines specific to Group A.
Management measures applicable to Group B fishers
The 20 licence holders in this group will be allocated 336 tonnes (7.3% of the overall quota) in the form of individual quotas of 16,815 kg.
Group B licence holders will be authorized to use 35 standard traps or 70 Japanese traps. For licence holders receiving large temporary transfers (with a total exceeding 8,000 kg), the maximum number of traps will be raised to 50 standard traps or 100 Japanese traps.
For 2010, temporary transfers of 50% will be authorized only among Group B fishers. Discussions will be held in the future to establish administrative guidelines specific to Group B in 2010.
Management measures applicable to all fishers
A dockside monitoring program with 100% coverage will be required.
All data must be transmitted in kilograms.
Basic at-sea observer coverage will start at 10%. The coverage will increase to 15% when the level of soft shell crab observed at sea reaches 10%.
The area will be closed as soon as soft shell crab accounts for 20% of catches at sea.
Hail-outs will be mandatory.
The release of soft shell crab and juvenile crab will be permitted this year, as set out in the licence conditions.
Barring exceptional vessel-related circumstances, vessels owned by Group A or B fishers who hold regular Area 16 snow crab licences may not be leased between the two groups.
Under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), all bycatches of spotted wolffish, northern wolffish and leatherback sea turtle must be returned to the place from which they were taken and, where they are still alive, in a manner that causes them the least harm.
Each fisher must sign formal agreements with dockside monitoring and at-sea observer companies before contacting DFO to obtain a licence.
Licence conditions
To obtain licence conditions, please contact your local area office. The issuance of licence conditions requires two business days.
Links to more information
- Facts on Canadian Species
