Fisheries and Oceans Canada
www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Archived – Whelk, Areas 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9 – Quebec Region
Archived Content
Information identified as archived on the Web is for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It has not been altered or updated after the date of archiving. Web pages that are archived on the Web are not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards. As per the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada, you can request alternate formats on the "Contact Us" page.
Species and Area
Whelk, Areas 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9 – Quebec Region
Area:
- Area 1: Tadoussac to Pointe aux Outardes
- Area 2: Pointe aux Outardes to Pointe des Monts
- Area 3: Pointe des Monts to Pointe aux Jambons
- Area 4: Pointe aux Jambons to Cap du Cormoran
- Area 5: Cap du Cormoran to Rivière Saint-Jean
- Area 6: Rivière Saint-Jean to Baie de la Grande Hermine
- Area 7: Baie de la Grande Hermine to Rivière de l’Étang
- Area 9: North Anticosti Island
Dates of Season (subject to change)
- Area 1: April 1 to October 2
- Area 2: April 7 to October 5
- Area 3: April 19 to November 13
- Area 4: April 19 to October 31
- Area 5: April 13 to October 12
- Area 6: April 13 to October 12
- Area 7: April 13 to October 12
- Area 9: April 13 to October 12
Note: In 2011, the length of the season will be revisited and could be reduced, if warranted by the status of the resource.
Total Allowable Catches (TAC)
- Area 1: TAC of 491 t
- Area 2: TAC of 109 t
In the fall of 2010, a meeting will be held to assess the TACs of Areas 1 and 2 and to set TACs for the other areas, if necessary.
Management Measures
Number of licences:
- Area 1: 11 licences
- Area 2: 6 licences
- Area 3: 7 licences
- Area 4: 32 licences
- Area 5: 21 licences
- Area 6: 16 licences
- Area 7: 7 licences
- Area 9: 1 licences
Whelk licence holders in Areas 5, 6 and 7 also have access to Area 9.
Minimize size:
70 mm long
Number of traps:
The maximum number of traps authorized in each area is 100 traps per fisher, with the following exceptions:
a) Current whelk licence holders, who are authorized to use 150 traps, will retain this privilege (grandfather clause). This grandfather clause will lapse if there is a change in licence holder.
b) Current whelk licence holders who have not registered any catches with DFO since 2000 will be authorized to use a maximum of 50 traps.
Volume of traps:
a) Current whelk licence holders authorized to use 50 or 100 traps may use traps with a maximum external volume of 0.3 m3 (10.6 ft3).
b) Current whelk licence holders authorized to use 150 traps will be able to use traps with a maximum external volume of 0.15 m3 (5.3 ft3).
Tagging:
Each trap must bear a valid tag obtained from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO).
Hail in:
Obligation to hail in to a local monitoring company for Areas 1 and 2
Log book:
Log book is obligatory. When there are fishing activities, the log book must be sent to the Sept-Îles office of Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Saturday of each week.
Area closure:
Areas 1 and 2 will be closed when the total allowable catch (TAC) is reached.
Incidental catches:
Incidental catches cannot be retained.
Multi-year committee:
Three-year management plan, the next advisory committee meeting will be held in 2012. However, a meeting will be held in the fall of 2010 to take stock of the 2010 fishery and reassess the management measures, as appropriate.
Species at Risk Act:
Under s. 73 of the Species at Risk Act (SARA), the following species must be immediately returned to the water and, if the fish is still alive, with as little harm as possible: northern wolffish, spotted wolffish and leatherback turtle.
Licence conditions:
Two working days are required to issue a licence condition.
Links to Other Information
Assessment of Quebec Coastal Waters Whelk Stocks in 2008 (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/csas-sccs/Publications/SAR-AS/2009/2009_028-eng.htm)
