Archived – Lobster Fishing Area 23

Species and Area

LFA 23 includes sub-areas 23A, 23B, 23C and 23D.

Dates of season (subject to change)

The 2010 fishery will be from April 26 at 6:00 am to June 26 (inclusive).

Total Allowable Catches and Sharing Arrangements (if applicable)

Enter text for TAC here

Management Measures

• Minimum carapace size: In sub-areas 23A and 23B, the minimum carapace size of lobster will increase by 1 mm per year for a period of 4 years. The size will increase to 73 mm in 2010, to 74 mm in 2011, to 75 mm in 2012 and to 76 mm in 2013.
  
  
• Time restrictions for fish harvesters: Time restrictions for fish harvesters fishing in the northern side of Miramichi Bay and east of Miscou Island will be maintained but modified. Fish harvesters from those two areas will receive conditions of license that will stipulate when they can commence and when they must terminate their Fishing trip.
  
  
• Mandatory unloading of Lobster catches in a designated wharf : In sub-area 23A, fishers will have to unload theirs lobster catches inside one of the three territories that will be indicated in their licence condition. The three territories will be; 1) between the north west extremity of the Lobster sub-fishing area 23A and the Belledune community (inclusive), 2) between the Pointe Verte community (inclusive) and the Beresford community (inclusive) and 3) between the Bathurst community (inclusive) and the Pokeshaw community (inclusive).

Management Measures implemented in 2009 which will continue to apply in 2010

• Minimum carapace size: In 2010, in sub-area 23C, the minimum carapace size of lobster will remain at 72 mm and in sub-area 23D, the minimum carapace size will remain at 70mm.
  
  
• Prohibited size range (window) for females : 115 mm to 129 mm
  
  
• Minimum of three traps per line : Fish harvesters with home ports in Tracadie-Sheila, Val-Comeau, MacEachern Point (Tabusintac), Lower Neguac, Neguac and Burnt Church will have to fish with a minimum of three traps per line when fishing inside an area designated as rocky bottoms on fishing grounds (see attached map - Annex 1 and 3, provided for information purpose only).
  
  
• Division of the LFA 23: Sub-areas 23A, 23B, 23C and 23D established in 2008 and 2009 will continue to be applied to Commercials fishing licences (see attached map - Annex 2 and 3, provided for information purpose only). Sub-area 23A is defined as the territory located between the upper part of LFA 23 in the Bay of Chaleur and a line near Pokeshaw Island. Sub-area 23B is defined as the territory located on the eastern side of the line near Pokeshaw Island and a line on the northern tip of Miscou Island. Sub-area 23C is defined as the territory located on the eastern side of the line on the northern tip of Miscou Island and on the northern side of a line located between MacEachern Point and Lower Néguac. Sub-area 23D is defined as the territory located on the southern side of a line located between MacEachern Point and Lower Néguac and the line dividing LFA 23 and LFA 25 near Escuminac Point.
  
  
• Freeze areas on the issuance of lobster replacement licenses : Maintained
• Night time fishing prohibition: No person shall, in LFA 23, possess any lobster or have a lobster trap on board a vessel from sunset each day to one half hour (30 minutes) before sunrise the following day.
  
  
• Policy on replacement tag for the lobster fishery: The department will carefully continue managing replacement tags with regards to the issuance of replacement tags when lobster traps are lost.
  
  
• Biodegradable rings: 1) A maximum of 4 biodegradable rings will be allowed on a lobster trap to tie up a biodegradable panel. Untreated cotton or sisal twine will also be allowed to tie up a biodegradable panel. 2) If the escape panel also serves as the biodegradable panel and the panel is held by way of a hinge (various materials such as plastic, stainless steel, biodegradable rings or others) on the exterior of the lobster trap and the hinge is either located at the top or bottom of the panel, a total of 2 additional biodegradable rings shall be fastened at a maximum of two other points. These hinges must be placed in a manner that the panel is free to swing open when the 2 biodegradable rings are not attached on the remaining sides. We invite Fish harvesters to contact their local fishery officer if they need more information.
  
  
• Marking of buoys: As indicated in 2009, DFO will continue to enforce the marking of buoys as stipulated in the Fishery Regulations. Any question concerning the application of this directive should be directed to your local fishery officer.

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Data on Catch and Fishing Effort: The department will continue to work on implementing an electronic data collection system in Southern Gulf. This system will be mandatory in all Southern Gulf Lobster Fishing Areas by the 2012 fishing seasons.
 
Biodegradable panel: Discussions with fishing organizations to identify the best approach will take place in the next few months. Modifications, if needed, would be mandatory at the latest by the 2012 fishing seasons.

Dimension of the opening of the escape mechanism: The dimension of the opening of the escape mechanism will have to be modified when the minimum carapace size will be increased to 76 mm in 2013 in sub-area 23A and 23B. More detail will be provided on the subject in the months to come.

Links to other information

Facts on Canadian Species (http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fm-gp/sustainable-durable/facts-faits-eng.htm)