Snow crab fishing in area 12A

Species and Area

Quebec region, Gaspe-Lower-St-Lawrence area.
Snow crab fishing in area 12A.
10 licences north of the Gaspe Peninsula.

Season Dates (subject to change)

Fishing season will last a maximum of 10 weeks between March 23 at 5 a.m. and May 31, 2011.

Total allowable catch (TAC) and harvest sharing agreements (if applicable)

The total allowable catch (TAC) for 2011, under the individual transferable quota program (ITQ), is 116 tons.

Management measures

  • Minimum size: minimum shell width, 95 mm.
  • Number of traps: 75 standard traps with a mesh inferior or equal to 75 mm and maximum exterior volume of 2.1 m3. One standard trap may be replaced with two conical traps with maximum outside measurement at base of 122 cm maximum diameter.
  • Authorization to return soft shell crab and adolescent crab (small claws) to the water.
  • Mandatory biodegradable escape mechanisms.

Fishery control measures:

  • Mandatory log book.
  • 10 % observer coverage at sea
  • 100% dockside monitoring.

Implementation of a quota reconciliation program starting with the 2011 season. Quota overruns incurred during the 2011 season will be deducted by a factor of one-to-one from 2012 individual quotas.