Quebec Region, Magdalen Islands area, Harp seal

Species and Area

(for more information, contact the DFO office in the Magdalen Islands at 418-986-2095)

Dates of season (subject to change)

Opening from March 16 to March 26, 2011 for the landsmen hunt, with a maximum of six seals per licence holder for the whole period.

Opening of the competitive fishery on March 27, 2011.

Closure of the seal fishery (hunt) when the allocation is reached and on June 15, 2011 at the latest.

Total Allowable Catches and Sharing Arrangements (if applicable)

The Magdalen Islands fleet’s 2011 harp seal total allowable catch is 21,092 seals, in addition to a 10,000 seal developmental allocation to the Magdalen Islands area for two ongoing projects, i.e., research project on the use of heart valves to be transplanted on humans and value added seal meat by-product.

Management Measures

Fishing gear
In addition to the Marine Mammal Regulations specifications, while fishing (hunting) and attempting to catch seals, it is not permitted to use, be in possession of, or have on board the vessel:

a rifle that produces a muzzle velocity of less than 1,800 feet per second and a muzzle energy less than 1,100 foot pounds;
any rim-fire ammunition or ammunition that is full metal jacket or ammunition that has been altered or modified in any manner;
shotgun ammunition other than rifle slugs.

Sealing method
The three-step killing process, as described in the Marine Mammal Regulations and in the sealers’ license conditions, will remain in effect for 2011.

Hail prior to departure
A mandatory hail prior to departure for each fishing (sealing) trip applies to all vessels more than 10.7 metres.

Declaration of catches
Mandatory for any participant to declare its catches prior to midnight the same day.

Vessel use
All vessels equipped with a 10 HP motor or more intended for use in the seal hunt must be identified with DFO.

Temporary licences
Temporary licences which allow new entrants to accompany professional sealers on the ice and to participate in some activities will be issued again in 2011, under the following conditions:

The holder of a temporary licence is not allowed to kill a seal (striking a seal with a club or hakapik, shooting a seal or bleeding a seal).
A professional sealer may supervise a maximum of two temporary licence holders.
The minimum age required to obtain a temporary license is 12.

Personnal use licences
Personnal use licences have been issued to individuals who presented a request and meet the eligibility criteria for the issuance of such licences.

Links to other information

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/decisions/fm-2011-gp/index-atl-eng.htm