Scallop Areas 16E, 16F and 18A - Seasons 2010 to 2012

Modified on March 26, 2012

Species and region

Scallop areas 16E, 16F and 18A – Quebec region, North Shore area.

Dates of Season (subject to change)

2012 fishing season: for the sub-areas 16 E, 16F and 18A, the fishing season will start from April 1st to December 31st, 2012.

Total Allowable Catches (TAC)

No overall quota for sub-areas 16E, 16F and 18A.

Fishing effort:

Sub-area 16E:
Group A: 17 days
Group B: 29 days
Group C: 39 days

Sub-area 16F:
Group A: 16 days
Group B: 20 days
Group C: 18 days

Sub-area 18A:
Group A and B: 30 days
Group C: 27 days

Management Measures

Context:

Except for a major change in stock status, the scientific advice on scallop stocks on the North Shore areas is valid for 3 years, i.e. 2010, 2011 and 2012. The stock assessment indicates that landings on the North Shore decreased by 61% from 2006 due to an unfavourable socio-economic context. Very little fishing effort was made in area 18A. In addition, catches per unit of effort in areas 16E and 16F were lower than the reference average (1992-2006).

The scallop fishery in areas 16E, 16F and 18A is managed by fishing effort control, i.e. by limiting the number of fishing days for the season and fishing hours per day. This management method has proven to be effective and will be adopted for 2012. The objectives of this management method are to control harvesting intensity, by avoiding placing unnecessary restrictions on harvesters and continuing to protect the resource. For the 2012 season, the authorized fishing effort will be maintained at the current level.

Fishing areas:

Sub-area 16E: From Point sur la Côte to Grande Pointe
Sub-area 16F: From Grande Pointe to Corneille River
Sub-area 18A: Northwest of Anticosti Island (Cap Henri to Cap Observation)

Number of licences:

Sub-area 16E: 9 access rights (Group A-B-C)
Sub-area 16F: 9 access rights (Group A-B-C)
Sub-area 18A: 9 access rights (Group A-B-C)

List of licence holders by group:

Group A:
Lionel Arsenault
Daniel Scherrer

Group B:
Arnaud Landry
Carl Chevarie
Claude Vaillancourt

Group C:
Mingan Band Council (Ekuanitshit)
Pêcheries Shipek (2 licences)
Natashquan Band Council

Access to sub-areas:

Each of the sub-areas will be accessible to fishermen during the established fishing season.

Fishing hours:

Sub-area 16E and 16F: Fishing authorized between 6:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Sub-area 18A: Fishing authorized between 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.

Dockside monitoring:

Sporadic (C&P)

Hail out:

Hail out is mandatory for sub-areas 16E, 16F and 18A licence holders.

Hail in:

Hail-in is mandatory to a local dockside monitoring company for sub-areas 16E, 16F and 18A licence holders. The call must be made at least one hour before arriving at the dock.

Vessel Monitoring System (VMS):

Mandatory for sub-area 16E, 16F and 18A licence holders.

To receive their licence conditions, licence holders must demonstrate to DFO that a VMS has been installed on board their vessel. The captain/licence holder must ensure that the VMS is working and remains operational for the whole fishing season, 24 hours a day.

Log book:

The log book is mandatory and must be filled in before arrival at the dock. The catches must be registered with the DFO before December 31st of the current year.

Landing schedule:

No landing schedule will be applied for sub-areas 16E, 16F and 18A.

Boat leasing

Boat leasing from outside the Quebec region will not be authorized.

Species at Risk Act:

Pursuant to the Species at Risk Act (SARA), no person shall kill, harm, harass, capture, take, possess, collect, buy, sell or trade an individual or any part or derivate of a wildlife species designated as extirpated, endangered or threatened.

At the time this Management Plan is promulgated, the Gulf of St.-Lawrence and the Atlantic species targeted by these measures are the following ones : Spotted wolffish, Northern wolffish, Leatherback Turtle and Striped Bass (St. Lawrence Estuary population). New species could be added in the course of the year.

All by-catches of species identified above must be returned to the water and released in the exact capture location and, if the fish is still alive, with as little harm as possible. In addition, information regarding interactions with species at risk must be recorded in the Species at risk section of the logbook.

Licence Conditions

For obtaining licence conditions, please contact our sector offices. Two working days are required to issue a licence condition.

Approved by:

Martin St-Gelais
Area Director
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
North Shore

For additional information

Jean Morisset
Head, Resource Management, Aboriginal Fisheries and Species at Risk
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
North Shore Area
418 962-6314

Andrew Rowsell
Area chief, Conservation and Protection
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
North Shore Area
418 962-6314

Hyperlinks leading to more information

Published management plans: http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/decisions/fm-2012-gp/index-atl-eng.htm