Conservation Harvesting Plan Seal Hunt North Shore Area 2013 Season
Species and Area
Harp seal competitive fleet of the North Shore Area - Quebec region
Dates of season
Upper and Middle North-Shore (from Tadoussac to Natshquan, including Anticosti Island): December 8h 2012 to April 10th 2013;
Lower-North-Shore area (from Kegaska to Blanc Sablon): April 4th to May 15th 2013.
Total Allowable Catches and Sharing Arrangements
The Total Allowable Catches for the competitive fleet of the North Shore Area is 8,436 harp seals.
Management Measures
Seal hunting methods
The three-step harvesting process, as described in the Marine Mammal Regulations and in the sealers’ licence conditions, will remain in effect for 2013.
Licence classes
In 2013, the licence classes used to open and close the hunt on the North Shore Area are as follows:
Q200 Seal licence – commercial use held by a person residing in a community located between Tadoussac and Sept-Iles including these two communities.
Q201 Seal licence – commercial use held by a person residing in a community located between Moisie and Natashquan, including these two communities and Anticosti Island.
Q202 Seal licence – commercial use held by a person residing in a community located between Kégaska and Blanc Sablon including these two communities.
Q210 Seal licence – commercial use held by a person residing in a community located between Tadoussac and Sept-Iles including these two communities and who is authorised to catch, retain or be in possession of a maximum of six harp seals per year and the quantities of grey seals set for the competitive fishery of this fleet.
Q211 Seal licence – commercial use held by a person residing in a community located between Moisie and Natashquan, including these two communities and Anticosti Island and who is authorised to catch, retain or be in possession of a maximum of six harp seals per year and the quantities of grey seals set for the competitive fishery of this fleet.
Q212 Seal licence – commercial use held by a person residing in a community located between Kégaska and Blanc Sablon including these two communities and who is authorised to catch, retain or be in possession of a maximum of six harp seals per year and the quantities of grey seals set for the competitive fishery of this fleet.
Q220 Seal licence – commercial use held by a person who does not reside in a community located between Tadoussac and Sept-Iles including these two communities but who participates in the seal fishery from a vessel whose master resides immediately adjacent to one of these communities.
Q221 Seal licence – commercial use held by a person who does not reside in a community located between Moisie and Natashquan including these two communities and Anticosti Island, but who participates in the seal fishery from a vessel whose master resides immediately adjacent to one of these communities.
Q222 Seal licence – commercial use held by a person who does not reside in a community located between Kégaska and Blanc Sablon including these two communities but who participates in the seal fishery from a vessel whose master resides immediately adjacent to one of these communities.
Q230 Seal licence – personal use held by a person residing in a community located between Tadoussac and Sept-Iles including these two communities.
Q231 Seal licence – personal use held by a person residing in a community located between Moisie and Natashquan including these two communities and Anticosti Island.
Q232 Seal licence – personal use held by a person residing in a community located between Kégaska and Blanc Sablon including these two communities.
Q233 Seal licence – personal use held by a person residing in a community located between Pointe-au-Pic and Saguenay including these two communities.
Q250 Sealing licence – aboriginal communal issued in accordance with the Aboriginal Communal fishing licences regulations and held by a aboriginal organization residing between Tadoussac and Blanc Sablon including these two communities
Please take note that it is the sealer’s responsibility to identify his licence class, in order to assure that he ceases all sealing activities when DFO will announce that the hunt is closed for this licence class.
Closing of the hunt
In order to ensure that the quota is not surpassed, DFO will close the hunt as soon as its analysis shows that the quota will potentially be reached. Sealers must cease their activities as soon as the closure is announced, normally via the Coast Guard or the DFO staff, which include the Fishery Officers.
Issuance of licences
A freeze on the issuance of new licenses remains in effect for the 2013 season, except for personal use licences which may be issued to individuals who meet the eligibility criteria for such a licence.
Hail out
All vessels taking part in hunting have to hail out prior the departure as stipulated in licence conditions.
Hail in
All vessels taking part in hunting have to hail in as stipulated in licence conditions.
Identification and use of principal and auxiliary boats
Principal boat:
Any boat driven by an engine of 10 HP or more that will be used for seal hunting must be registered at the MPO.
Auxiliary boat:
Any boat (including more 10 HP) transported on board the principal boat will be considered as being an auxiliary boat and the registration of this one will not be obligatory. A maximum of two auxiliary boats will be authorized as stipulated in licence conditions.
Vessels leasing:
Leasing of vessels outside the Quebec Region will not be authorized.
New Management Measures
Mandatory training on the three-step process
In 2009, the Government of Canada strengthened the Marine Mammal Regulations to formalize already well-established humane harvesting practices. Regulatory amendments articulate a prescribed three-step process that is in keeping with international scientific standards and provides for a safe and humane harvest.
All seal harvesters will be required to complete the mandatory training on the three-step process, which includes striking, checking and bleeding, in advance of the 2014 seal harvest.
Please refer to the Marine Mammal Regulations for details on the three-step process and other related management measures.
Vessel identification
Beginning with the 2014 season, all vessels participating in the seal harvest will be required to have an identification number clearly visible on their vessel. This requirement will: 1) improve safety for seal harvesters participating in the harvest; 2) be consistent with all other fisheries in Atlantic Canada that require vessels to display their identification numbers; 3) improve the ability of enforcement officers to identify and monitor the harvesting activities of individuals vessels; and 4) improve the overall management and control of the fishery.
Section 26 (2) of the Fishery General Regulations provides the criteria for the size and colour of how the vessel identification number will be displayed.
Licence Conditions
Licence conditions may be obtained by contacting any of our Area Offices. Licence conditions are normally issued within two or three working days.
Approved by:
Martin St-Gelais
Area Manager
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
North Shore
For additional information
Jean Morisset
Chief, Resource Management, Aboriginal Fisheries and Species at Risk
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
North Coast Area
418 962-6314
Andrew Rowsell
Area Chief, Conservation and Protection
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
North Coast Area
418 962-6314
Links to other information
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