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2020 - Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Snow Crab Conservation Harvesting Plan for Snow Crab fishing for Area 12 (12, 18, 25, 26)

Moncton and Quebec – le 25 mars, 2020

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) releases the details of the 2020 Crab Fishing Area (CFA) 12 (12, 18, 25, 26) Conservation Harvesting Plan.

Quota

The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) in CFA 12 is 27,203.70 t. Details of the sharing of the TAC can be found in the CFA 12 snow crab administrative list.

Quota reconciliation

Quota reconciliation is applied in this fishery. Quota overruns during the 2020 season by a licence holder will be deducted in 2021 on a one-for-one basis. It is the responsibility of the licence holder to respect the allocation granted while taking into consideration transfers and landings and has to make the necessary arrangements before departing for a fishing expedition to have quota to cover expected catches for the expedition.

Temporary transfers

Licence holders who are subject to the owner-operator policy may transfer up to 50% of his or her initial quota on a temporary basis, within one fishing season.

Partnership arrangements

The creation of partnerships is permitted. The trap limit for partnerships will be equal to the total traps of one licence, plus 50%.

Catch limit

Due to the exceptional situation caused by the Coronavirus, the snow crab fishery could be subject to a fishing trip catch limit. Industry will be notified by DFO in the event that catch limits are established.

2020 Management measures

The management measures in 2020 include, amongst others:

for original tags must be pink, while the color for replacement tags must be orange.

Gear Marking

Gear marking is in place in this fishery. Specific requirements are explained in the Notice to Fish Harvesters that was issued January 31, 2020 and details of these requirements can be found in your licence conditions.

2020 Management measures to minimize interactions with North Atlantic Right Whales
The Management measures to minimize interactions with North Atlantic Right Whales (NARW) can be found at the following link: http://dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/atl-arc/narw-bnan/management-gestion-eng.html.

Trap limits in 2020

In order to continue protecting NARW, all licence holders will have the same total number of authorized traps as in 2019. The following trap limits will be in place for the 2020 fishing season.

* Note: Additional traps may be permitted in accordance with the individual transferable quota program administrative guidelines.

Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area
The Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area (MPA) is in place in order to the ensure the conservation and protection of this marine ecosystem.

Provisions of the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area Regulations apply to licence holders. In order to comply with them, please refer to the clauses that apply to your fishing activities: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2019/2019-03-06/html/sor-dors50-eng.html.

Map showing the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area

For information:

Josiane Massiéra
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Moncton, New Brunswick
506-851-7290
Josiane.Massiera@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Jérôme Beaulieu
Resource Management
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Quebec, Quebec
418-648-5891
Jerome.Beaulieu@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

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