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2026 Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) - NAFO Divisions 2J3KLP4R: lumpfish fishery

1. Eligibility

Participation in the fixed gear lumpfish fishery will be restricted to groundfish licence holders with vessels <19.8 m (65 feet) in length with a homeport in NAFO Divisions 2J3KLP4R.

2. Fishing areas

This Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) governs the directed lumpfish fishery for all vessels <19.8 m in length, fishing in NAFO Divisions 2J3KLP4R.

3. Fishing restrictions

  1. Fishing is only authorized in water depths less than 46 meters (25 fathoms).
  2. In NAFO Division 4R, in the event of a commercial cod fishery, the lumpfish fishery will close 48 hours in advance of any opening of the commercial cod fishery, and will not be considered for re-opening until 48 hours after the closure of the commercial cod fishery.
  3. Fish harvesters are restricted to the lumpfish area of their homeport, unless they elect to fish in an alternate area as per lumpfish areas in Schedule 13, attached to the Groundfish General Licence Conditions and in the table below (Annex 1).
  4. Fish harvesters are permitted to change lumpfish areas only once each year.
  5. If a fish harvester wishes to fish in a lumpfish area other than their homeport, they must submit their request through NOLS prior to the opening of the season in their homeport area, and prior to the opening date of the area they intend to fish. Completion and submission of Schedule 14 is necessary to make this change.
  6. A fishing trip will start from the time the fish harvester leaves port, and will end when the fish harvester returns to port for any reason, whether or not any fish is caught.

4. Season

Opening dates are determined annually in consultation with the FFAW/industry, and vary for each area. Generally openings begin in mid-May and run for a total of 7 weeks. Season dates may be subject to in-season adjustments due to ice conditions.

5. Fishing gear

  1. As per the Groundfish General Licence Conditions, and species specific licence conditions.
  2. The maximum number of gillnets permitted to be fished is 50 and each gillnet is not to exceed 91.44 m (50 fathoms) in length.
  3. The only gear permitted to be used is a gillnet having a minimum mesh size of 268 mm (10.5 inches).

6. Licensing policy

The commercial fishery is guided by licensing policy which sets out requirements and eligibility criteria established by the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans Canada with respect to the licensing of commercial fishing and communal commercial fishing in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region. The policies provide fish harvesters, Aboriginal Organizations, and the Canadian public with a clear and consistent statement regarding the Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s (DFO) policy respecting commercial fishing enterprises, the registration of vessels, and the issuance of recreational and commercial fishing licences in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region.

7. Monitoring and reporting

  1. As per the Groundfish General Licence Conditions.
  2. Industry-funded at-sea observer coverage is required. The targeted level of observer coverage will be 5% of the fleet sector.
  3. Although lumpfish landings are not subject to Dockside Monitoring Program (DMP) requirements, 100% of groundfish by-catch landed in the directed lumpfish fishery is subject to comprehensive DMP. Harvesters are required to contact a certified Dockside Monitoring Company to report any landings of groundfish by-catch, and a dockside observer may be deployed to monitor the offloading, or an authorization number will be provided to the fisher.

8. By-catch and incidental catch

  1. As per the Groundfish General Licence Conditions.
  2. If a fishery is closed due to by-catch, it will not reopen until it can be effectively monitored and controlled.
  3. Closures will be in effect for a minimum of 10 days.
  4. If a fishery in a particular area is closed twice during the year, it may remain closed for the remainder of the year.
  5. A successful, observed, industry funded test fishery is required to:
    1. consider a re-opening of a fishery that is closed for the minimum 10-day period due to high by-catch levels.
    2. consider an opening of the fishery for the following areas:
      • Cape Ray to Johnson’s Cove
      • Johnson’s Cove to Cape St. George
      • Cape St. George to Cape St. Gregory
      • Cape St. Gregory to Point Riche
  6. Where test fishing is conducted, a fishing plan will be developed which will include:
    1. areas to be tested
    2. quantity of gear to be used
    3. depth strata to be tested
    4. vessels to be used
    5. dates when test fishing will be carried out
    6. provision for at-sea observer coverage
  7. Test fishing will not commence until the fishing plan has been approved by DFO.

9. Species at risk act (SARA)

The following species are considered at risk and listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) as either Threatened or Endangered:

In accordance with subsection 83(4) of SARA and the recovery strategy for northern wolffish, spotted wolffish, and leatherback turtle, and having met the conditions of sections 73(2) to (6.1) of SARA for white shark, the licence holder or vessel operator is permitted to carry out commercial fishing activities authorized under the Fisheries Act that may incidentally kill, harm, harass, or capture these species.

During these fishing activities, incidental catches of these species must be returned to the place from which they were taken, and where alive, in a manner that causes the least harm. The licence holder or vessel operator is also required to complete the SARA section in the fishing logbook to provide information regarding any interactions with these species. Please refer to the Groundfish General Licence Conditions for further information on these requirements.

10. Marine mammals

As per the Groundfish General Licence Conditions, refer to Schedule 38 - Marine Mammal Interactions and Management Measures.

11. Safety at sea

Safety at sea is a shared responsibility, with Transport Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard, and provincial authorities each playing a role; however, the primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of a fishing vessel and its crew rests with the vessel owner and operator. Operators are responsible for ensuring their vessel is seaworthy, properly registered and equipped, compliant with all applicable regulations, and operated within its safe limits, including stability, weather conditions, and crew competency. This includes maintaining valid certifications, approved safety equipment, written emergency procedures, trained crew, and safe operating practices at all times. Given the serious risks associated with commercial fishing, vessel operators are strongly encouraged to carefully review the complete Safety at Sea guidance document to fully understand their obligations and best practices. The guidance document should be read in its entirety before each fishing season and whenever vessel operations change.

Annex 1: Lumpfish fishing areas

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