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Integrated Fisheries Management Plan for Whelk (Buccinum undatum) Areas 1 to 15

A Whelk on a rock underwater.

Source : DFO Sciences, Quebec Region

Foreword

The purpose of this Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) is to identify the principal objectives and requirements for the whelk fishery in areas 1 to 15, as well as the management measures that will be used to achieve these objectives. The IFMP is an evergreen document developed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) in consultation with the fishing industry and First Nations that will be updated periodically. This document also serves to communicate basic information on this fishery and its management to DFO staff and other stakeholders. It provides a common understanding of the basic "rules" for the sustainable management of the fisheries resource.

This IFMP is not a legally binding instrument which can form the basis of a legal challenge. It can be modified at any time and does not fetter the Minister's discretionary powers set out in the Fisheries Act. The Minister can, for reasons of conservation or any other valid reasons, modify any provision of the IFMP in accordance with the powers granted pursuant to the Fisheries Act.

Where DFO is responsible for implementing obligations under land claims agreements or from Supreme Court judgments in relation to Aboriginal rights, the IFMP will be implemented in a manner consistent with these obligations. In the event that the IFMP is inconsistent with obligations under land claims agreements, the provisions of the latter will prevail to the extent of the inconsistency.

Maryse Lemire

Regional Director, Fisheries Management

DFO, Quebec Region

On this page

List of figures

Abbreviations

CHP
Conservation Harvesting Plan
CPUE
Catch per unit effort
CSAS
Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat
CSSP
Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program
DFO
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
FAO
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
FSC
Food, social and ceremonial
GLSL
Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence area
IFMP
Integrated Fisheries Management Plan
IQ
Individual Quota
MI
Magdalen Islands
MMPA
Marine Mammal Protection Act
NS
North Shore
OECMs
Other effective area-based conservation measures
RHQ
Regional Headquarters
RMAIA
Resource Management, Aquaculture and First Nations Affairs
SARA
Species at Risk Act
TAC
Total Allowable Catch

1. Overview of the fishery

1.1 Background

Whelk is commercially harvested in all coastal regions of Quebec. The current demarcation of the whelk fishing areas was put in place in 1987 following the modification of certain area boundaries. The commercial whelk fishery began in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence in the 1940s.

Whelk landings were rather unstable in the early days of the fishery until markets were established. Between 1949 and 1990, landings fluctuated between 5 and 650 t, except in 1987, when a record 1,300 t was reached (Gendron, L. 1991). The fishery expanded on the North Shore (NS) in the early 1990s and in the Magdalen Islands (MI) in 2003. It has become more intensive in the Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence (GLSL) area since 2005 (DFO 2015).

In 1986, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans established the first management plan for the whelk fishery in Quebec. This plan was intended as a first step towards streamlining harvesting of the species. That same year, a survey was conducted among all whelk licence holders to collect data on the previous five years and to improve knowledge of the commercial fishery (boats, gear, effort, crew, landings, prices obtained, other species harvested, etc.). As a result of this study, areas 7, 8 and 15 (which are located in part of current fishing areas 4, 5, 6 and 12, respectively) were considered overharvested, and management measures were implemented in subsequent years (DFO 1986). Figure 14 in Appendix 1 shows the fishing areas that existed in 1986. Access was regulated through the following factors: number of licences, fishing areas, seasons, boat size as well as number and volume of traps. DFO Science made a number of recommendations following stock assessments, and various management measures have been put in place and adjusted in recent years. Appendix 3 presents the changes in management measures in the Quebec whelk fishery.

The whelk fishery is mainly a commercial fishery. Although this fishery is the main fishing activity for some licence holders, it is primarily a supplementary fishery for most of them. The seven Innu communities on the North Shore have food, social and ceremonial (FSC) fishing allocations for whelk. FSC fishing for whelk is permitted during the commercial fishing season.

1.2 Participants

In 2022, a total of 236 licences could be issued for whelk fishing in Quebec, including 229 commercial licences and 7 FSC licences. In reality, 59 licences were active: 57 commercial licences and 2 FSC licences. The number of active and inactive commercial licences issued in each of the whelk fishing areas in Quebec in 2022 are summarized below. A licence is considered active when the licence holder makes at least one landing during the season. According to the data presented below, only one quarter of licence holders landed whelk in 2022.

Number of active and inactive commercial licences by fishing area in 2022:

Source: DFO, Statistical Services

1.3 Fishery sites

Quebec has 15 whelk fishing areas (Figure 1) located in the three DFO administrative areas in the province: the North Shore (Areas 1 to 9), the Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence (Areas 11 to 14) and the Magdalen Islands (Area 15). Fishing effort is sporadic and low in areas 9, 11 and 14. Area 10, on the south side of Anticosti Island, is accessible to fish harvesters from the Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence and the Magdalen Islands regions, but no harvesting has been done there since 1997. Figure 1 shows the whelk fishing areas between 2002 and 2021.

Whelk fishing areas from 2002 to 2021
Figure 1. Whelk fishing areas from 2002 to 2021.
Source : Gianasi, B. (2023)
Description

Figure 1. Whelk fishing areas from 2002 to 2021.

A geographical map segmented into zones numbered from 1 to 15. Each zone is delimited. The map faces north, with a Compass rose indicating this direction. Geographical coordinates (latitude and longitude) are shown on the horizontal and vertical axes, expressed in degrees minutes seconds.

Red circles represent fishing sites and known distribution of whelk in Quebec. The main circles are more concentrated to the west of Baie-Comeau than to the east. Other concentrations on the north shore are off the coast of Sept-Îles, Havre-Saint-Pierre, Natashquan and Blanc-Sablon. Concentrations are particularly low between Natashquan and Blanc-Sablon.

On the south shore, concentrations are relatively constant from east of Rimouski to Gaspé, via Sainte-Anne-des-Monts. Between Gaspé and Bonaventure, the concentration is almost nil, except off Bonaventure. A few circles are found only on the north shore of Anticosti Island, while there are many off the Magdalen Islands.

1.4 Fishery characteristics

The commercial whelk fishery is an inshore fishery that is prosecuted using baited, generally conical, traps. This fishery is reserved for licence holders and must be conducted from vessels less than 15.2 m (50 feet) in length overall.

The whelk fishery is a competitive fishery in which management varies by area. As of 2022, the type of management by fishing area is as follows:

Since 2021, FSR licences have been issued on request.

Section 7 details the management measures for the commercial fishery.

1.5 Governance

Fisheries and Oceans Canada is the federal department that governs fishing activities, which are first and foremost subject to the Fisheries Act and its regulations, specifically, the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985 and the Fishery (General) Regulations. The Species at Risk Act, which was passed in 2002, sets out rules for endangered and threatened species.

The Government of Canada is committed to achieving reconciliation with First Nations through a renewed nation-to-nation, government-to-government and Inuit-Crown relationship based on recognition of rights, respect, co-operation and partnership as the foundation for transformative change. First Nations have a special constitutional relationship with the Crown. This relationship, including existing Aboriginal and treaty rights, is recognized and affirmed in section 35 of the Constitution Acts, 1867 to 1982. Section 35 contains a full box of rights and holds the promise that First Nations will become partners in Confederation on the basis of a fair and just reconciliation between First Nations and the Crown. The government recognizes that First Nations perspectives and rights must be integrated into all aspects of this relationship (Source: Principles respecting the Government of Canada's relationship with First Nations). These changes should be reflected in the governance structure adopted for fisheries management discussions and recommendations.

1.6 Approval process

The development and coordination of the IFMP is being handled by the Resource Management, Aquaculture and First Nations Affairs (RMAIA) Branch in Quebec City. The document drafting and consultation process involves the entire Fisheries Management program in Quebec City, Sept‑Îles, Gaspé and the Magdalen Islands; Strategic Services; the Regional Science Branch; harvesters' associations; First Nations; the processing industry; and the Government of Quebec. The final draft of the IFMP is approved by the Regional Fisheries Management Branch, and then by Regional Headquarters (RHQ), for publication on DFO's national website. The approved IFMP is disseminated to fishery stakeholders and to the general public. The Regional Fisheries Management Branch approves the annual management measures, which are publicized through Notices to Fish Harvesters and ensure the implementation of the IFMP.

2. Stock assessment, scientific knowledge and traditional knowledge

The commercial whelk fishery focuses on the waved whelk, Buccinum undatum. In French, it is commonly called bourgot (Quebec) or boulot (France). Several other Buccinum species are also present in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence.

2.1 Biological synopsis

The waved whelk is a gastropod mollusc that is distributed in coastal areas throughout the North Atlantic. The southern limit of the species' range is New Jersey and Portugal. It is found on the east coast of Canada, and into the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, to the Arctic. In Quebec, it is very common in cold waters from depths of 0 m to over 30 m. Its habitat is diverse, but it seems to prefer soft sediment. Whelk is intolerant of high-water temperatures and low salinity.

Adults have a sedentary lifestyle. They spend most of their time immobile and half buried in the sediment. Whelk is predominantly necrophagous, feeding mainly on polychaetes, molluscs and echinoderms. It is able to detect its prey through a scent trail in the water, making it vulnerable to baited fishing gear. This mollusc species does not move much, but it can reach a speed of 15 cm/min in the presence of food or predators. In the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence, whelk growth is rather slow; these invertebrates usually grow to a maximum of 110 mm shell height. Their lifespan is approximately 15 years.

The sexes are differentiated in the whelk, and the male is easily recognized by the presence of a penis. The average size at which 50% of individuals are sexually mature (T50) varies by sex and fishing area and is larger in females than in males. The T50 values obtained between 2013 and 2021 ranged from 62 to 92.8 mm for females and from 56.9 to 86.7 mm for males. Egg fertilization occurs internally. On the North Shore and the north shore of the Gaspé Peninsula, mating takes place in May and June. Eggs are laid two to three weeks later, mostly in June and July. They are enclosed in chitin capsules clumped together in a mass several centimetres in diameter which is attached to the substrate. There is no pelagic larval stage; young whelks develop directly in these capsules. In the Estuary and northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, juveniles emerge from the capsules between November and February and are about 2 to 3 mm in size. About 30 juveniles may emerge from each capsule.

The whelk's biology is characterized by slow growth, late sexual maturity and internal fertilization. There is no pelagic phase and the species' low mobility limits mixing between adjacent populations, making it vulnerable to local overharvesting.

Whelk eggs enclosed in chitin capsules clumped together in a mass several centimetres in diameter.

Figure 2. Whelk eggs enclosed in chitin capsules clumped together in a mass several centimetres in diameter. The egg masses attach to the substrate on the seafloor. When the juveniles emerge from the capsules, they are 2 to 3 mm long (DFO 2022)

2.2 Ecosystem interactions

2.2.1 Ecosystem interactions/Parasitism

Whelks can be affected by two types of parasites. The first type infests the digestive gland and the gonads of Buccinum undatum and prevents reproduction. The parasitism of the gonads is probably caused by cercariae of the trematode Neophasis sp., but the parasite should be accurately identified using histological sections of sampled tissues. The parasite is present in all fishing areas in Quebec and primarily affects individuals over 80 mm, that is, the entire adult and mature population. The impacts on reproduction consist of penile and vas deferens atrophy in males and shrinking albumin and capsule glands in females. The gonad parasite blocks gamete production and thus prevents reproduction in parasitized adults and juvenile recruitment.

The second type of parasitism is caused by the shell-boring polychaete. Since 2015, some Magdalen Islands fish harvesters have observed some very fragile whelk shells at certain fishing sites. This is the result of polychaetes that bore into the shell; during a severe infestation, the shell becomes porous and very fragile. Boring polychaetes seem to be present across the province, but they have the greatest impact in the Magdalen Islands. Individuals larger than 80 mm are more affected by boring polychaetes. The impacts of the weakened shell on whelk growth, reproduction, mortality and predation are unknown.

2.2.2 Predation and climate change

Whelk are preyed on by several marine species, including starfish (e.g., Leptasterias polaris), crustaceans (e.g., Homarus americanus) and fish.

Whelk is a cold-water species. Any warming of the water temperature in its habitat could have consequences for species distribution, reproduction, growth, parasitism rate and survival and, consequently, for fishery yields.

2.3 First Nations traditional and ecological knowledge

First Nations traditional knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge in the form of observations and comments from First Nations groups are considered in management decisions when provided or available.

2.4 Stock assessment

The resource is generally assessed every three years. Stock status is assessed by fishing area. The information available for the assessment comes almost exclusively from commercial fishery data, i.e. purchase slips, logbooks and DFO's commercial catch sampling program. The indicators used to assess stock status are landings (tonnes, live weight), fishing effort (number of trap hauls), standardized catch per unit effort (CPUE) (kg/trap), average size of whelk landed and proportion (%) of sublegal-sized whelk in landings. Commercial landing data have been collected by fishing area since 1987. Fishing effort and CPUE data have been available since the logbook was introduced in 2001. Landing size structures have been known since 2004.

A research survey has been conducted every two years since 2005 in the Forestville, Pointe‑aux‑Outardes and Baie-Comeau regions on the Upper North Shore, in Areas 1 and 2. The survey was initiated in 2005 following intensive fishing in the early 2000s. Over the last few years, fishing effort has decreased significantly at Pointe‑aux‑Outardes while the Forestville and Baie‑Comeau sites continue to be harvested. This survey provides information on recruitment to the fishery and the trend of abundance indices for commercial-sized whelk.

The whelk stock assessment is published on the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat's website: Stock assessment of whelks in Quebec's inshore waters in 2021

2.5 Inventory scenarios

For the time being, there is no precautionary approach for whelk in Quebec.

The main commercial fishery management measures (minimum legal size, fishing season, limited number of licences issued, and traps authorized, total allowable catch [TAC] in certain areas) were adopted to better manage fishing effort and avoid overharvesting of the resource. Since 2019, the minimum legal size for each fishing area has been adjusted to the T50 of females. The purpose of the existing minimum legal size is to allow at least 50% of females to reproduce once before they are caught and thus maintain a certain level of reproductive capacity in each fishing area.

2.6 Research

Over the years, DFO has conducted several research projects to gain a better understanding of whelk biology, the most recent of which are listed below:

3. Economic, social and cultural importance of the fishery

3.1 World landings of whelk

Traditionally, the whelk fishery has been concentrated in European countries located around the North Sea, namely the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway. In the central area, whelk is primarily landed as bycatch. Between 1990 and 2020, 38% of world whelk landings originated in the United Kingdom, 32% in France, 11% in Canada, 10% in Ireland, 4% in the United States and 4% in other countries (Figure 3). Since 1950, the quantity of whelk landed worldwide has been steadily increasing, despite a drop in global catches recorded in 2020.

Breakdown of world whelk landings by country, 1990 to 2020, in tonnes
Figure 3. Breakdown of world whelk landings by country, 1990 to 2020, in tonnes.
Source : FAO, United Nations (2022). Compilation : Strategic Services, DFO, Quebec Region
Description

Figure 3. Breakdown of world whelk landings by country, 1990 to 2020, in tonnes.

This pie chart shows the percentage distribution of landings from different countries. Each section of the circle corresponds to a specific proportion, and the region is indicated with its percentage next to it.

  • 38% United Kingdom
  • 32% France
  • 11% Canada
  • 10% Ireland
  • 4% United States
  • 4% in other countries

3.2 Canadian whelk landings

North America, the whelk's range extends from New Jersey to the Arctic, including the Gulf of St. Lawrence. There is a small fishery on the Canadian East Coast. Only a small number of fish harvesters use whelk traps in a directed fishery.

Between 2000 and 2021, whelk landings averaged 4,057 tonnes and generated $5.6M in income annually. In terms of average volume for the same period, Newfoundland and Labrador accounted for more than half of the Atlantic Canadian landings (62%), or 2,513 tonnes per year. Quebec and the Maritimes represent respectively 33% (1,343 tonnes) and 5% (200 tonnes) of the relative average share (relative to other species in the portfolio of stakeholders' licences) of the quantity landed annually (Figure 4). In terms of value, each province's share of total landings is roughly proportional to its share of the volume landed.

Breakdown of Canadian whelk landings by region, 2000 to 2021 average, in tonnes
Figure 4. Breakdown of Canadian whelk landings by region, 2000 to 2021 average, in tonnes
Source : DFO (2022). Compilation : Strategic Services, DFO, Quebec Region
Description

Figure 4. Breakdown of Canadian whelk landings by region, 2000 to 2021 average, in tonnes.

This pie chart represents the percentage distribution of landings between three main geographical regions. Each section of the circle corresponds to a specific proportion, and the region is indicated with its percentage next to it.

Between 2000 and 2021, Canadian whelk landings from the Atlantic totalled 89,251 tonnes and were valued at $123M (nominal value). Between 2007 and 2011, Canadian whelk landings increased significantly, primarily in Newfoundland and Labrador.Footnote 1 The quantity of Atlantic landings for this period rose 3% over four years, reaching a record high of 7,495 tonnes in 2011 (only in the Newfoundland and Labrador region). This increase can be partly explained by the start of Canadian whelk exports to the Japanese market.

However, the development of the whelk fishery has been generally neglected owing to the focus on more traditional and lucrative fisheries, which has hindered the development process. From 2013 to 2014, landings declined by about half, from 6,305 tonnes to 3,489 tonnes and have continued to be low (Figure 5). The nominal value of landings also decreased, from $8.6M in 2013 to $5.5M in 2014 (Figure 6).

Total Canadian whelk landings, 2000 to 2021, in tonnes
Figure 5. Total Canadian whelk landings, 2000 to 2021, in tonnes.
Source : DFO (2022), Statistics Canada (2022). Compilation : Strategic Services, DFO, Quebec Region
Description

Figure 5. Total Canadian whelk landings, 2000 to 2021, in tonnes.

A histogram with a series of quantitative data spread over a period from 2000 to 2021, with vertical bars of different heights. Each bar represents an annual value, expressed in metric tonnes. The horizontal axis (X) corresponds to years and the vertical axis (Y) shows quantities in tonnes, ranging from 0 to 8,000, with regular increments of 2,000.

Data in tonnes:

  • 2000 : 1,964 t
  • 2001 : 2,000 t (value not shown in the figure)
  • 2002 : 2,119 t
  • 2003 : 2,518 t
  • 2004 : 2,742 t (value not shown in the figure)
  • 2005 : 3,777 t
  • 2006 : 5,738 t
  • 2007 : 5,251 t
  • 2008 : 7,174 t
  • 2009 : 6,432 t
  • 2010 : 7,014 t
  • 2011 : 7,495 t
  • 2012 : 6,350 t (value not shown in the figure)
  • 2013 : 6,305 t
  • 2014 : 3,489 t
  • 2015 : 3,603 t
  • 2016 : 3,595 t (value not shown in the figure)
  • 2017 : 2,593 t
  • 2018 : 2,408 t (value not shown in the figure)
  • 2019 : 2,238 t
  • 2020 : 2,324 t
  • 2021 : 2,137 t
Total Canadian whelk landings, 2000 to 2021, in $M
Figure 6. Total Canadian whelk landings, 2000 to 2021, in $M.
Source : DFO (2022), Statistics Canada (2022). Compilation : Strategic Services, DFO, Quebec Region
Description

Figure 6. Total Canadian whelk landings from 2000 to 2021, in $M.

A line graph whose X-axis represents years, from 2000 to 2020, and whose Y axis represents amounts in millions of Canadian dollars ($M), from $0M to $10M. A legend at the bottom of the chart identifies each curve by colour and meaning. A first curve represents Actual Landed value (adjusted for CPI 2021), while a second curve represents Landing value (unadjusted for inflation).

  • 2000 :
    • Actual Landed value : $2.3M
    • Landing value : $1.6M
  • 2001 :
    • Actual landed value : $2.3M (value not shown in the figure)
    • Landing value : $1.6M (value not shown in the figure)
  • 2002 :
    • Actual landed value : $2.4M (value not shown in the figure)
    • Landing value : $1.7M (value not shown in the figure)
  • 2003 :
    • Actual landed value : $3.3M
    • Landing value : $2.4M
  • 2004 :
    • Actual landed value : $3.7M
    • Landing value : $2.7M
  • 2005 :
    • Actual landed value : $5.3M
    • Landing value : $3.9M
  • 2006 :
    • Actual landed value : $7.5M
    • Landing value : $5.7M
  • 2007 :
    • Actual landed value : $6.7M
    • Landing value : $5.1M
  • 2008 :
    • Actual landed value : $10.0M
    • Landing value : $7.9M
  • 2009 :
    • Actual landed value : $7.5M
    • Landing value : $5.9M
  • 2010 :
    • Actual landed value : $8.2M
    • Landing value : $6.5M
  • 2011 :
    • Actual landed value : $11.5M
    • Landing value : $9.4M
  • 2012 :
    • Actual landed value : $10.5M
    • Landing value : $8.7M
  • 2013 :
    • Actual landed value : $10.2M
    • Landing value : $8.6M
  • 2014 :
    • Actual landed value : $6.4M
    • Landing value : $5.5M
  • 2015 :
    • Actual landed value : $7.6M
    • Landing value : $6.6M
  • 2016 :
    • Actual landed value : $10.5M
    • Landing value : $9.3M
  • 2017 :
    • Actual landed value : $7.3M
    • Landing value : $6.6M
  • 2018 :
    • Actual landed value : $10.2M
    • Landing value : $9.4M
  • 2019 :
    • Actual landed value : $5.0M
    • Landing value : $4.7M
  • 2020 :
    • Actual landed value : $5.1M
    • Landing value : $4.8M
  • 2021 :
    • Actual landed value : $4.3M
    • Landing value : $4.3M

3.3 Quebec whelk landings

Between 2000 and 2021, Quebec whelk landings made up 2%Footnote 2 of all landings in the province and 1% of the annual value (all species combined). The proportion of whelk among all molluscs harvested in Quebec (including sea urchins, Stimpson's surf clams, softshell clams and scallops) for the same period totalled 38% in terms of quantity and 34% by value. They therefore account for a significant proportion of all molluscs harvested in Quebec.

Since 2016, landings have been trending downward on the North Shore and in the Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence (Figure 7). Harvest levels have been fairly stable in the Magdalen Islands after significant decreases in 2014 and 2015.

In 2021, whelk landings in Quebec totalled 910 tonnes and were valued at $2M. Between 2000 and 2021, the breakdown of average landings by the maritime sector was as follows: 63% on the North Shore, 22% in Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence and 15% in the Magdalen Islands. The proportions were very similar in terms of value.

Magdalen Islands whelk harvesters landed some of their catches in the Gulf Region. However, given the small number of fish harvesters involved, statistics on these landings cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality concerns.

Change in Quebec whelk landings by the maritime sector, 2000 to 2021, in tonnes
Figure 7. Change in Quebec whelk landings by the maritime sector, 2000 to 2021, in tonnes.
Source : DFO (2022). Compilation : Strategic Services, DFO, Quebec Region
Description

Figure 7. Change in Quebec whelk landings by maritime sector, 2000 to 2021, in tonnes.

A stacked bar chart showing catch data (in tonnes) for three specific regions in Quebec: North Shore Area (yellow), Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area (green) and Magdalen Islands Area (blue).

Each bar represents a year, with a time scale from 2000 to 2020. The vertical axis shows catch quantities in tonnes, with a scale from 0 to 2,000 tonnes. Only the total values are written in the figure.

  • 2000 :
    • North Shore Area : 1,340 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 0 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 231 t
  • 2001 : (values not shown in the figure)
    • North Shore Area : 1,353 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 0 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 220 t
  • 2002 :
    • North Shore Area : 1,355 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 20 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 275 t
  • 2003 :
    • North Shore Area : 1,264 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 388 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 348 t
  • 2004 :
    • North Shore Area : 1,036 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 369 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 222 t
  • 2005 :
    • North Shore Area : 889 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 442 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 292 t
  • 2006 :
    • North Shore Area : 853 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 392 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 342 t
  • 2007 :
    • North Shore Area : 584 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 382 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 304 t
  • 2008 :
    • North Shore Area : 515 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 352 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 280 t
  • 2009 :
    • North Shore Area : 943 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 23 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 286 t
  • 2010 :
    • North Shore Area : 991 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 150 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 343 t
  • 2011 :
    • North Shore Area : 819 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 265 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 284 t
  • 2012 :
    • North Shore Area : 940 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 239 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 253 t
  • 2013 :
    • North Shore Area : 847 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 327 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 275 t
  • 2014 :
    • North Shore Area : 679 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 15 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 258 t
  • 2015 :
    • North Shore Area : 653 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 11 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 272 t
  • 2016 :
    • North Shore Area : 903 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 111 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 404 t
  • 2017 :
    • North Shore Area : 760 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 204 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 368 t
  • 2018 :
    • North Shore Area : 465 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 252 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 391 t
  • 2019 :
    • North Shore Area : 363 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 242 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 357 t
  • 2020 :
    • North Shore Area : 440 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 202 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 257 t
  • 2021 :
    • North Shore Area : 457 t
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 167 t
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area : 286 t
Change in Quebec whelk landings, 2000 to 2021, in $M.
Figure 8. Change in Quebec whelk landings, 2000 to 2021, in $M.
Source : DFO (2022), Statistics Canada (2022). Compilation : Strategic Services, DFO, Quebec Region
Description

Figure 8. Change in Quebec whelk landings, 2000 to 2021, in $M.

A line graph whose X-axis represents years, from 2000 to 2020, and whose Y axis shows the numbers in millions of Canadian dollars (M$), from $1M to 4 M$. A first curve represents actual landed value (adjusted for CPI 2021), while a second black curve represents nominal landing value (unadjusted for inflation).

  • 2000 :
    • Actual landed value : $1.9M
    • Landing value : $1.3M
  • 2001 :
    • Actual landed value : $1.8M (value not shown in the figure)
    • Landing value : $1.3M (value not shown in the figure)
  • 2002 :
    • Actual landed value : $2.0M
    • Landing value : $1.4M
  • 2003 :
    • Actual landed value : $2.7M
    • Landing value : $1.9M
  • 2004 :
    • Actual landed value : $2.2M
    • Landing value : $1.6M
  • 2005 :
    • Actual landed value : $2.2M
    • Landing value : $1.7M
  • 2006 :
    • Actual landed value : $2.1M (value not shown in the figure)
    • Landing value : $1.6M (value not shown in the figure)
  • 2007 :
    • Actual landed value : $1.7M
    • Landing value : $1.3M
  • 2008 :
    • Actual landed value : $1.5M
    • Landing value : $1.2M
  • 2009 :
    • Actual landed value : $1.7M
    • Landing value : $1.3M
  • 2010 :
    • Actual landed value : $2.1M
    • Landing value : $1.6M
  • 2011 :
    • Actual landed value : $1.9M
    • Landing value : $1.6M
  • 2012 :
    • Actual landed value : $2.1M
    • Landing value : $1.8M
  • 2013 :
    • Actual landed value : $2.1M
    • Landing value : $1.8M
  • 2014 :
    • Actual landed value : $1.5M
    • Landing value : $1.3M
  • 2015 :
    • Actual landed value : $1.7M
    • Landing value : $1.5M
  • 2016 :
    • Actual landed value : $2.8M
    • Landing value : $2.5M
  • 2017 :
    • Actual landed value : $2.7M (value not shown in the figure)
    • Landing value : $2.4M (value not shown in the figure)
  • 2018 :
    • Actual landed value : $2.3M
    • Landing value : $2.1M
  • 2019 :
    • Actual landed value : $2.0M (value not shown in the figure)
    • Landing value : $1.9M (value not shown in the figure)
  • 2020 :
    • Actual landed value : $1.9M
    • Landing value : $1.8M
  • 2021 :
    • Actual landed value : $2.0M
    • Landing value : $2.0M

The number of harvesters in the whelk fishery is one of the factors that influences whelk landings in Quebec. The drop in the number of active harvesters (Figure 9) coincided with a decline in catches in 2004 over 2003, from 2,000 t to 1,628 t. Similarly, Quebec catches increased by 500 tonnes between 2015 and 2016 while the number of active harvesters rose from 59 to 69. Currently, the quantity landed is trending downward, as whelk landings declined by 36% between 2016 and 2021. Annual fluctuations in the number of active whelk licences can be partly explained by the fact that this fishery is not necessarily the only economic activity of licence holders, and it can be prosecuted or not, depending on the economic situation (price of whelk, price of main species fished, etc.).

Change in the number of active whelk harvesters, 2000 to 2021
Figure 9. Change in the number of active whelk harvesters, 2000 to 2021 Source : DFO (2022). Compilation : Strategic Services, DFO, Quebec Region
Description

Figure 9. Change in the number of active whelk harvesters, 2000 to 2021.

This vertical bar graph shows a time series from 2000 to 2020, with the horizontal axis representing years, and the vertical axis representing the number of active whelk harvesters, with a scale ranging from 0 to 120.

  • 2000 : 54 Harvesters
  • 2001 : 53 Harvesters
  • 2002 : 73 Harvesters
  • 2003 : 103 Harvesters
  • 2004 : 83 Harvesters
  • 2005 : 95 Harvesters
  • 2006 : 115 Harvesters
  • 2007 : 97 Harvesters
  • 2008 : 88 Harvesters
  • 2009 : 78 Harvesters
  • 2010 : 83 Harvesters
  • 2011 : 66 Harvesters
  • 2012 : 67 Harvesters (number not shown in the figure)
  • 2013 : 74 Harvesters
  • 2014 : 66 Harvesters (number not shown in the figure)
  • 2015 : 59 Harvesters
  • 2016 : 69 Harvesters (number not shown in the figure)
  • 2017 : 74 Harvesters
  • 2018 : 71 Harvesters (number not shown in the figure)
  • 2019 : 49 Harvesters
  • 2020 : 58 Harvesters
  • 2021 : 57 Harvesters

The average landed prices vary from one sector to another. Between 2003 and 2015, the price paid to Gaspé fish harvesters was higher than that paid to those on the North Shore and in the Magdalen Islands (Figure 10). The price in the Magdalen Islands subsequently rose significantly and is now greater than the price obtained by fish harvesters in the other two maritime sectors. These price differences can usually be explained by variations in supply and demand from one region to another. For example, in 2009, the average landed price in the Magdalen Islands was exceptionally low and only a few fishing trips took place. This was due to the fact that the landed price was down, and the processing sector was unable to buy whelk before August and other, more lucrative species were favoured during this period. The difference in whelk size is another factor that can influence the price: the larger the whelk, the higher the price. In general, average landed prices have been rising since 2011 in all sectors.

Average landed price in Quebec by maritime sector, 2000 to 2021, $/kg
Figure 10. Average landed price in Quebec by maritime sector, 2000 to 2021, $/kg
Source : DFO (2022). Compilation : Strategic Services, DFO, Quebec Region
Description

Figure 10. Average landed price in Quebec by maritime sector, 2000 to 2021, $/kg.

A line graph with a horizontal axis representing years, from 2000 to 2020 and a vertical axis showing prices from $0 to $2.5/kg. A legend at the bottom of the graph identifies each curve by colour and significance: North Shore Area in yellow, Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area in green, Magdalen Islands Area in blue and Quebec in black. Only Quebec values are shown in the figure.

  • 2000 :
    • North Shore Area : 0.86 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 0.74 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 0 $/kg
    • Quebec : 0.84 $/kg
  • 2001 :
    • North Shore Area : 0.85 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 0.73 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 0 $/kg
    • Quebec : 0.83 $/kg
  • 2002 :
    • North Shore Area : 0.86 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 0.77 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 0.66 $/kg
    • Quebec : 0.84 $/kg
  • 2003 :
    • North Shore Area : 0.96 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.06 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 0.89 $/kg
    • Quebec : 0.96 $/kg
  • 2004 :
    • North Shore Area : 1.00 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.08 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 0.91 $/kg
    • Quebec : 0.99 $/kg
  • 2005 :
    • North Shore Area : 0.98 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.15 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 1.01 $/kg
    • Quebec : 1.02 $/kg
  • 2006 :
    • North Shore Area : 0.96 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.03 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 1.05 $/kg
    • Quebec : 1.00 $/kg
  • 2007 :
    • North Shore Area : 0.98 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.08 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 1.06 $/kg
    • Quebec : 1.03 $/kg
  • 2008 :
    • North Shore Area : 1.00 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.12 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 1.10 $/kg
    • Quebec : 1.06 $/kg
  • 2009 :
    • North Shore Area : 1.06 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.14 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 0.68 $/kg
    • Quebec : 1.07 $/kg
  • 2010 :
    • North Shore Area : 1.10 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.21 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 0.88 $/kg
    • Quebec : 1.10 $/kg
  • 2011 :
    • North Shore Area : 1.11 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.20 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 1.19 $/kg
    • Quebec : 1.14 $/kg
  • 2012 :
    • North Shore Area : 1.21 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.28 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 1.31 $/kg
    • Quebec : 1.24 $/kg
  • 2013 :
    • North Shore Area : 1.22 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.26 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 1.32 $/kg
    • Quebec : 1.25 $/kg (value not shown in figure)
  • 2014 :
    • North Shore Area : 1.33 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.35 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 1.32 $/kg
    • Quebec : 1.34 $/kg
  • 2015 :
    • North Shore Area : 1.57 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.55 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 1.43 $/kg
    • Quebec : 1.56 $/kg (value not shown in the figure)
  • 2016 :
    • North Shore Area : 1.76 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.72 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 1.98 $/kg
    • Quebec : 1.77 $/kg
  • 2017 :
    • North Shore Area : 1.77 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.81 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 1.96 $/kg
    • Quebec : 1.81 $/kg (value not shown in the figure)
  • 2018 :
    • North Shore Area : 1.84 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.77 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 2.20 $/kg
    • Quebec : 1.90 $/kg
  • 2019 :
    • North Shore Area : 1.99 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 1.90 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 2.20 $/kg
    • Quebec : 2.01 $/kg (value not shown in the figure)
  • 2020 :
    • North Shore Area : 1.97 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 2.10 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 2.20 $/kg
    • Quebec : 2.06 $/kg
  • 2021 :
    • North Shore Area : 2.12 $/kg
    • Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence Area: 2.22 $/kg
    • Magdalen Islands Area : 2.20 $/kg
    • Quebec : 2.17 $/kg

3.4 Portfolio of stakeholders' licences

During the 2000-2021 period, among all active whelk stakeholders, this species accounted for 36% of the total landed value on average (all species combined). This was the main species landed by these stakeholders in terms of value, follow by snow crab (27%), groundfish (19%), lobster (7%), other species (4%), molluscs (2%), pelagics (2%), shrimp (1%) and echinoderms (1%). The stakeholders presented a varied licence portfolio during the study period (Figure 11) and a similar trend was observed in 2021.

On average, the whelk fishery accounted for less than 20% of fishing income for nearly half of licence holders between 2000 and 2021. However, for 26% of licence holders, whelk accounted for more than 60% of their income, which is not insignificant. Moreover, there are twice as many active whelk harvesters on the North Shore as in the Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence. The whelk fishery is more of a supplementary fishery than a primary fishery, but nevertheless remains important for the economic prosperity of fish harvesters and communities.

Figure 11. Distribution of the value of species caught by active whelk harvesters, 2000 to 2021. Source : DFO (2022). Compilation : Strategic Services, DFO, Quebec Region
Figure 11. Distribution of the value of species caught by active whelk harvesters, 2000 to 2021.
Source : DFO (2022). Compilation : Strategic Services, DFO, Quebec Region
Description

Figure 11. Distribution of the value of species caught by active whelk harvesters, 2000 to 2021

The different sections of the pie chart represent the relative percentage shares of various marine species. The species and percentage of every section are connected by a line.

3.5 First Nations community landings

In 2000-2021, First Nations communities' whelk landings accounted for 6% of total landings on average, distributed among six First Nations organizations. In 2021, two First Nations organizations landed whelk (Pêcheries Shipek and Wolastoqiyik Wahsipekuk). For confidentiality reasons, it is not possible to present any landings data for First Nations communities.

3.6 Economic benefits generated by the whelk fishery

Market

The production value of whelk generated by processing plants located in Quebec's maritime sectors was estimated at $3.6M in 2020. Of this total, $12.7M was produced on the North Shore, $0.4M in the Magdalen Islands and $0.5M in Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence (nominal value).

The vast majority of the whelk sold by these plants was destined for the domestic market. Between 2013 and 2020, 79% of Quebec whelk were sold on the Canadian market in terms of quantity and 60% in terms of sales value. The second largest market was Asia (15%). Exports to Asia accounted for 30% of the average annual value of whelk exports between 2013 and 2020, confirming the high value-added of the mollusc in that market. The U.S. market accounted for a small proportion of sales, 5% in terms of quantity and 8% in terms of value.

In contrast to the domestic market, where the majority of whelk are bought fresh (83%), more than 58% of the whelk exported to Japan are shipped frozen; similarly, 69% of the whelk exported to the U.S. market are frozen. Between 2013 and 2020, the average value of whelk sold in Canada and Asia was estimated at $2.6M and $1.4M, respectively. The United States imported approximately $395,000 worth of whelk during the same periodFootnote 3 (nominal value).

The large proportion of domestic sales provides processors with some stability. However, the share of exports to Japan is no less significant and remains a factor that can cause some instability, particularly with respect to the landed price. Moreover, whelk is not a well-known product in Quebec's large urban centres; the species is mostly eaten in the regions. At present, eating local foods is strongly encouraged by both government institutions and the agri-food industry.

Secondary and tertiary whelk fishery sectors

In 2020, 15 enterprises purchased whelk: 7 on the North Shore, 5 in Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence and 3 in the Magdalen Islands. An estimated 150 people work in the harvesting and processing sectors. In 2019, the average age of whelk fishing licence holders was 53.

4. Management issues

This section provides an overview of key management questions and issues specific to the 15 whelk fishing areas.

The main issues were identified on the basis of reports from advisory committees, meetings with the fishing industry and First Nations, and the legislation, policies and initiatives described below:

  1. The Sustainable Fisheries Framework includes a number of frameworks and policies for the conservation and sustainable use of resources as well as the various related policies. The effects of fishing on the ecosystem must be taken into account under new policies introduced as part of the Sustainable Fisheries Framework, including the Policy for Managing the Impacts of Fishing on Sensitive Benthic Areas and the Policy on Managing Bycatch. Therefore, potentially harmful effects of fishing on the ecosystem must be identified and mitigated.
  2. Habitat protection is provided for under the Fisheries Act, making it possible to limit the impact of various fishing activities on species and habitats and to respond to the concerns of resource users and stakeholders. The Department promotes responsible fishing to reduce bycatch and mitigate effects on habitat and on species at risk governed by the Species at Risk Act. In that regard, in August 2019, the Government of Canada surpassed its target of protecting 10% of Canada's marine and coastal areas by 2020. This target reflects Canada's commitments under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, specifically the Aichi targets, collectively referred to as Canada's "marine conservation targets." Nationally, the Government of Canada has also committed to protecting 25% of marine and coastal areas by 2025 and is working towards protecting 30% by 2030.

    For more information on the background and drivers for Canada's marine conservation targets, see Targets, achievements and reports. To meet these targets, Canada is establishing marine protected areas and other effective areas‑based conservation measuresFootnote 4 in consultation with industry stakeholders, non‑governmental organizations and other interested parties.

    Specific management measures established for whelk have been identified to contribute to Canada's marine conservation targets. More information on management measures and associated conservation targets can be found in this IFMP in Sections 7.5 Habitat protection measures and 7.6 Biodiversity protection measures.
  3. To protect biodiversity in Canada, DFO relies on the Species at Risk Act, among other things. Recovery strategies for species at risk aim to achieve certain objectives in relation to commercial fisheries. For more information on aquatic species at risk and their recovery plans, see Aquatic species at risk. The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) was created in 1977 as an independent body to advise the Department of Environment and Climate Change. By drawing on scientific knowledge, First Nations traditional knowledge and community knowledge, the committee assesses the national status of species considered critically endangered in Canada and worldwide.
  4. The Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy (AFS) was launched by Fisheries and Oceans Canada in 1992, in response to the Supreme Court of Canada's decision in Sparrow. The AFS applies in regions where DFO manages the fishery and where land claims settlements have not already put a fisheries management regime in place. Its purpose is to foster the inclusion of First Nations in fisheries management. In addition, since 1999, Fisheries and Oceans Canada has launched several programs to respond to the Marshall decisions; through the Marshall Response Initiative, 34 First Nations communities have entered into agreements for assets and training to help increase and expand their participation in commercial fisheries. Investments made between 2000 and 2007 provided the First Nations with commercial fishing licences, fishing vessels and gear, and training, all in support of increasing First Nations participation in commercial fishing. The Marshall Response Initiative ended on March 31, 2007, and was followed by other initiatives: the Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI), which helps to build management and governance skills through training and support for First Nations, and the Northern Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (NICFI), which supports communal commercial fishing enterprises and the development of aquaculture operations. Further to the Marshall decisions, DFO received a mandate in 2017 to negotiate Rights Reconciliation Agreements (RRAs) with Mi'kmaq and Wolastoqiyik First Nations to:
    • provide for a moderate livelihood
    • define how we can work together to manage the fishery collaboratively. Agreements were signed with the four Mi'kmaq and Wolastoqiyik First Nations of Quebec.

To identify management issues and objectives specific to the whelk fishery in areas 1 to 15, discussions were held with industry on six themes:

  1. Sustainable harvesting of whelk
  2. Habitat and ecosystem
  3. Fishery compliance
  4. Economic prosperity
  5. Increasing participation by First Nations and First Nations capacity development
  6. Governance

4.1 Sustainable harvesting

The biological characteristics of the whelk make it vulnerable to local overharvesting. Whelk has limited mobility. Reproduction occurs by mating; the eggs are deposited on the seabed and there is no pelagic larval phase to help the species disperse on a large scale. In the case of overharvesting and a significant decline in adult abundance, the probability that a male whelk will meet a female for sperm transfer (mating) is very low. In this situation, the population could take several years to recover. To ensure sustainable whelk fishing, it is essential to apply conservation principles. The indicators on which the stock assessment is based come almost exclusively from commercial fishing data. Since no fishery-independent indicator is used to assess stocks, the advice and recommendations provided by DFO Science, which allow Fisheries Management to implement and adjust management measures in whelk fishing, can be somewhat adjusted to reality.

The number of active fish harvesters varies from one year to the next. Since 2015, the problem of latent effortFootnote 5 has been raised in science advisory reports on whelk stock status for a number of fishing areas. Latent effort is significant and could pose a risk to sustainable harvesting of the resource. Whelk stocks in some areas may not be able to support the deployment of maximum fishing effort.

4.2 Habitat and ecosystem

The whelk's habitat is highly varied, but it is most frequently found on loose substrates and at depths of between 5 and 40 m.

Several biotic and abiotic factors in the environment in which whelks thrive can have an impact on the resource. For example, the increased abundance of predators (starfish, rock crab, lobster), the presence of polychaete borers that weaken the shells of individuals, and infestation by the gonad parasite that prevents reproduction. In addition, aquatic invasive species represent a threat to local species, including whelk, as they use resources (competition for space and food) that other species need to survive.

Whelk is a cold-water species, and global warming is likely to bring about significant changes. Rising temperatures and ocean acidification may alter its range, reproduction and growth. However, current scientific knowledge does not allow us to assess the impact of biological and environmental factors on the species' behaviour, growth, reproduction and survival.

Compliance by whelk harvesters is essential in marine protected areas or other effective areas‑based conservation measures, including the ban on fishing with gear that comes into contact with the seabed in coral and sponge conservation sites (Figure 12) as well as in the Banc‑des‑Américains marine protected area (Figure 13).

Gear can affect the ecosystem during fishing and when gear is lost or abandoned. Specifically, entanglement in whelk fishing equipment (ropes) can have consequences, especially for some marine mammals. Some management measures are already in place, but these will be improved, and new ones developed (such as gear with low breaking strength [LBS] components) to limit the effects on the habitat and the ecosystem.

4.3 Fishery compliance

Compliance with the management measures put in place to respond to the various issues facing the fishery is required, particularly the minimum legal size, TAC and measures to reduce the risk of interaction with marine mammals. Ensuring the compliance of the whelk fishery is crucial for ensuring its sustainability.

4.4 Economic prosperity

The number of active whelk licences varies from one year to another, most of the time depending on the landed price. Encouraged by government institutions and agri-food industries, whelk fishing could currently benefit from the development of fisheries resources, in a context where markets are increasingly competitive, and consumers are more selective in their purchases. In this context, the industry should move towards marketing initiatives such as eco-certification and traceability. On the other hand, to ensure economic prosperity, the industry should diversify through various diversification initiatives such as commercial fishing for tourism.

4.5 Increased participation by First Nations and First Nations capacity development

Certain Mi'kmaq, Wolastoqiyik and Innu First Nations are engaged in developing their autonomy and their capacities in the whelk fishery, which acts as a financial lever for the communities. The department supports the strengthening of community management and governance skills by training and coaching First Nations through the Atlantic Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (AICFI) and the Northern Integrated Commercial Fisheries Initiative (NICFI).

4.6 Governance

Canada is committed to renewing its relationship with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, and to making meaningful progress towards reconciliation and self-determination. DFO has a key role to play in the transformation of Canada's relationship with First Nations. DFO's Reconciliation StrategyFootnote 6, launched in 2019, proposes long-term objectives to which this fishery management plan for whelk in Quebec can contribute.

Current whelk fishery governance entails the implementation of a management structure and mechanism to ensure that DFO, First Nations and industry jointly develop management measures that factor in the economic realities of the different sectors. Advisory committees are the main structure in place to ensure sound governance of the whelk fishery. Specific committees can be set up to address specific points.

5. Objectives

The identified issues and objectives, based on four of the six themes, are classified and addressed in this section.

5.1 Ensure sustainable harvesting

Three actions can be taken to ensure the sustainable harvesting of whelk. First, maintain and adjust a minimum legal size (MLS) for each fishing area. This is a conservation principle that is intended to maintain a certain level of stock reproductive capacity. The MLS can be adjusted to allow half of the females to reproduce at least once before being caught, which would promote the sustainable management of the resource. Second, optimize fishery-derived data collection and identify and develop fishery-independent indicators (e.g. scientific surveys) for proper management of the resource. Lastly, evaluate the possibility of reducing latent effort in the long term, to ensure that the whelk stock in each area can support the maximum fishing effort.

Specific objectives for sustainable whelk harvesting include the following:

5.2 Protect habitat and the ecosystem

Maintaining and adjusting conservation measures are necessary to minimize the risks of impact on species at risk and thus contribute to their recovery. This fishing is done using traps so the impact on the seabed is minimal.

Marine protected areas and OECMs are put in place to preserve species and their habitats. The restrictions related to each measure support efforts to preserve the different ecosystems. Compliance of whelk harvesters is essential in marine protected areas and in the context of OECMs, such as the prohibition on the use of bottom-contact gear in coral and sponge conservation sites.

Tracking lost fishing gear helps collect information and provide information on the potential risks associated with fishing. Marine mammal entanglement and ghost fishing when traps are lost or abandoned can also have an impact on the ecosystem. The lack of information makes it difficult to implement appropriate measures to reduce the impact of whelk fishing on the ecosystem.

The ecosystem in which the whelk develops can affect the species and fishing activities. Variations in the abundance of whelk competitor or predator species as well as the presence of aquatic invasive species (AIS) can have an impact on whelk stocks. AIS may impact the whelk population in the future, but they are not a problem today. What is a big problem is the warming of water in the St. Lawrence River since the whelk is a cold-water species. Monitoring the biological components of the ecosystem, improving knowledge of predatory species and monitoring AIS are therefore essential in order to minimize potential impacts on whelk. The impact of the presence of boring polychaetes reported in recent years in the Magdalen Islands on the biology of the whelk is unknown. Collecting data and developing our knowledge of the environment are essential elements that would give us a better understanding of the environment in which whelk develop and thus potentially adapt fishing methods. Fish harvesters are an important source of information and could contribute to research projects and knowledge on ecosystem changes.

Specific objectives for minimizing the impacts of fishing on the ecosystem and habitat and for assessing the effects of habitat and ecosystem changes on whelk include the following:

5.3 Increase fisheries compliance

As mentioned in Section 5.1, educating fish harvesters about compliance with the minimum legal size is essential for conservation of the resource. Compliance within the whelk fishery is achieved through an adapted monitoring plan that makes it possible to adjust priorities depending on the nature of offences in the fishery. The focus of fishery officers' efforts to ensure fishery compliance is highly dependent on the priorities that are identified each year. Educating fish harvesters about the importance of compliance is an important part of promoting compliance from the start of the season.

5.4 Economic Prosperity

No objectives were discussed during the advisory committee meetings.

5.5 Increase First Nations participation and capacity development

No issues were discussed during the advisory committee meetings. Nevertheless, the collection of data on traditional knowledge of First Nations and traditional ecological knowledge must be maintained. Also, it is relevant to encourage partnership, communication and awareness with First Nations without forgetting to promote prosperous and sustainable fishing acting as a financial lever for the communities.

5.6 Improve governance

The participation of the fishing industry in the decision-making process, the involvement of First Nations in the fisheries management cycle, and exchanges and collaboration between First Nations and non-First Nations fish harvesters are necessary to promote sound governance. The governance structure must ensure that First Nations participate in decision-making during the different stages in the fisheries management cycle.

Specific governance objectives for the whelk fishery are as follows:

6. Access and allocation

The Minister can, for reasons of conservation or for any other valid reasons, modify access, allocations and sharing arrangements as outlined in this IFMP in accordance with the powers granted pursuant to the Fisheries Act.

Access to the whelk fishery is limited and is allocated through licences issued under section 7 of the Fisheries Act and section 4 of the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations. Policies governing the registration of harvesters, fishing businesses and fishing vessels, as well as the issuance of commercial fishing licences in Canadian fisheries waters in the Atlantic Ocean and the NAFO Convention Area, are outlined in the Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy for Eastern Canada. Licences may be obtained by going to Online Licensing (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).

For more information on other fisheries policies and frameworks: Fisheries Policies, Reports, and Publications (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).

6.1 Quotas and allocations

As discussed in section 1.4. Fishery characteristics, commercial whelk fishing is managed by fishing effort in areas 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 14; and by a total allowable catch (TAC) in Areas 1, 2, 11, 12, 13 and 15.

7. Management measures

Management measures are established to control the whelk fishery in areas 1 to 15. They are set out in the conservation harvesting plan (CHP), which is published before the start of the season. The CHP for whelk is found in the "Notices to Fish Harvesters" section on the DFO website.

Conditions of licence for the whelk fishery are issued prior to the fishing season and are in line with the CHP. These conditions of licence, issued under section 22 of the Fishery (General) Regulations and section 4 of the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations may vary from year to year on the basis of management decisions. Conditions of licence serve to further define and operationalize the existing management measures.

7.1 Species at Risk Act requirements

Under the Species at Risk Act (SARA), it is an offence to kill, harm, harass, capture, take, possess, collect, buy, sell or trade an individual, or any part or derivative of an individual of a wildlife species that is listed as Extirpated, Endangered or Threatened. The species at risk found in the Estuary or Gulf of St. Lawrence that are likely to be captured in the whelk fishery include the Spotted Wolffish, Northern Wolffish and Leatherback Sea Turtle. Others may be added to the list of species at risk during the year.

However, under subsection 83(4) of SARA, the recovery strategies for the above-mentioned species at risk allow fish harvesters to engage in commercial fishing activities subject to certain conditions. All incidental catches of such species must be returned to the water immediately in the location where they were caught, in a manner that causes them the least harm if still alive. Information on catches of species at risk must be recorded in the "Species at Risk" section of the logbook. In addition, all interactions with species at risk, including Striped Bass (St. Lawrence Estuary population), North Atlantic Right Whale, Blue Whale (Atlantic population), Beluga Whale (St. Lawrence Estuary population) and White Shark, must be recorded in this section.

7.2 Allocation and management regime

A peer review conducted every three years brings together DFO, provincial representatives, the fishing industry and First Nations. This review provides scientific advice on the status of whelk stocks in Quebec's inshore waters which is taken into account by Fisheries Management and the Minister of DFO when establishing management measures. The Science Advisory Report (SAR) is published in the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) section of the DFO website: Stock assessment of whelks in Quebec's inshore waters in 2021. The TAC is specified in the CHP, which is published in the Notices to Fish Harvesters section of DFO's Quebec Region website: Publications to Fish Harvesters - Online Publications Tool.

For the commercial fishery, only areas 1, 2, 11, 12, 13 and 15 are subject to TACs. The other areas are managed by fishing effort.

The FSC whelk fishing allocations of the seven Innu communities total approximately 26.5 t.

7.3 Fishing areas and season

Whelk harvesters can start fishing safely when the ice breaks up. Since the area covered by all the coastal areas includes a large portion of the Estuary and the northern Gulf of St. Lawrence, the start of the season varies from one area to the next. In addition, the length of the season varies from area to area, ranging from 18 to a maximum of 30 weeks between early April and late November.

The fishing areas are shown in Figure 3. The coordinates of the fishing areas are detailed in the licence conditions and on the fishing area maps are available: Commercial Fisheries.

7.4 Control and monitoring of removals

7.4.1 Restrictions on traps and associated gear

Most of the traps used for whelk harvesting are conical traps with a square base. The authorized size and number of traps vary by fishing area. This information is provided in Appendix 2.

In all areas, traps may not be left in the water for more than 72 consecutive hours. Traps must have a biodegradable escape mechanism and must bear a single valid annual tag with a unique identification number.

7.4.2 At-sea monitoring

At-sea monitoring is not required for this fishery.

7.4.3 Catch monitoring

Catches must be reported on a DFO-approved combined form which must be completed after each day of fishing. The form must be sent to DFO within the prescribed time frame.

Fish harvesters in areas 1 to 9 (except Area 8) and 11 to 15 are required to hail into a local dockside monitoring company. Only Area 15 fish harvesters are subject to dockside monitoring when offloading their landed catch.

7.4.4 Harvest control

Harvest control is mainly achieved through the use of a minimum legal size, which was increased in most areas beginning in the 2019 season. Following the science advisory report published in 2018, the MLS was increased from 70 mm to 80 mm in the majority of areas, with the exception of areas 1 and 2, which are still at 70 mm. For the 2023 season, the MLS in Area 15 was adjusted to 75 mm and the MLS in areas 4, 5, 6 and 7 was adjusted to 85 mm. The minimum legal size for the different fishing areas is given below.

Escape vents are also used to control catches by giving small individuals the opportunity to escape.

In addition, starting in the 2019 season, a biodegradable escape mechanism must be added to all traps to reduce the risk of ghost fishing.

Finally, fish harvesters are not allowed to retain incidental catches.

Minimum legal size for whelk in the inshore areas of Quebec for the 2023 season :

Note: The length of a whelk means the distance measured along a straight line across the longest part of the shell.

7.4.5 Quota reconciliation

The principle of quota reconciliation is intended to allow any quota overruns in one year to be accounted for in the next season. A quantity of whelk equal to the overrun is subtracted from the licence holder's allocation prior to the start of the next fishing season. Since 2011, commercial quota fisheries have been subject to quota reconciliation, including the inshore whelk fishery. Quota reconciliation is in effect for areas 1, 2, 11, 12, 13 and 15.

7.5 Habitat protection measures

In 2017, fishery closures were implemented as part of the Coral and Sponge Conservation Strategy for Eastern Canada (Figure 12). The area covered by these closures contributed about 0.149% of the marine conservation target (10%) set for 2020. The purpose of the strategy is to protect cold-water coral and sponge species, as well as their communities and their habitats, in the Atlantic region, including the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence. In this context, 11 important coral and sponge concentration areas were selected. The use of bottom-contact fishing gear or gear designed to make contact with the seabed, including the whelk traps used by whelk harvesters, has been prohibited in these areas since December 15, 2017. Some of these coral and sponge concentration areas are found in areas 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 15 (Figure 1). These closures are expected to have a negligible impact on the whelk fishery since there is no overlap between these closure areas and the fishing grounds used by whelk harvesters. More details on each of these areas are available on the DFO website: Coral and Sponge Conservation Measures in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).

The Banc-des-Américains, located off the eastern tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, was designated a marine protected area (MPA) on March 6, 2019. The area covered by the MPA represents about 0.02% of the marine conservation target set for 2020 (10%). Its purpose is to conserve and protect benthic and pelagic habitats and forage species and to support the recovery of at-risk species of whales and wolffish.

The Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area Regulations establish two management areas where certain fishing activities are prohibited and that overlaps with whelk Fishing Areas 11 and 14 (Figure 13). Since commercial whelk harvesting is carried out using traps, it is not permitted in the core protection area (Area 1) but may be conducted in the adaptive management areas (2a and 2b). This closure is deemed to have a negligible impact on the whelk fishery because there is no overlap between the closed area and the fishing grounds used by whelk harvesters.

7.6 Biodiversity protection measures

Since 2017, the Government of Canada has put in place additional management measures to protect marine mammals, including the endangered North Atlantic Right Whale, from entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with vessels. These measures are based on the best available scientific data and can be adapted if necessary to take account of future developments related to preventing interactions. They are detailed in the CHPs for whelk and include a reduction in the quantity of rope floating on the water surface, marking of fishing gear, additional identification of buoys and reporting of lost fishing gear.

To minimize ghost fishing by lost traps, part of the netting of each trap must be made of biodegradable material. In addition, since 2018, harvesters have been required to report interactions with marine mammals using the prescribed form. This measure stems from the adoption of regulations by the United States under its Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

A closure protocol is one of several additional protection measures that were put in place in 2018 for the North Atlantic Right Whale. This measure can be adjusted as necessary to ensure that the protection for these whales is effective. Up-to-date information on closure protocols can be found here: Notices to Fish Harvesters

Coral and sponge conservation areas and whelk fishing area limits.
Figure 12. Coral and sponge conservation areas and whelk fishing area limits.
Source : DFO, Quebec Region
Description

Figure 12. Coral and sponge conservation areas and whelk fishing area limits

The entire region shows southern Quebec to northern Nova Scotia, including the Quebec North Shore and Prince Edward Island, covering a large part of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and its surrounding islands. The map also shows the bathymetric lines of the Estuary and the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Straight lines on the map represent whelk fishing areas in the Quebec region. Each area is numbered from 1 to 15.

The coral and sponge conservation areas are shown on the map, showing their precise location. These areas are strategically distributed in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and its estuary, covering coastal regions and deeper areas.

  • Anticosti-East: 939 km2 sponge conservation area east of Anticosti Island.
  • Anticosti-South-East: 845 km2 sponge conservation area southeast of Anticosti Island.
  • Beaugé Bank: 215 km2 sponge conservation area on Beaugé Bank.
  • Bennett Bank: Coral conservation area north of Banc de Bennett, 821 km2.
  • Parent Bank: 530 km2 Parent Bank sponge conservation area.
  • Gulf-Centre: Central Gulf of St. Lawrence coral conservation area, 1,284 km2.
  • Gulf-East: Eastern Gulf of St. Lawrence Coral Conservation Area, 423 km2.
  • Honguedo-East: Eastern Honguedo Strait Coral and Sponge Conservation Area, 2,338 km2.
  • Honguedo-West: West Honguedo Strait Coral Conservation Area, 496 km2.
  • Jacques-Cartier: Jacques-Cartier Strait sponge conservation area, 346 km2.
  • Magdalen Shallows Slope: 335 km2 Slope of the Magdalen Shelf Coral Conservation Area.

The legend on the right-hand side details the size of each conservation area. The total areas of coral and sponge conversation is 8,571 km2.

Geographic Details: (species-specific) Lines indicate the boundary areas for the whelk fishery. A bathymetry indicates the depth of the water.

Text and orientation: The map includes direction arrows and geographic coordinates. It is also annotated with place names and Maritimes landmarks.

Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area
Figure 13. Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area
Source : DFO, Quebec Region
Description

Figure 13. Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area

The Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area is located off the eastern tip of the Gaspé Penisula, in the province of Quebec. A legend indicates five water depth lines: 0 m to 100 m, 100 m to 200 m, 200 m to 300 m, 300 m to 400 m and 400 m to 500 m. These bathymetric lines are illustrated on the map. Geographical coordinates are shown on the horizontal and vertical borders, expressed in degrees of latitude and longitude. A scale from 1 to 30 km is shown in the bottom of the figure. An enlarged map appears in the top right-hand corner of the figure.

The Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area is divided into three zones:

  • Zone 1: Covers the central region of the Banc-des-Américains.
  • Zone 2a: Includes a section to the northeast of the central zone.
  • Zone 2b: Includes a section to the southwest of the central zone.

8. Shared stewardship arrangements

Management of the whelk fishery in areas 1 to 15 is carried out by the Regional Fisheries Management Program.

Stock assessments are based on scientific activities. The assessment of whelk stocks in all sectors is planned every three years. The last assessment took place in 2021. The stock assessment is followed by a peer review meeting, which, through a rigorous process, provides quality scientific advice and information, and facilitates discussions among various fishery stakeholders to support the provision of sound science advice for the science advisory report. The science advisory report features the outlook for each fishing area along with recommendations on the characteristics of the projected removals in subsequent seasons. These recommendations are reviewed at advisory committee meetings between harvesters' associations, harvesters, First Nations groups and DFO in order to obtain input from the industry and First Nations. These consultations are coordinated by the area director of the management area or species advisor. DFO takes the recommendations made by the industry and First Nations at these meetings into consideration in its decision-making on fisheries management measures.

Workshops may also be held during the period between stock assessments when industry needs to be consulted on a new management measure. Final recommendations are submitted to the Regional Fisheries Management Branch (RFMB) (or, in some cases, to RHQ).

Consultation sessions resulting from other initiatives by DFO or other departments or governments may take place as required, such as for the planning of the marine protected area network. Stewardship of these initiatives is promoted through consultations with stakeholders who want to take part in discussions on the management of resources or marine activities that affect them.

9. Compliance plan

9.1 Conservation and Protection (C&P) program description

The Conservation and Protection (C&P) Program promotes and maintains compliance with legislation, regulations and management measures implemented to achieve the conservation and sustainable use of Canada's aquatic resources and the protection of species at risk, fish habitat, oceans and marine protected areas (e.g., corals and sponges).

The program is delivered through a balanced regulatory management and enforcement approach, including :

Fishery monitoring is supported by the Fishery Monitoring Policy. It encompasses all field and office activities that enable regulators and other organizations to collect information on a fishery and its catches. The policy applies to all wild-capture Canadian fisheries and marine mammal harvests in Canadian waters managed under the Fisheries Act. This policy is part of the Department's Sustainable Fisheries Framework (SFF) suite of policies and is guided by the legal and policy framework designed to deliver the management of Canada's fisheries and oceans resources, including the Fisheries Act, the Oceans Act, the Species at Risk Act and associated regulations. The legislation and regulations provide the authority to apply this policy.

9.2 Delivery of the regional compliance program

The C&P program is responsible, in whole or in part, for compliance and enforcement activities in all regional fisheries under federal jurisdiction. More specifically, the Conservation and Protection Branch, Quebec Region, DFO, is responsible for managing marine fisheries, including the Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP), at-sea activities in marine protected areas and the protection of marine mammals. It is also responsible for monitoring aquatic invasive species, and for monitoring and protecting fish habitat and species at risk.

The monitoring efforts directed at a fishery may vary from one year to another. The Conservation and Protection Branch must focus on priorities. As a result, the time allocated to monitoring the whelk fishery in areas 1 to 15 will be based to a large extent on an assessment of risk to the resource.

9.3 Compliance strategy

Ensuring compliance with laws and regulations is an ever-present challenge in all fisheries. Keeping the logbook up to date on a daily basis and recording accurate data, as stipulated in the licence conditions, are necessary for orderly management of the whelk fishery. This is particularly true since in most areas, there is no dockside weighing, but the fish harvester has to estimate their haul as accurately as possible.

Logbooks are an important source of information used for the assessment of whelk stocks, among other things. During their dockside or at-sea checks, fishery officers carry out a detailed verification of the information entered in the logbooks in relation to the documents provided by buyers.

Checks at dock, at sea, on flats and any other place where there is fishing and/or shellfish harvesting are regular to ensure fishing compliance. Fishery officers regularly patrol the wharves before, during and after the fishing season. They are available to inform harvesters about regulations, licence conditions and fishing gear, and to answer any questions about whelk fishing. Fishing gear is checked to ensure compliance. Catch data and management measures are also analyzed to ensure compliance with the required compliance measures. Number of warnings (Nb. W.) and violations (Nb. Inf.) issued in the whelk fishery by fishing sectors from 2018 to 2022:

9.4 Consultations

Conservation and Protection participates in preparations for and attends whelk fishery advisory committee meetings and helps develop and implement management measures. Discussions or occasional working meetings are also held between DFO and representatives of the various fish harvesters' groups concerned as well as First Nations, to address concerns or resolve specific problems.

To promote conservation of the resource, C&P also takes part in informal discussions with all fishery stakeholders, industry and communities.

At the advisory committee meeting, C&P reports on the monitoring activities that were carried out during the previous season and raises various matters for discussion. Committee members have the opportunity to comment on the level of monitoring and to share their views concerning the various management measures in place and other points discussed.

9.5 Compliance performance

Monitoring efforts are typically shown as hours of work spent in the various fishing areas, number of dockside and at-sea interventions, and number of violations or warnings in relation to the total number of interventions during the season.

C&P has also put in place a compliance follow-up program for the various fishing fleets. Elements related to all types of contraventions of regulations are calculated and are used to generate a fleet compliance index.

9.6 Current compliance priorities

Protecting the North Atlantic right whale

Since 2017, the Government of Canada has put in place and adapted additional management measures to protect marine mammals, including the endangered North Atlantic right whale, from entanglement in fishing gear and ship strikes. Management measures that apply to the whelk fishery include limiting the length of rope floating on the surface of the water, mandatory reporting of lost gear, temporary and permanent closures of fishing areas due to the presence of right whales and rope marking. Ensuring compliance with these additional management measures is a priority of the C&P Program. For more information on the additional management measures implemented in the whelk fishery, consult the Conservation Harvesting Plan on the DFO website: Notices to Fish Harvesters.

10. Performance review

This section of the IFMP defines the indicators that will be used to assess progress towards achieving the objectives set out and numbered in Section 5, which were developed in consultation with industry. Below is a list of qualitative and quantitative performance indicators. Progress towards achieving the objectives based on the performance indicators is updated every three years when the results of the stock assessment become available.

10.1 Ensure sustainable harvesting

General objectives : Ensure sustainable whelk harvesting

Issue 1 : The biological characteristics of whelk make it vulnerable to local overharvesting.

Specific objective :

5.1.1 Maintain and adjust a minimum legal size (MLS) to protect part of the spawning population and ensure the recruitment of juveniles to the adult population in the following years.

Performance indicators :

Issue 2 : Current scientific knowledge is limited and there is a lack of fishery-independent indicators.

Specific objective :

5.1.2 Optimize data collection from the fishery; identify and develop fisheries independent indicators.

Performance indicator :

Issue 3 : Latent effort is significant and could pose a risk to sustainable harvesting of the resource.

Specific objective :

5.1.3 Evaluate the possibility of reducing latent effort in the long term.

Performance indicator :

10.2 Protect habitat and the ecosystem

General objectives: Assessing the impact of changes in habitat and ecosystems.

Issue 4 : Compliance with marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs).

Specific objective :

5.2.1 Comply with management measures in marine protected areas, coral and sponge areas and OECMs.

Performance indicator :

Issue 5 : Protecting species at risk.

Specific objectives :

5.2.2 Contribute to the objectives set out in species-at-risk recovery strategies by maintaining, and adjusting, if necessary, management measures to reduce the impacts of whelk fishing on species at risk.

Performance indicators :

5.2.3 Monitor whelk traps lost or left at sea to assess the extent of the situation

Performance indicator :

Issue 6 : Risk of interactions with marine mammals.

Specific objective :

5.2.4 Ensure compliance with management measures to reduce the risk of interactions with marine mammals.

Performance indicator :

Issue 7 : Current scientific knowledge is insufficient to assess the magnitude of parasitism in whelk.

Specific objective :

5.2.5 Ensure data collection and analysis to increase knowledge of whelk parasitism, i.e., infestation by a gonad parasite and infestation by shell-boring polychaetes.

Performance indicator :

Issue 8 : Aquatic invasive species are a concern for marine ecosystems.

Specific objective :

5.2.6 Enable fish harvesters to contribute to research projects and knowledge on changes in biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem.

Performance indicators :

10.3 Increase fisheries compliance

General objectives : Ensure compliance of the whelk fishery.

Issue 9 : Minimum legal size.

Specific objective :

5.3.1 Raise fish harvesters' awareness of the importance of respecting the minimum legal size through awareness-raising activities and compliance monitoring.

Performance indicator :

10.4 Economic prosperity

General objectives : Promote the economic prosperity of the whelk fishery.

No objectives have been set

10.5 Increase First Nations participation and capacity development

General objectives : Ensure that indigenous considerations are taken into account.

No objectives have been set

10.6 Improve governance

General objective : Ensure sound fisheries governance

Issue 10 : Continue the reconciliation process with First Nations.

Specific objectives :

5.6.1 Foster and maintain ongoing communication with First Nations.

5.6.2 Ensure that First Nations participate in the decision-making process during the various stages of the fisheries management cycle.

Performance indicator :

11. Glossary

Abundance
Number of individuals in a stock or a population.
Biodegradable panel
A portion of a whelk trap affixed by a material (rings) which will degrade over a relatively short period of time in order to allow lobsters and other fish to escape from traps that have been lost.
Biomass
Total weight of all individuals in a stock or a population.
Breeding stock
Sexually mature individuals belonging to a stock.
Bycatch
Species not targeted by the fishery unintentionally caught.
Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE)
The amount of whelk caught for a given fishing effort.
Communal licence
Licence issued to First Nations organizations pursuant to the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations for participation in the commercial fishery or the food, social and ceremonial fishery.
Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP)
A fishing plan that stipulates management measures and certain terms and conditions for regulating fishing activities.
Dockside Monitoring Program (DMP)
A monitoring program conducted by a company designated by the Department that verifies the species composition and landed weight of all fish landed from a commercial fishing vessel.
Ecosystem
A complex web of interdependencies where changes to one constituent can have implications for other constituents. Examples of ecosystem factors include the effects of harvesting one species on another, and the effects of habitat alteration on the mix of organisms the altered habitat can support.
Fish
As described in the Fisheries Act, fish includes:
  • parts of fish,
  • shellfish, crustaceans, marine animals and any parts of shellfish, crustaceans or marine animals, and
  • the eggs, sperm, spawn, larvae, spat and juvenile stages of fish, shellfish, crustaceans and marine animals.
Fishing effort
Quantity of effort using a given fishing gear over a given period of time.
Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC) Fishery
A fishery conducted by First Nations groups for food, social and ceremonial purposes under rights affirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada in the Sparrow decision (1990).
Ghost fishing
The situation where fishing gear lost or left at sea continues to catch and kill marine species.
First Nations traditional knowledge (ITK)
Knowledge that is held by, and is unique to, First Nations. It is a living body of knowledge that is cumulative and dynamic and adapted over time to reflect changes in the social, economic, environmental, spiritual and political spheres of First Nations knowledge holders. It often includes knowledge about the land and its resources, spiritual beliefs, language, mythology, culture, laws, customs and medicines.
Landings
Quantity of a species caught and landed.
Limited entry
A fishery management policy in place where no new licences are issued so as to limit fishing effort and to support economic viability of enterprises.
Management measure
Measure put in place to regulate fishing with the aim of ensuring the conservation of the resource.
Non-First Nations
In Canada, any person who is not of First Nations origin.
Pelagic
A pelagic species, such as herring, that lives in midwater or close to the surface.
Population
Group of individuals of the same species, forming a breeding unit, and sharing a habitat.
Quota
Portion of the total allowable catch that a unit such as vessel class, country, etc. is permitted to take from a stock in a given period of time.
Recruitment
Refers to the number of individuals becoming part of the exploitable stock or those that can be caught in a fishery.
Shared stewardship
An approach to fisheries management whereby participants are effectively involved in fisheries management decision-making processes at appropriate levels, contribute specialized knowledge and experience, and share in accountability for outcomes.
Size at the onset of maturity
The size of an animal when it has reached sexual maturity and has the capacity to reproduce.
Stock
Describes a population of individuals of one species found in a particular area and is used as a unit for fisheries management. E.g., NAFO area 4S herring.
Stock assessment
Scientific evaluation of the status of a species belonging to a same stock within a particular area in a given time period.
Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK)
A cumulative body of knowledge and beliefs, handed down through generations by cultural transmission, about the relationship of living beings (including humans) with one another and with their environment.
Tonne
Metric ton, which is 1,000 kg or 2,204.6 lbs.

12. Bibliography

Couillard, C. and Brulotte, S. 2020. Comparison of a visual method, mass-based and surface‑based gonadal indices and gonad histology to assess sexual maturity in the waved whelk, Buccinum undatum. Fish. REs. 224(2020) 105468.

DFO. 1986. Enquête sur la pêche au buccin 1986. Division de la Répartition de la Ressource - Région du Quebec. 28 p. [Abstract available in English]

DFO. 2015. Assessment of Quebec Coast Waters Whelk Stocks in 2014. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Report 2015/032.

DFO. 2022. Stock assessment of whelks in Quebec's inshore waters in 2021. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Sci. Advis. Rep. 2022/029.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 2022. Global capture production Quantity (1950-2020).

Gendron, L. 1991. Gestion de l'exploitation du buccin Buccinum undatum au Québec: détermination d'une taille minimale de capture. Rapp. Tech. Can. Sci. Halieut. Aquat. 1833: 40 p.

Gianasi, B. L. 2023. Stock assessment of whelks in Quebec: Results from the commercial fishery (2002-2021) and scientific surveys (2005-2019). DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Res. Doc. 2023/073. ix + 62 p.

Statistics Canada. 2022. Consumer Price Index Portal.

Appendix 1: Map of whelk fishing areas before 1987

Map of whelk fishing areas before 1987

Source : DFO 1986.

A geographical map segmented into zones numbered from 1 to 18. Each area is delimited to form clear boundaries between them. The map faces north, with an arrow indicating this direction. Geographical coordinates are shown on the horizontal and vertical borders, expressed in degrees of latitude and longitude.

The main locations are :

Zone 17 is extended to the border between Quebec and New Brunswick.

Appendix 2: Details of the number and size of traps authorized in the various whelk fishing areas

Please refer to CHP 2023-2025Footnote 9 :

For areas 1 to 7 and 9 on North Shore the maximum external volume authorized for traps is 0.3 m3 (10.6 ft3). The number of authorized traps is written on the licence and is specific to each one. The following details apply:

For area 8 on the North Shore the maximum external volume authorized for traps is 0.3 m3 (10.6 ft3). The number of authorized traps is 100 traps.

In order to favor area 8 exploration, the Department is willing to consider pilot projects aiming the use of a maximum of 200 traps in areas of area 8 outside of the sector bounded by straight lines joining the following points in the order in which they are listed:

Licence holders exercising this option are not authorized to fish whelk in the sector previously described, near Blanc-Sablon. A Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) approved by DFO, with data transmission every 15 minutes, is mandatory for this pilot project. Each licence holder must register his DFO-approved VMS unit prior to the beginning of his fishing activities. Prior authorization from the Department will be needed in that sense; one should allow a reasonable time frame for the analysis of the project. Pilot projects allowing the use of a maximum of 200 traps will be assessed annually to consider renewal.

For areas 11 to 14 in Gaspé-Lower St. Lawrence, the maximum external volume authorized for traps is 0.3 m3 (10.6 ft3) for whelk fishing licence holders authorized to use 50, 100, 125 or 175 traps. Is 0.15 m3 (5.3 ft3) for whelk fishing licence holders authorized to use 150 traps. These fish harvesters will retain this privilege (grandfather clause) until there is a change in licence holder. The new licence holder will then be authorized to use 100 traps.

The number of authorized traps is written on the licence and is specific to each one. The following details apply :

For the area 15 Magdalen Islands, the maximum external volume authorized for traps is 0,3 m3 (10,6 ft3). The number of authorized traps is 150 traps.

Appendix 3: Changes in management measures in the whelk fishery between 1999 and 2023

Here are the details of changes to management measures by year.

Fishing season

Numbers of traps

Minimum legal size

Notice of closure of areas when TAC is reached

TAC

Buddy-up

Maximum of two captains (licences) per boat with the addition of traps.

Hail-in

Dockside monitoring

Hail-out email

System

Source: Brulotte, S. 2019 and DFO Quebec Region

Appendix 4: Post-season review

Progress has been made towards achieving the management objectives based on performance indicators. The results will follow.

Research documents, science advisory reports and science responses shown in the results are published in the Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) section of the DFO website at Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) (dfo-mpo.gc.ca).

Theme 1. Ensuring sustainable harvesting

General objective : Ensuring sustainable whelk harvesting

Issue 1 : The biological characteristics of whelk make it vulnerable to local overharvesting

Specific objective :

5.1.1 Maintain and adjust a minimum legal size (MLS) to protect a portion of the spawning population and ensure the recruitment of juveniles to the adult population in the following years.

Performance indicators :

Results : Coming

Issue 2 : Current scientific knowledge is limited and there is a lack of fishery independent indicators

Specific objective :

5.1.2 Optimize data collection from the fishery; identify and develop fishery-independent indicators.

Performance indicators :

Issue 3 : Latent effort is significant and could pose a risk to sustainable harvesting of the resource

Specific objective :

5.1.3 Evaluate the possibility of reducing latent effort in the long term.

Performance indicators :

Results : Coming

Theme 2. Protect habitat and the ecosystem

General objectives: Assessing the impact of changes in habitat and ecosystems.

Issue 4 : Compliance with marine protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs)

Specific objective :

5.2.1 Comply with management measures in marine protected areas, coral and sponge areas and OECMs.

Performance indicators :

Results : Coming

Issue 5 : Protecting species at risk

Specific objectives :

5.2.2 Contribute to the objectives set out in species-at-risk recovery strategies by maintaining, and adjusting if necessary, management measures to reduce the impacts of whelk fishing on species at risk.

Performance indicators :

Results : Coming

5.2.3 Monitor whelk traps lost or left at sea to assess the extent of the situation.

Performance indicators :

Results : Coming

Issue 6: Risk of interactions with marine mammals

Specific objective :

5.2.4 Ensure compliance with management measures to reduce the risk of interactions with marine mammals.

Performance indicators :

Results : Coming

Issue 7: Current scientific knowledge is insufficient to assess the magnitude of parasitism in whelk

Specific objective :

5.2.5 Carry out data collection and analysis to improve knowledge of whelk parasitism, i.e., infestation by a gonad parasite and infestation by shell-boring polychaetes.

Performance indicators :

Results : Coming

Issue 8: Aquatic invasive species are a concern for marine ecosystems

Specific objective :

5.2.6 Enable fish harvesters to contribute to research projects and knowledge on changes in biotic and abiotic components of the ecosystem.

Performance indicators :

Results : Coming

Theme 3. Increase fisheries compliance

General objectives : Ensure fisheries compliance.

Issue 9: Minimum legal size

Specific objective :

5.3.1 Raise fish harvesters' awareness of the importance of respecting the minimum legal size through awareness-raising activities and compliance monitoring.

Performance indicators :

Results : Coming

Theme 4. Economic prosperity

General objective : Promote the economic prosperity of the whelk fisheries.

No issue identified

Theme 5. Increase First Nations participation and capacity development

General objective : Ensure that First Nations considerations are taken into account.

No issue identified

Theme 6. Improve governance

General objective : Ensuring sound fisheries governance.

Issue 10: Continue the reconciliation process with First Nations

Specific objectives :

5.6.1 Foster and maintain ongoing communication with First Nations.

Performance indicator :

Results : Coming

5.6.2 Ensure that First Nations participate in the decision-making process during the various stages of the fisheries management cycle.

Performance indicator :

Results : Coming

Appendix 5: Departmental contacts

Appendix 6: Safety at sea

Vessel owners and captains have a duty to ensure the safety of their crews and vessels. When vessel owners, captains and crews follow safety rules and adopt sound practices, they save lives, prevent vessels from being damaged and protect the environment. All fishing vessels must be seaworthy and maintained in accordance with Transport Canada (TC) regulations.

In the federal government, TC is responsible for navigation, ship safety regulations and inspections; the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) for marine emergency response and rescue, and DFO for fisheries resource management. In Quebec, the Commission des normes, de l'équité, de la santé, et de la sécurité au travail (CNESST) is responsible for preventing work accidents and illness on board fishing vessels. These organizations all work together to promote a culture of safety at sea and environmental protection with the Quebec fishing community.

Quebec's Standing Committee on Fishing Vessel Safety, which comprises all the organizations involved in safety at sea, provides an annual forum for discussion and information on all matters relating to fishing vessel safety, such as the design, construction, maintenance, operation and inspection of fishing vessels, as well as the training and certification of fish harvesters. Any other topics of interest involving fishing vessel safety and environmental protection can be raised and discussed. Fish harvesters can also address safety issues related to the species management plan (e.g. fishery openings) at advisory committee meetings held by DFO.

It is important to note that before setting out on a fishing trip, the vessel owner, captain or operator must ensure that the fishing vessel is fit for safe operation. Critical factors for a safe trip include vessel seaworthiness and stability, having the required safety equipment in good working order, crew training, and knowledge of current and forecast weather conditions.

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