ARCHIVED - Notice to Fish Harvesters

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Fisheries and Oceans Canada

July 8, 2010

Lobster Management Plan for 2010 LFA 25

Moncton – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Gulf Region, today provided the details of the Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 25 management plan.

Unless indicated otherwise, existing management measures including port freezes remain in place. The conservation measures from last year remain in place in 2010:

• The minimum carapace size is 70 mm.
• The maximum size for females is 114 mm.
• The height of the escape mechanism is 40 mm.
• The maximum diameter of hoop is 152 mm.
• The possession of lobster and fishing gear is prohibited between 9:00 pm and one hour before sunrise.

Beginning in 2010, licence holders must ensure that each trap has only one tag (i.e. valid tag).

In the context of the Atlantic Lobster Sustainability Measures (ALSM) program, the Department has approved a sustainability plan in LFA 25. The following are the management measures included in this plan:

• Increase the minimum carapace size to 72 mm by 2014. Years of size increases will be determined at a later date.
• Implementation by 2012 of a reliable electronic catch and effort data collection system.
• Reduce ghost fishing by using effective biodegradable trap elements by 2012.
• Provide to the electronic catch and effort data collection system information about bycatches.

The Prince County Fisherman’s Association (PCFA) received $3 million from the ALSM program to partially fund measures outlined in the sustainability plan and for fleet rationalization by retiring 34 lobster licences in LFA 25.

Further to a request from commercial harvesters from PEI and until further notice, beginning in 2010 the maximum number of traps for each LFA 25 commercial harvester residing in the PEI DFO Administrative Area will be reduced from 250 to 240. DFO has set up a procedure for the return to DFO in 2010 of tags and each commercial harvester has received a letter to this effect. DFO is providing 2,000 traps to the PCFA and a trap transfer program is being implemented. Further details about this program are available from the PCFA.

In recent months, there appears to be increased interest from lobster fishing organizations to have LFAs divided into sub-LFAs. In order to ensure a consistent approach, in the coming months the Gulf Region will be formulating a proposed regional policy for input by stakeholders regarding these types of requests. In the interim, existing sub-LFAs in southern Gulf LFAs remain in place and it is not anticipated that new sub-LFAs will be created in 2010.

The Department is completing its work with fishing organizations to determine how to ensure biodegradable panels work effectively. It is expected that the results of the study will be available in 2010 and discussions with industry will take place in identifying the best approach. Modifications to the panels, if needed, would be mandatory at the latest by the 2012 fishing season.

The Department is continuing to work on implementing an electronic data collection system in southern Gulf LFAs and fishing organizations will be kept apprised as this project evolves. Please note that an electronic data collection system will be mandatory in all southern Gulf LFAs by the 2012 fishing seasons.

The Department will continue to authorize the retention of sculpin and cunner; however, this management measure will be reviewed in the future to ensure it is not having a detrimental impact on the ecosystem.

The regulated opening date is 6:00 a.m. August 9, 2010, weather permitting. If the opening date was to be modified, as already discussed, it would be delayed and under no circumstances would it be advanced. The last day of fishing will be October 10.

For information: