2023 – Summer Herring Fishery in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence for Herring Fishing Areas 16A to 16G

Moncton (NB) and Québec (QC) – June 30, 2023 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announces the beginning of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence herring summer fishery on July 3, 2023 for Herring Fishing Areas (HFAs) 16A to 16G. A Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 250 t, taken from the herring fall TAC, is available for the summer fishery.

NEW for 2023

Mandatory hail out for harvesters in the Gulf and Quebec Regions

DFO is implementing a mandatory hail out for the commercial and bait herring fisheries in 2023 for all harvesters from the Gulf and Quebec Regions.

Bait landings part of the TAC

Bait catches will be counted as part of the TAC.

Annex 1 presents a summary of other management measures for this fishery. Harvesters must refer to the conditions of licence for compliance requirements.

TAC for the herring summer fishery (250 t)

Fleets	Shares	TAC (t)
Fixed gear, HFAs 16A to 16G	76.07%	190
Fixed gear, HFA 17	1.00%	3
Mobile gear	22.93%	57
TOTAL	100%	250

Allocations available - Fixed gear fleet (190 t)

HFA	Shares	Allocations (t)
16A	0.79%	2
16B	47.54%	90
16C&E	15.77%	30
16D	3.29%	6
16F	16.30%	31
16G	16.30%	31
TOTAL	100%	190

Annex 1

2023 management measures of the summer herring fishery for the inshore fleet

• HFA 16A - Île Verte
  • Monitoring¹:
    • CMP - 100%
    • DMP - 25%
    • E-log - Mandatory
    • Hail out - Mandatory
  • Allocation²: 2 t
  • Period: July 1 - December 31
  • Net³:
    • mesh size: 63,5 mm minimum
    • depth: 125 mesh
    • length: 150 fathoms
  • Closures⁴: None
  • Trip Limit: One landing per day

 

• HFA 16B - Chaleurs Bay
  • Monitoring¹ (NB):
    • DMP - 100%
    • Logbook - Mandatory
    • Hail out - Mandatory
  • Monitoring¹ (QC):
    • CMP - 100%
    • DMP - 25%
    • E-log - Mandatory
    • Hail out - Mandatory
  • Allocation²: 90 t
  • Period: July 1 - July 31
  • Net³:
    • mesh size: 66,7 mm minimum
    • depth: 125 mesh
    • length: 125 fathoms
  • Closures⁴: None
  • Trip Limit: One landing per day, daily limit of 10,206 kg (22,500 lbs)

 

• HFA 16 C & E - Escuminac, western PEI and northern GNS
  • Monitoring¹:
    • DMP - 100%
    • Logbook - Mandatory
    • Hail out - Mandatory
  • Allocation²: 30 t
  • Period: July 3 - To be Determined
  • Net³:
    • mesh size: 66,7 mm minimum
    • depth: 125 mesh
    • length: 150 fathoms
  • Closures⁴: 18:00 Friday to 18:00 Sunday
  • Trip Limit: One landing per day, daily limit of 5,670 kg (12,500 lbs)

 

• HFA 16 D - Magdalen Islands
  • Monitoring¹:
    • CMP - 100%
    • DMP - 25%
    • E-log - Mandatory
    • Hail out - Mandatory
  • Allocation²: 6 t
  • Period: July 1 - December 31
  • Net³:
    • mesh size: 66,7 mm minimum
    • depth: 125 mesh
    • length: 150 fathoms
  • Closures⁴: None
  • Trip Limit: None

 

• HFA 16 F - Pictou
  • Monitoring¹:
    • DMP - 100%
    • Logbook - Mandatory
    • Hail out - Mandatory
  • Allocation²: 31 t
  • Period: July 3 - August 18
  • Net³:
    • mesh size: 66,7 mm minimum
    • depth: 125 mesh
    • length: 100 fathoms
  • Closures⁴: 18:00 Friday to 18:00 Sunday
  • Trip Limit: One landing per day, daily limit self-managed by industry

 

• HFA 16 G - Northside and Southside
  • Monitoring¹:
    • DMP - 100%
    • Logbook - Mandatory
    • Hail out - Mandatory
  • Allocation²: 31 t
  • Period: July 3 - To be Determined
  • Net³ - Northside:
    • mesh size: 66,7 mm minimum
    • depth: 125 mesh
    • length: 150 fathoms
  • Net³ - Southside:
    • mesh size: 66,7 mm minimum
    • depth: 100 mesh
    • length: 150 fathoms
  • Closures⁴: 15:00 Friday to 15:00 Sunday
  • Trip Limit: Maximum of 2 landings per day, daily and weekly limit self-managed by industry

• ^1: DMP - dockside monitoring program / CMP - catch monitoring program. E-log – Electronic logbook.
• ^2: The allocations for the fall fishery will be adjusted based on the summer fishery landings.
• ^3: Tagging of gillnets is required in all HFAs.
• ^4: Dates and times are based on Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT). No nets to remain in the water during the closures.