Antigonish, Nova Scotia (NS) – June 13, 2024 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Gulf Regions wishes to advise the Crab Fishing Area 19 (CFA 19) Snow Crab fishery will open from 05:00 hours July 4, 2024 until 23:59 hours September 4, 2024.
This opening date may be modified due to weather conditions or the presence of North Atlantic Right Whales (NARW).
NEW IN 2024
- The validity period of the conditions of licence will be valid until Sept 11, 2024 to align with the licence holder's requirement to report the species at risk logbook that can occur until that date. There is no change to the season date closure.
- Starting in 2024, Notices of Fishing Prohibition to protect NARW will be enforced through a clause newly added in the licence conditions, rather than issuing Variation Orders.
- The Notices of Fishing Prohibition will prohibit setting traps in sectors where NARW have been detected.
- The Notice to Fish Harvesters will now refer to "prohibited sectors" and "revoke prohibited sectors" instead of using "open" and "closed" terminologies.
DFO, Gulf Region wishes to remind fish harvesters to take extra care when navigating on the opening day of the snow crab fishery as vessels are loaded with gear and traps. Harvesters are encouraged to act diligently in setting their traps and should ensure that vessels are loaded safely by reducing the quantity of gear if necessary.
Fish harvesters are reminded that during the period where fishing is authorized, it is the responsibility of the licence holder to take into account the marine safety notices issued, among others, by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Transport Canada, as well as the standards and best practices in marine safety, and to take all measures to ensure a safe fishery.