Tracadie, New Brunswick (NB) – May 17, 2022 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is announcing the management measures and opening dates for the 2022 commercial gaspereau fishery for Eastern New Brunswick (ENB). The fishing season for each water course was established in consultation with industry members and details can be found in the attached Annex 1.
Preliminary results from the scientific Gaspereau Stock Assessment for the DFO Gulf Region conducted in 2021 highlighted the need for more reliable data on landings in the commercial gaspereau fishery in Eastern New Brunswick area. Discussions on this matter will take place with stakeholders at the next ENB Gaspereau Advisory Committee meeting scheduled this fall.
NEW
Splitting of fishing gear: The Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy for the Gulf Region, (the Policy), has been modified in 2021 to allow the splitting of fishing gear during gaspareau licence reissuance. This modification was proposed and supported by members at the ENB Gaspereau Advisory Committee meeting held in 2017. Two current gaspereau licence holders may split the number of gear between them. The split is only authorized for licence holders having traps valid in more than one watersheds and must include all gears valid for a same watershed. More details can be found in Chapter 40 of the Policy at the following link: Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy for the Gulf Region
Lost and Retrieved Gear Reporting: All licence holders/operators must report any lost fishing gear by submitting a Lost Fishing Gear form or through the fishing gear reporting system available online at Fishing Gear Reporting System within 24 hours of entering to port after noticing the loss of gear. The retrieval of any of their own previously reported lost gear must also be reported by submitting a Retrieval of Previously Reported Fishing Gear form or through the fishing gear reporting system available online at Fishing Gear Reporting System within 24 hours of entering to port after retrieving gear previously reported as lost.
New Licence Condition: A new licence condition has been added to all fishing licences regarding the prohibition of discarding waste in any water course.
Other management measures in place
The following management measures remain in place for the 2022 fishing season.
Fishing gear
Only trap nets or gill nets are authorized to fish for gaspereau. All fishing gear used in the commercial gaspereau fishery have to be identified with the name of the licence holder, or the licence number for the Aboriginal Organizations.
Incidental catch
Gaspereau fish harvesters may retain shad that is incidentally caught with gaspereau fishing gear. All other species of fish incidentally caught shall be immediately returned to the place from which it was taken and where it is alive, in a manner that causes it the least harm.
Marine Mammal Interaction Reporting
Since 2018, all licence holders/operators must provide information regarding all lethal and nonlethal marine mammal interactions during fishing trips, including bycatch, collision and all sightings of marine mammals entangled in fishing gear in the DFO Marine Mammal Interaction Form.
Annexe 1
Opening dates for the 2022 Gaspereau Commercial Fishery in Eastern New Brunswick
- Tidal waters of that portion of New Brunswick that borders on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Northumberland Strait not referred to in the waters set out below:
- Open season: from 6:00 p.m. on May 31 to 6:00 p.m. on June 28
- Closure: No closure
- Tidal waters of Lamèque Island, Miscou Island and the Caraquet Bay, Gloucester County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on May 28 to 12:00 p.m. on June 25
- Closure: No closure
- Tidal waters of the Pokemouche River, Gloucester County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on May 22 to 12:00 p.m. on July 2
- Closure: Closed every weekend from 12:00 pm each Saturday to 6:00 pm on the following Sunday.
- Tidal waters of the Big Tracadie River and Portage River, (tributary of the Big Tracadie River), Gloucester County
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on June 1 to 12:00 p.m. on July 6
- Closure: Closed from 12:00 p.m. on Saturday to 6:00 p.m. on the following Sunday during the weekends of June 4-5 and June 11-12
- Tidal waters of the Little Tracadie River, Gloucester County:
- Open season: Open from 6:00 p.m. on May 31 to 6:00 p.m. on June 28
- Closure: No closure
- Tidal waters of the Tabusintac River, Northumberland County:
- Open season: Open from 6:00 p.m. on May 28 to 6:00 p.m. on July 2
- Closure: Closed from 12:00 p.m. on Saturday to 6:00 p.m. on the following Sunday during the weekends of May 28-29 and June 4-5
- Tidal waters of Miramichi Bay, Miramichi River, Black River, French River, Napan River and Bay du Vin River, Northumberland County:
- Open season: Open from 6:00 p.m. on May 28 to 6:00 p.m. on June 25
- Closure: No closure
- Tidal waters of the Eel River and Portage River (tributary of the Eel River), Northumberland County:
- Open season: Open from 6:00 p.m. on May 24 to 6:00 p.m. on June 28
- Closure: Closed from 12:00 p.m. on Saturday to 6:00 p.m. on the following Sunday during the weekends of May 28-29 and June 4-5
- Tidal waters of the Northwest Miramichi and Southwest Miramichi Rivers, Northumberland County:
- Open season: Open from 6:00 p.m. on June 1 to 6:00 p.m. on June 29
- Closure: No closure
- Tidal waters of Richibucto Harbour, Richibucto River, Saint-Charles (Aldouane) River, Kouchibouguac River and Kouchibouguacis River, Kent County
- Open season: Open from 6:00 p.m. on June 1 to 6:00 p.m. on June 29
- Closure: No closure
- Tidal waters of the Bouctouche River, Kent County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on June 2 to 12:00 p.m. on June 30
- Closure: No closure
- Tidal waters of Cocagne Bay and Cocagne River, Kent County and also tidal waters of the Scoudouc River, Westmorland County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on June 5 to 12:00 p.m. on July 3
- Closure: No closure
- Tidal waters of the Little Bouctouche River, Kent County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on June 1 to 12:00 p.m. on June 29
- Closure: No closure
- Tidal waters of the Shediac River, Westmorland County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on June 3 to 12:00 p.m. on July 1
- Closure: No closure
- Tidal waters of Aboujagane and Kouchibouguac Rivers, Westmorland County:
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on May 28 to 12:00 p.m. on June 25
- Closure: No closure