Approved: May 15, 2017
Amended: June 23, 2022
Amended: June 22, 2026
This Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) applies to all groundfish licence holders with mobile gear vessels less than 19.81 metres, regardless of homeport, fishing witch flounder in Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) 4R, 4S and 4T during the period from May 15, 2022, to May 14, 2027.
When fishing in Division 4R, mobile gear groundfish licence holders with a home port in NAFO Division 4R and Subdivision 3Pn, as well as those with overlap privileges with a home port in NAFO Division 2J or Subdivision 3Ps who fish in Division 4R, are subject to the NAFO Division 4R and Subdivision 3Pn Groundfish Conservation Harvesting Plan for the fixed gear and mobile gear fleets.
It is to be noted that this CHP is subject to change following ministerial decisions or annual review. Directed fishing for any other groundfish species will require a separate CHP.
The conservation measures during the fishery are as follows:
1. Protection of spawning fish and concentration of juveniles
The protection of fish during the spawning period and areas where there are concentrations of juveniles is a priority that the Department and the industry consider very important for the reconstruction of the cod stock in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence (GSL). The following conservation measures will apply:
- Closure of all groundfish fisheries from April 1st to June 23 in part of the NAFO Division 4R offshore from St. Georges Bay and Port au Port Bay which is a recognized spawning area;
- Permanent closure of all groundfish fisheries from January 1st to December 31st in part of groundfish fishing areas 4T3 known as Miscou Bank, which is a recognized cod concentration area;
- Permanent closure of all groundfish fisheries from January 1st to December 31st in groundfish fishing area 4T5 known as Shediac Valley, which is a recognized as a juvenile area;
- Permanent closure to all groundfish fisheries using mobile gear <19.81 metres from January 1st until December 31st in groundfish fishing area 4T4;
- Permanent closure to fishing all species of fish within the area known as the Irving Whale closure;
- Permanent closure of 4T7 to all mobile gear vessel less than 13.7 metres participants of the Individual Transferable Quota (ITQ) program;
- Permanent closure of 4T8 to all groundfish mobile gear fisheries;
- North of the Orphan Bank closure to all groundfish mobile gear fisheries due to a high by-catch of juvenile Greenland halibut (turbot);
- North of the Gaspé Peninsula, closed to the redfish fishery due to a high by-catch of cod and Atlantic halibut;
- Permanent closure from January 1st to December 31st to all mobile gear groundfish fishing groundfish in fishing areas 4T6 and 4T3a, where the water depth is less than 10 fathoms.
2. Allocation
The directed fishing allocation available to the mobile gear fleets with vessels based in Divisions 4S and 4T is 284 tonnes (t).
The directed fishing allocation available to the mobile gear fleets with vessels based in 4R Sub-Division 3Pn, and those with overlap privileges with a homeport in NAFO Division 2J or Sub-Division 3Ps is 270 (t).
3. Fishing Gear
Divisions 4S and 4T
The minimum mesh size of 155 mm square or diamond is authorized in the cod-end and the non-tapering part of the lengthening piece for a minimum of 50 meshes. In the remainder of the trawl a minimum mesh size of 130 mm is mandatory.
Division 4R
Danish Seine only: The minimum mesh size of 155 mm square is authorized in the codend and the non-tapering part of the lengthening piece for a minimum of 50 meshes. In the remainder of the trawl, a minimum mesh size of 130 mm is mandatory.
4. Fishing Seasons
The following seasons will be in effect for the duration of the CHP. Although these fishing seasons are anticipatory, actual opening dates may vary depending on circumstances at the time. For example, the announcement date of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC), while closing dates may be anticipated according to factors such as the quota being caught or other management considerations.
- 4S: May 15 to December 31 (test fishery before the opening of the fishery)
- 4R: May 15 to December 31
- 4T1: May 15 to December 31
- 4T2a: May 15 to December 31
- 4T2b: May 15 to December 31
- 4T3a: May 15 to December 31
- 4T3b: May 15 to December 31
- 4T4: No directed fishery
- 4T5: No directed fishery
- 4T6: September 1 to December 31
- 4T7: May 15 to December 31
- 4T8: No directed fishery1
- 4T9a: From May 15 to June 30 and from April 15 to May 14 of the following year
- 4T9b: From May 15 to June 30 and from April 15 to May 14 of the following year
5. By-Catch Limits
By-catch is defined as the round weight of the catch of a by-catch species divided by the round weight of the catch of the directed species.
While directing Witch flounder in NAFO Divisions 4R, 4S and 4T respectively, the following by-catch provisions will apply:
- Cod (4T): 15% by fishing trip
- Cod (4RS): 20% by fishing trip
- American Plaice (4T): 10% by fishing trip
- Winter Flounder (4T): 25% by fishing trip
- White Hake (4T): 5% by fishing trip
- Other species of groundfish (4RST): 10% by fishing trip
By-catch of groundfish species may not be released unless a condition of licence authorizes to do so.
Certain areas could be closed for fishing for a fleet or specified fleet sectors when a species by-catch exceeds the above percentages.
6. Small Fish Protocol
The minimum fish size under the Small Fish Protocol are:
- Cod: 43 cm
- American Plaice: 30 cm
- Witch Flounder: 30 cm
- White Hake: 45 cm
- Winter Flounder: 25 cm
- Yellowtail Fllounder: 25 cm
- Atlantic Halibut: 85 cm
- Greenland Halibut: 44 cm
- Redfish: 22 cm
All Atlantic halibut less than 85 cm, or Winter flounder less than 25 cm in length shall forthwith be returned to the place from which it was taken, in a manner that causes it the least harm.
Areas canbe closed for specific fleet sectors when the number of undersized fish reaches or exceeds 15% of the catch of any of the above species.
7. Dockside Monitoring
Dockside Monitoring Program (DMP) at 100% of the landings is mandatory.
8. Logbooks & combined forms
Logbooks are mandatory for all fish harvesters with homeports in the Gulf, Newfoundland and Maritimes Regions. They must be completed each fishing day.
The combined form is mandatory for all fish harvesters with homeports in the Québec Region. Fish harvesters must complete the logbook section of the Combined Form each fishing day.
9. At-Sea Observer Coverage
The industry-funded At-Sea Observer (ASO) program for Witch flounder fisheries apply a minimum coverage of 25% of the fishing trips. The ASO coverage is maintained at this level to increase the monitoring of by-catch, dumping and discarding at sea.
Dumping and discarding of groundfish at sea is prohibited unless authorized by the Conditions of Licence. Fishery closures, enforcement action by Conservation & Protection (C&P), and increases in industry funded ASO coverage are options to address unauthorized dumping and discarding at sea.
10. Catch Monitoring & Test Fishery
Small fish and by-catch fleet closures will be of a minimum duration of 10 days. The cost of conducting all test fisheries will be borne by industry. If a fishery is closed, it will not re-open unless DFO feels that it can be effectively monitored and controlled. If any particular fishery is closed twice during the year because of by-catch or small fish, the fishery may remain closed for the remainder of the year.
11. Other Management Measures
Crew registry
As of April 1st, 2021, inshore commercial license holders, and their approved Substitute Operators, must keep records of all the crew members working aboard the vessel on every fishing trip. These records must be maintained by the license holder for a period of five (5) years. This requirement does not apply to pre-1979 corporation license and to any license issued under the authority of the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licenses Regulations. For further details, refer to the March 17, 2021, Notice to Fish Harvesters at New inshore regulation (2021-03-17) contact the Licensing Office at 1-877-535-7307 or fishingpeche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.
Waste disposal
In 2022, all commercial fisheries in Canada have a new condition of licence relating to the discharge of garbage from Canadian fishing vessels. The licence holder/operator is prohibited from discarding in Canadian fisheries waters from their vessel any item that may be harmful to fish or fish habitat. Please refer to the following Notice to Fishers: 2022 - New Condition of Licence.
12. Quota Reconciliation
Quota reconciliation provides that any overharvest of a quota in one year, on an Individual Quota regime or in a competitive fishery, will be accounted for in advance of the following fishing season. For example, quota overruns by a licence holder or by a fleet during a fishing management year will be deducted from quotas for the following season on a one-for-one basis. In the month following the end of the fishing season, DFO makes any necessary changes to quotas for the current year based on quota overruns, if applicable.
13. Species at Risk Act
Pursuant to the Species at Risk Act (SARA), no person shall kill, harm, harass, capture, take, possess, collect, buy, sell or trade an individual or any part or derivate of a wildlife species designated as extirpated, endangered or threatened.
At the time this Management Plan is promulgated, the Atlantic species targeted by these measures are the following ones: Spotted Wolfish (threatened), Northern Wolfish (threatened), Leatherback Turtle (endangered) and the White Shark (endangered). New species could be added to the SARA within the year.
All by-catches of species identified above must be returned to the water and released in the exact capture location and, if the fish is still alive, with as little harm as possible. The information related to the species at risk mentioned above and the blue whale (Atlantic population), North Atlantic Right whale and the beluga whale (St. Lawrence Estuary population) shall be collected for each fishing trip where such a species is encountered. This information must be entered into the Species at Risk logbook and sent to DFO immediately after the fishing trip.
14. Closures for the protection of corals and sponges
On December 15, 2017, sensitive benthic areas were closed to all fishing using bottom touching gears in order to protect corals and sponges. You will find the coordinates and a map of those closures on the following website Coral and Sponge Conservation Measures in the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence
15. Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area
On March 6, 2019, Fisheries and Oceans Canada created, jointly with the Quebec government, the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area (MPA) in order to the ensure the conservation and protection of this marine ecosystem.
Provisions of the Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area Regulations apply to licence holders. In order to comply with them, please refer to the clauses that apply to your fishing activities: Banc-des-Américains Marine Protected Area Regulations.
16. Management measures to minimize the risks of interactions with the North Atlantic Right Whale
The management measures to minimize interactions with North Atlantic Right Whales (NARW) can be found at the following address: 2026 fishery management measures.
What to do if you observe a North Atlantic right whale
First and foremost, it is important to maintain a minimum distance of 100 meters from the animal and 200 meters if the whale is accompanied by a calve. Details regarding sightings of live and free-swimming right whales may be provided to DFO at: XMARWhalesightings@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or by phone at 1-844-800-8568. If you observe this species, please send us your contact information and information about the sighting (date, time, geographical position, number of individuals, etc.). If possible, you can also send us photos or videos.
If you observe a right whale entangled in fishing gear, you must never attempt to free the animal yourself. The behavior of an entangled whale is unpredictable and dangerous. You must contact Marine Mammal Emergencies as soon as possible at 1-877-722-5346 to provide the information
needed (time and location of the entangled animal, the animal’s behavior, weather and sea state details, etc.) for a trained response team to act.
Reporting Interactions with Marine Mammals
Fishing licence holders and vessel operators must report all interactions with marine mammals that occur during fishing trips, including: incidental catches, collisions, and any sightings of entangled marine mammals, within 48 hours after the end of a fishing trip. To do this, the licence holder and vessel operator must complete the relevant section in the electronic logbook or the Marine Mammal Interaction Form, available online at: Report a marine mammal or sea turtle incident or sighting and with the Licence Conditions. Submit the form according to the instructions provided.
The information will be used by the DFO to estimate the levels of accidental mortality and injury sustained by marine mammals. This data will help DFO better assess the types of threats faced by Canada’s marine mammals and to develop mitigation strategies.
Additionally, if you observe a dead or distressed animal, please contact 'Marine Mammal Emergencies' as soon as possible at 1-877-722-5346. If possible, do not hesitate to take photos or videos. These could help DFO assess the situation and identify the species.
17. Conditions of licence
To obtain their Conditions of licence, fish harvesters must access the National Online Licensing System (NOLS). For NOLS assistance, please contact customer support by phone at 1 877-535-7307 or by email at fishing-peche@dfo-mpo.gc.ca.