Moncton (NB) and Quebec (QC) – June 24, 2024 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announces the Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) for the 2024 herring bait fishery in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence in Herring Fishing Areas 16A to 16G.
The bait fishery (herring only) will begin on July 1, 2024.
Eligible fish harvesters who wish to participate in this fishery must refer to Conditions of Licence that will be available on the National Online Licensing System.
NEW IN 2024
The voluntary use of an electronic logbook (ELOG) for Gulf Region harvesters is authorized in 2024. Additional information can be found on the following website: Electronic logbooks (ELOGS).
OTHER MANAGEMENT MEASURES
Mandatory hail out
Mandatory hail out for all harvesters from the Gulf and Quebec Regions.
Mandatory logbook
Gulf Region harvesters must obtain either a paper logbook or an electronic logbook from a prequalified supplier listed on the following websites:
- Herring and Mackerel logbook - Fixed gear (paper format) : Prequalified Logbook Suppliers.
- Electronic logbook (Elog) : Qualified electronic logbooks (ELOG) client applications.
Quebec Region harvesters must continue to use the electronic logbook.
Bait fishery landings
Bait catches will be counted as part of the Total Allowable Catch (TAC).
Weekend closures
Weekend closures for all Herring Fishing Areas every week beginning at 12:00 Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT) (noon) on Friday and ending at 12:00 (ADT) (noon) on Sunday.
Maximum weekly limit
The maximum quantity of herring authorized to catch and retain between Sunday at 12:00 ADT (noon) and the following Friday at 12:00 ADT (noon) is 2,270 kg in total.
Gear authorized
A maximum of 3 gillnets for a maximum total length of 50 fathoms with a minimum mesh size of 66.7 mm.
Fishing restrictions
It is strictly forbidden to sell any species of fish caught under the authority of a bait licence.
Hail-in
Gulf Region harvesters using a paper logbook must have an agreement with a dockside monitoring company and must hail-in catch estimate prior to arrive at wharf.
Quebec and Gulf Region harvesters using an Elog must have an agreement with a service provider and must have completed and closed the fishing trip prior to arrive at wharf.
Gear marking
Gear marking requirements are found in the bait licence conditions.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
Harvesters must refer to the conditions of licence for reporting requirements for items such as:
- Species at Risk
- Marine mammal interaction
- Lost gear reporting
- Retrieved gear reporting