Tracadie, NB – May 17, 2023 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is announcing the 2023-2025 management measures and opening dates for the 2023 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 Annex 1.
Results from the scientific Gaspereau Stock Assessment for the DFO Gulf Region published in 2022 highlighted the need for more reliable data on landings in the commercial gaspereau fishery in ENB area. Following consultation held with industry in November 2022, representatives agreed to the implementation of a new catch reporting system for the 2023-2025 fishing seasons.
NEW
Catch Reporting Hail-in
All active licence holders will be required to call at 1-833-978-1605 to report their gaspareau landings for each day fished. Calls must be made:
- at the end of every fishing day or;
- at the end of every week where fishing activities occurred. A week is defined as commencing at 00:01 hrs on Sunday and ending at 23:59 hrs on the following Saturday.
Fish harvesters will be required to provide the following information for each watercourse where fishing activities took place:
- licence number;
- name;
- fishing area;
- dates fished;
- number and type of gear used;
- quantity of gaspereau retained in pounds and;
- name and amount of every species incidentally caught (including shad).
Information collected will be used for statistical purposes and will improve catch and effort data in the commercial gaspereau fishery. Information that will have to be reported during the call is included in the licence conditions.
Costs related to the catch-reporting system implementation and usage will be covered by the Department, at no cost to fishers.
Other management measures in place for 2023-2025
The following management measures remain in place:
Fishing gear
Only trap nets or gill nets are authorized to fish for gaspereau. All fishing gear used in the commercial gaspereau fishery has 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.
For your information
Transport Canada recommends the use of yellow self-reflective tape around the poles and/or if possible, installation of solar lights to identify the fishing gear.
ANNEX 1
Opening dates for the 2023 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: Open from 6:00 p.m. on May 31 to 6:00 p.m. on June 28
- Closure: No closure
- Tidal waters of 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 Lamèque Island and Miscou Island, Gloucester County
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on May 24 to 12:00 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 27-28 and June 3-4
- Tidal waters of the Pokemouche River, Gloucester County
- Open season: Open from 12:00 p.m. on May 21 to 12:00 p.m. on July 1
- 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 May 28 to 12:00 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 June 3-4 and June 10-11
- 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 27 to 6:00 p.m. on July 1
- Closure: Closed from 12:00 p.m. on Saturday to 6:00 p.m. on the following Sunday during the weekends of May 27-28 and June 3-4
- Tidal waters of Miramichi Bay, 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 Miramichi River, Northumberland County
- Open season: Open from 4:00 p.m. on May 28 to 4:00 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 6:00p.m. on the following Sunday during the weekends of May 27-28 and June 3-4
- 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 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 Richibucto Harbour and Richibucto River, Kent 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 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