Antigonish, Nova Scotia (NS) – September 16, 2024 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is announcing the management measures for the Commercial and Recreational Oyster fishery in Nova Scotia that border on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait in 2024.
Fishing Season
The commercial and recreational oyster fishing season in Nova Scotia that border on the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait is open at 6:00 a.m. Sunday, September 15, 2024. The last day of fishing will be Saturday, November 30, 2024 (inclusively).
Weekly closed times
From sunset to sunrise from Monday to Saturday and all day Sunday.
Licensing Restrictions
The commercial or recreational oyster licence does not permit the movement of oysters from one body of water to another. Any fish harvesters wishing to move product from the public beds to a clean water lease must apply for a Section 56 I&T licence.
Minimum size: Only oysters, with a minimum shell length of 76 mm, may be retained.
Fishing Gear: Only rakes or tongs that are operated by hand without mechanical assistance are to be used.
New in 2024
Logbook requirements
The commercial and recreational Oyster Reporting Document must be returned within fourteen (14) days after the closure of the commercial and recreational oyster fishing season by email: DFO.StatisticsGLF-StatistiqueGLF.MPO@dfo-mpo.gc.ca or by mail to the following address as per licence condition: Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Statistics Division, P.O. Box 5030, Moncton, N.B. E1C 9B6. A nil report must be sent if there was no fishing during the entire fishing season.
The licence holder must keep a copy of the accurately completed Oyster Reporting Document for a period of five (5) years and produce these accurately completed logbooks at the request of any Fishery Officer or Fishery Guardian, or any authority designated by a Fishery Officer or a Fishery Guardian.
Commercial Harvesting
Restrictions
While fishing under the authority of the commercial oyster licence, no person shall participate in recreational fishing of any kind, and where a vessel is used in fishing, no person on board the vessel shall participate in recreational fishing of any kind.
While fishing under the authority of the commercial oyster licence, no person shall participate in any other commercial fishing activities of any kind, and where a vessel is used in fishing, no person on board the vessel shall participate in any other commercial fishing activities of any kind.
Recreational Harvesting
Bag Limit
Possession limit of 150 oysters at any given time.