Moncton (NB) and Quebec (QC) – April 3, 2025 - Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) today announces the opening date of the snow crab fishery in Crab Fishing Areas 12 (12, 18, 25 and 26) and 12E. Refer to the Terms of Reference of the Committee for setting the opening date for the snow crab fishery for the safety at sea considerations.
The fishery in Crab Fishing Area 12 (12, 18, 25, 26) and Area 12E will open at 06:00 AM Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT) on Saturday April 5, 2025.
The fishery will close on June 30, 2025 at 23:59 hrs Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT). All gear must be removed from the water by the end of the day June 30th, but landing of traps and snow crabs can occur, if required, on July 1st.
Aids to navigation should be considered unreliable as not all buoys have been deployed before the fishery opening. Charted buoy position data is available for the fishing industry upon request. Mariners are advised to exercise extreme caution.
A navigation warning (NAVWARN) is also in effect for the Ste-Marie Saint-Raphaël wharf in New Brunswick due to dredging work and is available at the following address: NAVWARN details. There may also be work at the Bay St. Lawrence and Finley Point wharfs in Nova Scotia. Users are to reduce speed and maintain a safe distance from the land-based dredging equipment that may be actively working at these three areas.
Furthermore, it is reminded that, during the period where fishing is authorized, it is the responsibility of the captain to take into account the marine safety notices issued, among others, by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Transport Canada, as well as the standards and best practices in marine safety, and to take all measures to ensure a safe fishery.