2024 – Summer herring fishery in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence for Herring Fishing Areas 16A to 16G

Moncton (NB) and Quebec (QC) – June 24, 2024 – Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announces the beginning of the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence herring summer fishery on July 1, 2024 for Herring Fishing Areas (HFAs) 16A to 16G. An interim Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 250 t, taken from the herring fall fishery TAC, is available for the summer fishery.

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 are available on the following website: Electronic logbooks (ELOGS).

Annex 1 presents a summary of management measures for this fishery.

Annex 1

2024 management measures of the summer herring fishery for the inshore fleet

• HFA 16A - Île Verte
  • Monitoring¹:
    • CMP - 100%
    • DMP - Targeted rate of 100%
    • E-log - Mandatory
    • Hail-out - Mandatory
  • Allocation²: 2 t
  • Period: July 1 - December 31
  • Net³:
    • Mesh size: 63.5 mm minimum
    • Depth: 125 mesh
    • Length: 150 fathoms
  • Closures⁴: None
  • Trip limit: One landing per day

• HFA 16B - Chaleurs bay
  • Monitoring¹:
    • NB:
      • DMP - 100%
      • Logbook - Mandatory or voluntary Elog
      • Hail out - Mandatory
    • QC:
      • CMP - 100%
      • DMP - Targeted rate of 100%
      • E-log - Mandatory
      • Hail out - Mandatory
  • Allocation²: 90 t
  • Period: July 1 - July 31
  • Net³:
    • Mesh size: 66.7 mm minimum
    • Depth: 125 mesh
    • Length: 125 fathoms
  • Closures⁴: None
  • Trip limit: One landing per day, daily limit of 10,206 kg (22,500 lbs) 

• 16 C&E - Escuminac, Western PEI and northern GNS
  • Monitoring¹:
    • DMP - 100%
    • Logbook - Mandatory or voluntary Elog
    • Hail out - Mandatory
  • Allocations²: 30 t
  • Period: July 1 - TBD
  • Net³:
    • Mesh size: 66.7 mm minimum
    • Depth: 125 mesh
    • Length: 150 fathoms
  • Closures⁴: 18:00 Friday to 18:00 Sunday
  • Trip limit: One landing per day with a daily limit of 5,670 kg (12,500 lbs)

• 16D - Magdalen Islands
  • Monitoring¹:
    • CMP - 100%
    • DMP - Targeted rate of 100%
    • E-log - Mandatory
    • Hail out - Mandatory
  • Allocation²: 6 t
  • Period: July 1 - December 31
  • Net³:
    • Mesh size: 66.7 mm minimum
    • Depth: 125 mesh
    • Length: 150 fathoms
  • Closures⁴: None
  • Trip limit: None

• 16F - Pictou
  • Monitoring¹:
    • DMP - 100%
    • Logbook - Mandatory or voluntary Elog
    • Hail out - Mandatory
  • Allocation²: 31 t
  • Period: July 1 - August 16
  • Net³:
    • Mesh size: 66.7 mm minimum
    • Depth: 125 mesh
    • Length: 100 fathoms
  • Closures⁴: 12:00 Friday to 18:00 Sunday 
  • Trip limit: One landing per day, with daily limit self-managed by industry

• 16G - Northside and Southside 
  • Monitoring¹:
    • DMP - 100%
    • Logbook - Mandatory or voluntary Elog
    • Hail out - Mandatory
  • Allocations²: 31 t
  • Period: July 1 - TBD
  • Net³ - Northside:  
    • Mesh size: 66.7 mm minimum
    • Depth: 125 mesh
    • Length: 150 fathoms
  • Net³ - Southside:
    • Mesh size: 66.7 mm minimum
    • Depth: 100 mesh
    • Length: 150 fathoms
  • Closures⁴: 15:00 Friday to 15:00 Sunday
  • Trip limit: Maximum 2 landings per day, with daily and weekly limit self-managed by industry

• ^1: DMP - dockside monitoring program / CMP - catch monitoring program / E-log - electronic logbook.
• ^2: The allocations will be adjusted based on the summer fishery landings.
• ^3: Tagging of gillnets is required in all HFAs.
• ^4: Dates and times are based on Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT). No nets to remain in the water during the closures.