On May 9, The Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced the multi-year management plan for some groundfish species in the Gulf of St. Lawrence Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) divisions 3Pn,4RST.
DFO also provided a reminder of previous total allowable catch (TAC) decisions for the groundfish species currently managed under a multi-year plan.
A yearly TAC of 3,185 tonnes for cod, will be established as of May 15, 2017 for a two-year period for cod 3Pn,4RS, representing an increase in keeping with the species’ rebuilding plan.
A yearly TAC of 500 tonnes for witch flounder and 300 tonnes for winter flounder will be established as of May 15, 2017 for a five-year period.
The American plaice 4T directed fishery will be closed as of May 15, 2017. The maximum allowable by-catch of American plaice in other directed groundfish fisheries will now be 10 per cent of the directed species. The existing TAC will be allocated as by-catch only.
| SPECIES | ANNUAL TAC | TIME PERIOD |
| American plaice (4T) | 250 t | Closed |
| Cod (3Pn,4RS) | 3,185 t | Until May 14, 2019 |
| Cod (4TVn) | 300 t | Closed |
| White hake (4T) | 30 t | Closed |
| Winter flounder (4T) | 300 t | Until May 14, 2022 |
| Witch flounder (4RST) | 500 t | Until May 14, 2022 |
| Yellowtail flounder (4T) | 225 t | Until May 14, 2021 |
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