After much public consultation, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) recently announced that there will be no changes to the regulations governing the recreational groundfish (cod) fishing season for Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec’s Lower North Shore.
In 2016, the fishing season was extended by 14 days to allow a total of 46 fishing days. These measures will remain in place for the 2017 season.
In November 2016, DFO held a series of regional consultations, eight public meetings (St. John’s, Clarenville, Gander, Corner Brook, Mary’s Harbour, Plum Point, Carbonear and Marystown), a consultation with Indigenous communities, as well as an online consultation process from November 1-30, seeking public input on the proposed tags regime for the recreational groundfish fishery.
DFO heard strong opposition to the potential introduction of a tags system for the annual recreational groundfish fishery. The department listened to the public’s views, and has taken all feedback into account in making this year’s management decision.
Common themes from the public consultations included:
- This is a food fishery, not a recreational fishery
- Strong opposition to the use of tags, particularly plastic tags
- Value of tags as a management measure was challenged
- Support for a recreational licence, with mandatory harvest reporting
- Why is this being planned only for Newfoundland and Labrador first?
- Management measures for the future fishery recommended
- Cultural and heritage significance of this fishery
- Concern with the cost of licences and tags
- Support for the possible implementation of a minimum fish size
- This is a “money grab” for Fisheries and Oceans and the Government of Canada
- Skepticism regarding enforcement operations
- Calls to close the capelin fishery
- Critiques of the consultation process
- Appreciation for the consultation process
As part of this process, DFO said it will engage with Canadians in the Atlantic Provinces and Quebec in the coming months on the possibility of introducing a marine recreational fishing licence regime, without the use of tags, for 2018.
Species and Area
The recreational groundfish fishery will occur in all NAFO areas/subareas around Newfoundland and Labrador, which includes 2GH, 2J3KL, 3Ps, 3Pn and 4R. Two exceptions are the Eastport and Gilbert Bay Marine Protected Areas (MPA) where recreational groundfish fishing will not be permitted.
Dates of seasons
Summer Season:
Saturday July 1, 2017 to Monday July 3, 2017
Saturday July 8, 2017 to Sunday July 9, 2017
Saturday, July 15, 2017 to Sunday, August 6, 2017
Saturday, August 12, 2017 to Sunday, August 13, 2017
Saturday, August 19, 2017 to Sunday, August 20, 2017
Saturday, August 26, 2017 to Sunday, August 27, 2017
Saturday September 2, 2017 to Monday, September 4, 2017
Fall Season:
Saturday, September 23, 2017 to Sunday, October 1, 2017
Retention Limits
Recreational fishers are limited to five groundfish per day (including cod).
Management Measures and Regulations
- The recreational fishery is open to both residents and non-residents.
- The maximum boat limit when three or more people are fishing is 15 groundfish.
- For 2017, tour boat operators will be eligible to apply for a licence to seek an increased trip limit. This licence will have harvest reporting requirements.
- Retention of Atlantic halibut, Spotted and Northern wolffish, and any species of shark is prohibited. Sculpins and cunners may be released. All other groundfish caught must be retained and are part of the daily bag limit of 5 groundfish.
- High-grading of groundfish is not permitted and no fish are permitted to be wasted.
- All fish caught must be retained in a readily identifiable state. Fish may be bled, gutted, and split while at sea, but further processing such as, skinning, cutting into sections, packing or otherwise at sea is not permitted, as such further processing practices make determinations of species, number and size of the fish problematic.
- Only angling gear and handlines with a maximum of three hooks are permitted. Handlines include artificial lures, baited hooks and feathered hooks. Artificial lures with treble hooks weighing less than five ounces or 142 grams are acceptable. Traditional jiggers are not permitted unless they are modified and have only one single hook.
- Provisions will continue that allow a disabled person to designate a person to catch their daily limit of groundfish will continue. Information is available at Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Client Service Centres.
- Fishery officers and Fishery Guardians will monitor this fishery closely, both at sea and at dockside, to ensure regulations are followed. Complaints will be investigated and enforcement action initiated where required. The sale of groundfish caught in the recreational fishery is strictly prohibited.
- Commercial fishing vessels are not permitted to participate in recreational fishing activity on any fishing trip where there is any commercial fishing activity.
- For safety reasons, fishing is only permitted from one hour before sunrise until one hour after sunset.
- The public is reminded to follow safe boating practices and be aware of local weather and sea conditions before leaving port.
