Interest in Unit 1 Redfish Experimental Fishery Growing
Biomass at Highest Observed Level Since 1984
A total of 13 projects from Atlantic Canada and Quebec have been approved for the Unit 1 redfish 2021/22 experimental fishery.
Last season (2020/21), only four vessels participated in the experimental fishery and seven in the index fishery for a total of 11 vessels.
“The number of vessels that will be active in the 2021/22 experimental fishery for Unit 1 depends on whether the 13 successful project proponents for the experimental fishery ...
Mackerel Stocks Remain Low, DFO Reports
Despite a spawning stock biomass increase between 2016 and 2018, Atlantic mackerel “remains in the critical zone” says the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), with recruitment levels “at all-time lows” in 2017 and 2018.
“Since 2005, the spawning stock biomass index has declined and is now approximately one twentieth of the levels observed in the 1980s,” reads the summary of the latest stock assessment conducted in March, with the 2015 year class representing “75 ...
Cautious Optimism Greets New Federal Fisheries Minister
Photo by David Greening
More than a few eyebrows were raised when Jonathan Wilkinson was appointed the new Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard on July 18.
The new minister just happens to be the Member of Parliament for North Vancouver. As a result of a recent cabinet shuffle, Prime Minister Justin appointed a fisheries minister from the west coast of the country. Wilkinson replaced the often-times controversial Dominic LeBlanc
It would be an understatem...
Legal Action and Controversy Follow Awarding of Arctic Surf Clam License
When Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced his intention last fall to introduce a fourth license for Arctic surf clams, representing 25 per cent of the total allowable catch (TAC), speculation and controversy quickly followed.
And that controversy came to a head Feb. 21 when LeBlanc announced, to the surprise of many industry stakeholders, that the new license for Arctic surf clams would be going to the newly created Five Nations Clam Company.
The minister said the Five Nations ...
DFO Awards New Arctic Surf Clam License
On Feb. 21. Federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced that a new license for Arctic surf clam will be issued to the Five Nations Clam Company.
This decision will significantly enhance Indigenous participation in the offshore fishery in Atlantic Canada.
The Five Nations Clam Company is a new entity that will be comprised of First Nations from Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick. This entity will partner with Premium Seafoods to ...
New Licence to be Issued for Arctic Surf Clams in 2018
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has announced it is introducing a fourth licence for Arctic surf clams representing 25 per cent of the existing total allowable catch (TAC) for 2018.
The new entrant to the Arctic surf clam fishery will be identified via an expression of interest. Interested parties wishing to participate in this fishery must send a written proposal, to be received by DFO by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) November 2, 2017. This licence will be issued to a new ...
Quebec Private Equity Firm Creates $140-Million Lobster and Crab Group
The Montreal-based private equity firm, Champlain Financial, has purchased Riverside Lobster of Nova Scotia and will merge the company with Cheticamp Fisheries, which it purchased in May 2017.
The primary products of Riverside and Cheticamp are lobster and snow crab.
The group will be led by Marc Poulin, formerly CEO of Sobeys, who will become the executive chairman of Champlain’s seafood platform.
“Both companies are strategically located in the most productive crab and lobster ...
The Playgrounds Were Wharves and the Sea
Ghislain Cyr is passionate about preserving the fisheries and marine ecosystem in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
One of several generations of fishermen, the 57-year-old from the Iles de la Madeleine (Magdalen Islands) is also very vocal about his commitment to conservation. That is not surprising perhaps when one considers that the ‘Maggies’ are almost totally dependant on the fishing industry for survival.
Ghislain is well known throughout the Atlantic region because of his involvement ...
Halibut Fishery Opening in 4R for Quebec Region Fleet
DFO advises that the Halibut fishery in NAFO Division 4R, for vessels based in the Quebec Region, will open at 0430 hrs EDT on July 8, 2015 and close on July 10, 2015 at 0600hrs EDT.
The specific vessel class affected by this opening and closing is A127 (Halibut fishers based in Gaspésie from the “Autres” group).
However, DFO also advised that the Greenland Halibut fishery in NAFO Division 4R for Quebec Region Vessel Classes A213 (Competitive fisher of Greenland halibut Upper and ...
