A Total Allowable Catch (TAC) of 1,297 tonnes has been established for Atlantic halibut in 4RST for a one year period, which runs until May 14, 2018.
A notice from the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to harvesters notes 50 tonnes has been identified under Section 10 of the Fisheries Act to pay the costs associated with an annual scientific longline survey and tagging program. That’s subtracted off the top of the total allowable catch.
The remaining quota (1,247 t) will be distributed based on the sharing formula announced in 2016 following the review of the inshore fixed gear shares. A quota of 310 t, representing 92.5 per cent of the mobile gear fleet’s share, will be distributed equally between eight fixed gear inshore fleets currently involved in the directed Atlantic halibut fishery in 4RST.
As a result, the 2017-2018 initial allocations per fleet are Eastern New Brunswick: 83.67 tonnes; Gulf Nova Scotia: 56.20; Gulf Prince Edward Island: 51.42; Western Newfoundland: 317.17; Quebec North Shore: 110.36; Gaspe: 421.49; Magdalen Islands: 86.02; Scotia Fundy: 52.89; Mobile Gear ˂ 19.81 m: 10.96; Fixed Gear between 19.81 m and 30.48 m: 42.75; Mobile Gear between 19.81 m and 30.48 m: 3.21; and vessels ˃ 30.48 m: 10.96.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada met with representatives from various fleet sectors in the commercial fishery, fish processing industry, the provincial government and affected aboriginal groups at a meeting of the Gulf Groundfish Advisory Committee back in March.
