2021 - Snow crab fishery opening date: Crab Fishing Areas 12 (12, 18, 25 and 26) and 12E

Moncton and Quebec – April 1, 2021

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announces the opening date of the snow crab fishery in Crab Fishing Areas 12 (12, 18, 25 and 26) and 12E. As announced in the Notice to Fish Harvesters of February 21st, 2020, DFO made a change to the opening season protocol. As per the Terms of Reference of the Committee for setting the opening date for the fishery, the considerations to trigger the targeted fishery opening date includes:

• The southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (including the Bay of Chaleurs) is ice free and fishing can occur in a safe manner.
• The fishery may open even if some wharves are not entirely free of ice.

The fishery in Crab Fishing Area 12 (12, 18, 25, 26) will open at 00:01 Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT) on April 3, 2021.

The fishery in Crab Fishing Area 12E will open at 17:00 (5:00 PM) (ADT) on April 2, 2021.

The fishery will close on June 30, 2021 at 23:59 hrs (ADT).

All licence conditions will be valid for the entire fishing season.

All aid to navigation buoys may not all have been placed. Vessel operators are advised to exercise extreme caution.

Furthermore, it is reminded that, during the period where fishing is authorized, it is the responsibility of the licence holder to take into account the marine safety notices issued, among others, by Environment and Climate Change Canada and Transport Canada, as well as the standards and best practices in marine safety, and to take all measures to ensure a safe fishery.

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