2023 - Snow crab fishery opening date: Crab Fishing Areas 12 (12, 18, 25 and 26) and 12E

Moncton and Quebec – April 9, 2023

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) today announces the opening date of the snow crab fishery in Crab Fishing Areas 12 (12, 18, 25 and 26) and 12E. As per the Terms of Reference of the Committee for setting the opening date for the fishery, the main considerations to trigger the targeted fishery opening date are:

• The southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (including the waters of the Chaleur Bay) is ice free in water depths greater than 36.6 m (20 fathoms). The fishery may open even if some wharves are not entirely free of ice.
• Safety at sea considerations.

The fishery in Crab Fishing Area 12 (12, 18, 25, 26) and Area 12E will open at 6:00 AM Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT) on Tuesday April 11, 2023.

The fishery will close on June 30, 2023 at 23:59 hrs Atlantic Daylight Time (ADT). All gear must be removed from the water by the end of the day June 30th, but landing of traps and crabs can occur, if required, on July 1st.

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 captain 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.