Language selection

Search

Herring - Newfoundland and Labrador Region 2+3 (Herring Fishing Areas 1-11)

Foreword

image of herring
Herring
(Clupea harengus)

This is the multi-year Integrated Fisheries Management Plan (IFMP) for the Newfoundland and Labrador Region’s herring fishery in NAFO divisions 2J3KLPs (2+3) which was developed in consultation with herring fish harvesters and other stakeholders. This is an evergreen IFMP.

The purpose of this IFMP is to identify the main objectives and requirements for the Newfoundland and Labrador herring fishery in NAFO division 2+3, as well as the management measures that will be used to achieve these objectives.  This document also serves to communicate basic information on the fishery and its management to Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) staff, legislated co-management boards and committees, and other stakeholders. This IFMP provides a common understanding of the basic “rules” for the sustainable management of the fisheries resource.

This IFMP is not a legally binding instrument which can form the basis of a legal challenge. The IFMP can be modified at any time and does not fetter the Minister's discretionary powers set out in the Fisheries Act. The Minister can, for reasons of conservation or for any other valid reasons, modify any provision of the IFMP in accordance with the powers granted pursuant to the Fisheries Act.

As with any policy, the Minister retains the discretion to make exceptions to, or to change, this policy at any time. It is, however, DFO’s expectation and intention to follow the management process set out in this IFMP, with a view to contributing to increased certainty and direction for the 2+3 herring fishery in Newfoundland and Labrador.

This IFMP in effect until it is replaced. While the elements of this plan will remain in effect indefinitely, quotas are subject to annual review and may be adjusted based on updated Science information. This could include changes to the Total Allowable Catch (TAC), as well as adjustments to annexes and website listings.

Jacqueline Perry
Regional Director General
Newfoundland and Labrador Region

Table of Contents

1. Overview of the fishery
2. Stock, assessment, science and traditional knowledge
3. Economic, social and cultural importance of the fishery
4. Management issues
5. Objectives
6. Access and allocation
7. Management measures for the duration of the plan
8. Shared stewardship arrangements
9. Compliance plan
10. Performance review
11. Glossary of terms
Appendices

1. Overview of the fishery

1.1 History of the fishery

Prior to the late 1970s, the east coast of Newfoundland (3KL) was not a major contributor to the Newfoundland commercial herring fishery. However there was a renewed interest in the east coast stocks in the early 1970s due to a decline in herring landings along southwest Newfoundland and increasing market demand for food herring. Consequently the east coast stocks were placed under quota regulation in 1976; however the regulations only applied to the purse seine and ring net fleets. New regulations were introduced in 1980 to bring all gear types under quota regulation.

fishing areas in Newfoundland. From 1945-1950, landings of herring averaged around 30,000 tonnes, but declined during the 1950s and early 1960s to less than 3,000 tonnes annually, largely due to market conditions. In the mid-1960s, an extensive purse seine fishery developed first along the southwest coast of Newfoundland and then extended along the southeast coast. In 1973, the southeast stocks were placed under quota management; however inshore gears were not placed under quota management until 1980.

The herring stocks along the east and southeast coasts of Newfoundland support both commercial food and bait fisheries.  [See table 1]

Table 1: Herring TAC and Commercial Landings (tonnes) 2005 to 2018.
Year TAC Landings
2005 11,550 7,566
2006 11,550 6,254
2007 12,650 6,543
2008 12,650 7,575
2009 11,480 7,575
2010 12,370 6,446
2011 12,370 3,701
2012 12,370 5,058
2013 12,200 6,775
2014 12,200 5,655
2015 12,690 6,448
2016 12,690 6,468
2017 13,240 5,832
2018 13,240 5,571

Source: Policy & Economics Branch, NL Region

Note: figures have been rounded. The TAC for 2019-2020 is 14,842. See Table 2 for breakdown of commercial quota and bait allocation.

1.2 Type of fishery

Note: for ease of reference, the Divisions 2J3KLPs herring fishery will hence be referred to by the abbreviated reference of 2+3 herring fishery.

The herring fishery on the northeast and southeast coasts is a competitive fishery, with Total Allowable Catch (TAC) levels assigned for both fixed and mobile gear types. In the herring fishery, the TAC is further sub-divided into three allocation categories:

The fixed and mobile gear fishery is fully competitive with separate quotas for each fleet and for each gear type. (See Appendix 5)

There is also a bait fishery on the 2+3 herring stock in which harvesters are permitted to use gillnets to catch herring for use in commercial fisheries requiring bait, such as lobster and snow crab. Fish harvesters are not permitted to sell herring caught in the bait fishery.

1.3 Participants

Historically, the commercial herring fishery has supported up to 2,500 fishing enterprises; however in 1995 a prohibition on new entrants was implemented.

In 2018, the total number of commercial licenses for 2+3 herring was approximately 1,423 with 1,199 fish harvesters licensed for fixed gear (gillnets, traps and bar seines) and 224 fish harvesters licensed for mobile gear (purse seines <65 feet).

Included in the number of commercial licenses are eight communal commercial herring licenses issued to Indigenous organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador. [See Section 6.3]

In addition, approximately 2,555 licenses were issued to fish harvesters to take herring for bait in other commercial fisheries in Newfoundland and Labrador region.

1.4 Location of the Fishery

This IFMP covers the herring fishery in NAFO divisions 2J, 3K and 3L, and subdivision 3Ps as indicated in Figure 1. These areas are commonly combined and represented as 2+3.

Atlantic herring are managed by five stock complexes distributed along the east and south coasts of Newfoundland: White Bay-Notre Dame Bay (WBNDB), Bonavista Bay-Trinity Bay (BBTB), Conception Bay-Southern Shore (CBSS), St. Mary’s Bay-Placentia Bay (SMBPB), and Fortune Bay (FB).

The five herring stock complexes have been divided into 10 quota areas or Herring Fishing Areas (HFA). Specifically:

Note: Herring Fishing Area 1 is in Labrador, but there is currently no fishing activity in this HFA.

map of Northwest Atlantic fisheries management NAFO divisions and subdivisions
Figure 1. Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Management NAFO Divisions and Subdivisions
map of Herring Fishing Areas around Newfoundland and Labrador
Figure 2: Map of Herring Fishing Areas around Newfoundland and Labrador

1.5 Fishery characteristics

The 2+3 herring fishery is managed on a two-year management cycle. The current management cycle runs from April 1 – March 31. Science advice on the stock and subsequent advisory meetings with stakeholders and Indigenous groups occurs every two years. Additional review meetings with stakeholders and Indigenous groups may be added to this schedule for any reason deemed appropriate by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).

Herring is fished using both fixed and mobile gear. The fixed gear herring fishery uses traps and modified bar seines known as “tuck seines” and occurs in specific areas or bays. Fixed gear fish harvesters are only permitted to fish in their Herring Fishing Area of residence (any one area of HFAs 1 to 11).

The mobile gear fleet is composed of <55’ and >55’ purse seine vessels. Mobile gear fish harvesters living on the northeast coast may fish in Herring Fishing Areas 3 to 8 (Cape Bauld to Cape Race), while mobile gear fish harvesters living on the southeast coast may only fish in Herring Fishing Areas 9 and 10 (Cape Race to Point Crewe).

1.6 Governance

The Newfoundland and Labrador herring fishery is governed by the Fisheries Act; regulations made pursuant to the Act; and departmental policies. The key regulations and policies that apply include but are not limited to:

The Department receives advice on the management of the herring fishery through an advisory process. The advisory process solicits the opinions of stakeholders on past management practices and focuses on management measure recommendations for the upcoming season’s fishery. This includes recommendation on the TAC.

A 2+3 herring advisory meeting was held in Gander, NL on April 3, 2019. A list of the advisory meeting participants is provided in Appendix 3.

1.7 Approval process

This Integrated Fisheries Management Plan is approved by the Regional Director General of Newfoundland and Labrador region. Opening and closing dates for specific areas and gear types are determined by DFO area staff in consultation with stakeholders. Other issues that arise will be addressed through similar consultative processes.

Any changes to licence conditions are tabled by DFO officials at the biennial advisory meeting. Unless there are conservation issues, the intent is to manage the fishery based on the measures outlined in this IFMP. Stakeholders seeking new management measures are required to table their new requests at the next scheduled DFO-industry advisory meeting.

2. Stock Assessment, science and traditional knowledge

2.1 Biological characteristics

Historically, east and southeast Newfoundland herring stocks had been characterized by the predominance of spring-spawning herring. However, during the 2000s, fall-spawning herring formed an increasing component of the catch and dominated in all stock areas except Fortune Bay (DFO 2018). While the percentage of fall spawners has decreased in some stock areas due to stronger spring spawner recruitment in recent years, fall spawners still comprise at least half of the population in all areas except Fortune Bay (DFO 2019). An overall increase in fall spawner recruitment has also been observed in other Northwest Atlantic herring stocks. Melvin et al. (2009) showed that increased fall spawner recruitment was correlated with rising ocean temperatures; recently, Brosset et al. (2018) explored this relationship further and found that plankton population dynamics also play an important role in this shift.

Growth rates of herring declined through the 1990s and have remained below average in all areas. There was also a downward trend in length at 50% maturity (L50) through the 1980s and 1990s, followed by an increase through the 2000s in both spring and fall spawning components.  The mean (total length) for the 2011-2014 spring-spawning year classes was 267.2 mm and 278 mm for fall spawners, similar to what was observed in the early 1980s.

Herring within Newfoundland region are at the northern extent of their geographic range; ideal environmental conditions seldom exist and consequently strong recruitment is very sporadic. Large year classes of herring produced in 1968 and 1969 supported most of the stocks through the 1970s. The moderately large 1982 year class allowed stocks to rebuild in the 1980s.  Since then the 1987, 1990, 2002, 2008, and 2012 year classes on the northeast coast, and the 1996, 2002 and 2012 year classes on the south coast have all been of moderate strength; however, all of these have been weak in relation to the large year classes of the 1960s. The 2012 year class currently accounts for a large proportion of the catch in all stock areas, especially in Fortune Bay, where there were no other strong year classes present in the fishery as of 2018.

2.2 Stock assessment process

Atlantic herring stock assessments are conducted bi-annually. Since 2002, performance reports, including evaluation of relative abundance indices and biological characteristics, have been used to assess the current status and future prospects.  Stock status is reported using a system of red, yellow, and green lights to categorize indicators as ‘negative, ‘uncertain’ or ‘positive’ respectively.  At the most recent assessment framework meeting in 2013 (Bourne et al. 2015), it was decided that stock status calculations would be based solely on the spring research gillnet program, which produces a standardized, industry-independent index of abundance. Other sources of information such as logbooks, telephone surveys, and commercial samples were used to provide additional information for performance reports but did not factor into stock status calculations. In addition, assessments conducted after this meeting included evaluations of both the spring and fall spawning components of each stock whenever possible, whereas previous assessments had focused solely on spring spawners.

The most recent regional peer review meeting was held March 18, 2019 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador to assess the status of east and south coast herring stocks.  Participants included DFO scientists, fisheries managers, and representatives from the provincial government, Memorial University, the Marine Institute, the Fish Food and Allied Workers Union, and indigenous groups.

For the Bonavista Bay-Trinity Bay and Fortune Bay stock areas, performance reports were updated with fishery information (e.g. landings, estimated bait removals and discards, commercial catch at age), relative abundance observations from fish harvesters contacted in telephone surveys, and results of the spring research gillnet program. In evaluating current stock status and future prospects, only information from the spring research gillnet program were considered (e.g. catch rates, catch at age, recruitment). Stock status was calculated for both spawning components and weighted according to the percentage of the catch each composed for Bonavista Bay-Trinity Bay and a final stock status value was calculated based on both.  Fall spawners were not included in the stock status calculation for Fortune Bay as the stock is still heavily dominated by spring spawners (DFO 2019).

Though the spring research gillnet program in the St. Mary’s Bay-Placentia Bay stock area was discontinued in 2013, a similar program has been running in Placentia Bay since 2018 under the Coastal Baseline Program. This program follows the same protocols as the previous research gillnet program and thus provides directly comparable results that can be used to update the historical index of abundance. Data from 2018 were available for this assessment and were used to update the catch rate index, however year class strength could not be evaluated as this will require another 1-2 years of data. Stock status for this area was thus evaluated based only on catch rates and catch at age, the stock status index will be updated at the next assessment in 2021.

Without an index of abundance, the stock status index of the remaining two stock areas (White Bay-Notre Dame Bay and Conception Bay-Southern Shore) could not be calculated. Without research gillnet programs or ongoing acoustic surveys going forward, stock status updates will not be provided for these areas.

2.3 Stock assessment results

For White Bay-Notre Dame Bay, reported landings were about 2400 t in 2017 and 2018; the highest landings since 1997. The commercial catch at age was broadly distributed in 2017, with largely spring-spawning age 2, 3 and 4 herring comprising about 45% of the catch. The percentage of fall-spawners fell below 50% in this stock area for the first time since 2006. Stock status could not be updated for this stock area.

For Bonavista Bay-Trinity Bay, landings ranged between 3,000-4,000 tonnes from 2013-2016, but decreased to about 1400 t in 2017 and 750 t in 2018; industry reported that low landings in 2018 were due to high percentages of undersized herring.  The strong 2012 year class dominated the commercial catch in 2017 with fall spawners composing approximately 52% of landings – a decrease from high levels observed in previous years. Recruitment of fall spawners decreased in 2012 and 2013, falling below average for the first time since the 1990s. Spring spawner recruitment was at or above average for the 2011-2013 year classes. The stock status index decreased sharply in 2016 due to declining catch rates in the spring research gillnet program and it remained low in 2017, however future prospects are positive based on the strong recruitment of spring spawners. Due to these conflicting signals, the stock status for this area is uncertain.

In the Conception Bay-Southern Shore stock area, participation in the fishery and landings generally increased in recent, reaching over 600 tonnes in 2017; however landings decreased to about 113 t in 2018 – industry attributed this to a high percentage of small fish. Conception Bay has been the site of all landings; with gillnet bait fishing as the only fishing activity in the Southern Shore portion of the stock area. The commercial catch at age was stable, but dominated by the 2012 fall year class in 2017. Fall spawners comprised 54% of the 2017 landings, a decrease from recent years. Stock status could not be updated for this area.

In St. Mary’s Bay-Placentia Bay stock area, after a short period of no purse seine fishing activity, landings in Placentia Bay have consistently increased since 2013, with about 1300 t landed in 2017 and 2018. Samples taken from the commercial fishery showed a broad age distribution in 2016 but the 2017 catch was largely dominated by the 2012 year class. The results of a research gillnet program being run through the Coastal Baseline Program in Placentia Bay showed that catch rates were just above average compared to the historical time series and that the age distribution of the stock was largely dominated by the 2012 year class. Recruitment of fall spawners was average where spring spawner recruitment was below average. Based on these data, the stock status for this stock area was uncertain.

For Fortune Bay, there was a large decrease in landings from 2010 to 2017 as the fishery was supported by a single year class (2002) with no significant recruitment. Landings increased in 2018 to 830 t and the entire 1200 t TAC was taken in 2019; this was due to the recruitment of the 2012 year class which comprised over 90% of landings in 2018. Spring spawners still account for over 90% of this stock. Catch rates in the spring research gillnet program in this area have been well below the reference period mean since 2011 with only slight increases in recent years and as with the commercial fishery, the catch at age was dominated by the 2012 year class. The stock status index for this area did increase slightly in 2017 after consistent declines over the past decade, however this was largely due to the recruitment of a single strong year class. Based on the poor age distribution of this stock, the lack of consistent recruitment, and continued low research gillnet catch rates, the stock status index for this area remains negative.

2.4 Research projects

The research gillnet program provides standardized age disaggregated abundance indices independent of the commercial fishery. This program has been run in all stock areas at various times since 1982, but currently only takes place in Bonavista Bay-Trinity Bay and Fortune Bay. A similar program is being run in Placentia Bay under the Coastal Baseline Program, but funding is limited and will not continue indefinitely. During both programs, commercial fish harvesters are contracted in the spring to provide catch rate data and biological samples of their catch using a standardized fleet of gillnets. In 2018, a dozen (12) fish harvesters participated in the program in the Bonavista Bay-Trinity Bay and Fortune Bay stock areas, and an additional 4 in Placentia Bay.  Data is available from 1988 to 2018 for Bonavista Bay-Trinity Bay and from 1982 to 2018 for Fortune Bay; research gillnet program data is available from 1982-2013 for Placentia Bay and Costal Baseline gillnet data from 2018 with plans to continue for an additional 1-3 years. Catch rates at age for spring and fall spawning herring (e.g. numbers per nights fished) are available up to and including 2017 for Bonavista Bay-Trinity Bay and Placentia Bay, and to 2018 for Fortune Bay.  Catch rates only are available for 2018 in Bonavista Bay-Trinity Bay and Placentia Bay, as biological samples have not yet been processed.

A voluntary gillnet logbook program was initiated in 1996 to provide information about bait net fishing activity and by-catch. Until 2017, logbooks were sent by DFO Science to all licenced herring commercial gillnet licence and/or bait permit holders in Newfoundland and Labrador region.  The return rate of logbooks was generally very low. To address this issue, logbooks were made mandatory for bait fish harvesters in 2017 and included with online licence conditions. Logbook returns increased in 2017 and 2018, and follow up calls are being made to bait licence holders to ensure compliance and attempt to increase numbers further.

The gillnet telephone survey was initiated in 2006 and provides observations from a larger sample of fish harvesters in comparison to the gillnet logbooks. In 2018, DFO Science contacted 344 fish harvesters of which 30% of had fished for bait that year. The information provided by these fish harvesters was used to derive the average number of active bait fish harvesters per stock area, and also to estimate the total bait removals. In addition, over the past several years, fish harvesters have been asked to provide information about by-catch.

Fish harvesters who complete logbooks and participate in the annual gillnet telephone survey are asked to provide their observations of herring abundance, which is subsequently used to update a cumulative change index. Specifically, they are asked “on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest, how abundant were Herring in your fishing area in the current (and previous) year?”

During the 2017 assessment meeting, DFO Science decided that this time series could not continue as bait nets had to be set parallel to shore as of 2016, which could potentially change perceptions of abundance. This issue was addressed at the 2019 assessment by placing a break in the time series between 2016 and 2017, between which the results could not be directly compared Results are available to the fall of 2018.

The purse seine fishery questionnaire was initiated in 1996 and provides a qualitative evaluation of biological and fishery related information from herring purse seine fish harvesters.  Each year DFO Science attempts to contact all active fish harvesters by phone after the purse seine fishery in the spring and fall. Response rates are high (90% or above) for most areas and years. Purse seine fish harvesters are also asked to rate their observations of herring abundance, on a ten point scale, similar to gillnet fish harvesters.  Results are available until the fall of 2018.

Although there is not a purse seine fishery in Fortune Bay, a bar seine survey was implemented in 2015 to capture similar information. Results are available to the spring of 2018.

2.5 Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge

Aboriginal traditional knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge in the form of observations and comments provided by Aboriginal groups are considered in management decisions when provided.

2.6 Precautionary approach

The Precautionary Approach in fisheries management is about being cautious when scientific knowledge is uncertain and not using the absence of adequate scientific information as a reason to postpone or fail to take action to avoid serious harm to fish stocks or their ecosystems. This approach is widely accepted as an essential part of sustainable fisheries management. Applying the Precautionary Approach to fisheries management decisions entails establishing a harvest strategy that:

Although there is currently no Blim for 2+3 herring, all stock assessments will be written in a manner consistent with DFO’s Precautionary Approach.

3. Economic, social and cultural importance of the fishery

3.1 Socio-economic profile

Although there is currently no Blim for 2+3 herring, all stock assessments will be written in a manner consistent with DFO’s Precautionary Approach.

none
Figure 3. 2J3KLPs Herring Landings (‘000 t) 2009-2018. Landings Source: Policy and Economics Branch. Data is preliminary and subject to revision. TAC Source: Resource Management.
Description

Figure 3. 2J3KLPs Herring Landings (‘000 t) 2009-2018. Landings Source: Policy and Economics Branch. Data is preliminary and subject to revision. TAC Source: Resource Management.

Year Landings (t) Total Allowable Catch (t)
2009 7556.8 13940
2010 6445.5 13940
2011 3701.3 13970
2012 5057.1 13970
2013 6773.9 13800
2014 5654.4 13800
2015 6447.8 14291
2016 6468.6 14291
2017 5841.3 14842
2018 5570.3 14842

Between 2009 and 2012, Fortune Bay (FB) and Bonavista Bay (BB) accounted for the largest volume of herring landings. Smaller amounts were landed in Trinity Bay-Conception Bay-Southern Shore (TB-CB-SS), St. Mary’s Bay-Placentia Bay (SMB-PB), and White Bay-Labrador-Notre Dame Bay (WB-L-NDB).

During the 2013-2016 time period, Bonavista and Trinity Bays accounted for the majority of landings. Since 2017, landings in White Bay and Notre Dame Bay have increased and currently account for the highest percentage of landings. Figure 4 (below) provides an overview of landings by combined stock areas for the past decade.

none
Figure 4: 2J3KLPs Herring Landings in tonnes by Stock Area (2009-2018). Source: Policy and Economics Branch, March 2019. Data is preliminary and subject to revision. Note: 2015 data is for all bays; a breakdown could not be released due to privacy concerns.
Description

Figure 4. 2J3KLPs Herring Landings in tonnes by Stock Area (2009-2018). Source: Policy and Economics Branch, March 2019. Data is preliminary and subject to revision. Note: 2015 data is for all bays; a breakdown could not be released due to privacy concerns.

Year All Zones BB-TB-CB-SS FB-SMB-PB WB-L-NDB
2009   3328 3805 424.1
2010   2171 3749 525.7
2011   831.9 1577 1292
2012   2260 1762 1035
2013   4335 1172 1267
2014   4272 1139 243.7
2015 6448      
2016   4182 658.2 1628
2017   1986 1471 2385
2018   864.9 2162 2544

3.2 Dependence on herring

In 2018, there were 56 active enterprises in 2J3KLPs that landed herring. Herring accounted for approximately 11% of the total landed value of all species harvested by these enterprises. Snow crab was the most significant species in terms of the overall landed value at 63% of the total, while other notable species included mackerel (7%), capelin (5%), cod (4%), other shellfish (7%), and other groundfish (3%).

Preliminary 2018 data from the provincial Department of Fisheries and Land Resources indicates that approximately 9,994 t of herring was processed by 20 plants. This includes herring fisheries based in NAFO Divisions 2J3KLPs and 4R3Pn.

3.3 Viability and market trends

Over the past 10 years, the average price paid to fish harvesters has generally ranged from $0.09 to $0.16 per pound. In 2018, the average price held steady at $0.15 per pound (see Figure 5, below).

none
Figure 5: 2J3KLPs Herring Average Landed Price per Pound 2009-2018. Source: Policy and Economics Branch. Data is preliminary and subject to revision.
Description

Figure 5. 2J3KLPs Herring Average Landed Price per Pound 2009-2018. Source: Policy and Economics Branch. Data is preliminary and subject to revision.

Year Price per pound ($/lb)
2009 0.1
2010 0.0898
2011 0.119
2012 0.15
2013 0.125
2014 0.1
2015 0,113
2016 0.136
2017 0.162
2018 0.1533

During the 2009-2018 period, the landed value of 2J3KLPs herring ranged from a low of $0.9 million in 2011 to a high of about $2.1 million in 2017. Landed value declined slightly in 2018 to just under $2 million (see Figure 6, below).

none
Figure 6: 2J3KLPs Herring Landed Value ($M CAN), 2009-2018. Source: Policy and Economics Branch. Data is preliminary and subject to revision.
Description

Figure 6. 2J3KLPs Herring Landed Value ($M CAN), 2009-2018. Source: Policy and Economics Branch. Data is preliminary and subject to revision.

Year Landed Value ($Million)
2009 1.66
2010 1.28
2011 0.97
2012 1.67
2013 1.87
2014 1.25
2015 1.61
2016 1.94
2017 2.09
2018 1.99

According to Statistics Canada, 2018 NL Herring exports totalled approximately 4,030 tonnes, with an export value of approximately $9.4 million. The majority (76%) of herring was exported to the United States, accounting for approximately $8.2 million in export value. Other notable export destinations included Japan ($627K), Poland ($248K) and Malta ($223K).

4. Management issues

4.1 Interaction with Atlantic salmon

The interaction of Atlantic salmon in the herring fishery has been discussed with stakeholders at herring advisory meetings and measures have been taken in the commercial herring fishery to mitigate the by-catch of Atlantic salmon and to protect their migration. See also By-catch and Interaction concerns (Section 7.7)

4.2 Catch monitoring

Return of logbooks and catch reporting are mandatory in this fishery. These are important tools for the overall management of the fishery, including quota monitoring and the Science assessment process. Failure to return logbooks may impact in-season quota monitoring.

4.3 Aquaculture feed

Herring has been identified as a possible feed source for aquaculture. Herring for this purpose must be sourced through existing commercial licence holders within existing quotas.

4.4 By-catch concerns

One notable concern is by-catch of salmon and cod taken by pelagic traps. This issue has been discussed with stakeholders over the past several years and measures were implemented to minimize the potential for salmon and cod by-catch in the commercial fishery. See By-catch and Interaction concerns (Section 7.7)

4.5 Concentration of fishing effort and catches

Fixed gear fish harvesters are permitted to fish only in their Herring Fishing Area of residence (any one area of HFAs 1 to 11). Mobile gear fish harvesters resident on the northeast coast may fish in any of HFAs 3 to 8 (Cape Bauld to Cape Race). Mobile gear fish harvesters living on the southeast coast may fish in HFAs 9 and 10 (Cape Race to Point Crewe).

The extent to which the concentration of fishing effort and catches in a relatively small part of a stock area, especially in the case of the purse seine fishery, may impact on local stock components or the stock as a whole is unclear. In view of this uncertainty, it is preferable for the fishery to take place throughout a stock area or over as wide a geographic area as possible.

4.6 Oceans initiatives in marine conservation

The Government of Canada has achieved its target of protecting 5% of Canada’s marine and coastal areas by the end of 2017 and remains committed to protecting 10% by 2020. The 2020 target is both a domestic target (Canada’s Biodiversity Target 1) and an international target as reflected in the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Aichi Target 11 and the United Nations General Assembly’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development under Goal 14. The 2017 and 2020 targets are collectively referred to as Canada’s Marine Conservation Targets. More information on the background and drivers for Canada’s Marine Conservation Targets can be found here.

To meet these targets, Canada is establishing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and “other effective area-based conservation measures” (Other Measures), in consultation with industry, non-governmental organizations, and other interested parties. An overview of these tools, including a description of the fisheries management measures that qualify as Other Measures is available in the Marine Protected Areas, Areas of Interest and Other Measures section. Some existing Fisheries Act closures have met the criteria for “other measures”.

In recognition of the need to sustainably manage Canada’s fisheries and oceans using an ecosystem approach with a focus on conserving biodiversity, DFO is leading initiatives in marine conservation planning in the Newfoundland and Labrador Region. A network of Marine Protected Areas (Oceans Act MPAs and other protected areas) and Other Measures (e.g. Fisheries Act closures) is currently being developed in the NL Shelves and the Estuary and Gulf of St. Lawrence (EGSL) Bioregions.

The NL Shelves Bioregion covers approximately one million km², extending from Cape Chidley at the northern tip of Labrador to the southern Grand Banks and the south coast of Newfoundland. The EGSL Bioregion covers 231,193 km², bounded to the east by a jagged line that stretches from approximately Bay St. Lawrence, Nova Scotia to Port-aux-Basques, NL, and to the north by a line drawn south of Henley Harbour, NL to approximately Raleigh, NL and along Quebec’s southern coast to the west.

Ecologically and Biologically Significant Areas (EBSAs) which have been identified within the two Bioregions will play an important role in the MPA Network.

The primary goal of MPA networks is to provide long-term protection of marine biodiversity, ecosystem function and special natural features. In addition, there are three Other Measures established under the Fisheries Act that also provide biodiversity conservation benefits in the EGSL within 4R: the Bay of Islands salmon closure area (212 km²) is closed to all fixed pelagic gear to protect Atlantic salmon migration but pot fishing, purse seining and herring bait net fishing are permitted; Shoal Point (0.65 km²) and Trout River (0.65 km²) are also closed to lobster fishing with a stock management objective of increasing lobster egg production.

map of NL and Gulf of St. Lawrence Bioregions
Figure 7: Map of NL and Gulf of St. Lawrence Bioregions.

4.7 Habitat considerations

DFO seeks to conserve and protect fish habitat that supports Canada’s fisheries resource through application of the fisheries protection provisions of the Fisheries Act. A key provision of the Fisheries Act is subsection 35 which prohibits the carrying on of a work, undertaking or activity that results in serious harm to fish that are part of or support a commercial, recreational or Aboriginal fishery without an authorization from the Minister.

The Fisheries Protection Program provides advice to proponents to enable them to proactively avoid and mitigate the effects of projects on fish and fish habitat, undertakes the review of proposed works, undertakings and activities that may affect fish and fish habitat, and ensures compliance with the Fisheries Act and the Species at Risk Act by issuing authorizations and permits, when appropriate, with conditions for offsetting, monitoring, and reporting.

4.8 Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS)

The south coast of Newfoundland (NAFO 3P) has the highest concentration of invasive European green crab (shore crab) with infestations particularly found in the northern and western areas of Placentia Bay and more recently in Fortune Bay. Currently (2017) no green crab have been reported from coastal areas of 3L, 3K or 2J.

In NAFO divisions 3P, 3L and 4R some invasive tunicates have been detected in coastal areas with invasive populations of concern located in Burin, Little Bay and Marystown (vase tunicate) and Belleoram (violet tunicate) harbours.

Best practices to prevent the introduction and spread of AIS include:

More information and maps of aquatic invasive species in Newfoundland and Labrador can be found in the Identify an Aquatic Invasive Species section.

4.9 Gear impacts

Modified bar seines (or tuck seines as they are more commonly known) are bar seines fitted with rings that allow the bottom and sides of the seine to be brought or hauled together. Following consultations with appropriate advisories, the use of these seines have been authorized in the fixed gear herring, capelin and mackerel fisheries in Divisions 2+3 in recent years.

The maximum tuck seine length allowed in the herring fishery is 80 fathoms; however, after August 1 each year, 20 fathom nets may be used. Fixed gear herring fish harvesters in Divisions 2+3 are authorized to use modified bar seines by way of licence conditions.

Purse seine (large and small), tuck seine, gillnet and trap gear used in Divisions 2+3 herring fishery are not considered to have high impact on the ecosystem. Although some seine nets do touch the bottom from time to time, the impact on benthic species and habitats is minimal.

4.10 Barging

On occasion fish harvesters have been known to undertake the practice of “barging” in pelagic fisheries. The practice of barging involves one vessel actively fishing and supplying one or more inactive participants with catch. The inactive participants were not geared up to actively participate in fishing operations. Fish harvesters are encouraged to review their license conditions for details as this practice is not permitted, i.e. all participants must be geared-up. See also Sharing (section 7.14).

4.11 International issues

The United States (US) is implementing the import provisions of the Marine Mammal Protection Act following court direction. The import rule requires countries exporting fish and fish products to the US to demonstrate that they have regulatory measures in place that are comparable in effectiveness to those of the US for reducing marine mammal incidental mortality and serious injury in commercial fisheries. Countries who fail to obtain such comparability measures to the US for their export fisheries by January 1, 2022, will be prohibited from entering the US market.

Canada is currently working towards demonstrating appropriate measures are in place in all Canadian fisheries.

5. Objectives

Long-term objective

DFO strives to manage the 2+3 herring fishery based on the principles of stock conservation and sustainable harvest and ecosystem health and sustainability. Using the following short and long-term objectives as guideposts, various management measures have been implemented or are being developed that will maximize the benefit of this resource.

5.1 Stock conservation and sustainable harvest

Conservation and the long-term sustainability of the herring stock is one of DFO’s most important objectives. It is vital that the stock grow and provide benefits for all stakeholders in the short and long-term. As such, DFO will work with all stakeholders to ensure this objective is achieved and that the herring stock supports an economically viable and self-reliant fishery.

Harvest levels will be set that allow for the stock to grow and the mature biomass to increase. Consideration will be given to the level of recruitment in this stock. Furthermore, the herring fishery will be managed such that catches are not concentrated in a manner that would result in high exploitation rates on any of the stock components.

DFO will also work with stakeholders to ensure adequate monitoring of all herring catches, while minimizing by-catch of other species and small fish. They will also work with stakeholders to ensure migrating and spawning herring are not adversely impacted. This may necessitate additional closed areas and times.

5.2 Ecosystem health and sustainability

Ecosystem health is essential for effective fisheries management. The sustainability of herring as a species within the food web as both a prey species and a predator will strengthen the long-term health of the ecosystem.

5.3 Stewardship

The shared stewardship management objective recognizes that industry participants and all stakeholders must become involved in fisheries management policy development and the decision-making process. It also recognizes that achievement of the conservation objective requires that governments, resource users and other stakeholders share responsibility for the implementation of fisheries management decisions and for their outcomes.

5.4 Stock Conservation

Harvest levels will be set at cautious levels in keeping with the Precautionary Approach.

6. Access and allocation

At this time, access to this fishery is considered to be limited and allocations are considered to be stable. However the Minister can, for reasons of conservation or for any other valid reasons, modify access, allocations and sharing arrangements as outlined in this IFMP in accordance with the powers granted pursuant to the Fisheries Act.

6.1 Sharing arrangements

Commercial quotas are allocated by area, gear type and fleet shares which have been established through the advisory committee process. The TAC for 2+3 herring takes into consideration bait requirements in other fisheries and gear sector shares in the commercial fishery as established through the advisory committee process.

Quotas within each gear sector and area are fished competitively with the exception of a few defined Individual Quota areas. The traditional fleet shares have recently stabilized through consultation efforts with stakeholders.

6.2 Quotas and allocations

Current commercial quotas and sharing arrangements by fleet, area and gear type are outlined in Table 2. The breakdown of TAC, commercial quota and bait allocations for each stock area is outlined in Table 3.

Table 2: Allocations by area, gear type and reserve
Stock Area 2019-2020 Quota Gillnets/
Traps
Gillnets/
Trap Quota
Bar Seines Bar Seines Purse Seine Purse Seine Quota Reserve Reserve Quota Total
Labrador 500 100.00% 500 0.00% 0 0.00% 0 0.00% 0 500
White Bay 2568 12.50% 321 4.20% 108 33.30% 855 0.00% 0 2,568
Notre Dame Bay 12.50% 321 4.20% 108 33.30% 855
Bonavista Bay 5990 8.60% 515 16.40% 982 25.00% 1498 0.00% 0 5,990
Trinity Bay 5.50% 329 19.50% 1168 25.00% 1498
Conception Bay 895 12.0% 107 17.75% 159 58.25% 521 0.00% 0 895
Southern Shore 12.0% 107
St. Mary’s Bay 2100 8.70% 183 4.30% 45 19.60% 412 39.10% 821 2,100
Placentia Bay 8.70% 183 45 19.60% 412
Fortune Bay 789 27.30% 216 54.60% 431 0.00% 0 18.00% 142 789
Pass Island to Cinq Cerf 400 50.00% 200 25.00 100 0.00% 0 25.00% 100 400
Total Commercial Quotas 13,242 13,242
Total Bait Allocation 1,600 1,600
TOTAL 14,842 14,842

Notes:

  • The quota sharing percentages are calculated after the bait allocation is subtracted from the respective quota area
  • The bar seine quota in Trinity Bay will be restricted to a maximum of 515 tonnes in April each year
  • The purse seine quota in St. Mary’s Bay-Placentia Bay will be sub-divided with 206 tonnes for vessels greater than 55 foot Length Overall (LOA) and to 206 tonnes for vessels less than 55 foot LOA in each bay
  • Where necessary, and unless otherwise agreed, additional quota will be assigned from the unallocated reserve. A review relative to the allocation of the reserve will take place once 75% of a quota has been taken
  • For St. Mary’s Bay-Placentia Bay quota reserve, 100 tonnes is available for the fixed gear sector. The remaining portion shall be allocated to the Purse Seine fleet based on a 35-65 ratio in favour of the <55 foot vessel purse seine fleet sector
  • For St. Mary’s Bay-Placentia Bay quota reserve, no more than 75% of the Quota Reserve for the Purse Seine fleets (both <55’ and >55’) will be allocated to any one bay

6.3 Communal commercial fisheries

Fisheries and Oceans Canada supports the participation of adjacent Indigenous organizations in commercial fisheries. The Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy Program (AFS) is designed to encourage Indigenous involvement in commercial fisheries and related economic opportunities. The Allocation Transfer Program (ATP) component of the AFS has been the primary instrument used to voluntarily retire licences from commercial harvesters and subsequently reissue them to Indigenous organizations on a communal basis.

A subsequent program, Aboriginal Aquatic Resource and Oceans Management (AAROM) Program, was designed for Indigenous groups to collaboratively develop capacity and expertise to facilitate their participation in aquatic resource and oceans management.

Fishing licences issued to Indigenous organizations are done so under the authority of the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licenses Regulations.

The Miawpukek First Nation Band, NunatuKavut Community Council, Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation Band, and the Mi’kmaq Alsumk Mowimsikik Koqoey Association (MAMKA) have communal commercial herring licenses for 2+3.

7. Management measures for the duration of the plan

7.1 Herring Total Allowable Catch (TAC)

The Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for 2019 and 2020 was set at 14,842 tonnes. The TAC was established based on the "Performance Report Approach" used to describe current stock status and future prospects, and the outcome of consultations with stakeholders.

For the purpose of a multi-year management plan approach, the TAC (and therefore the commercial fishing quotas) may either increase or decrease based on a significant change in the estimated mature biomass for any one of the herring stocks assessed. An increase or decrease resulting from a significant change in estimated mature stock biomass would be applied based on the current quota sharing arrangement.

Table 3 outlines the TAC, commercial quota and bait allocations for each stock area.

Table 3. Stock Area, TAC and Quota Allocation Levels for 2+3 Herring
Stock area LAB1 WB-NDB BB-TB CB-SS2 SMB-PB FB PI-CF3 Total
Commercial quotas 500 2,568 5,990 895 2,100 789 400 13,242
Bait allocations 100 500 300 50 150 400 100 1,600
TAC 600 3,068 6,290 945 2,250 1,189 500 14,842

Legend:

  • LAB (Labrador)
  • WB-NDB (White Bay-Notre Dame Bay)
  • BB-TB (Bonavista Bay-Trinity Bay)
  • CB-SS (Conception Bay-Southern Shore)
  • SMB-PB (St. Mary’s Bay-Placentia Bay)
  • FB (Fortune Bay)
  • PI-CF (Pass Island to Cinq Cerf Bay)

Notes:

  1. Labrador herring are believed to be a component of the WB-NDB stock complex
  2. No stock assessment information is available for the CB-SS area; however parallelism of stock characteristics is believed to exist between CB-SS and BB-TB. Consequently, a precautionary TAC is being maintained
  3. Little is known about the stock dynamics of herring in the PI-CF area; therefore a 500 tonne precautionary TAC has been set
  4. Note: a performance report was not available in the case of the CB-SS stock area due to a lack of fishing and science data for that area

7.2 Fishing seasons/areas

DFO’s primary objective is to ensure that the majority of fish harvesters are provided an opportunity to earn a living and benefit from their adjacent fishing resources.

There are a number of factors DFO takes into consideration when establishing the season for the 2+3 herring fishery, including:

Season dates are regularly discussed in detail as part of the stakeholder consultation process and recommendations are noted on all management measures during the advisory meeting. In the case of herring, season dates are established according to bay or fishing area, and input from local fish harvesters is a key consideration.

Where it is challenging to reach a consensus on the season dates in specific areas, further discussions with stakeholders and fleet representatives may be required. For example, in a situation where many fish harvesters hold multi-species fishing enterprises and wish to maximize revenues and benefits from each commercial fishery, DFO may be required to conduct a survey of all eligible licence holders in consultation with fleet representatives to ensure a fair and transparent approach is undertaken.

Fishery openings and closings will be communicated through DFO’s Notice to Fish Harvesters system. Fishery openings may be delayed due to weather conditions. These decisions will be made in consultation with stakeholders and openings will occur at 0600 hours whenever possible. Opening and closing dates for specific areas and gear types are determined by DFO area staff in consultation with stakeholders.

The fishing seasons for each area under this IFMP are outlined in Table 4.

Table 4. Fishing Seasons by Area and Gear Type
FISHING AREA GEAR TYPE SPRING FALL
White Bay and Labrador Fixed Gear Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
Notre Dame Bay Fixed Gear Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
White Bay and Notre Dame Bay Purse Seine Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
Bonavista Bay Fixed Gear Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
Trinity Bay Fixed Gear Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
Bonavista Bay and Trinity Bay Purse Seine Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
Conception Bay and Southern Shore Fixed Gear Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
Purse Seine Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
St. Mary’s Bay and Placentia Bay Purse Seine < 55’ - SMB Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
Purse Seine < 55’ - PB Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
Purse Seine > 55’ Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
Gillnets and Traps Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
Bar Seine Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
Fortune Bay Gillnets and Bar Seine Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
Traps Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
Pass Island to Cinq Cerf Gillnets and Bar Seines Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31
Traps Apr 1 – May 31 Aug 15 – Mar 31

Notes:

  • The above seasons do not apply to the bait fishery. Fishing seasons for bait are specified in the bait licence conditions
  • In HFA 8 – 11 for fixed and mobile gear fleets and in HFA 3 to 8 for fixed gear fleets a fall season will apply only in those cases where there is sufficient uncaught quota remaining from the spring fishery
  • In HFA 3 - 8 the mobile gear fleet quota will be split fifty-fifty between the Spring and Fall season
  • Season dates are subject to change depending on catch rates and/or management measures
  • For salmon conservation measures, the fixed gear fishery for gillnets and traps in Bonavista Bay-Trinity Bay will not be extended beyond June 7th annually.  In White Bay-Notre Dame Bay the season will not be extended beyond May 31st each year

7.3 Quota sharing and transfers

Requests for changes in fleet sector shares may be brought forward for consideration through the 2+3 herring advisory committee process. In-season quota transfers between fleet sectors and bays within a stock area may be considered upon recommendation by the affected gear sectors. Quota transfers across stock areas will not be permitted.

7.4 Quota reserves

In some areas, industry supports quota reserves as a means to achieve a greater utilization of a TAC within conservation parameters. In those stock areas where there is industry support, reserves will be continued to be used as a means of providing more flexibility to all gear sectors in order to maximize utilization of the resource (i.e. herring).

7.5 Dockside monitoring program

Dockside monitoring is a mechanism to accurately capture the amount of fish being landed to apply against the assigned quotas. It is a management tool used to prevent overruns and with quota reconciliation, it is a vital management tool to ensure accurate accounting.

In Herring Fishing Areas 1-11 (2+3), it is a mandatory requirement for all commercial licence holders to have all herring catches monitored at dockside. The cost for this monitoring is the responsibility of the fishing industry. Herring that is landed by non-commercial harvesters but is caught for personal use or recreational purposes is not subject to dockside monitoring.

Fish can only be offloaded in the presence of an individual who is a certified dockside observer. Specific procedures for the monitoring of catch weights at dockside have been developed through consultation with industry and Dockside Monitoring Program (DMP) companies. DFO’s accepted method of verification of landings at dockside is a direct weigh-out using certified weight scales.

In 2007, following negotiations with industry, an initial water deduction of 3.5% for herring was adopted and narrowed down to 1% in 2008 based on further testing. DFO will continue to recognize 1% as the accepted water tolerance for weighing of herring.

7.6 Modified bar seines

Modified bar seines (or tuck seines as they are more commonly known) are bar seines fitted with rings that allow the bottom and sides of the seine to be brought or hauled together. In recent years, the use of these seines has been authorized in the fixed gear herring, capelin and mackerel fishery in 2+3 based on consultations with appropriate advisory committees.

The maximum tuck seine length allowed in the herring fishery is 80 fathoms. However after August 1 each year, a 120-fathom length is also permitted for herring; this coincides with the 120-fathom length allowed for tuck seines in the mackerel fishery. Fixed gear herring fish harvesters in 2+3 are authorized by way of licence conditions to use modified bar seines.

7.7 By-catch and interactions concerns

One notable concern is by-catch of and interaction with salmon and cod in pelagic fisheries including herring. This issue has been discussed with industry and measures were taken to minimize the potential for salmon by-catch in the commercial fishery:

In addition, other measures have been taken in the herring bait fishery to minimize the potential for salmon by-catch. Bait nets are not authorized to be set at peak salmon run periods in most areas and must be set parallel to the nearest shore. Other measures have also been implemented, including the requirement for bait nets to be set with the head ropes not less than one fathom below the surface. Any incidental catch must be immediately returned to the water, and where it is alive in a manner that causes the least harm.

7.8 Herring bait allocations

Bait allocations have been identified as a component of the TAC for each herring stock area in order to satisfy bait requirements in other fisheries. Both commercial herring licence holders and bait-fishing licence holders may access stock area allocations to obtain herring for use as bait. Bait allocations within each stock area have been established on the basis of historic annual bait catches, and adjustments may be made to reflect changes in bait requirement. Fish harvesters are required to keep bait logbooks and DFO will track landings in the future.

1,600 tonnes of herring is allocated for bait fish harvesters. [See section 7.1, Table 3]

7.9 Control and monitoring of removals

All licenced herring fish harvesters regardless of length, are required as a condition of licence to provide detailed logbook records of catch and fishing activity. Those holding mobile gear licences may be required to carry an at-sea observer intermittently throughout the fishery at DFO’s request.

Bait logbooks must be completed by all harvesters and submitted at the end of the bait fishing season.

Fish harvesters participating in the bait and commercial fisheries are requested to provide information on their activities specific to Science program requirements.

VMS is required for all mobile and fixed gear tuck seine vessels.

7.10 Species at Risk Act (SARA) requirements

In accordance with the recovery strategies for the northern wolffish (anarchichas denticulatus), spotted wolffish (anarchichas minor), leatherback sea turtle (dermochelys coriacea), and white shark (carcharodon carcharias) the licence holder is permitted to carry out commercial fishing activities authorized under the Fisheries Act that may incidentally kill, harm, harass, capture or take the northern wolffish and/or spotted wolffish as per subsection 83(4) of the Species at Risk Act, and the license holder is permitted to carry out commercial fishing activities authorized under the Fisheries Act that are known to incidentally capture leatherback sea turtles.

Licence holders are required to return northern wolffish, spotted wolffish, leatherback sea turtle or white shark to the place from which it was taken, and where it is alive, in a manner that causes the least harm.

Licence holders are required to report in their logbook any interaction with northern wolffish, spotted wolffish, leatherback sea turtles or white shark.

7.11 Licensing

The Newfoundland and Labrador herring fishery is governed by the Fisheries Act and regulations and departmental policies made pursuant to the Act. Applicable regulations and policies include, but are not limited to :

The Fisheries Licensing Policy provides details on the various licensing policies that govern the commercial fishing industry in Newfoundland and Labrador Region, including species-specific policies applicable to the herring fishery.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) Resource Management should be consulted for all purposes of interpreting and applying this document.

7.12 Regulatory measures

In accordance with the Atlantic Fishery Regulations 1985, no person shall fish for, sell, or have in their possession any herring that is less than 24.76 cm fork length (9.75 inches); with the exception of up to 20% of small herring (by count) per fishing trip when the taking of small herring is incidental to the capture of larger herring. The minimum size provision does not apply to herring caught by gillnets.

Herring may be retained as a by-catch in a directed mackerel fishery when the quantity of Herring is no more than 10% of the weight of mackerel caught and retained during a fishing trip.

Herring caught as by-catch in a directed mackerel fishery in quantities greater than 10% is permitted only to a person who is licenced for commercial herring, in an area and at a time that is permitted for the capture of herring. See mackerel licence conditions.

A herring licence holder shall only fish in the area(s) and with the type and quantity of gear permitted under the licence.

In accordance with the Fisheries Act, DFO will strictly enforce requirements relative to data that must be provided by fish harvesters and processors/buyers. True information must be provided on quantity and value of all herring caught, bought, transported and processed.

7.13 Logbooks

Completion of a logbook is mandatory under Section 61 of the Fisheries Act. Fish harvesters are required to record information about fishing catch and effort, and submit this data as specified in the conditions of licence. Fish harvesters are responsible for obtaining their own logbooks. Information that should be in your logbook includes:

Include information on anything else you think may be useful to you or DFO. Note that marine mammal mitigation measures are now mandatory and you must report all interactions. Failure to submit a logbook may result in enforcement action.

The completion of bait logbooks is mandatory and returns should be submitted at the end of eth bait fishing season.

7.14 Sharing

In order to prosecute an orderly harvest and prevent unfair competition, licence conditions provide a definition of “geared up” and the requirements to “share” excess catch by both receiving and providing vessels. To be considered geared up when fishing purse seine, bar seine or modified bar seine, a vessel must be equipped with a purse seine, bar seine or modified bar seine, an operational power block and a tow off vessel.

In order to share excess fish, a harvester must be fully loaded and then share excess catch with a vessel in the same fleet sector that is “geared up”. In order to receive excess fish, a harvester must be fully geared up and receive catch from a vessel in the same fleet sector.

7.15 Habitat protection measures

Specific habitat protection measures have not been identified for the herring fishery in area 2+3 due to the low impact of the fishing activity on habitat.

7.16 Oceans initiatives in marine conservation

The Government of Canada has achieved its target of protecting 5% of Canada’s marine and coastal areas by the end of 2017 and remains committed to protecting 10% by 2020. The 2020 target is both a domestic target (Canada’s Biodiversity Target 1) and an international target as reflected in the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Aichi Target 11 and the United Nations General Assembly’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development under Goal 14. The 2017 and 2020 targets are collectively referred to as Canada’s Marine Conservation Targets. More information on the background and drivers for Canada’s Marine Conservation Targets.

As part of ongoing efforts to protect 10% of Canada’s marine and coastal area, Fisheries and Oceans Canada recently established the Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area (MPA) within 3Ps.  It represents 11,580 km² of protected ocean space off the southwest coast of Newfoundland and Labrador (figure 8), in which all commercial and recreational fishing is prohibited (figure 8).  The MPA varies in depth from 100 to 500 m, with the basin of the Laurentian Channel being the deepest. 

There are currently no formal marine conservation areas established in 3Ps which have conservation objectives directly relevant to sea cucumbers, or which affect sea cucumber fishing activities other than the Laurentian Channel MPA.  It is possible marine conservation initiatives such as the establishment of marine refuges or conservation areas could be implemented in the future in areas in which sea cucumbers are found or fished.  However no areas in 3Ps are currently being actively considered for formal marine protection or conservation measures by DFO.

map of Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area
Figure 8: Map of Laurentian Channel Marine Protected Area.

8. Shared stewardship arrangements

There are no formal shared stewardship arrangements in the 2+3 herring fishery. However as noted throughout the IFMP, DFO officials work closely with the harvesting and processing sector in all aspects of fisheries management, science, and conservation and protection. The advisory committee has been established to provide stakeholders with an informal and direct mechanism for input into the management of this fishery.

8.1 Oceans management initiatives promoting shared stewardship

DFO is leading initiatives in integrated oceans management, including MPA network planning within the Newfoundland and Labrador Shelves and Estuary, and Gulf of St. Lawrence Bioregions. This provides a collaborative governance model founded on principles of shared responsibility. As a result, stewardship is promoted by providing a forum for consultation with stakeholders who want to be engaged in marine resource or activity management decisions that affect them.

Aligning integrated oceans management with fisheries management plans will support evidence-based resource use and fisheries management decisions. These decisions will be made with input from multiple interests, including commercial fish harvesters and other stakeholder groups.

8.2 Working arrangements: Existing agreements

There has been a Contribution Agreement between DFO and the FFAW that supports the Fisheries Stewardship Program, which enabled fish harvesters province-wide to share and expand their knowledge and to develop tools necessary to adopt sustainable fishing practices as part of shared stewardship and to implement a broader fisheries conservation ethic. While DFO has not contributed financially toward this year’s program, it does recognize the progress being made on the stewardship front and continues to collaborate in those efforts where possible.

9. Compliance plan

9.1 Conservation and Protection program description

The deployment of Conversation and Protection (C&P) resources in the 2+3 herring fishery is conducted in accordance with management plan objectives, as well as in response to emerging issues. The mix of enforcement options available and over-riding conservation objectives determine the level and type of enforcement activity.

Work plans at the regional, area and detachment levels are designed to establish priorities based on management objectives and conservation concerns. The monitoring and evaluation elements of enforcement work plans facilitate in-season adjustments should conservation concerns and/or significant occurrences of non-compliance emerge.

9.2 Compliance program delivery

The Conservation and Protection program promotes and maintains compliance with legislation, regulations and management measures implemented to achieve the conservation and sustainable use of Canada’s aquatic resources, and the protection of species at risk, fish habitat and oceans.

The program is delivered through a balanced regulatory management and enforcement approach. Specifically:

Pillar 1: Education and Shared Stewardship

Conservation and Protection officers actively participate in consultation processes with the fishing industry, stakeholders and Indigenous groups to address compliance issues. Informal meetings with stakeholders also occur on an ad-hoc basis to resolve in-season matters, in addition to regular interaction with fish harvesters. The consultative process may include C&P membership on area integrated management planning committees, which are composed of fish harvesters, representatives from the provincial and federal governments, and other community groups with an interest in fishery conservation issues.

Fishery officers also visit local schools and educational institutions to present and discuss fisheries conservation issues and use this information as part of the C&P planning process.

Pillar 2: Monitoring, Control and Surveillance

Compliance Monitoring

C&P promotes compliance with management measures governing the fishery through:

Patrols by vehicle, vessel and fixed-wing aircraft are conducted in accordance with operational plans which are developed based on available intelligence.

Each C&P detachment ensures that monitoring and inspections of fish landing activity are carried out on a routine basis. Where a vessel is selected for comprehensive inspection, C&P ensures that catch composition, weight verification and size variation sampling is conducted. C&P also ensures that surveillance flights are conducted on a routine basis. 

The VMS system provides real-time data on the location of vessels within portions of this fleet. C&P uses this resource to help determine where the enterprise is fishing, the port of destination and the estimated time of arrival to port. VMS data will also be relied upon for future analysis and comparisons of fishing activity.  

At-sea observers are randomly deployed to observe, record and report aspects of the fishing activity. The resulting data is used to compare catch composition of vessels on observed trips vs. non-observed trips. C&P also reviews quota monitoring reports to ensure individual quotas are not exceeded.

C&P supplies best-known available local information to the National Fisheries Intelligence service for processing and uses this intelligence to combat all types of illegal fishing activity. 

Notice of closure will be provided on very short notice in some instances and closures will be strictly enforced by all available patrol vessels. Herring will not be permitted to be brought on board a vessel after the time of closure. Air surveillance will be arranged as available and where appropriate.

C&P reviews quota monitoring reports to ensure individual quotas are not exceeded. Infractions involving exceeding the daily limits may not be identified until after the closure of the fishery due to other priorities during the fishery.

C&P supplies information to NFIS on a regular basis. This information is documented and analyzed to strategically direct efforts towards combatting illegal activity in the herring fishery.

Compliance Performance

DFO conducts post-season analysis sessions to review issues encountered during the previous season and to make recommendations on improving management measures. The initial sessions are conducted at the area level, followed by a regional session with other DFO sectors.

Over the past five years, C&P has averaged approximately 1,061 hours annually of monitoring, control and surveillance activities in the 2+3 herring fishery. (See Appendix 7)

Pillar 3: Major Case

C&P recognizes the need to focus attention on high-risk illegal activities that pose significant threat to the achievement of conservation objectives, which usually cannot be addressed through education or routine monitoring. Some individuals motivated by financial gain persist through various complex and well-coordinated means in hiding illegal activities which put Canada’s aquatic resources at risk.

Detailed analysis of license holders and processing companies will be completed using fishery profiling, targeting of high-risk violators, conducting forensic investigations, and accessing the resources of the National Fisheries Intelligence Service.

Targeting of high-risk violators and/or processing facilities will also be a primary focus should gathered intelligence warrant such action. Any resulting operations will be conducted in conjunction with NFIS staff, field staff and area resources as required.

9.3 Current compliance issues

The focus of C&P efforts for the duration of this IFMP is on the following issues:

9.4 Compliance strategy

C&P has developed an operational plan that outlines monitoring and compliance activities that will be carried out by C&P personnel adjacent to the herring fishery management areas. The plan provides guidance for C&P, promotes effective monitoring of the fishery, and enables C&P personnel to effectively maintain compliance with management measures governing this fishery. 

The objective of the plan is to collect information for ensuring compliance and conducting investigations. Sources of information used by C&P include:

10. Performance review

A review of the short-term and long-term objectives during the two-year planning cycle is an integral part of reviewing the performance of the fishery. During the regional assessment process on the status of the stock, DFO Science may consider the applicable objectives in providing its advice. For fisheries management, the advisory meeting with stakeholders is a formal setting to review both short and long-term objectives. In addition to these formal reviews, DFO officials and industry representatives have an on-going dialogue on the fishery on a year-round basis. These informal discussions are opportunities to review the objectives outlined in the fishery for a discussion at the biennial advisory meeting.

DFO Newfoundland and Labrador region completes an annual internal post-season review with participation from Resource Management, Conservation and Protection, and Science staff. Regional headquarters and area-based staff participate in this process to identify local, area and regional fishery performance issues. DFO undertakes every effort to outline steps to address the issues, including assigning responsibility and setting timelines for completion. Those items not resolved during the post-season review are carried forward to the following year to be addressed.

The Performance Review outlines the activities and controls that are used in achieving fisheries management objectives. Table 5 identifies the specific strategies that are used to achieve fisheries management objectives.

Table 5: Measurable Objectives/Activities and Fisheries Management Strategies
Objectives Fisheries management strategies
Conservation and Sustainable Harvest
To conserve the herring resource to provide commercial sustainability to fish harvesters
  • Fishing season
  • Total Allowable Catch
  • Quota monitoring
To mitigate the impacts on other species, habitat and the ecosystem where herring fishing occurs, protecting biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function
  • Mandatory reporting of lost gear
  • Prohibit the use of monofilament netting material
  • Species at Risk Act
To promote the development of sustainable fishing practices
  • Implement measures that discourage illegal practices
  • Licence holder shall only fish in the area(s) and with the type and quantity of gear permitted
To employ effective monitoring and surveillance tools and mechanisms that ensure compliance with conservation measures and provide scientists with appropriate information and basic data required to manage the herring fishery
  • Accurate completion of logbooks
  • Reliable dockside monitoring program
  • Adequate level of spatial and temporal at-sea observer coverage
  • Adherence to electronic vessel monitoring system (VMS) requirements
Benefits to Stakeholders
To promote the continued development of a
commercially viable and self-sustaining fishery
  • Aboriginal access and allocation formulas are maintained in the IFMP and opportunities for additional access are addressed through the Allocation Transfer Program
To provide fish harvesters with increased
opportunity to develop long-term business stability
  • Stable sharing arrangement
  • Evergreen management plans
To promote a co-management approach, providing stakeholders with an effective sharing of responsibility, accountability and decision making within the constraints of the Fisheries Act
  • Establish an effective consultative process for stakeholders to participate in the decision-making process
  • Organize and participate in annual advisory meetings
  • Improve management of fishery through co-management

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) measures the performance of the fisheries that it manages through the Sustainability Survey for Fisheries (SFF). The survey is published every year and currently includes 170 fish stocks, with more added each year. The fish stocks were selected because of their economic or cultural importance; they represent the majority of total catch of fisheries managed by DFO.

11. Glossary of terms

Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge: knowledge that is held by and unique to Aboriginal peoples. It is a living body of knowledge that is cumulative and dynamic, and adapted over time to reflect changes in the social, economic, environmental, spiritual and political spheres of the Aboriginal knowledge holders. It often includes knowledge about the land and its resources, spiritual beliefs, language, mythology, culture, laws, customs and medicines.

Abundance: number of individuals in a stock or a population

Age Composition: proportion of individuals of different ages in a stock or in the catches

Anadromous: a species such as Atlantic Salmon that spends most of its life at sea but returns to fresh water grounds to spawn in the river it comes from

Area/Subarea: an area defined by the Convention on Future Multilateral Cooperation in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries by NAFO, and as described in the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985

Biomass: total weight of all individuals in a stock or a population

Bioregion: a biogeographic division of Canada's marine waters out to the edge of the Exclusive Economic Zone, and including the Great Lakes, based on attributes such as bathymetry, influence of freshwater inflows, distribution of multi-year ice, and species distribution. Canada’s marine protected areas network is being advanced in five priority marine bioregions: the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Scotian Shelf, the Newfoundland-Labrador Shelves, the Western Arctic, and the Northern Shelf.

By-catch: the unintentional catch of one species when the target is another species

Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE): the amount caught for a given fishing effort, e.g. tonnes of shrimp per tow or kilograms of fish per hundred longline hooks

Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC): committee of experts who assess and designate which wild species are in some danger of disappearing from Canada

Communal Commercial Licence: licence issued to Aboriginal organizations pursuant to the Aboriginal Communal Fishing Licences Regulations for participation in the general commercial fishery

Discards: portion of a catch thrown back into the water after it is caught in fishing gear

Dockside Monitoring Program (DMP): A monitoring program conducted by a company that has been designated by DFO to verify the species composition and landed weight of all fish landed from a commercial fishing vessel

Ecosystem-Based Management: taking into account species interactions and the interdependencies between species and their habitats when making resource management decisions

Fishing Effort: quantity of effort using a given fishing gear over a given period of time

Fishing Mortality: death caused by fishing, often symbolized by the mathematical symbol F

Fixed Gear: a type of fishing gear that is set in a stationary position. This includes traps, weirs, gillnets, longlines, handlines, bar/beach seines and modified bar seines (known as tuck seines)

Food, Social and Ceremonial (FSC): a fishery conducted by Aboriginal groups for food, social and ceremonial purposes

Gillnet: fishing gear: netting with weights on the bottom and floats at the top used to catch fish. Gillnets can be set at different depths and are anchored to the seabed

Groundfish: species of fish living near the bottom such as cod, haddock, halibut and flatfish

Handlining: fishing using a line with usually one baited hook and moving it up and down in a series of short movements; also called "jigging"

Landings: quantity of a species caught and landed

Longlining: using long lines with a series of baited hooks to catch fish

Maximum Sustainable Yield: largest average catch that can continuously be taken from a stock

Mesh Size: size of the mesh of a net. Different fisheries have different minimum mesh size regulations

Mobile Gear: any type of fishing gear that is drawn through the water by a vessel to entrap fish, including purse seines

Natural Mortality: mortality due to natural causes, represented by the mathematical symbol M

Observer Coverage: carrying a certified at-sea observer onboard a fishing vessel for a specific period of time to verify the amount of fish caught, the area in which it was caught and the method by which it was caught

Otolith: structure of the inner ear of fish, made of calcium carbonate. Also called "ear bone" or "ear stone". Otoliths are examined to determine the age of fish as annual rings can be observed and counted. Daily increments are also visible on larval otoliths

Pelagic: fish that lives in the water column or close to the surface

Population: group of individuals of the same species, forming a breeding unit, and sharing a habitat

Precautionary Approach: set of agreed cost-effective measures and actions, including future courses of action, which ensures prudent foresight, reduces or avoids risk to the resource, the environment, and the people, to the extent possible, taking explicitly into account existing uncertainties and the potential consequences of being wrong

Purse Seine: large net used to encircle fish and equipped with a wire rope on the bottom to draw the net together. A small boat, called a "skiff", participates in manoeuvring the net.

Quota: portion of the Total Allowable Catch that a fleet, vessel class, association, country, etc. is permitted to take from a stock in a given period of time

Recruitment: the number of individuals growing large enough to become part of the exploitable stock, e.g. that can be caught in a fishery

Research Survey: survey at sea, on a research vessel, allowing scientists to obtain information on the abundance and distribution of various species and/or collect oceanographic data (e.g., bottom trawl survey, plankton survey, hydroacoustic survey, etc.)

Species at Risk Act (SARA): a federal law enabling the Government to take action to prevent wildlife species from becoming extinct and secure the necessary actions for their recovery. It provides the legal protection of wildlife species and the conservation of their biological diversity.

Spawner: sexually mature individual

Spawning Stock: sexually mature individuals in a stock

Stock: a population of individuals of one species found in a particular area, and used as a unit for fisheries management, e.g. NAFO area 4R Herring

Stock Assessment: scientific evaluation of the status of a fish stock within a particular area in a given time period

Total Allowable Catch (TAC): the amount of catch that may be taken from a stock

Traditional Ecological Knowledge: a cumulative body of knowledge and beliefs, handed down through generations by cultural transmission, about the relationship of living beings (including humans) with one another and with their environment

Tonne: metric tonne, 1000kg or 2204.6 lbs

Trawl: fishing gear; a cone-shaped net towed in the water by a boat called a "trawler". Bottom trawls are towed along the ocean floor to catch species such as groundfish, while mid-water trawls are towed through the water column

Validation: the verification by an observer of the weight of fish landed

Vessel Size: length overall

Year-class: individuals of a same stock born in a particular year, also called "cohort"

Appendix 1: Stock assessment results

Science advice, proceedings and stocks assessments/scientific evaluations resulting from Canadian Science Advisory Secretariat (CSAS) meetings are available in the CSAS publications section.

Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) research documents and associated reports are available on the NAFO website.

Appendix 2: Management measures for the duration of the plan

This Integrated Fisheries Management Plan, combined with responsible fishing practices, should ensure that the conservation goals are met. However, if the fishery is not conducted in an orderly manner, DFO may implement additional management measures or controls in these fisheries.

Appendix 3: 2019 2+3 Herring Advisory meeting participants

Name Organization/ Representative
Karl Sullivan Barry Group
Chris Pilgrim Barry Group
Jim Payne Barry Group
Nancy Pond Department of Fisheries and Land Resources
Frank Corbett DFO-NL Policy and Economics
Chad Ward DFO-NL Conservation and Protection
David Small DFO-NL Resource Management (Eastern & Central)
Margie King Area Statistical Coordinator
Wayne King DFO-NL Resource Management (Labrador)
Laurie Hawkins DFO-NL Resource Management (Southern & Western)
Erin Dunne DFO-NL Resource Management (Regional HQ)
Christina Bourne DFO-NL Science
John Boland FFAW
Monty Way FFAW
Roland Hedderson FFAW
Bill Broderick FFAW
Rob Coombs NunatuKavut Community Council
Ray Dalton Quinlan Group
Robbie Green Fish harvester
Ivan Batten Fish harvester
Steven Miller Fish harvester
Richard Gillet Fish harvester
Eldred Woodford Fish harvester
Sidney Wells Fish harvester
Joseph Linehan Fish harvester
Matthew Jones Fish harvester
Trevor Jones Fish harvester
Derrick Pickett Fish harvester
Dion Chaulk Fish harvester
Wesley Snook Fish harvester
Audrey Snook Fish harvester
Georgina Snook Fish harvester
Gary B. Snook Fish harvester
Morris Anstey Fish harvester
Wayne Meade Fish harvester
Jason Lambert Fish harvester
Dennis Chaulk Fish harvester
Michael Dobbin Fish harvester
Bill Hickey Fish harvester

Appendix 4: Map of Herring Fishing Areas (HFAs) around Newfoundland and Labrador

Map of Herring Fishing Areas (HFAs) around Newfoundland and Labrador
Map of Herring Fishing Areas (HFAs) around Newfoundland and Labrador

Appendix 5: 2+3 Herring quota reports

Quota Reports for 2017-2018 Herring in 2+3
NAFO Quota Definition 2017 2018
Quota Catch % Left Quota Catch % Left
2J LAB - Gillnets/Traps 500 * * * 500 * * *
Total 2J 500 * * * 500 * * *
3K WB - Gillnet/Traps 321 * * * 321 * * *
WB - Bar Seines 108 * * * 108 * * *
WB - Purse Seine 855 855 100 -2 855 854 100 1
NDB - Gillnets/Traps 321 * * * 321 * * *
NDB - Bar Seines 108 * * * 108 * * *
NDB - Purse Seine 855 * * * 855 * * *
Total 3K 2,568 * * * 2,568 * * *
3L BB - Gillnets/Traps 515 * * * 515 * * *
BB - Bar Seines 982 * * * 982 * * *
BB - Purse Seine 1,498 * * * 1498 * * *
TB - Gillnets/Traps 329 * * * 329 * * *
TB - Bar Seines 1,168 * * * 1,168 * * *
TB - Purse Seines 1,498 * * * 1,498 * * *
CB - Gillnets/Traps 133 * * * 133 * * *
CB/SS - Bar Seines 159 * * * 159 * * *
CB/SS - Purse Seines 520 * * * 520 * * *
SS - Gillnets/Traps 133 * * * 133 * * *
SMB - Gillnets/Traps 183 * * * 183 * * *
SMB - Bar Seines 45 * * * 45 * * *
SMB - Purse Seine < 55' 206 * * * 206 * * *
SMB - Purse Seine > 55' 206 * * * 206 * * *
Total 3L 7,524 * * * 7,524 * * *
3Ps PB - Gillnets/Traps 183 * * * 183 * * *
PB - Bar Seines 45 * * 45 45 * * 45
PB - Purse Seine < 55' 206 * * * 206 * * *
PB - Purse Seine > 55' 206 * * * 206 * * *
FB - Gillnets/Traps 216 * * * 216 * * *
FB - Bar Seines 431 * * * 431 * * *
PI/CF - Gillnets/Traps 200 * * 200 200 * * *
PI/CF - Bar Seines 100 * * 100 100 * * *
Total 3Ps 1,587 200 * * 1,587 * * *
Commercial Quota 12,179 * * * 12,179 * * *
Reserve** 1,063 * * * 1,063 * * *
Bait Allocation 1,600 * * * 1,600 * * *
Total Landings 14,842 6,334 43 8,508 14,842 * * *

NOTE:

* To ensure that private information cannot be extracted from fishery landings and catch information, DFO does not provide landings and catch information for a specific fishery when the fishery has fewer than five fishing enterprises, five fishing vessels or five buyers participating in a fishery. This measure protects the privacy and economic interests of participants in the fishery. Note: totals and sub-totals reflect actual amounts landed.

** Reserve quotas are allocated to three areas only: St. Mary’s Bay-Placentia Bay, Fortune Bay, and Pass Islands to Cinq Cerf Bay. [See section 7.4]

Legend:

  • LAB (Labrador)
  • WB-NDB (White Bay-Notre Dame Bay)
  • BB-TB (Bonavista Bay-Trinity Bay)
  • CB-SS (Conception Bay-Southern Shore)
  • SMB-PB (St. Mary’s Bay-Placentia Bay)
  • FB (Fortune Bay)
  • PI-CF (Pass Island to Cinq Cerf Bay)

Appendix 6: Safety at sea

Vessel owners and masters have a duty to ensure the safety of their crew and vessel. Adherence to safety regulations and good practices by owners, masters and crew of fishing vessels will help save lives, protect the vessel from damage and protect the environment. All fishing vessels must be in a seaworthy condition and maintained as required by Transport Canada and other applicable agencies. Vessels subject to inspection should have a certificate of inspection valid for the area of intended operation.

In the federal government, responsibility for regulating shipping, navigation, and vessel safety lies with Transport Canada, while emergency response is the responsibility of the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG). DFO has responsibility for the management of fisheries resources, and in Newfoundland and Labrador, the provincial Workplace Health, Safety and Compensation Commission (WHSCC) has jurisdiction over health and safety issues in the workplace.

Before leaving on a voyage the owner, master or operator must ensure that the fishing vessel is capable of safely making the passage. Critical factors for a safe voyage include the seaworthiness of the vessel, vessel stability, having the required safety equipment in good working order, crew training, and knowledge of current and forecasted weather conditions.

Useful publications include Transport Canada’s Small Fishing Vessel Safety Manual which can be obtained from TC or printed from their website.

Fishing vessel safety includes three priority areas:

Fishing vessel stability

Vessel stability is paramount for safety. Care must be given to the stowage and securing of all cargo, skiffs, equipment, fuel containers and supplies, and also to correct ballasting. Fish harvesters must be familiar with their vessel’s centre of gravity, the effect of free surface liquids on stability, loose water or fish on deck, loading and unloading operations and the vessel’s freeboard. Fish harvesters should know the limitations of their vessels. If unsure, the vessel operator should contact a qualified naval architect, marine surveyor or the local Transport Canada Marine Safety office.

Fishing vessel owners are required to develop detailed instructions addressing the limits of stability for each of their vessels. The instructions must be based on a formal assessment of the vessel by a qualified naval architect and include detailed safe operation documentation. Instructions should be kept on board the vessel at all times.

Fishing vessel owners should also keep on-board detailed documentation on engine room procedures, maintenance schedules to ensure watertight integrity, and instructions for regular practice of emergency drills.

Emergency drill requirements

The vessel master must establish procedures and assign responsibilities to each crew member for emergencies such as:

Since July 30, 2003 all crew members with more than six months at sea are required to have taken minimum Marine Emergency Duties (MED) training or be registered for such training. MED provides a basic understanding of the hazards associated with the marine environment, the prevention of shipboard incidents (including fires), raising and reacting to alarms, fire and abandonment situations, and the skills necessary for survival and rescue.

Cold water immersion

Drowning is the number one cause of death in the fishing industry. Cold water is defined as water below 25 degrees celsius, but the greatest effects occur below 15 degrees celsius. Newfoundland and Labrador waters are usually below 15 degrees.

The effects of cold water on the body occur in four stages:

Vessel masters should know what to do to prevent themselves or their crew from falling into the water and what to do if that occurs.

Other issues

Weather

Vessel owners and masters are reminded of the importance of paying close attention to current weather trends and forecasts during the voyage. Marine weather information and forecasts can be obtained from Environment Canada’s website.

Emergency radio procedures

Vessel owners and masters should ensure that all crew are able to activate the Search and Rescue (SAR) system by contacting the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) early rather than later. It is strongly recommended that all fish harvesters carry a registered 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). These beacons should be registered with Coast Guard’s National Search and Rescue secretariat. When activated, an EPIRB transmits a distress call that is picked up or relayed by satellites and transmitted via land earth stations to the Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC), which will task and co-ordinate rescue resources.

All crew members should know how to make a distress call and should obtain their restricted operator certificate from Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (formerly Industry Canada). Whenever possible, masters should contact the nearest Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) Marine Communications and Traffic Services (MCTS) station prior to a distress situation developing. Correct radio procedures are important for communications in an emergency. Incorrect or misunderstood communications may hinder a rescue response.

Since August 1, 2003 all commercial vessels greater than 20 metres in length are required to carry a Class D VHF Digital Selective Calling (DSC) radio. A registered DSC VHF radio has the capability to alert other DSC equipped vessels in the immediate area and advise Coast Guard MCTS that the vessel is in distress. Masters should be aware that they should register their DSC radios with ISED Canada to obtain a Marine Mobile Services Identity (MMSI) number; otherwise the automatic distress calling feature of the radio may not work.

A DSC radio that is connected to a GPS unit will also automatically include the vessel’s current position in the distress message. More detailed information on MCTS and DSC can be obtained by contacting a local MCTS center or from the Canadian Coast Guard.

Collison Regulations

Fish harvesters should have a thorough knowledge of the Collision Regulations and the responsibilities between vessels where risk of collision exists. Navigation lights must be kept in good working order and must be displayed from sunset to sunrise and during all times of restricted visibility. To help reduce the potential for collision or close quarters situations that may also result in the loss of fishing gear, fish harvesters are encouraged to monitor the appropriate local Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) VHF channel, when travelling or fishing near shipping lanes or other areas frequented by large commercial vessels.

Vessels required to participate in VTS include:

Exceptions include:

Additional information can be found on the Collision Regulations page.

Sail plan

An important trip consideration is the use of a sail plan which includes the particulars of the vessel, crew and voyage. The sail plan should be left with a responsible person on shore or filed with the local MCTS centre. After leaving port the fish harvester should contact the holder of the sail plan daily or as per another schedule. The sail plan should ensure notification to JRCC when communication is not maintained which might indicate your vessel is in distress. Be sure to cancel the sail plan upon completion of the voyage.

Appendix 7. C&P enforcement data for 2+3 herring

Figure 9: 2J3KLPs Herring Enforcement Hours from 2014-2018. Source: Conservation & Protection.
Description

Figure 9. 2J3KLPs Herring Enforcement Hours from 2014-2018. Source: Conservation & Protection.

Year Patrol Fishery officer hours
2014 784 1213
2015 886 1308
2016 559 889
2017 527 830
2018 642 1066
Figure 10: 2J3KLPs Herring Fishery Checks from 2014-2018. Source: Conservation & Protection.
Description

Figure 10. 2J3KLPs Herring Fishery Checks from 2014-2018. Source: Conservation & Protection.

Year Vessels checked Persons checked Gear checks Sites checked
2014 37 22 194 139
2015 65 27 92 85
2016 47 37 136 138
2017 24 34 64 56
2018 39 35 105 135
Figure 11: 2J3KLPs Herring Departmental Violation System (DVS) Data from 2014-2018. Source: Conservation & Protection.
Description

Figure 11. 2J3KLPs Herring Departmental Violation System (DVS) Data from 2014-2018. Source: Conservation & Protection.

Year Occurrences Charges laid Warnings issued
2014 16 6 5
2015 16 9 1
2016 68 6 16
2017 44 8 13
2018 40 6 13
Appendix 8: Departmental Contacts
Contact Telephone Fax Email
DFO NL Regional Headquarters
P.O. Box 5667, St. John’s, NL A1C 5X1
Erin Dunne
Resource Manager, Pelagics
(709) 772-3600 (709) 772-3628 erin.dunne@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Daryl Walsh
Chief
Conservation & Protection
(709) 772-6423 (709) 772-4327 daryl.walsh@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Frank Corbett
Policy Analyst
(709) 772-6935 (709) 772-4583 frank.corbett@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Christina Bourne
Scientist
(709) 772-6578 (709) 772-4188 christina.bourne@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
DFO NL Area Offices – Resource Management
David Small
Area Chief (3KL)
Grand Falls-Windsor
(709) 292-5167 (709) 292-5205 david.small@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Wayne King
Area Chief (2J)
Happy Valley–Goose Bay
(709) 896-6157 (709) 896-8419 wayne.king@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Laurie Hawkins
Area Chief (3P, 4R)
Corner Brook
(709) 637-4310 (709) 637-4445 laurie.hawkins@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
DFO NL Area Offices – Conservation and Protection
Chad Ward
Area Chief (3KLPs)
St. John’s
(709) 772-5857 (709) 772-2659 chad.ward@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Brent Watkins
Area Chief
(2GHJ, 3K, 4R3Pn)
Corner Brook
(709) 637-4334 (709) 637-4213 brent.watkins@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Date modified: