2023-2028 Protocol for gear tagging in Atlantic commercial fisheries

Application

This protocol applies to fishing gear tagging for all commercial fisheries (including communal commercial) where prior to the 2013 fishing season, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) was providing gear tags to the commercial fishing industry.

As is currently the case, DFO will continue to provide tags in the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna fishery, and where they are required in non-commercial fisheries (recreational, scientific, Aboriginal food, social, ceremonial).

Since April 1, 2013, and following a repeal of the gear tagging requirements contained in the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, fishing industry began assuming the responsibility to obtain and pay for any gear tags used in the commercial fisheries where gear tagging is required as a condition of licence. Fish harvesters must tag their gear with a valid tag that has been obtained from a DFO-approved gear tag supplier.

Approved tag supplier

In accordance with this Gear Tagging Protocol, DFO provides, on a five-year cyclical basis, the opportunity for organizations or other interested parties to express interest in becoming approved tag suppliers by submitting a tagging plan application to the Department for consideration.

A tag supplier that has been identified in a tagging plan approved by DFO is referred to as an “approved tag supplier”.

As provided by the Protocol, previously approved tag suppliers would have to renew their existing tagging plan or submit a new application if there are changes to the Plan previously approved by DFO.

A list of all DFO approved tag suppliers is available on DFO’s website.

Licence holders may obtain gear tags from any “approved tag supplier” that services their fishing area.

DFO criteria for tagging plan approval

In order for DFO to approve a tagging plan, the following conditions must be met:

Submission of tagging plan

• A call for interest for potential new tag suppliers is issued by DFO every five years via Public Services and Procurement Canada’s Buyandsell.gc.ca website. The letter of interest can also be found on DFO’s website.
• Unless otherwise provided for by DFO, applications for approval of a tagging plan shall be submitted on time prior to the opening of the commercial fishery(s) for which the application is being made (i.e., approximately 3 to 4 months before the start of the fishing season).
• The proponent of a tagging plan shall submit their tagging plan application to the DFO regional office responsible for managing fisheries or licensing fishing vessels in the area to which their application applies.
• Where a tagging plan proponent is submitting a plan for a fishing area managed by more than one DFO regional office, or fished by fleets from more than one DFO region, the proponent shall submit their proposed tagging plan to one of the DFO regional offices responsible for managing that fishing area or responsible for licensing vessels that fish in that area.
• Where a tagging plan proponent submits an Atlantic-wide tagging plan, the proponent shall submit that plan to the DFO regional office in the DFO region where that proponent is located.
• Applications shall be submitted via email to the office of the Director of Resource Management (Attention: Regional Gear Tag Program Coordinator) at the address set out below:

Gulf Region P.O. Box 5030 Moncton, New Brunswick E1C 9B6 Email: GulfInfoGolfe@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Maritimes Region P.O. Box 1006, P600 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4A2 Email: xmartags@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Newfoundland and Labrador Region P.O. Box 5667 St. John’s, Newfoundland A1C 5X1 Email: Gary.Bruce@dfo-mpo.gc.ca Quebec Region 104 Dalhousie Street Québec, Quebec G1K 7Y7 Email: Infostatqc.XLAU@dfo-mpo.gc.ca



• Applicants must provide samples of their proposed tag to DFO for evaluation when submitting their tagging plan application. Applicants are not required to provide tag samples where the applicant is renewing an existing tagging plan and as part of this application confirms that they will continue to use the same make and model of tag in their previously approved tagging plan. Sample tags should be provided whenever a supplier changes tag manufacturer or tag design.
• Where DFO has approved a tagging plan, the approved tag supplier will not be required to submit a new tagging plan, but rather a signed consent form indicating their intention to continue as an approved tag supplier in each successive calendar year.
• If there are changes to the previously DFO approved tagging plan, or the approved plan is a multi-year tagging plan, an application to renew must be submitted on time prior to the expiry date of that multi-year tagging plan (i.e.; approximately 3 to 4 months before the start of the fishing season).

Areas/fisheries to be supplied

• A tagging plan shall set out the geographic area and the fisheries that the approved tag supplier is committed to servicing. Approved tag suppliers may provide service to one fleet sector in a single fishing area, to multiple fleets in one or more areas or they may provide their service on an Atlantic-wide basis.

Duration of tagging plans

• The first tagging plan submitted by an interested proponent shall be for a probationary period of one year.
• Approved tag suppliers who have demonstrated at least one year of acceptable performance under an existing tagging plan will be eligible to amend that plan or submit a new plan for a multi-year period (i.e. up to the end of the cycle and subsequently for the following cycles).
• A tagging plan approved for more than one year shall be referred to as a ‘‘Multi-Year tagging plan’’.

Single year and multi-year tags

• Approved tag suppliers must set out in their tagging plan whether they will be supplying single year or multi-year tags or both. Different requirements for single year and multi-year tags are set out in this document and these must be addressed in proposals from approved tag suppliers.
• The decision on whether an area/fishery will use multi-year tags is usually made as part of the consultative advisory process between DFO and industry. Approved tag suppliers can only provide multi-year tags in fisheries where DFO and industry have formally agreed to use multi-year tags. 

Assessment criteria for tagging plans

DFO will assess tagging plans against the following criteria:

Tag supplier

• Tagging plans for the 2023 fishing season may be submitted by any new proponent or previously approved tag supplier that has made changes to the previous tagging plan approved by DFO. Renewal of previously approved tagging plans may be submitted from approved tag suppliers for the five-year cycle 2023-2028.
• The tagging plan must identify the tag manufacturer from which tags will be sourced. Any change to tag manufacturer, design, or model must be brought to DFO’s attention in order to obtain DFO’s approval, and must be done PRIOR to implementing this change.
• Where a group or other entity is identified as an approved tag supplier in a tagging plan, and that group or entity is not a band council, an Aboriginal organization or an existing bona-fide organization, group or association representing licence holders, that group or entity or any member of that group or entity shall not hold a commercial fishing licence in that fishery.
• Licence holders are not eligible to become approved tag suppliers.
• A tagging plan will not be approved where approving that plan will result in a conflict of interest between the approved tag supplier and licence holders.
• A tagging plan shall set out the contact person for purposes of administering the plan.
• Tagging plan proponents must demonstrate that they have the ability to serve licence holders in the official language of the Region that they are proposing to serve. Proponents of an Atlantic-wide tagging plan must be able to provide their service to licence holders in both official languages.
• A tagging plan shall indicate whether service will be provided in English or French or in both languages. Any limitations on the language of service (example: English service only available Monday, Wednesday, Friday) shall be identified in the tagging plan.

Description of the tag to be used

• The tagging plan shall include a description of the tag to be used, including:
• the manufacturer of the tag
• the size and construction of the tag
• a description of the locking mechanism that renders the tag tamperproof
• how the information that DFO requires on the tag will be printed or inscribed on the tag to ensure that it is waterproof and legible.
• The tagging plan must demonstrate that the tag to be used in the plan is tamperproof and will remain legible for the duration of its use (i.e. single year or multi-year tags).
• The tagging plan must provide that the following information will be included on each tag:
• fishing area
• tag supplier identification number (TSIN) assigned by DFO to the approved tag supplier when their tagging plan is approved
• a two digit prefix/identifier ahead of the sequential number to indicate the current fishing season*
• a unique sequential number*
• identification of the tag manufacturer

Note: for more details regarding the prefix/identifier in effect each fishing season, please consult:  Prefix/identifier in effect each fishing season.

• The format for including the above information on each tag (i.e., original or replacement) shall be:
  • LFA27 xx yyzzzzzz ABC – where LFA27 is the fishing area; xx is the two digit Tag Supplier Identification Number assigned by DFO; yy is the prefix/identifier for the current fishing season and zzzzzz is the unique sequential number. Tags must also include the manufacturer’s stamp (whatever form that takes) somewhere on the tag.
• The tagging plan must provide that gear tags issued to each licence holder will be numbered consecutively.
  • Example of numbering that could help avoid duplicate numbers.
• The total number of tags issued to a licence holder as part of their initial tag allowance will not:
  • exceed the gear limits in place for the fishery for which those tags have been issued, or
  • exceed the gear limits in place for the fishery for which those tags have been issued and the number of replacement tags allowed under Option 1 as described under the heading Replacement Tags, where that replacement option has been implemented by DFO in consultation with licence holders.

Colour of tags

Multi-year tags

Tags supplied for fisheries where multi-year tags have been agreed upon between DFO and industry may be metal or traditional polyurethane type tags. Polyurethane type tags used for multi-year tags may only be natural or white (Pantone 001) in colour. Tags of any colour other than white or natural cannot be used for multi-year tags.

Single year Tags

A different colour tag will be required each year, to provide visual confirmation that valid current year tags are attached to fishing gear. The following original tag colours will be used in the Atlantic Regions for the fishing season covering the period from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2028:

Newfoundland and Labrador Region:

• 2023 - Green – Pantone^Footnote1348C
• 2024 - Yellow – Pantone^Footnote1108C
• 2025 - Brown Bramble – Pantone^Footnote14625C
• 2026 - Valentine Red – Pantone^Footnote1201C
• 2027 - Purple – Pantone^Footnote1240C

Maritimes Region

Gulf region

Quebec region

A tagging plan must set out whether the approved tag supplier will be supplying multi-year or single year gear tags and must set out the appropriate colour(s) for the supply period set out in the tagging plan.

Replacement tags

• A tagging plan shall set out the process to provide licence holders with replacement tags for tags that are lost, damaged, or requiring a replacement under special circumstances during the fishing season or the term of a multi-year tagging plan. Currently, DFO has approved two options for tag replacement:
• Option 1: 10% Rule
  This option is only available in areas where this has been discussed between DFO and licence holders and where an agreement has been made to allow this possibility. Licence holders may be provided with an extra tag allowance above the number of tags that equals the trap limit in their fishery. This extra allowance shall be issued as part of the initial tag allowance. Unless provided otherwise by DFO, this extra tag allowance shall not exceed 10% of the licensee’s trap limit and shall continue in consecutive numbers from the last number coinciding with the trap limit.
• Option 2: Replacement Tags on an as Request Basis
  Licence holders may be provided with replacement tags by the approved tag supplier on an as needed basis. When this option is chosen the tagging plan must set out how the approved tag supplier will identify these replacement tags, and set out whether these tags will be issued as single tags, multiple tags or complete replacement sets. The tagging plan shall set out the supplier’s delivery standard which shall be no more than 2 business days between written receipt of a request for replacement tags and delivery to the licence holder, unless otherwise agreed upon between the approved tag supplier and industry. Such agreement shall be documented in writing and submitted by the proponent with their tagging plan application.
• The decision on which replacement option(s) will be implemented in an area/fishery is determined by DFO in consultation with licence holders.
• Tagging plans shall set out the replacement option(s) that will be provided by the approved tag supplier.
• A tagging plan shall provide that replacement tags:
• in Maritimes Region must be:
• in all areas, except in LFA 36, of a different colour from the original tags that are being replaced [i.e., in 2023, the original green tag will be replaced with an orange replacement tag (Pantone¹ 158C); in 2024 the original yellow tag or light brown tag will be replaced with a pale blue replacement tag (Pantone¹ 310C); in 2025, the original brown bramble or light coral tag will be replaced with a medium purple replacement tag (Pantone¹ 2573C); in 2026, the original Valentine red tag or dark cyan tag will be replaced by a pistachio replacement tag (Pantone¹ 375C); and in 2027 the original purple or royal blue tag will be replaced by a grey replacement tag (Pantone¹ 425C)];and
• in LFA 36, the same colour as the original tags being replaced [i.e., in 2023, the original green will be replaced by a green replacement tag (Pantone¹ 348C); in 2024 the original yellow will be replaced with a yellow replacement tag (Pantone¹ 108C); in 2025 the original brown bramble will be replaced with a brown bramble replacement tag (Pantone¹ 4625C); in 2026, the original Valentine red will be replaced by a Valentine red replacement tag (Pantone¹ 201C); and in 2027, the original purple will be replaced by a purple replacement tag (Pantone¹ 240C)];
• in Newfoundland and Labrador Region, must be the same colour as the original tags that they are replacing [i.e., in 2023, the original green will be replaced by a green replacement tag (Pantone¹ 348C); in 2024 the original yellow will be replaced with a yellow replacement tag (Pantone¹ 108C); in 2025 the original brown bramble will be replaced with a brown bramble replacement tag (Pantone¹ 4625C)]; in 2026 the original Valentine red will be replaced with a Valentine red replacement tag (Pantone¹ 201C); and in 2027 the original purple will be replaced with a purple replacement tag (Pantone¹ 240C)];
• in Gulf Region, must be of a different colour from the original tags that they are replacing [i.e., in 2023, the original green or pink tag will be replaced with an orange replacement tag (Pantone¹ 158 C); in 2024 the original yellow or light brown tag will be replaced with a pale blue replacement tag (Pantone¹ 310C); in 2025, the original brown bramble or light coral tag will be replaced with a medium purple replacement tag (Pantone¹ 2573C); in 2026 the original Valentine red or dark cyan tag will be replaced with a pistachio tag (Pantone¹ 375C); and in 2027, the original purple or royal blue tag will be replaced with a grey tag (Pantone¹ 425C)]; and
• in Quebec region, must be of a different colour from the original tags that they are replacing [i.e., in 2023 the original green or pink tag will be replaced with an orange replacement tag (Pantone¹ 158C); in 2024 the original yellow or light brown tag will be replaced with a pale blue replacement tag (Pantone¹ 310C); in 2025, the original brown bramble or light coral tag will be replaced with a medium purple replacement tag (Pantone¹ 2573C);in 2026, the original Valentine red or dark cyan tag will be replaced with a pistachio replacement tag (Pantone¹ 375C); and in 2027, the original purple tag will be replaced by a grey replacement tag (Pantone¹ 425C)]; and
• in all regions:
• must be the multi-year tags where multi-year tags have been issued, and,
• must include the fishing area, the two digit Tag Supplier Identification Number (TSIN), the two digit prefix/identifier for the current fishing season, a unique sequential number on each tag and the identification of the tag manufacturer.
• Tagging plans shall include a commitment that the approved tag supplier will only provide replacement tags to those licence holders who obtained their initial tag allotment from that approved tag supplier.

Distribution of tags

• A tagging plan must provide that tags will only be issued to licence holders who hold a licence in the fishery for which the tags are required.
• A tagging plan must identify how original and replacement tags will be provided or distributed to licence holders and whether tags will be shipped directly from a manufacturer or third party to the licence holder.

Record keeping

• Suppliers are responsible and accountable for completing, maintaining and retaining all relevant records related to the business of issuing gear tags. A tagging plan shall describe how and where records will be completed, maintained and retained.
• Records on the issuance of original and replacement tags required by DFO will be submitted in a standard format, as set out in this Protocol, and input directly into the DFO web-based Gear Tag Service Provider Portal (referred to hereafter as the “System”), with the option of:
• entering issuances individually using web-based forms; or
• uploading issuances to the "System" in bulk using the specified spreadsheet form.
• The tagging plan shall provide that the tag supplier is in agreement to use the "System" as the primary tool to record and transmit to DFO the tag issuance information it requires, except under exceptional circumstances such as a "System" failure or power outage. In this case, the spreadsheet form will serve as the back-up method to capture and remit the required information.
• The tagging plan shall provide that the tag supplier adheres to the requirements specified on the consent form attached to the tagging plan template for using the "System" and respecting the specified data remission methods and timelines defined in the Protocol.
• A tagging plan shall provide that the following information will be recorded for each licence holder to whom tags are issued:
• For original tags, the information will include:
• Name of licence holder
• Licence number*
• Species
• Fishing area or zone
• Date tags shipped or picked up*
• The two digit number (prefix/identifier)* - this prefix/identifier number must be part of the unique sequential number of the tag.
• Quantity of tags shipped or picked up, including the number of the first original tag and the number of the last original tag in the sequence*.

• For replacement tags issued under Option 1 (i.e. replacement tags provided at the issuance of the original set of tags). Information to be recorded will include:
• Name of licence holder
• Licence number*
• Species
• Fishing area or zone
• Date replacement tags shipped or picked up*
• Date DFO Advised of the issuance of Replacement Tags
• Quantity of replacement tags shipped or picked up
• The two digit number (prefix/identifier)* - this prefix/identifier number must be part of the unique sequential number of the tag.
• Sequence numbers of replacement tags, including the number of the first replacement tag and the number of the last replacement tag in the sequence*
• For replacement tags issued under Option 2 (tags provided on an as needed basis). Information to be recorded will include:
• Name of licence holder
• Licence number*
• Species
• Fishing area or zone
• Date replacement tags shipped or picked up*
• Date DFO Advised of the issuance of Replacement Tags
• Quantity of replacement tags shipped or picked up
• The two digit number (prefix/identifier)*
• Sequential numbers or unique individual numbers (based on quantity issued) of replacement tags*
• Cancelled tag numbers (i.e., individual numbers or sequence numbers, if applicable)*
• Reason for replacement (e.g., broken gear, lost gear; lost tag; defective tag, etc, …)*

• The Tagging plan shall set out that the approved tag supplier will record all the information specified above for each licence holder to whom original or replacement tags have been issued. When issuance data is directly recorded to the System using web-based forms or uploaded using the spreadsheet template, only the information marked with an asterisk (*) is mandatory. When using a means other than the System to transmit data related to tag issuance (e.g. during a power outage or system failure), all the information specified above would become mandatory to be completed for any tag issuance.
• The tagging plan shall also provide that these records will be provided to DFO or made accessible to Fishery Officers via the System prior to the opening date of the fishery for which those tags have been issued and on a daily basis whenever tags are issued for that fishery after the opening date. Any replacement tag issued to a fishery must be entered in the System or notified to DFO within the 24 hours of the issuance.
• The tagging plan shall provide that, in addition to the information recorded in the System, any other records maintained by tag suppliers regarding the issuance of gear tags could be accessible to DFO Fishery Officers at any time, and that DFO may use these records for court, program compliance review or other purposes. The tagging plan shall indicate that at the time licence holders are provided with tags, each licence holder will be notified that this information is accessible to or may be provided to DFO. The approved tag supplier shall maintain a record of having provided this notification to each licence holder.
• Email addresses for this notification are:
• Gulf Region - GulfInfoGolfe@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
• Maritimes Region - XMARTAGS@dfo-mpo.gc.ca 
• Newfoundland and Labrador Region – Gary.Bruce@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
• Quebec Region - infostatqc@dfo-mpo.gc.ca
• Information provided to DFO is subject to the provisions of the Access to Information Act and of the Privacy Act.

Reviews and verifications

• A tagging plan shall clearly set out the obligation of the approved tag supplier to cooperate with and participate in operational reviews and verifications that DFO undertakes regarding the administration and effectiveness of that tagging plan.
• The findings from operational reviews and verifications conducted by DFO may be taken into consideration by the Department when considering approval of multi-year tagging plans.

Approval of tagging plan

• DFO will review tagging plan proposals to ensure they meet all program standards, and may request discussion with proponents for clarification.
• The Regional Director of Resource Management or their delegate will advise the proponent of a tagging plan, in writing, of the DFO’s approval or non-approval of the proposed plan within 30 days of receiving the proponent’s application.
• Previously approved tagging plans that are submitted with details clearly indicating it is a multi-year tagging plan, may be approved for a longer period. Unless indicated otherwise, DFO will simply request a confirmation of continuation of interest as a tag supplier for the following year.

• The approval of a tagging plan does not create any binding agreement, or contract, between a proponent and DFO.

Approval or renewal in subsequent years

• Approval of a tagging plan is not an assurance of approval or renewal of that tagging plan in subsequent years.
• Where an approved tag supplier is found to be in non-compliance with an approved tagging plan, subsequent applications for tagging plan approval or renewal from that proponent may be rejected by DFO.
• Approved tag suppliers should be aware that the requirement for gear tagging and the requirement for tagging plans may change from year to year. The criteria set out in this document for tagging plan approval may change as determined by DFO for operational or other reasons. Tagging plans will be reviewed during post-season fishery reviews and during industry consultations on fishing plans.