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NR-M-96-12E
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April 3, 1996
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PROVISIONAL MANAGEMENT PLAN ANNOUNCED FOR THE 1996 SPRING
HERRING FISHERY IN THE SOUTHERN GULF OF ST. LAWRENCE
MONCTON - QUÉBEC - Fisheries and Oceans Canada announced
today a provisional management plan for the 1996 spring herring
fishery in Herring Fishing Area 16 (NAFO Divisions 4T). This
plan will allow fishing activities to start pending finalization
in the coming weeks of the discussions surrounding issues in the
fall fishery, the scientific advice for the 4T herring stocks
and the subsequent announcement of the 1996 spring and fall herring
management plan for the Herring Fishing Area 16.
A temporary Total Allowable Catch (TAC) has been set at 12,000
metric tonnes, which represents approximately 75% of the anticipated
spring quota for this area. Fleet sector allocations and fishing
seasons will be as follows:
| 4T SPRING FISHERY |
| SECTOR |
AREA |
SEASON |
ALLOCATION |
| Inshore |
16C - Escuminac |
Jan 1 - May 31 |
3,250 t |
| Inshore |
16A, B, D, E, F and G |
Jan 1 - May 31 |
4,750 t |
| Inshore |
16A to 16G |
June 1 - June 30 |
1,105 t |
| Inshore - experimental fishery |
16B - Laurentian Region small seiners |
Jan 1 - June 30 |
150 t |
| Mobile gear >65ft
(Large seiners) |
16A - 16G |
Jan 1 - June 30 |
2,745 t |
| Total |
12,000 t |
New conservation and management measures are being introduced
in the 1996 inshore spring fishery: a minimum mesh size for gill
nets of 2 ¼ inches and a requirement for fishers to submit
weekly landing reports to Fisheries and Oceans, except in southeastern
New Brunswick where a government/industry committee coordinates
fishing activities and reports landings on a daily basis.
As in previous years, measures will be taken to ensure that the
herring landings by the large seiners will not affect the traditional
spring markets of the inshore fleet.
The final TAC for the spring fishery and the fall fishery as well
as management measures for the fall fishery will be included in
the upcoming official management plan, to be announced shortly
by the Minister.
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For information:
Laurent G. Paulin
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Moncton, N.B.
(506) 851-7792
Denis Tremblay
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Québec, Qc
(418) 648-5885
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