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Unfished or underutilized marine species exist off Canada’s coasts. Shifts in
world markets, declines in harvests of traditional species, maturing of existing
markets and changing harvesting and processing technologies increase the likelihood
that some of these resources could be successfully harvested in a sustainable manner.
The number of requests received annually for scientific /exploratory licences for
new fisheries demonstrate that there is an increasing interest in accessing these
fisheries.
The New/Emerging Fisheries Policy lays out the requirements that must
be met and the procedures that must be followed before a new fishery can be initiated.
The policy is precautionary in its approach to the development of new fisheries.
The objective is to diversify fisheries and increase economic returns while ensuring
conservation of the stocks and realizing the sustainable use of fisheries resources.
This policy applies to all new fisheries undertaken in marine or fresh water
areas where Fisheries and Oceans Canada manages the fishery.
A precautionary approach will guide decision making. Information on the abundance,
distribution, and productivity of the target species is identified as the key scientific
requirement for development of precautionary management strategies.
The potential impact or interaction of any new fishery or gear on associated
or dependent species, fishing or gear type and on habitat will be assessed.
Based on biological and environmental information, including input from industry,
provinces/territories and the public, DFO will establish conservation standards,
set conditions for harvest, and monitor their application.
Users are accountable for compliance with conservation standards for meeting
harvesting conditions.
Aboriginal peoples will be provided access to the resource consistent with the
law and government's fiduciary responsibilities.
To view the entire policy please refer to the web site:http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/communic/fish_man/nefp_e.htm
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Emerging fisheries species
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Toad Crab
The toad crab fishery has been managed, pursuant to the Emerging Fisheries Policy,
since 1998.
Catch and effort data have been collected since 1997. Effort and landings in
many areas have stabilized since 2000. Over the past six years, average annual toad
crab landings have exceeded 1,000t and this is anticipated to continue at this level
based on catch and effort data.
Consultations with industry to discuss management measures have been conducted
annually and at the 2003 consultation meeting industry requested that this fishery
be commercialized. Significant management measures for this fishery have been established,
including: limited entry, minimum carapace width, number of pots, mesh size, participation
requirements, and seasons.
Mandatory logbooks were introduced in 1997 and since then, there has been 100%
compliance with this measure. Catch and effort data from logbooks has been used
to determine annual harvest amounts and set participation requirements.
A total of 170 toad crab licences have been issued in the Newfoundland and Labrador
Region (NL) in recent years, with the number of licences in the principle fishing
areas (3KL, southern 2J and 4R straits) being stable.
Based on experience of previous years of exploratory fisheries, this fishery
appears to be sustainable, at current removal levels, given its limited scale and
its history.
The 170 fishers licensed to harvest toad crab during 2006 who meet licence renewal
criteria will be issued a commercial licence for 2007.
Rock Crab
The rock crab fishery has been managed, pursuant to the Emerging Fisheries Policy,
since 1998.
Catch and effort data have been collected since 1997. Effort and landings in
many areas have stabilized since 2000. Over the past six years average annual rock
crab landings have exceeded 160t.
Consultations with industry to discuss management measures have been conducted
annually and at the 2003 consultation meeting industry requested that this fishery
be commercialized. Significant management measures for this fishery have been established,
including: limited entry, minimum carapace width, number of pots, mesh size, participation
requirements, and seasons.
Mandatory logbooks were introduced in 1997 and since then, there has been 100%
compliance with this measure. Catch and effort data from logbooks has been used
to determine annual harvest amounts, and set participation requirements.
A total of 30 rock crab licences have been issued in recent years and are active
in the Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Region, with the number of licences in the
principal fishing areas being stable.
All current rock crab fishers hold a commercial lobster licence. Rock crab is
not harvested for lobster bait. The rock crab season is short; it commences after
the closure of the lobster season. Pots with lobster exclusion devices are used
to harvest the crab, and there is minimal bottom impact.
Based on experience of previous years of exploratory fisheries, this fishery
appears to be sustainable, at current removal levels, given its limited scale and
its history. Based on the catch and effort data collected up to 2005, landings are
anticipated to continue between 150t and 200t.
The 30 fishers licensed to harvest rock crab during 2006 who meet licence renewal
criteria will be issued a commercial licence for 2007.
Sea Urchin
The sea urchin dive fishery has been established for more than a decade and the
number of participants and total landings has stabilized. There have been 60 sea
urchin licences issued in NL in recent years, with the number of licences in the
principal fishing areas being stable.
Catch and effort data have been collected since 1997/98. Effort and landings
have stabilized since that time and the average seasonal landings have been approximately
800t.
Significant management measures for this fishery have been established, including
limited entry, mandatory logbook requirements, maximum number of divers, minimum
carapace width, participation requirements, and seasons.
This is a long-established fishery that can no longer be considered "exploratory."
In fact, effort and landings have been stable for ten years. Consultations to discuss
management measures are conducted annually and at the most recent discussion, industry
requested that the fishery be commercialized in order to improve their business
success.
Diving is the only method that can be used to fish sea urchins and this has limited
the area of harvest, since diving is confined to depths less than 20 meters. Consequently,
over-fishing is unlikely to occur as sea urchins are known to exist in a wide range
of depths, but divers can only access the shallowest areas. This method of harvest
also has little, if any, bottom impact.
Based on experience of previous years of exploratory fisheries, this fishery
appears to be sustainable, at current removal levels, given its limited scale and
its history.
Fishers licensed to harvest sea urchins during 2006 who meet licence renewal
criteria will be issued a commercial licence for 2007.
Shrimp Beam Trawl
The exploratory shrimp beam trawl fishery in Fortune Bay (3Ps) has been managed,
pursuant to the Emerging Fisheries Policy, since 1998. Nine shrimp beam trawl exploratory
licences have been issued in Fortune Bay (3Ps) in recent years.
Catch and effort data have been collected since 1998 and average annual landings
have been approximately 100t.
Significant management measures for this fishery have been established, including
limited entry of core fishers, participation requirements, gear type, Nordmore grate,
vessel size restrictions, and seasons.
Mandatory logbooks were introduced in 1997 and since then, there has been 100%
compliance with this measure. Catch and effort data from logbooks, as well as mandatory
dockside monitoring, have been used to limit entry into the fishery and set participation
requirements.
After nine years, this fishery can no longer be considered "exploratory." In
fact, effort and landings have stabilized since 2000. Consultations to discuss management
measures are conducted annually and at the most recent discussion, industry requested
that the fishery be commercialized in order to improve their business success.
Based on experience of previous years of exploratory fisheries, this fishery
appears to be sustainable, at current levels, given its limited scale and its history.
Prior to the introduction of shrimp beam trawling to the area, approximately
500t were taken annually by otter trawling.
Beam trawls do not have trawl doors/bridles/sweep lines making contact with the
bottom. It has very low net spread and minimal bottom impact. There is no additional
fishing capacity created by this fishery, since only core enterprises are permitted.
The licence would be valid only for beam trawl shrimp fishing in the Fortune Bay
area (3Ps).
Fishers licensed in the Fortune Bay (3Ps) shrimp beam trawl fishery during 2006
who meet licence renewal criteria will be issued a commercial licence for 2007.
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