SCALLOP AREAS 15 TO 20 1993 1993 MANAGEMENT PLAN Approved by: irector-General ( f' ._) A J <) ~ 2 Summary o f t he management plan This management plan is based upon consultations with fishermen associations and producers involved in this fishery. The objectives of the plan are as follows: the conservation and restoration of scallop stocks and an allocation of the resource based on equity between coastal communities of the Quebec Region. The waters administered by the Quebec Region are subdivided in 15 s cal lop f i shing areas , as described in this Management Plan. The Upper a nd Middle North Shore has been divided in seven (7) areas with the establishment of a new area (16G) between Grande Pointe and Rivière de la Corneille. This area aims at better d istributi ng the f ishing effort and thus reducing the risk of a l ocal overexploitation of the scallops beds in the Mingan archipelago where a 50% decrease over a two-year period was noticed. Gaspe peninsula has been divided in two (2) areas and the Anticosti Island in four (4) areas. Those divisions aim at f avouring the expl oitation of all scallop beds. The number of licenses for the whole Quebec areas will be limited to 80 in 1993. Along the Upper North Shore (area 16A), an expl oratory permi t will be issued in order to assess the c ommercial potential of some f ishing grounds presently non­ expl oi ted. The eastern portion of Anticosti Island will be expl ored in the context of a scientific f ishing by a maximum of four Magdalen Islands fishermen in the area 18C and by a maximum of four fishermen from Lower North Shore in the area 180. Four (4 ) scient ific permits will be issued in the portion of area 16E located between Rivière de la Corneille and Aguanish in order to a ssess the commercial potential of this sector. Except for areas 15 (Lower North Shore), 19A (Chaleur Bay) and 20 (Magdalen Islands) , non-renewed licenses will be reissued in a ccordance with the Commercial Fisheries Licensing Policy for Eastern Canada (selection followed by a public draw). Concerning t he quotas , the seven (7) Area 160 fishermen will have a n individual quota of 20 . 412 tonnes (45,000 pounds) of scallop meat, a n 18.2% decrease compared to 1992. This individual quota will be distributed at the rate of 25 , 000 pounds of meat in area 160 (from May 1 to June 30), 10,000 pounds in area 18A (from July 1 to 31) and 10 , 000 pounds in area 16G (from August 1 to 31). 3 The two (2) area 16E fishermen will have an individual quota of 22.68 tonnes (50,000 pounds) of scallop meat, a 9.1% decrease compared to 1992. This individual quota will be distributed at the rate of 25,000 pounds of meat in area 16E (from May 1 to J u ne 30), 10,000 pounds in area 18A (from July 1 to 31), 10,000 pounds in area 16G (from August 1 to 31) and finally 5, ooo pounds in area 16E between September 1 and 30. The access to subarea 16F remains restricted to scallop f ishermen based in area 15 (Lower North Shore). In order to protect the main feeding and calving habitats of the St. Lawrence beluga population (which is on the list of endangered population), any fishing activity with a scallop drag will be prohibited upstream of a straight line joining Grande Anse on the North Shore and the east poi nt of Isle Verte in the Lower St. Lawrence area. In area 15, a scallop licensee will be authorized to renew h is scallop license in 1994 if he uses it in 1993 and catches at least 500 lb (227 kg) of scallop meat in 1992 or 1993 . catches during these two years are not cumul ative. Aiming at a better use of all licenses, this measure will allow some flexibility to fish other species. In area 20 (Magdalen Islands), the fishi ng season will begin on April 1 and will end on September 30 in the traditional and well known fishing grounds. Outside of these traditional fishing grounds in the area 20, the fishing season will end on October 31. 4 DETAILED MANAGEMENT PLAN - 1993 Basic principles i) Conservation and restoration of scallop stocks. ii) Access to all scallop stocks will be regulated by the following means: number of fishing licenses, areas, f ishing seasons, boat size and individual quotas. iii) The scallop fishery, being identified as an inshore fishery, the resource will be allocated on a basis of equity, taking into account adjacency to the resource, dependency of coastal communities and economic efficiency of the fishing fleet. 5 The waters administered by the Quebec Region are subdivided in 15 scallop fishing areas, as described in the Appendix I. I- LICENSING POLICY A) Regular and exploratory licences. 1) In all areas, to the exception of area 18B (Northeastern Gaspe peninsula and Southwestern Anticosti Island), the scallop fishery will be limited to fishing boats smaller than 50 feet (15.2 m) LOA. 2) In area 18B (Northeastern Gaspe · peninsula and Southwestern Anticosti Island), fishing vessels not exceeding 65 f eet ( 19. 8 m) LOA will be permi tted to fish for scallops. 3) The maximum number of licenses, that can be issued in 1993 in each area is identified in Appendix II. 4) One (1) exploratory permit will be issued in area 16A (Upper North Shore). 5) Non-renewed licenses in areas 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E, 17A and 18B will be reissued. 6) Access to area 16F will be restricted to scallop fishermen based in area 15. 7) Regular scallop license holders of area 160 or 16E will also have access to areas 18A and 16G. 8) In area 15, a scallop licensee will be authorized to renew his scallop licehse in 1994 if he meets the two (2) following conditions: a) Utilization of his license in 1993; and b) Catch of at least 500 lb (227 kg) of scallop meat in 1992 or 1993. Catches during these two years are not cumulative. 6 B) Scientific permits. 1) A maximum of four (4) scientific permits will be available in the portion of area 16E located between Rivière de la Corneille and Aguanish according to the following conditions: * 2 permits: Full-time fishermen. Resident between Baie Johan-Beetz and Natashquan included. Not to hold a scallop licence. To be geared up of scallop f ishing drag at the latest July 1, 1993 (leasing authorized). * 2 permits: Full-time f ishermen Resident between Baie Johan-Beetz and Kegaska included. To hold a scallop licence in area 15. The issuance conditions will be as follows: DFO observer on board. Identif ied stations to sample. Fishing from July 1 to September 15. Maximum of 30,000 pounds of scallop meat. 2) A maximum of four (4) scientific permits will be available in area 18C (Southeastern Anticosti Island) according to the following conditions: To hold a scallop licence in area 2 O and to be resident of Magdalen Islands. Ability to use a vessel of 45' to 49'11" LOA. DFO observer on board. Identif ied stations to sample. Fishing from July 1 to September 15 1993. No limit of catches. 3) A maximum of four (4) scientific permits will be available in area 180 (Northeastern Anticosti Island) according to the following conditions: To hold a scallop licence in area 15. Resident of Lower North Shore, from Kegaska to Blanc-Sablon. Ability to use a vessel of 45' to 49'11" LOA. DFO observer on board. Identif ied stations to sample. Fishing from July 1 to September 15, 1993. No limit of catches. 7 rr- CLOSED AREAS TO SCALLOP FISHING. 1) In order to protect the main feeding and calving habitats of the St. Lawrence River beluga population (which is on the list of endangered species), any fishing activity with a scallop drag will be prohibited upstream of a straight line joining Grande Anse on the North Shore (48°09 1 36" N X 69°39 1 00" O) and the east point of Isle Verte (48°03 1 48" N X 68°23 1 24" O). 2) In order to protect a scallop sea-ranching site, any fishing activity with a scallop drag will be prohibited in the portion of the area 20 enclosed by the straight lines joining the following points in the order in which they are listed: Point North Latitude West Longitude 1 47°29 1 00" 61°43 1 00" 2 47°29 1 00" 61°33 1 00" 3 47°24 1 00" 61°33 1 00" 4 47°24 1 00" 61°43 1 00" III- FISHING SEASONS Area 15: January 1 to December 31. Areas 16A, 16B, 16C: January 1 to December 31. Area 160: May 1 to June 30. Area 16E: May 1 to June 30 and September 1 to 30. Area 16F: January 1 to December 31. Area 16G: August 1 to 31. Area 17A: January 1 to December 31. Area 18A: July 1 to 31. Areas 18B, 18C, 180: January 1 to December 31. Area 19A: January 1 to December 31. Area 20: a) The f ishing season will begin April 1, and will end September 30 in the portions of the area 20 enclosed by the straight lines joining the following points in the order in which they are listed: SITE NO 1: Point on the North Latitude West Longitude appended map 2 1 47°16 1 00" 62°00 1 00" 2 47°16'00" 62°14 1 00" 3 47°05 1 00" 62°13'00" 4 47°03 1 00" 61°26'00" 5 47°17 1 00" 61°14 1 00" 6 47°37'00" 61°24 1 00" AND 8 SITE NO 2: Point on the North Latitude West Longitude appended map 2 7 47°47 1 00" 61°22'00" 8 47°47 1 00" 61°32 1 00" 9 47°43 1 00" 61°32'00" 10 47°43 1 00" 61°22'00" b) In the portion of area 20 outside of the sites defined in the paragraph 2 a), the fishing season will start on April 1 and will end on October 31.