nf.20.212

July 27, 2020 

 

2J3KL Northern Cod Stewardship Fishery- 2020 Season Dates and Catch Limits

DFO advises of the season dates and catch limits for the 2020 2J3KL Northern cod Stewardship fishery as indicated below:

 

Season Dates

In NAFO division 2J, the fishery will open on Sunday, August 2 and is scheduled to close on Saturday September 26, 2020.

In NAFO divisions 3KL, the fishery will open on Sunday August 9 and is scheduled to close on Saturday November 14, 2020.

 

Catch Limits (all weights are round weight)

 

In NAFO division 2J, the following 2020 bi-weekly authorized catch limits for cod apply:

August 2 - August 15, 2020: 25,000lbs / bi-weekly

August 16 - August 29, 2020: 25,000lbs/bi-weekly

August 30 - September 12, 2020: 25,000lbs/bi-weekly

September 13 -September 26, 2020: 25,000lbs/bi-weekly

 

In NAFO divisions 3KL, the following 2020 base weekly authorized catch limits for cod apply:

August 9 - August 29: 2,300 lbs / week

August 30 - September 19: 3,300 lbs / week

September 20 - November 14: 3,850 lbs / week

 

For fish harvesters that have acquired additional cod shares through enterprise combining adjusted catch limits will be identified in their license conditions.

Fall-only Fishery Options (applicable to NAFO Divisions 3KL only):

To promote the distribution of catch throughout the season in 2020, harvesters will have the option of fishing the entire season at the weekly catch limits identified above, or they may opt to fish only during the fall from September 20 to November 14, 2020.

Fish harvesters that choose the Fall-only fishery option will not be able to fish prior to September 20 and may choose one of the these two options:

 

Option 1: Fish only during the fall from September 20 to November 14, 2020 with a base weekly limit of 7,700 lbs/week.

Option 2: Fish only during the Fall from September 20 to November 14, 2020 with a base bi-weekly limit of 15,400 lbs/bi-weekly which must be harvested outside Canada's Territorial Sea (the 12 mile limit). For harvesters selecting option 2, a DFO approved Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) is required and must be operational at all times.

 

Fish harvesters that want to avail of the Fall-only fishery option MUST indicate their intention in writing via e-mail to Ellen.Careen@dfo-mpo.gc.ca no later than Monday August 3, 2020.

Harvesters must provide by email, their FULL NAME, FIN, HOMEPORT and their choice of option 1 OR 2 for the Fall Fishery. 

Any harvester who does not select the Fall-only fishery option by the deadline will receive conditions authorizing them to fish the entire season (August 9-November 14) at the weekly catch limit identified above.

 

Additional Information:

Should in-season adjustments to catch limits or seasons be required, updates will be communicated to harvesters via a Notice to Fishers. Should an in season closure occur prior to September 26, weeks lost from the 2J season will be extended.  

The full Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) for the 2J3KL Stewardship cod fishery is available online and includes further details on the 2020 management approach at:

http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/commercial-commerciale/atl-arc/management-plan-gestion/CHP-cod-PPAC-morue-2020-eng.html.

"Notices to Fish Harvesters" for all commercial fisheries are available online under the Fishery Notices link on the DFO NL Region webpage at http://www.nfl.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/e0004341

If you would like to have all "Notices to Fish Harvesters" for commercial fisheries sent directly to you by email please contact: beverly.piccott@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

 

Contact:

Ellen Careen

Resource Management

Tel. (709) 772-0695

E-mail: ellen.careen@dfo-mpo.gc.ca