FISHERIES AND OCEANS CANADA

NOTICE TO FISH HARVESTERS

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July 9, 2021

2J3KL Northern Cod Stewardship Fishery – 2021 Season Dates and Catch Limits

DFO advises of the season dates and catch limits for the 2021 2J3KL Northern cod Stewardship fishery as indicated below:

Season Dates

  • In NAFO division 2J, the fishery is scheduled to open on Sunday, August 1 and is scheduled to close on Saturday October 30, 2021.
  • In NAFO divisions 3KL, the fishery is scheduled to open on Sunday, July 25 and is scheduled to close on Saturday October 30, 2021.
  • Catch Limits (all weights are round weight)

In NAFO division 2J, the following 2021 bi-weekly authorized catch limits for cod apply:

  • Period 1 (8 weeks): August 1 – September 25, 2021: 25,000 lbs
  • In NAFO divisions 3KL, the following 2021 base weekly authorized catch limits for cod apply:
  • July 25 – September 11: 3,200 lbs/week
  • September 12 – October 30: 4,000 lbs/week

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

  • To promote the distribution of catch throughout the season in 2021, 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 Period 2 from September 5 to October 30, 2021 in 2J or they may opt to fish only during the fall from September 12 to October 30, 2021 in 3KL.
  • Period 2 Fishery Options (applicable to NAFO Divisions 2J only):
  • Harvesters that choose the 2J Period 2 fishery option will not be able to fish prior to September 5 and will be authorized to fish only from September 5 to October 30 with a bi-weekly limit of 25,000 lbs.

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

Fish harvesters that choose the 3KL Fall-only fishery option will not be able to fish prior to September 12 and may choose one of the these two options:

  • Option 1: Fish only during the fall from September 12 to October 30, 2021 with a base weekly limit of 8,000 lbs/week.
  • Option 2: Fish only during the Fall from September 12 to October 30, 2021 with a base bi-weekly limit of 16,000 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 2J Period 2 or the 3KL Fall-only fishery option MUST indicate their intention in writing via e-mail to Julia.Sparkes@dfo-mpo.gc.ca no later than Friday, July 16, 2021.

Harvesters must provide by email, their FULL NAME, FIN, HOMEPORT and their choice of option 2J Period 2 or 1 OR 2 for the 3KL Fall Fishery.

Any harvester who does not select the Period 2 or Fall-only fishery option by the deadline will receive conditions authorizing them to fish in the same NAFO area as their homeport. A 2J based licence holder will receive conditions for Period 1 (August 1 – September 25) and a 3KL based licence holder will receive conditions for the regular season (July 25 – September 11) at the catch limits identified above.

Additional Information:

Should in-season adjustments to catch limits or seasons be required, industry will be consulted and updates will be communicated to harvesters via a Notice to Fishers. Should an in-season closure occur prior to September 11, weeks lost from the 2J season will be extended.

The full Conservation Harvesting Plan (CHP) for the 2J3KL Stewardship cod fishery will be made available online in the coming days. Further details can be found at: https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/fisheries-peches/decisions/fm-2021-gp/index-atl-eng.html#cod 

 

Contact:

Julia Sparkes
Resource Management
Tel. (709) 772-5020
E-mail: julia.sparkes@dfo-mpo.gc.ca