Changes for 2025.
There will be NO mandatory whalesafe gear changes for 2025.
ELOGS are mandatory for 2025 and are included in your conditions.
An ELOG key is required for each fisher in order to use your ELOG. This must be obtained from DFO before you can use your ELOG. Click the link below to obtain your ELOG KEY:
ELOGS are mandatory for 2025 and are included in your conditions.
An ELOG key is required for each fisher in order to use your ELOG. This must be obtained from DFO before you can use your ELOG. Click the link below to obtain your ELOG KEY:
DFO has created several presentations explaining how to use ELOGS and what to do if there is a problem. Click the links below to view these presentations:
Changes for 2024.
There will be NO mandatory whalesafe gear changes for 2024.
Increase in Minimum Legal Carapace Size in Lobster Fishing Area 26 A-2 in 2024:
Increase in Minimum Legal Carapace Size in Lobster Fishing Area 26 A-2 in 2024:
Changes for 2023.
There will be NO gear changes or license condition changes for 2023.
Changes for 2022.
New Conditions of License for 2022: In 2022, all commercial fisheries in Canada have a new condition of license relating to the discharge of garbage from Canadian fishing vessels. This condition is authorized under the Fisheries Act and reads as follows:
"The license holder/operator is prohibited from discarding in Canadian fisheries waters from their vessel any item that may be harmful to fish or fish habitat including but not limited to plastics, ropes, fishing gear, garbage bags, fuel, oil, rags, glass, bottles, metal, extruded polystyrene foam (e.g. Styrofoam), and tires."
This new condition of license demonstrates Canada’s further support for the global recognition of the ecological harm caused by marine pollution; specifically marine plastics. This aligns with the prohibition on the discard of garbage into the ocean pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex V, which prohibits the discharge of garbage into the sea from ships.
"The license holder/operator is prohibited from discarding in Canadian fisheries waters from their vessel any item that may be harmful to fish or fish habitat including but not limited to plastics, ropes, fishing gear, garbage bags, fuel, oil, rags, glass, bottles, metal, extruded polystyrene foam (e.g. Styrofoam), and tires."
This new condition of license demonstrates Canada’s further support for the global recognition of the ecological harm caused by marine pollution; specifically marine plastics. This aligns with the prohibition on the discard of garbage into the ocean pursuant to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex V, which prohibits the discharge of garbage into the sea from ships.
Changes for 2021.
The new Fisheries Act comes into effect April 1st, 2021:
Condition Changes for 2019.
Snow Crab: DFO now requires that, in addition to reporting lost gear, fishers are also required to report if they retrieve gear that was reported lost. Please check your conditions.
Condition Changes for 2018.
Our proposal to DFO was APPROVED. Based on this, carapace size increase in 26B South will be as follows:
For the 2018 season: 81.7mm
For the 2019 season: 82.5mm
For the 2018 season: 81.7mm
For the 2019 season: 82.5mm
Condition Changes for 2017.
Our request to delay the carapace size increase 1 year has been APPROVED. As such, the minimum size in LFA 26 B South will remain at 81 mm for the 2017 season and increase to 82.5 mm in the 2018 season. As identified last year, in 2017, the lobster trap escape mechanism will be required to be a minimum size of 44 mm in height by 127 mm in length.
Condition Changes for 2016.
CHANGES TO MINIMUM LEGAL SIZE LOBSTER AND ESCAPE MECHANISM IN LOBSTER FISHING AREAS 26 A2 AND 26 B SOUTH
LFA 26 A2 (approximate location between ports of Little Harbour and Havre Boucher):
An increase of the minimum legal lobster carapace size to 76 mm in 2016.
In 2016, the escape mechanism minimum size is either 43 mm in height by 127 mm in length or 42 mm in height by 254 mm in length.
LFA 26B Southern portion (approximate location between ports of Auld’s Cove and Broad Cove Marsh)
An increase of the minimum legal lobster carapace size to 81 mm in 2016, and 82.5 mm in 2017.
In 2016, the escape mechanism will remain unchanged from 2015 (minimum of either 44 mm in height by 127 mm in length or 43 mm in height by 254 mm in length).
In 2017, the only option will be an escape mechanism minimum size of 44 mm in height by 127 mm in length.
The chart below identifies the minimum legal size lobster and corresponding escape mechanism size required:
Length of escape opening between 127 mm and less than 254 mm
Minimum carapace size Height of escape opening
>71 mm to 73 mm 42 mm
>73 mm to 76 mm 43 mm
>76 mm 44 mm
Length of escape opening equal to or greater than 254 mm
Minimum carapace size Height of escape opening
>71 mm to 73 mm 41 mm
>73 mm to 76 mm 42 mm
>76 mm to 80 mm 43 mm
>80 mm 44 mm
Minimum Lobster Carapace Size increase for LFA 25 which opens in August: Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) announces that the minimum lobster carapace size will be increased to 73 millimetres in Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 25 for the 2016 fishing season, with further increases to 75 millimetres in 2017 and 77 millimetres in 2018.
Condition Changes for 2015.
A reminder to replace the biodegradable panels again this year... DFO estimates are that they are good for 100 days only.
New for 2015:
Log book sheets are only required to be sent in MONTHLY, not weekly like last season. You have 7 days from the last day of the month to submit reports for the month.
New for 2015:
Log book sheets are only required to be sent in MONTHLY, not weekly like last season. You have 7 days from the last day of the month to submit reports for the month.
Condition Changes for 2014.
All fishers are reminded to replace the biodegradable panels installed on lobster traps last season.
New For 2014:
Log books are mandatory for the 2014 lobster season - sheets are required to be completed and submitted weekly by mail.
New For 2014:
Log books are mandatory for the 2014 lobster season - sheets are required to be completed and submitted weekly by mail.
Condition Changes for 2013.
As per Notice to Fish Harvesters
June 22, 2012
EKME 2608173
REQUIREMENTS FOR MODIFIED BIODEGRADABLE PANELS ON LOBSTER TRAPS FOR ALL LOBSTER FISHING AREAS IN THE SOUTHERN GULF OF ST-LAWRENCE.
Moncton - As was mentioned in the notice to fish harvester sent on April 24, 2012, work has been completed on biodegradable panels. Modified biodegradable panels will become mandatory in 2013 for all Lobster Fishing Areas in the Southern Gulf of St-Lawrence. Here are the Department's requirements:
- 100% natural untreated cotton not greater than 2.5 mm in diameter;
The attached document contains examples on the placement of the panel on the traps, other methods are possible, please refer to the text below that will be incorporated in the Conditions of Licence starting in 2013 for more information.
1.2 (no modifications to existing clause, please refer to 2012 Conditions of Licence for wording).
1.3 No person shall fish wih or have on board a vessel a lobster trap unless the lobster trap has on the exterior wall of each parlour a biodegradable panel that provides when removed, an unobstructed opening not less than 89 mm in height and 148 mm in width and that is fastened:
(a) On a wire trap, at a maximum of four points or fastened to an extremity of the mesh opening, interlaced once through each mesh and fastened to the other extremity with 100% natural untreated cotton not greater than 2.5 mm in diameter;
(b) On a wooden trap, on an exterior wall fastened to an extremity of the mesh opening, interlaced once through each mesh and fastened to the other extremity with 100% natural untreated cotton not greater than 2.5 mm in diameter.
1.4 Where on wire or wooden traps, the escape panel described in 1.2 also serves as the biodegradable panel described in 1.3, the panel shall be attached to either the outside or inside of an exterior wall of each parlour and it shall be fastened at a maximum of four points with 100% natural untreated cotton not greater than 2.5 mm in diameter; the escape panel shall not be hinged at any points of contact.
For information:
Michel Albert Colin MacIsaac Leroy MacEachern
Chief, Resource Management, Chief, Resouce Management, Chief, Resource Management,
Eastern NB PEI Gulf NS
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Fisheries and Oceans Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Tracadie-Sheila, NB Charlottetown, PEI Antigonish, NS
506-395-7718 902-566-7815 902-863-5670
Moncton - As was mentioned in the notice to fish harvester sent on April 24, 2012, work has been completed on biodegradable panels. Modified biodegradable panels will become mandatory in 2013 for all Lobster Fishing Areas in the Southern Gulf of St-Lawrence. Here are the Department's requirements:
- 100% natural untreated cotton not greater than 2.5 mm in diameter;
The attached document contains examples on the placement of the panel on the traps, other methods are possible, please refer to the text below that will be incorporated in the Conditions of Licence starting in 2013 for more information.
1.2 (no modifications to existing clause, please refer to 2012 Conditions of Licence for wording).
1.3 No person shall fish wih or have on board a vessel a lobster trap unless the lobster trap has on the exterior wall of each parlour a biodegradable panel that provides when removed, an unobstructed opening not less than 89 mm in height and 148 mm in width and that is fastened:
(a) On a wire trap, at a maximum of four points or fastened to an extremity of the mesh opening, interlaced once through each mesh and fastened to the other extremity with 100% natural untreated cotton not greater than 2.5 mm in diameter;
(b) On a wooden trap, on an exterior wall fastened to an extremity of the mesh opening, interlaced once through each mesh and fastened to the other extremity with 100% natural untreated cotton not greater than 2.5 mm in diameter.
1.4 Where on wire or wooden traps, the escape panel described in 1.2 also serves as the biodegradable panel described in 1.3, the panel shall be attached to either the outside or inside of an exterior wall of each parlour and it shall be fastened at a maximum of four points with 100% natural untreated cotton not greater than 2.5 mm in diameter; the escape panel shall not be hinged at any points of contact.
For information:
Michel Albert Colin MacIsaac Leroy MacEachern
Chief, Resource Management, Chief, Resouce Management, Chief, Resource Management,
Eastern NB PEI Gulf NS
Fisheries and Oceans Canada Fisheries and Oceans Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Tracadie-Sheila, NB Charlottetown, PEI Antigonish, NS
506-395-7718 902-566-7815 902-863-5670
