St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador...The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), today announced the 2006 Integrated Capelin Management Plan which includes an increase in the total allowable catch (TAC) for capelin in NAFO Divisions 2J3KL and 3Ps, and other management measures.
The TAC for 2J3KL and 3Ps will increase by 7,624t from 22,872t to 30,496t. The TAC for NAFO Division 4RST will remain unchanged from the 2005 level of 13,000t.
"Although industry had requested a full reinstatement of the 40 per cent reduction in 2003, I have decided to increase the TAC by half that amount to maintain a conservative approach to capelin management as outlined in the Canada-NL Cod Recovery Strategy," said Minister Hearn.
In 2003, TACs for capelin in 2J3KL, 3Ps and 4RST were reduced by 40 per cent for three years as a precautionary approach, given the uncertainty around the status of capelin and its possible role in cod recovery. However, in 2005 the 4RST TAC was restored to the pre-2003 level as the 4RST Capelin Science Advisory Report indicated the stock could support the increase.
"Although some indicators suggest that the overall health of capelin is improving, the conservative increase of the 2J3KL and 3Ps TACs for 2006 recognizes the uncertainties that remain with respect to capelin biology and the potential impacts of capelin on cod recovery," said Minister Hearn.
Capelin landings have increased in each of the last four years and it is expected that effort will remain high in the 2006 fishery. With the support of industry, management measures for the capelin fisheries in 2J3KL and 3Ps will be implemented to slow down the harvest rate and improve quota monitoring. These measures should improve the quality and value of fish landed while allowing for maximum utilization of available harvest.
Management measures for the 2J3KL and 3Ps capelin fisheries include: a 25 per cent reduction in the daily catch limit for the purse seine fleet from 100,000 lb in 2005 to 75,000 lb in 2006; daily catch limits for the fixed gear sector with levels not to exceed 70,000 lb in any area; and all landings are subject to a dockside monitoring program.
For more information:
Steve OuthouseDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the MinisterFisheries and Oceans CanadaOttawa, ON(613) 992-3474
Susan Keough
Communications Officer
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
(709) 772-7628
Capelin Quotas 2002 - 2006 (t)
