Mackerel Recreational Fishery Yearly Close Time and Daily Fishing Quota (Atlantic Fishery Regulations)

Enabling act(s): Fisheries Act

Description of the objective

According to the most recent stock assessment conducted in 2017, Atlantic mackerel is currently low in the critical zone. The recreational fishery for Atlantic mackerel is currently unlicensed, there is no mechanism for catch reporting, and there are no catch limits or season. The lack of an established daily fishing quota in the Atlantic mackerel recreational fishery allows recreational fishers to land unlimited amounts of Atlantic mackerel all year long. The Department is currently working with stakeholders and partners to develop a rebuilding plan for the stock and this initiative was identified as an important component of that plan.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will be pursuing amendments to the Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985 (AFR) to establish a yearly close time (season) and a daily quota limit, which would apply to all persons recreationally fishing for Atlantic mackerel.

Establishing a yearly close time would align the Atlantic mackerel recreational fishing season with other existing recreational fisheries in the marine environment and would allow for seasons and/or harvest levels to be varied in accordance with the health of the stock by providing a mechanism to close the recreational fishery for Atlantic mackerel, when justified by conservation reasons.

The amendments would also establish a reasonable daily fishing quota that would satisfy the recreational fishery, yet deter the retention of large amounts of Atlantic mackerel that are being used for bait purposes in other commercial fisheries, or sold as part of a commercial operation, which is in contravention of the Fisheries Act. In fact, because there is no catch limit for recreationally caught mackerel, some carry out commercial-scale fishing under the false auspices of a recreational fishery, even after the commercial fishery has been closed.

These amendments would significantly support the sustainable management objectives that are already established for other species in those same waters and instill measures to promote resource sustainability in this otherwise uncontrolled component of the Atlantic mackerel fishery.

Indication of business impacts

Business impacts are not anticipated.

Regulatory cooperation efforts (domestic and international)

Domestically this initiative will provide for a consistently applied limit on harvests of mackerel in all Atlantic provinces and Quebec irrespective of availability and is supported by the provincial governments in these provinces. Given this stock is transboundary and also occurs in the waters in the United States (US), Canada will continue to engage both Scientists and managers from the US to try to increase regulatory cooperation for a consistent management approach in all mackerel fisheries including recreational.

This initiative is not under a specific formal regulatory cooperation work plan.

Public consultation opportunities

Consultations have been carried out through mackerel fishery advisory committees (regional and national) and supplementary advisory meetings. An online recreational fishery survey, which sought public input on the implementation of regulations including an appropriate season and bag limit, ended on December 31, 2018. Upon pre-publication of this regulatory proposal, indigenous communities, stakeholders and the public will have another opportunity to comment on during an official 30-day comment period which is anticipated to take place during the 2019-2021 planning period.

Further information

Departmental contact

Brian Lester
Assistant Director, Integrated Resource Management
Telephone: 613-990-5045
Email: brian.lester@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Date the regulatory initiative was first included in the Forward Regulatory Plan: 2018

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