Federal Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan confirmed that the snow crab fishing season will open on the same date for all Area 12 fishers.

Fisheries and Oceans Minister Bernadette Jordan. Photo courtesy of CFIM.

The minister said that the icebreaking infrastructure is already in place and ready for deployment. She added that the absence of ice cover this year will allow for an opening as soon as possible, which will avoid a maximum of interactions with right whales in the Gulf.

The official date has yet to be confirmed. Area 12 fisherman Denis Éloquin told CFIM hopes that the season will open in early April, but he remains skeptical.

Marcel Cormier, captain of Cap-Adèle fishing in Area 12 F, welcomes the new 15-day dynamic zone closure protocol, which allows nine days for a whale observed to evacuate the area before it is closed for the season following a second detection.

Although the requirement to use weak link ropes to avoid entanglement has been postponed until 2022, Minister Jordan believes that this measure will improve the fisheries:

Pushing these new rules to 2022 will allow the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) to work with the industry to address concerns that it is hearing from fishers:

Minister Jordan added that her department will be listening to fishers over the next year on this issue:

There has been success with some trials in this new gear and Minister Jordan believes that looking into ideas, such the new hybrid fishing lines, is the way of the future.

A presentation of scientific advice on the southern Gulf snow crab fishery is expected to take place this week.