Community Announcement – 2023 Lobster Fall Fisheries

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Community Announcement – 2023 Lobster Fall Fisheries

The 2023 Lobster Food Fishery will begin September 24, 2023 at 6:00am and end October 8, 2023 at 2:30pm. The effort allocated for this season will be 235 traps for a total of 14 days. The LMG will fish 60 tags, and the remaining 175 tags will be divided amongst the Fishers. Vessels and Fishers must register with the Natural Resource Directorate (NRD). Community members who want tags can register at the NRD. Please see the attached Schedule.

If you have questions or concerns, do no hesitate to contact the Natural Resources Directorate at (418) 788-3022. Please note, no disrespectful behaviours towards employees will be tolerated, and could result in denial of service.

Fishers and Vessels registration will open on August 28th, 2023 close on September 6th, 2023 at 4:30pm AST.

Tag Holder Registration will open on September 12th, 2023 and close on September 15th, 2023 at 5:00pm AST.

Vessel Registration and Vessel Safety Rules

If you are a vessel owner, and would like to participate in the fall lobster fishery, you must meet the following conditions:

  1. Vessels must be owned by a Listuguj band member (proof of ownership is required).
  2. Vessels must be registered with the Natural Resource Directorate via the “VESSEL REGISTRATION form”.
  3. Vessels need to meet the safety and environmental requirements outlined in Transport Canada’s Small Vessel Compliance Program (https://tc.canada.ca/en/programs/small-vessel-compliance-program).
  4. Vessel owners must register with Transport Canada. The NRD can assist you in your registration.
  5. Each registered vessel cannot have more than three (3) fishers. There are no limits on deckhands.
  6. The Natural Resource Directorate will be responsible for accepting or denying vessel registrations based on the conditions outlined above.
  7. The Natural Resource Directorate will be responsible to notify the vessel owners on the status of their vessel registration.

Complete Gespe’gewa’gi Fisheries Vessel Registration Form online:
https://forms.office.com/r/rEtyUwt07i

The Fisheries Coordinator, Rachel Barnaby, will contact you if your registration was accepted.

Fisher Registration Rules

If you are a community member who would like to fish lobster this fall, you must meet the following conditions:

  1. Properly fill out a “FISHER REGISTRATION form”.
  2. Have access to a proper lobster-fishing vessel that is registered with the Natural Resource Directorate upon meeting the criteria outline in the Vessel Registration and Vessel Safety Rules.
  3. Must be a Listuguj band member.
  4. All fishers are required to sign a Lease Agreement.
  5. All fishers are required to honor individual tag holder agreements.
  6. All fishers must respect the Conservation Harvesting Plan, Order in Councils, License Conditions, and Lease Agreements.
  7. All traps must be tagged using the Gespe’gewa’gi Fisheries Tag provided by the Natural Resources Directorate.
  8. All Fishers must have access to their own fishing and safety gear.
  9. If multiple fishers are sharing one vessel, there cannot be more than three (3) fishers per vessel. There are no limits on deckhands.
  10. All fishers must be onboard to check their respective trap. Fishers cannot check the traps of another fisher. Special circumstances must be pre-approved with the Ranger Department if a fisher cannot check their respective traps.
  11. The Natural Resource Directorate will be responsible for accepting or denying Fisher registrations based on the conditions outlined above.
  12. The Natural Resource Directorate will be responsible to notify the Fishers on the status of their fisher registration.

If you are interested in Fishing, please complete the online FISHER Registration (attached link):
https://forms.office.com/r/vqf1FYJAhf

The Fisheries Coordinator, Rachel Barnaby, will contact you if your registration was accepted.

Community Tag Distribution Rules

If you wish to receive a tag, and have a fisher catch lobster for you, you must register in person at the natural resource building from Tuesday September 12th, 2023 to Friday September 15th, 2023 during regular working hours (8:30am – noon; closed for lunch; 1:00pm to 5:00pm).

  1. A total of 235 tags are dedicated to the fall lobster fishery. A total of 60 traps will go to LMG and 175 traps are available for community access.
  2. To request a tag, community members must register in person at the designated date, time, and location. The Natural Resource Directorate will communicate the date, time, and location via LMG website, LMG Facebook page, and CHRQ.
  3. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis.
  4. Community members must identify a fisher of choice from the list of registered fishers approved by the Natural Resource Directorate.
  5. Due to limits on tags per fisher, there is no guarantee that a community member will get their fisher of choice. Community members may have to select another available fisher.
  6. The Natural Resources will give tags to fishers directly.
  7. Each tags represents 20 lbs of lobster total over a 14-day fishery.
  8. Any community member who registered for a tag cannot get lobster from the community line-up or elder delivery. Your lobster must come directly from the Fisher.

Lobster Cooking and Distribution Rules

  1. Cooking will occur each day of fishing. All lobster will be cooked at the Natural Resource garage building. Doors will open at 5pm on all days.
  2. Doors will open at 5pm on weekdays and 5pm on weekends.
  3. Community members must arrive on-site to receive cooked lobster.
  4. First come, first serve basis!
  5. Lobster availability depends on weather conditions and catches.
  6. Must be 18 years of age.
  7. Schedule changes will be posted on CHRQ.

Elder & Disability Delivery Rules

  • The LMG will deliver lobster to elders and disability patients on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays for the duration of the fall lobster fishing season.
  • The Natural Resources Directorate will follow the Elders and Disability patients list obtained from the Heath Directorate.
  • Elders, Disability patients, or their respective caretakers must contact Sylvia Barnaby at the Natural Resources Directorate at 418-788-3022 (ext 3258). No other employee will accept names for delivery.
  • To be on the delivery list, YOU MUST CALL EACH DELIVERY DAY before noon.
  • 45 names will be taken each day. Those who call after the daily list is full will have their name put on the list for the next delivery day.
  • If no catches are received on any elder’s delivery day, the next day of landings will be designated an elders delivery day.
  • Elders who registered for a tag CANNOT receive elders’ delivery. They must get lobster directly from the Fisher.