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Atlantic Fishery Regulations, 1985 (SOR/86-21)

Regulations are current to 2024-02-20 and last amended on 2022-09-27. Previous Versions

PART VPelagics (continued)

Shark (continued)

  •  (1) No person shall, for commercial purposes, fish for a species of shark set out in column I of an item of the table to this subsection in the waters set out in column II with a type of gear set out in a subitem in column III during the close time set out in that subitem in column IV of the item.

    TABLE

    Column IColumn IIColumn IIIColumn IV
    ItemSpeciesWatersGearClose Time
    1PorbeagleSubareas 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6(a) angling gear(a) Dec. 1 to Dec. 31
    (b) handline(b) Dec. 1 to Dec. 31
    (c) longline gear(c) Dec. 1 to Dec. 31
    2BlueSubareas 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6(a) angling gear(a) Dec. 1 to Dec. 31
    (b) handline(b) Dec. 1 to Dec. 31
    (c) longline gear(c) Dec. 1 to Dec. 31
    3Shortfin makoSubareas 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6(a) angling gear(a) Dec. 1 to Dec. 31
    (b) handline(b) Dec. 1 to Dec. 31
    (c) longline gear(c) Dec. 1 to Dec. 31
    4Any other species of shark not referred to in items 1 to 3Subareas 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6(a) angling gear(a) Dec. 1 to Dec. 31
    (b) handline(b) Dec. 1 to Dec. 31
    (c) longline gear(c) Dec. 1 to Dec. 31
  • (2) No person shall, for recreational purposes, fish for a species of shark set out in column I of an item of the table to this subsection in the waters set out in column II with a type of gear set out in a subitem in column III during the close time set out in that subitem in column IV of the item.

    TABLE

    Column IColumn IIColumn IIIColumn IV
    ItemSpeciesWatersGearClose Time
    1PorbeagleSubareas 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6(a) angling gear(a) Jan. 1 to Mar. 31
    (b) handline(b) Jan. 1 to Mar. 31
    (c) longline gear(c) Jan. 1 to Mar. 31
    2BlueSubareas 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6(a) angling gear(a) Jan. 1 to Mar. 31
    (b) handline(b) Jan. 1 to Mar. 31
    (c) longline gear(c) Jan. 1 to Mar. 31
    3Shortfin makoSubareas 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6(a) angling gear(a) Jan. 1 to Mar. 31
    (b) handline(b) Jan. 1 to Mar. 31
    (c) longline gear(c) Jan. 1 to Mar. 31
    4Any other species of shark not referred to in items 1 to 3Subareas 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6(a) angling gear(a) Jan. 1 to Mar. 31
    (b) handline(b) Jan. 1 to Mar. 31
    (c) longline gear(c) Jan. 1 to Mar. 31
  • SOR/2005-268, s. 2

Swordfish

  •  (1) No person shall fish for swordfish in the waters set out in column I of the item of the table to this subsection from a vessel of a vessel class set out in column II during the close time set out in column III of the item.

    TABLE

    ItemColumn IColumn IIColumn III
    WatersVessel ClassesClose Time
    1Subareas 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6C5100 to C5499Jan. 1 to Jan. 31
  • (1.1) The close time set out in column III of the table to subsection (1) may be varied under subsection 6(1) of the Fishery (General) Regulations with respect to any of the vessel classes referred to in column II.

  • (1.2) No person shall fish for swordfish in the waters set out in column I of the item of the table to this subsection with a type of gear set out in a subitem in column II during the close time set out in that subitem in column III of the item.

    TABLE

    ItemColumn IColumn IIColumn III
    WatersGearClose Time
    1Subareas 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6(a) longline gear(a) Jan. 1 to Jan. 31
    (b) harpoon(b) Jan. 1 to Jan. 31
    (c) trolling gear(c) Jan. 1 to Jan. 31
    (d) any other gear not referred to in subitems (a) to (c)(d) Jan. 1 to Jan. 31
  • (2) Subject to subsection (3), no person shall be in possession of any swordfish that is less than 125 cm in length.

  • (3) Subsection (2) does not apply where

    • (a) the catching of the swordfish that are less than 125 cm in length was incidental to the catching of longer swordfish; and

    • (b) the number of swordfish less than 125 cm in length that are retained during any one fishing trip does not exceed a fishing quota of 15 per cent of the number of longer swordfish that are retained during that fishing trip.

  • SOR/94-292, s. 4
  • SOR/2005-268, s.3
  • SOR/2008-99, s. 2

PART VIShellfish

[
  • SOR/93-61, s. 16(F)
]

 In this Part,

Atlantic razor clam

Atlantic razor clam means the shellfish the scientific name of which is Ensis directus; (couteau de l’Atlantique)

clam

clam means the Atlantic razor clam, the soft-shell clam and the surf clam; (clam)

drag rake

drag rake means a device used in fishing for shellfish that is towed along the bed of the water by a vessel, but does not include a hydraulic device or a mechanical device; (râteau traînant)

hydraulic device

hydraulic device means a device used in fishing for shellfish whereby the shellfish are lifted from the bed of the water by the use of water under pressure; (dispositif hydraulique)

length

length[Repealed, SOR/2017-58, s. 14]

mechanical device

mechanical device means any device or equipment used in fishing for shellfish that is not

  • (a) a hand-held tool,

  • (b) a drag rake, or

  • (c) a hydraulic device; (dispositif mécanique)

mussel

mussel means the shellfish the scientific name of which is Mytilus edulis, Mytilus trossulus or Modiolus modiolus; (moule)

oyster

oyster means the shellfish the scientific name of which is Crassostrea virginica or Ostrea edulis; (huître)

shell height

shell height[Repealed, SOR/2017-58, s. 14]

soft-shell clam

soft-shell clam means the shellfish the scientific name of which is Mya arenaria; (mye)

Stimpson’s surf clam

Stimpson’s surf clam means the shellfish the scientific name of which is Mactromeris polynyma; (mactre de Stimpson)

surf clam

surf clam means the shellfish the scientific name of which is Spisula solidissima, but does not include the Stimpson’s surf clam. (mactre)

width

width[Repealed, SOR/2017-58, s. 14]

Clams, Mussels and Oysters

Application

  •  (1) Sections 51.2 to 51.9 apply in respect of fishing for clams, mussels and oysters in the inland waters and tidal waters, including the foreshore of those waters, within or adjacent to the Province of Quebec.

  • (2) Section 13 does not apply in respect of fishing for clams, mussels and oysters in the waters referred to in subsection (1).

  • SOR/93-61, s. 18
  • SOR/2003-314, s. 3

Length Restrictions, Close Times and Other Restrictions

 No person shall catch and retain or possess any shellfish of a species set out in column I of an item of the table to this section, the length of which is less than the minimum length set out in column II of the item.

TABLE

Column IColumn II
ItemSpeciesMinimum Length
1Surf clam76 mm
2Atlantic razor clam100 mm
3Soft-shell clam51 mm
4Mussel40 mm
5Oysters76 mm
  • SOR/2003-314, s. 3
  •  (1) No person shall engage in commercial fishing for a species set out in column II of an item of Schedule X.1 in the waters set out in column I by a method set out in column III during the close time set out in column IV of the item.

  • (2) No person shall engage in recreational fishing for a species set out in column II of an item of Schedule X.1 in the waters set out in column I during the close time set out in column IV of the item.

  • SOR/2003-314, s. 3

Licences

  •  (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall fish for clams, mussels or oysters unless the person is authorized to do so under a licence issued under these Regulations.

  • (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to persons engaged in recreational fishing for clams, mussels or oysters.

  • SOR/2003-314, s. 3

 The Minister may, on application and payment of the fee set out in column II of an item of the table to this section, issue a licence described in column I of the item.

TABLE

Column IColumn II
ItemLicenceFee ($)
1Surf clam fishing licence for commercial purposes30.00
2Atlantic razor clam licence for commercial purposes30.00
3Soft-shell clam fishing licence for commercial purposes30.00
4Mussel fishing licence for commercial purposes30.00
5Oyster fishing licence for commercial purposes30.00
6Fishing licence for the purpose of replantingNo fee
  • SOR/2003-314, s. 3

Fishing for Purposes of Replanting

 Despite any length restriction or close time set out in this Part, a person may, under the authority of a fishing licence for the purpose of replanting issued under this Part, fish for clams, mussels or oysters for the purpose of replanting them in a location that supports their growth, their condition or their accessibility.

  • SOR/2003-314, s. 3

Recreational Fishing

 No person engaged in recreational fishing for clams, mussels or oysters shall fish by any means other than by means of hand or hand-held tools.

  • SOR/2003-314, s. 3
 

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