The Government of Canada is working hard to stimulate the country's blue economy. For Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), contributing to the prosperity of coastal communities is of crucial importance. To this end, DFO is committed to assessing the feasibility of increasing the commercial lobster fishery in an additional region of Quebec, for the benefit of local communities.
Today, the Honourable Diane Lebouthillier, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, announced the implementation of a data acquisition plan for Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 17 in Anticosti. This announcement is in addition to the issuance of new exploratory lobster fishing licenses on Quebec's North Shore, and the development of a data acquisition plan in 2025 for LFA 19, on the north side of the Gaspé Peninsula.
Area 17 is a popular fishing area for harvesters from the North Shore, the Gaspé Peninsula and also the Magdalen Islands for the development of the lobster fishery. That is why the acquisition of accurate data on lobster in this area is essential. This will enable us to assess whether the stock can support additional commercial fishing, while ensuring conservation of the resource.
DFO will soon be discussing with First Nations and industry the development of a data acquisition plan for Area 17, to be implemented as early as 2025. As part of this plan, new exploratory fishing licenses could be issued for Anticosti Island, again with priority given to the health of lobster stocks. The number, distribution and allocation criteria for these potential permits have yet to be determined.
Data acquisition underway in zone 18 on the North Shore this year and starting in 2025 in the Gaspé and Anticosti regions, will help strengthen the fishing industry throughout Quebec.
