Mackerel bait fishery opening for region
The federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans has announced the opening of a mackerel bait fishery for Atlantic Canada and Quebec.
The 470-tonne personaluse bait fishery will open this spring, but the Atlantic mackerel commercial fishery in Atlantic Canada and Quebec, which was shut down in 2022, will remain closed for the 2024 season.
The fishery was announced during a virtual press conference by of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard Minister Diane Lebouthillier on Thursday.
EQUITABLE ACCESS
The mackerel bait fishery will be released in two equal parts. By releasing the quota in this way, said the minister, harvesters from different regions will have equitable access to Atlantic mackerel as the stock migrates through the waters of Atlantic Canada and Quebec.
Fish caught under a bait licence are intended for personal use and are not permitted to be sold, traded or bartered.
This bait fishery, noted the minister, will help licence holders supply their other fisheries with bait without jeopardizing the ongoing rebuilding of this stock.
“For generations, harvesters have always been our eyes and ears at sea, and our government recognizes all their expertise,” said Lebouthillier. “Today’s announcement is really about striking the right balance between protecting the resource, equipping harvesters with the bait they need, and obtaining recent data from the ground, which can only better inform next steps in this fishery so vital for our coastal communities.”
‘OPTIMISTIC SIGNAL’
Mike Kelloway, the Parliamentary Secretary to the minister, is also the Liberal Commons member for Cape Breton—canso in Nova Scotia. His district is among those that have been affected by the ongoing closure of the commercial mackerel fishery.
“I’m hopeful that the opening of this bait fishery, albeit modest, sends an optimistic signal to our fishing communities that stock recovery is moving in the right direction,” said Kelloway.
DFO is continuing to work with harvesters throughout Atlantic Canada and Quebec in 2024 to collect data for an ongoing mackerel assessment and said it will be publishing a rebuilding plan for mackerel on its website in the coming weeks.